Luxembourg
Luxembourg, officially known as the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg (Luxembourgish: Groussherzogtum Lëtzebuerg; French: Grand-Duché de Luxembourg ; in German, Großherzogtum Luxemburg), is one of the twenty-seven sovereign states that make up the European Union. It is a landlocked state, surrounded by Germany, Belgium and France. Luxembourg has a population of 636,000 over an area of 2,586 square kilometers.
The government of Luxembourg is a unitary parliamentary constitutional monarchy, being the only sovereign grand duchy at present. The State has a highly developed economy, enjoying one of the highest gross domestic products per capita in the world, according to the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund.
Luxembourg is a member of the European Union, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, the United Nations and the Benelux, reflecting the political orientation in favor of economic, political and military integration. Its capital, Luxembourg, is home to numerous institutions and agencies of the European Union.
Luxembourg has diverse cultures and traditions as it lies between Roman Europe and Germanic Europe. The country has three official languages: Luxembourgish, French and German. The Schengen locality, which gave its name to the Schengen area, is located in Luxembourg.
History
Ancient and Medieval Ages
The territory currently occupied by the grand duchy was originally populated by the Treveri, a tribe of Belgian origin. They inhabited the region until the year of the Roman conquest in 53 BC. Around the 5th century, during the Middle Ages, the Franks seized this territory, which later became part of other kingdoms, such as Austrasia (in the northeast of the Frankish kingdom), Lotharingia and, finally, the Holy Empire. Roman Germanic.
Although the documented history of Luxembourg dates back to Roman times, it is considered to begin in the proper form in the year 963 with the acquisition of Lucilinburhuc (now Luxembourg Castle) by Siegfried, Count of the Ardennes. In the 14th century the Germanic emperors made it a duchy and in 1441 it was incorporated into the Burgundian state.
Modern Age
Inherited by Emperor Charles V and passed on to his son Philip II in 1555, it remained in the hands of Spain until 1714 when, by the Treaty of Rastatt, it was ceded to the Austrian line of the Luxembourg dynasty.
Contemporary Age
In 1795 it was conquered by revolutionary France, but after the Napoleonic defeat and the Treaty of Paris in 1815, it came under the administration (personal union) of the King of the Netherlands, who made it a Grand Duchy. The treaty also divided Luxembourg, which had already been divided in 1659 and would be so again in 1839, remaining under the sovereignty of Belgium and the Netherlands. Although these treaties reduced much of its territory, at the same time they increased its independence, which was confirmed after the Luxembourg Crisis in 1867. The London Treaty of 1867 declared it a neutral state, being governed since 1890 by the descendants of Adolfo from Nassau.
It was occupied by Germany during World War I. After this, a referendum held in 1919 supported the restoration of the Nassau monarchy. In 1940 it was occupied by Hitler. After World War II, Luxembourg concluded a pact with Belgium and the Netherlands, with which it formed the Benelux (1947). In 1949 it joined NATO and in the 1950s it was one of the founding States of the European Communities. Over time, it has become one of the richest of these countries, with strong growth in the financial services sector, facilitated by political stability and European integration. Since its inception in 1999, it has been part of the European Monetary Union. The main parties are Christian-Social and Socialist.
Luxembourg and the European Union
As a founding member and thanks to its central geographical location within the European Union, Luxembourg has hosted the headquarters of two Union institutions: the Court of Justice of the European Union and the European Court of Auditors. It is also the headquarters of bodies such as the European Investment Bank, as well as the General Secretariat of the European Parliament.
Government and politics
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The Grand Duchy of Luxembourg is a constitutional monarchy. Under the 1868 constitution, executive powers rest with the grand duke and his cabinet, which consists of various ministers headed by a prime minister. The grand duke has the power to dissolve parliament and call an election to elect a new one.
Legislative power resides in the Chamber of Deputies, elected by direct suffrage every five years. A second chamber, the Council of State (Conseil d'État), made up of 21 ordinary citizens appointed by the Grand Duke, advises the Chamber of Deputies on making legislation.
