At the first meeting of the coalition negotiations, “formateur” (prospective prime minister) Luc Frieden received the CSV and DP party delegations, 11 October 2023.  Photo: SIP/Jean-Christophe Verhaegen

At the first meeting of the coalition negotiations, “formateur” (prospective prime minister) Luc Frieden received the CSV and DP party delegations, 11 October 2023.  Photo: SIP/Jean-Christophe Verhaegen

The CSV and DP delegations met on Wednesday.

At their first coalition negotiation on 11 October, the CSV and DP agreed on a methodology for a future coalition agreement, and in so doing for a future government: the formation of 12 working groups, each based on a theme and incorporating representatives from civil society.

The 12 themes they defined are:

—the fight against poverty

—housing (including ways to speed up procedures)

—the environment, climate, biodiversity and renewable energies

—public finance and taxation

—healthcare and social security

—justice and security

—education (including research, higher education, vocational training and informal education)

—the economy and labour (particularly work/family balance; and including agriculture, viticulture, tourism, consumer protection, industry, the financial centre, SMEs and energy)

—Europe (including defence, cooperation, the greater region and international relations)

—reception and migration

—community life and quality of life (including spatial planning, mobility, culture, sport, the elderly, voluntary work, equal opportunities, special needs, youth and family)

—the modern state (including digitalisation, the media, the civil service, local authorities and infrastructure)

According to a press release, the next plenary meetings will take place on 12 October (9:00am), 13 October (3:00pm) and 16 October (9:00am), with further meetings still to be scheduled.

The following entities will be invited to future meetings: the General Inspectorate of Finance; Statec; the Financial Sector Supervisory Commission (CSSF); the Insurance Commission (CAA); the General Inspectorate of Social Security (IGSS); the National Health Fund (CNS); the Employment Development Agency (Adem); the Luxembourg Red Cross; Caritas Luxembourg; the Independent Luxembourg Trade Union Confederation (OGBL); the Luxembourg Trade Union Confederation (LCGB); the General Confederation of Public Service (CGFP); the Luxembourg Employers’ Union (UEL); Ecological Movement (Mouvement écologique); and the High Council for Sustainable Development (CSDD).

“My ambition is to see these working groups meet as quickly as possible and deliver a result within the next two weeks,” said “”  at the 11 October meeting.

Minister appointments and the distribution of portfolios are not expected to happen for a fortnight at least.

This article in Paperjam. It has been translated and edited for Delano.