Benelux
Ariadne Petridis appointed first female Secretary-General of the Benelux Union
08 Jan. 2026
Since 1 January 2026, Belgian diplomat Ariadne Petridis has been serving as Secretary-General of the Benelux Union. She is the first woman ever to head the Benelux Secretariat in Brussels. For the first time, the College of Secretaries-General also consists of two women and one man.
Petridis joins the new College of Secretaries-General alongside Liesje Schreinemacher (Netherlands) and Tom Köller (Luxembourg) as Deputy Secretaries-General. The Benelux Committee of Ministers (Foreign Affairs Ministers) made this decision at the end of 2025.
Who are the new faces of Benelux?
Ariadne Petridis (Belgium)
With more than 35 years of diplomatic experience, Petridis has held key positions at Foreign Affairs and international organizations. Prior to her current role, she served as Belgium’s Ambassador to NATO. She previously worked in Rome, Paris, Kinshasa, Brussels, and New York, and was Director for the Americas and the Caribbean. She speaks several languages and has an academic background in Romance languages and international politics.
“At a time when Europe must defend its rightful place on the geopolitical chessboard, I want to work with my colleagues to further position the Benelux Union as a testing ground for European cooperation,” says Ariadne Petridis.
Liesje Schreinemacher (Netherlands)
Liesje Schreinemacher brings administrative and political experience at home and abroad as former Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation and Member of the European Parliament. Before that, she was a lawyer specializing in construction and procurement law and worked in national politics. Schreinemacher offers expertise in international trade, digitalization, and European cooperation.
“The Benelux is a driving force for innovation and collaboration—whether in cross-border police cooperation, strengthening the internal market, or improving our resilience. We face major challenges, and I look forward to contributing with my experience in international cooperation,” says Schreinemacher.
Tom Köller (Luxembourg)
Tom Köller is a Luxembourg diplomat and former Director of Defense Policy for Luxembourg, with a strong track record in European security and defense matters. He represented Luxembourg at NATO and the EU and worked as a political adviser in the European Parliament.
“Security and resilience against hybrid threats remain a top priority for Benelux. I want to help ensure we continue to play a leading role in this area,” says Köller.
Dutch Presidency
In 2026, under the Dutch presidency, the new Benelux College aims to tackle the challenges outlined in the annual work plan, which forms part of the multi-year program 2025–2028. Security, resilience, competitiveness, and strengthening the internal market are central themes.
About the Benelux Union
The Benelux Union strengthens the internal market, promotes a sustainable future, and contributes to a safe society through concrete projects that deliver visible added value for citizens, businesses, and governments. As a pioneer in cross-border cooperation, it serves as a testing ground and complement to European policy.
