At the European Investment Bank (EIB) Forum in Luxembourg, Grand Duke Guillaume urged European leaders to protect the continent’s “peace project” through targeted investments in competitiveness, security, and youth.
Addressing the 2026 EIB Forum, the Grand Duke highlighted the European Union’s role in a rapidly changing world. He called for strategic investments not only in economic competitiveness but also in social cohesion, security, sustainability, and young people. In this context, he emphasised the importance of multilateralism and the need to strengthen the single market.
Delivering a speech titled “A strong Europe in a changing world,” the head of state acknowledged the challenges facing the continent – geopolitical rivalry, war on European soil, and international tensions. Even so, he argued, Europe must defend its values and maintain a long-term perspective. The Grand Duke noted that Europe’s development has never followed a linear path.
He described the European Union as “the most ambitious and at the same time most successful peace project of modern times,” while urging that peace must never be taken for granted – particularly given the conflict at the Union’s eastern borders. All generations, he said, share “a responsibility to protect, renew, and value this peace.”
A central theme of his address was the role of the EIB itself. The Grand Duke characterised the bank not only as an “important funding source” but also as a strategic instrument for strengthening Europe’s economic resilience, advancing the ecological transition, and supporting collective security. He argued that investments should not be viewed in purely financial terms, but as investments in people, knowledge, and the institutions that “guarantee freedom.”
To secure the Union’s competitiveness, the Grand Duke insisted that the single market must remain at the heart of European action, describing it as the “engine of our wealth.” Strengthening competition, in his view, is not merely an economic necessity but the foundation for preserving Europe’s social model and its core values.
The Grand Duke called for fostering a “culture of creativity and innovation” in Europe, one capable of producing the “pioneers” needed to meet future challenges.
“The best thing is, when people ask me whether Luxembourg is in Schengen, I can tell them that Schengen is in Luxembourg.”Grand Duke Guillaume
Turning to social cohesion, the Grand Duke highlighted the significance of the Schengen Agreement, arguing that the free movement of people strengthens both social cohesion and trust between member states. He illustrated the point with a light-hearted remark: “The best thing is, when people ask me whether Luxembourg is in Schengen, I can tell them that Schengen is in Luxembourg.”
On the subject of sustainability and climate protection, the Grand Duke described investment in clean energy supply and green technologies as a responsibility toward future generations. He underscored the “key role” of the EIB in this effort, noting its function as a “climate bank.”
The Grand Duke also devoted considerable attention to the importance of youth. He emphasised that young people embody the spirit of cooperation and European unity and must be actively involved in shaping the future. Concluding his remarks on the topic, he stated plainly: “We must not disappoint them.”
Grand Duke Guillaume also expressed pride in serving as head of state of the country that hosts the headquarters of the European Investment Bank.