See: Referendum on the European Constitution in Luxembourg
Head of State
Article 3 of the current Constitution of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg states: "The Crown of the Grand Duchy is hereditary in the Nassau family, in accordance with the Treaty of June 30, 1783, Article 71 of the Treaty of Vienna of June 9, 1815 and the London Treaty of May 11, 1867".
The Treaty of June 30, 1783 is the Nassau Inheritance Treaty, by which the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg is inherited in each of the Nassau families to this day.
The Head of State and Grand Duke of Luxembourg since October 7, 2000 is Henri de Nassau. He is married to Maria Theresa. Formally, the Grand Duke has broad executive and legislative powers; he appoints and dismisses the government, executes all laws, but in fact performs almost exclusively representative functions. The Grand Duke is not partisan. He has not yet exercised his right to dissolve the Chamber of Deputies (Parliament). He cannot publish his own proclamations without the consent of the Luxembourg government.
In 2008, Enrique refused to sign a law on euthanasia. In order to quickly resolve the crisis of the State, the Grand Duke was freed from the punitive laws by means of a constitutional amendment. Since then, his role has been limited to "enacting" the law. laws. According to the constitutional lawyer Francis Delpérée, the grand duke would only have had the power to prevent the entry into force of a law with the consent of a member of the Government. Recently, the court of the grand duchy, and in particular the grand Duchess Maria Theresa, has come under fire because, according to the report of a special investigator appointed by the Luxembourg Government, the court's financial circumstances and personnel policy were considered unregulated and untransparent.
Government and Council of State
Executive power is exercised by the Grand Duke and the Government. The Government is composed of the Prime Minister, who holds the traditional title of Minister of State, fifteen Ministers and three Secretaries of State.
Since December 4, 2013, Xavier Bettel, of the Democratic Party (DP), is Minister of State and Prime Minister. He leads a coalition of his PD with the LSAP and the Greens. Jean Asselborn (LSAP) is Minister of Foreign Affairs, Pierre Gramegna (DP) Minister of Finance.
The Council of State of Luxembourg is an advisory body made up of 21 members. The appointment procedure is not regulated in the Constitution, but only in a law. The Council of State participates in the legislative process. Their formal opposition to the bills has a suspensive effect limited to three months. Christophe Schiltz has been in charge of this since 2021.
Parliament
The Chamber of Deputies (Chambre des Députés, in Luxembourgish "Chamber") has 60 seats. Its president is currently Fernand Etgen (DP). Deputies are appointed in national elections for a period of five years.
The function of the Chamber is to propose laws within the framework of the legislative process and debate them (as well as the Government's legislative projects) to later approve or reject them. Both the Government and any deputy can propose new laws.
The proposals of the Government are called "Projet de loi", those of the deputies "Proposition de loi". Once the proposal is presented, it is sent to the corresponding parliamentary commission, where it is examined. Each bill must also be approved by the Council of State. In the case of some laws, you also have to ask for the opinion of other bodies, such as professional chambers. Finally, it can be debated and voted on in plenary session. In theory, each law must be voted on twice (a second time at least 3 months after the first vote), but the House can grant itself a waiver of a second vote if the Council of State recognizes it. A law usually enters into force three days after the publication of the text in the "Mémorial", a publication in which all legislative texts are made public.
In addition to its legislative function, the House oversees the government. Oversees government finances, can investigate, question ministers, question them in the Chamber, ask them to take certain actions, and accuse ministers of abuse of power.
In addition, debates on important general issues take place in Parliament.
At the international level, the Chamber is in charge of ratifying international agreements. Only when the Chamber approves an international agreement is
legally binding. The Chamber is also partly responsible for foreign contacts and is represented on many international parliamentary committees.
