We knew that ’s days at the head of Luxembourg for Finance were numbered and that he wanted to return to the diplomatic corps. The Frieden-Bettel government has somewhat altered his agenda.

Mackel is tipped to become Luxembourg's new permanent representative to the European Union, a post currently held by Sylvie Lucas, the Wort newspaper has reported. The news will become official during the spring, when new appointments to the Luxembourg diplomatic corps are traditionally announced.

The handover will take place at the beginning of September, by which time Mackel will have received his credentials, as is customary in diplomatic circles.

Both Mackel and prime minister  (CSV) declined to comment.

Mackel left the diplomatic corps in 2013 for Luxembourg for Finance at the request of the current prime minister, who at the time was finance minister. Mackel would be returning to diplomacy, in Brussels, with the support of the same man.

Coreper, where political agreements are made

Coreper is not the best-known body in the EU. Yet it is at the heart of the decision-making process within the European Council, the forum for EU leaders. Coreper coordinates and prepares the work of the European Council meetings and tries to reach a political agreement that will then be submitted to the EU ministers.

Coreper is also a return to his roots for Mackel, a diplomat by training who studied European and community law at the Université Paris Sorbonne.

With his departure for Brussels, the post of CEO of Luxembourg for Finance will be vacant. For the time being, no candidate seems to be in the running.

Originally published in French by and translated for Delano