During the Government cabinet meeting of Wednesday 9 November 2015, Luxembourg Prime Minister Xavier Bettel approved France's invocation of the mutual assistance clause of the Lisbon Treaty, which will see Luxembourg provide additional military and financial support to French actions to allow the latter to focus on the fight against Daesh.

France first invoked the mutual assistance clause of Article 42-7 of the Lisbon Treaty following the terrorist attacks of 13 November in Paris, which stipulates that if a Member State is the victim of armed aggression on its territory, other 'Member States must give it aid and assistance by all the means in their power'. France called on other countries within the EU to provide military aid for intervention against Daesh, otherwise known as ISIS, or to support the French presence in Mali and the Central African Republic to allow France to focus on the fight against terror in Syria.

Following a 10-hour debate in the House of Commons last week, UK MPs voted 397 to 223 to join France and the US in launching air strikes against Daesh in Syria, with RAF Tornado jets carrying out the first air strikes later that evening.

Luxembourg however appears to have chosen the second option and is expected to double the Grand Duchy's military presence in Mali by sending additional personnel within the EUTM military training mission. The military will be onsite from January/February 2016 an will occupy an advisory post to Malian armed forces. Luxembourg will also be providing France with 20 hours of annual flying under the NATO-managed Strategic Airlift Interim Solution (SALIS) programme, allowing for the rapid availability of strategic lift capability.

Luxembourg will bring a financial contribution to three projects:

- EUTM Mali: Support for a human resources management system in Malian armed forces ('Train & Equip')

- EUTM Mali: Supply of medical equipment, first aid kits and medical training for Malian armed forces

- UN: Fight against the recruitment and radicalisation of children

Overall Luxembourg is due to contribute a total of about €2 million in response to France's invocation of Article 42-7 of the Lisbon Treaty. The government reported that no budget overrun was expected or required as this funding will be produced through an already-planned rearrangement of different national military expenditures.

"In these difficult times and as a European partner, Luxembourg is assisting France to lead a fight against terrorism," commented Luxembourg Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defence, Étienne Schneider. "The Luxembourgish contributions support both France and Mali in their fight against extremism and for strengthening security."



Photo by SIP/Luc Deflorenne (Luxembourg PM signs book of condolence for victims of Paris attacks)