Elections
Elections to the national parliament are held every five years based on proportional representation. The country is divided into four electoral districts with different numbers of deputies to reflect the distribution of the country's population (north [9], east [7], center [21] and south [23]). The boundaries of the electoral districts are almost identical to those of the three districts, with the difference that the district of Luxembourg City is further subdivided (Diekirch district = North, Grevenmacher district = East, Luxembourg district [canton of Luxembourg City and Mersch] = Center and District of Luxembourg [Esch and Capellen canton] = South). Voters have the corresponding number of votes and can accumulate their votes (all votes for a single party) or panashic (personal vote, maximum two votes per candidate). Since 1919, voting has been compulsory for all citizens over 18 years of age. This also applies to any person who is registered on the Luxembourg electoral roll and resides in Luxembourg.
The Fontagné Report already considered it inevitable, to get the country out of the stagnation of reforms, to include the issue of dual nationality and the expansion of political participation on the political agenda. According to a 2009 ASTI study, 79% of residents, both Luxembourgers and foreigners, consider Luxembourg their preferred country of residence. However, while 90% of foreigners surveyed are in favor of voting rights at the municipal level, only 68% of Luxembourgers are in favor. This is so despite the fact that the municipal voting right for foreigners residing in the EU has been enshrined in law for a long time. Even less, specifically only 48% of Luxembourg respondents, can imagine the right to vote for foreign residents at the national level. 66% of them are even willing to oppose a scenario in which foreign fellow citizens could be elected to the national parliament. Since 2011, foreigners can also hold positions in the Council of Councilors and, therefore, be mayors.
On June 7, 2015, a consultative constitutional referendum was held on the question of whether foreign fellow citizens should be able to vote in elections to the national parliament under certain conditions. Lowering the voting age to 16 and limiting the term of ministers to 10 years were also voted on. In a representative poll in May 2015, the majority of Luxembourgers surveyed rejected the right to vote for foreigners and the right to vote from the age of 16. Limiting the term of ministers, on the other hand, was supported by a narrow relative majority. The three referendum questions were rejected by a clear majority of voters: 81% opposed lowering the voting age, 79% to the right to vote for foreigners and 70% to the limitation of the term of ministers.
Legal system and justice
Luxembourg private law has its roots in the French Civil Code, originated by Napoleon Bonaparte. Along with French and Belgian law, it is one of the systems of the Roman legal system most based on Napoleonic civil law. Criminal law is heavily influenced by the Belgian model. Instead, administrative law and income tax law correspond more to the German model. The legal language is French; the languages of the courts are Luxembourgish, German and/or French, as the case may be.
The Grand Duchy has three Courts of Justice (in Esch an der Alzette, Luxembourg and Diekirch), two District Courts (in Luxembourg and Diekirch) and a High Court made up of the Court of Appeal and the Court of Cassation. In criminal and civil cases, the Court of Cassation is the country's highest judicial authority. In addition, there is an Administrative Court as well as a Constitutional Court. The Administrative Court is located in Kirchberg, while the other courts in Luxembourg City are located in the Cité judiciaire, on the Espiritu Santo Heilig-Geist-Plateau.
Defense
Luxembourg, which belongs to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), maintains an army numbering 3,000. In 1997 defense spending accounted for 2% of public spending. One of the NATO logistics headquarters is also located in Luxembourg.
According to the Treaty of London of 1867, the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg was not only to be neutral, but also to be disarmed. Due to experiences in the First and Second World Wars -Luxembourg was occupied by German troops in both wars despite its perpetual neutrality status- he abandoned this position in 1948. On November 30, 1944, a decree of the Grand Duchy for the that neutrality was declared and universal conscription was introduced, which was confirmed by Parliament in 1948. However, general conscription was abolished again in 1967 and replaced by voluntary military service.
Currently, the Luxembourg armed forces consist of the Lëtzebuerger Arméi (Luxembourg Army), which is about 1,000 strong and is divided into an infantry battalion and two reconnaissance companies. There are no naval or air forces, only the NATO AWACS reconnaissance fleet is registered in Luxembourg. Any EU citizen who has lived in Luxembourg for at least three years and understands at least Luxembourgish, the national language, can enlist in the Luxembourg army without having to change their nationality. Those who voluntarily decide to do military service have easier access to lower public administration, such as the police, customs or the prison system.
Luxembourg has participated in several international peacekeeping missions:
- NATO KFOR Mission in Kosovo with 29 troops.
- EUFOR in Bosnia-Herzegovina, Macedonia, Congo and Chad
- ISAF Mission in Afghanistan with nine soldiers.
- UNIFIL Mission in Lebanon.
In 2003, the Luxembourg government ordered, together with Belgium, half of a military Airbus A400M, whose initial cost was 120 million euros, according to the law of March 21, 2005. The delivery date is also specified. He has delayed three years. However, the Government's financial plan allocates 1.9 million euros for 2009 and 1.6 million euros for 2010 to finance the acquisition. The construction of a specific military hangar or runway will not take place in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, but rather the planes will be parked in the Kingdom of Belgium.
Police
The Grand Duchy Police or Police grand-ducale (also called Police Lëtzebuerg) is an executive body responsible for internal security, the maintenance of public order and law enforcement. There are regional Circonscriptions (police directorates) in Luxembourg City, Diekirch, Esch/Alzette and Grevenmacher. There are also national special units Service de Police Judiciaire (Judicial Police), Unité Centrale de Police de la Route (Traffic and Highway Police and Motorized Escort), Unité Centrale de Police à l'Aéroport (Airport Police), Unité de Garde et d'Appui Opérationnel (Riot Police), École de Police (Police School) and Unité Spéciale (Special Unit). The most important police unit is the Direction Générale.
Since the end of 2010, most of the national special units and the Direction Générale de la Police Grand-Ducale have relocated to new premises in the Findel Business Center near the Luxembourg airport. Until then, the policemen were housed in buildings in Verlorenkost, some of which date back to the 1950s and were used by the former gendarmerie as barracks, among other things. The rooms of the Findel Business Center are located in Kalchesbrück and are designed to accommodate up to 400 people.
Foreign Policy
Luxembourg is the seat of important European institutions, such as the Court of Justice of the European Communities, the European Court of Auditors, the European Investment Bank and the Secretariat of the European Parliament, and is also one of the founding countries of the European Union.
Luxembourg plays an active role in the development of European Union policies. Within the EU, it also attaches great importance to the proper participation of the smaller EU Member States, as well as in the reforms and development of the EU institutions. The country is a passionate supporter of European cooperation and was the first state to ratify the Maastricht Treaty.
In 1986, the "people of Luxembourg" received the Charlemagne Prize from the city of Aachen. This recognized that Luxembourgers were among the first convinced Europeans and that Luxembourgish politicians had made important contributions to European unification. The text of the medal, which was presented to Grand Duke Jean on behalf of its citizens, reads: "Charlemagne Prize of the City of Aachen 1986. The people of Luxembourg, model of perseverance on the path towards European unity&# 3. 4;.
Maintaining good neighborly relations with Germany, France and Belgium is a priority for Luxembourg. Luxembourg is considered the center of gravity of the culturally and economically flourishing region of Saarre-Lor-Lux, which also includes Trier and Belgian Wallonia. 150,000 cross-border workers from Lorraine, Wallonia, Saarland, the Trier region and the Eifel (a total of 36,000 from Germany) work in Luxembourg. The most important fields of cross-border cooperation are spatial planning, labor migration, civil protection, culture, tourism and transport. At the European level, Luxembourg's political interests are also closely related to those of Germany to a large extent. The German Embassy is located in Luxembourg (city).
Economic relations between Luxembourg and Germany are intense: Germany is the main customer for Luxembourg export products and, at the same time, one of the most important suppliers of imported goods to the Grand Duchy: approximately 25% of imports They come from Germany. Of the 149 Luxembourg banks, 45 are branches of German credit institutions. Economic cooperation in the greater Sarre-Lor-Lux region is constantly increasing.
Human Rights
In terms of human rights, regarding membership of the seven bodies of the International Bill of Human Rights, which include the Human Rights Committee (HRC), it has signed or ratified:
 | International treaties | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CESCR | CCPR | CERD | CED | CEDAW | CAT | CRC | MWC | CRPD | |||||||||
| CESCR | CESCR-OP | CCPR | CCPR-OP1 | CCPR-OP2-DP | CEDAW | CEDAW-OP | CAT | CAT-OP | CRC | CRC-OP-AC | CRC-OP-SC | CRPD | CRPD-OP | ||||
| Pertenence |  |  | |  | | | | |  | | | | | |  | | |
 Signed and ratified,  signed, but not ratified,  neither signed nor ratified,  without information,  it has agreed to sign and ratify the body concerned, but also recognizes the competence to receive and process individual communications from the competent bodies. | |||||||||||||||||
Status of major international human rights instruments
Administrative divisions
Diekirch District Grevenmacher District District of Luxembourg
Districts
Luxembourg is divided into 3 districts:
- Diekirch
- Grevenmacher
- Luxembourg
Cantons
These districts are divided into 12 cantons.
- Diekirch District
- Canton of Clervaux
- Diekirch Canton
- Redange Canton
- Canton of Vianden
- Wiltz Canton
- Grevenmacher District
- Canton of Echternach
- Canton of Grevenmacher
- Remich Canton
- District of Luxembourg
- Canton of Capellen
- Canton of Esch-sur-Alzette
- Canton of Luxembourg
- Canton of Mersch
Communes
These cantons are divided into communes, the smallest administrative division in Luxembourg.
Luxembourg cities by population.
| Flag | City | Population |
|---|---|---|
 | Luxembourg | 132 835 |
| Esch-sur-Alzette | 74 638 |
| Péiteng | 22 897 |
| Dudelange | 18 507 |
| Ettelbruck | 17 841 |
| Kayl | 12 850 |
Geography
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Luxembourg is the seventh smallest country in Europe, ranking 167th in the world. The Grand Duchy has a mountainous territory with extensive forest masses. The relief presents two differentiated regions: in the north, called Oesling, the southern foothills of the Ardennes mountain range extend, with a maximum height of 560 meters, and through which the tributaries of the Moselle flow. To the south, the Gutland, constitutes an extensive plain prolongation of the Parisian basin with an average height of about 250 meters. From east to west, the country is crossed by the Sauer (Sûre in French), a tributary of the Moselle, which receives the Alzette on its right bank and the Our and the Clerf on the left, among others. The Luxembourg landscape is completed with the course of the Moselle, which runs through the eastern sector, tracing the border with Germany.
The climate is of the oceanic type (Cfb), humid, more rigorous in the highlands of the north, and more moderate in the south. The annual rainfall is copious, the summers are mild, while the winters are mild. According to the WWF, the territory of Luxembourg corresponds to the ecoregion called broadleaved forest of Western Europe.
The capital, Luxembourg City, is the largest population in the country. Other major cities are Esch-sur-Alzette, to the southwest of the capital, Diekirch to the north, and Echternach to the east.
Because the soil is so difficult to cultivate, most of the land is used as pasture for cattle. The Ardennes region also includes the Upper Sûre National Park, an important conservation area and haven for hikers.
South of the Sûre River, the country is known as Gutland. This region covers just over two thirds of the country.
The terrain rises and falls gently with an average height of 200 m. Agriculture is the main activity, as the term Gutland arises from the fertile soil and hot, dry summers that this part of the Duchy experiences in comparison to the Oesling region.
As a result, vegetables and fruits such as strawberries, apples, plums and cherries are grown in large quantities. River erosion in this area has created deep gorges and caves, resulting in spectacular scenery.
In the far south of the country lies the "land of the red rocks," a reference to the mineral deposits found here. Rich in iron ore, the district has been a mining and heavy industry region since Roman times, if not earlier, and stretches for more than 19 km. The tall chimneys of iron and steel factories are the typical landmarks of the industrial south. To the east is the wine-growing valley of the Moselle. In the deep valleys and behind the vineyards, along the banks of the river, there are numerous villages. Most towns have at least one winery. Also in the east is "Little Switzerland," characterized by wooded glens and ravines in unusual rock formations
Hydrography
Luxembourg has a number of minor rivers, such as the Eisch, the Alzette and the Pétrusse, but the main river is the Moselle, which runs through the eastern sector, tracing the border with Germany, with its tributaries, the Sûre and the Our. With the exception of the Chiers, a tributary of the Meuse, all the country's watercourses belong to the Moselle basin and to the Rhine as a whole. The most important rivers are the Sûre in the center, the Alzette in the south and the Wiltz in the north.
The Moselle River actually rises in northeastern France and flows north through Luxembourg for 31km to join the mighty Rhine at Koblenz, Germany. The Moselle is 515 km long and is navigable, thanks to canalisation, for 64 km. The green slopes, covered with vines, flank the river, full of meanders.
Source in Belgium, the Sûre River runs 172 km east through Luxembourg and then empties into the Moselle. Its winding course essentially cuts Luxembourg from east to west. The Our River, which runs along the north-eastern border, is a tributary of the Sûre.
Climate
Luxembourg has a modified oceanic climate with mild winters and mild summers (Cfb). Enjoy a temperate climate without extremes. The average annual temperature in the capital Luxembourg is 9 °C. The climate is harsher in the northern highlands (Eisléck), and more moderate in the south (Guttland). The low temperatures and humidity cause it to be called "invigorating climate", in a somewhat ironic way, by those who live in the north of the country. The mild climatic conditions in the Moselle valley are favorable for growing vines.
In the winter, there is considerable influence from the Atlantic systems, in which the passage of frequent low pressures gives rise to unstable weather conditions. This results in overcast skies and considerable drizzle. However, snow is not very frequent, not even in the colder regions. Precipitation in Luxembourg decreases from west to east. Rainfall reaches 1,200 mm a year in parts of the west and falls to 700 mm in the Moselle valley. In the summer, excessive heat is rare, and temperatures drop significantly at night.
 Luxembourg average climate parameters | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Ene. | Feb. | Mar. | Open up. | May. | Jun. | Jul. | Ago. | Sep. | Oct. | Nov. | Dec. | Annual |
| Temp. max. abs. (°C) | 12 | 16 | 23 | 29 | 30 | 34 | 37 | 33 | 33 | 22 | 17 | 14 | 37 |
| Average temperature (°C) | 3 | 4 | 10 | 14 | 18 | 21 | 23 | 22 | 19 | 13 | 7 | 4 | 13.1 |
| Temp. medium (°C) | -1 | -1 | 1 | 4 | 8 | 11 | 13 | 12 | 10 | 6 | 3 | -1 | 5.3 |
| Temp. min. abs. (°C) | -15 | - 20 | -11 | -4 | -2 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 1 | -5 | -7 | -14 | -15 |
| Total precipitation (mm) | 61 | 65 | 42 | 47 | 64 | 64 | 60 | 84 | 72 | 53 | 67 | 81 | 760 |
| Days of precipitation (≥ +0.1) | 20 | 16 | 14 | 13 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 15 | 19 | 20 | 191 |
| Hours of sun | 31 | 58 | 155 | 180 | 186 | 180 | 186 | 186 | 150 | 93 | 30 | 31 | 1466 |
| Relative humidity (%) | 89 | 84.5 | 76 | 71.5 | 73 | 79.5 | 75 | 77 | 80 | 85.5 | 89.5 | 93 | 81.1 |
| Source: BBC Weather 2011 | |||||||||||||
Flora and Fauna
The Ösling, in the north of the country, which is part of the Ardennes, is characterized by its low forested ridges and deep river valleys. The most widespread tree species are beech, oak, maple and fir. Low oak forests, the so-called Lohhecken, still occupy a large part of the forest area. Non-wooded areas are characterized by heather and holly, among others. True labia and bellflowers are Mediterranean plants that occur in the south-east of Luxembourg. There is a wide variety of grassland types; however, the species-rich, extensively used, rugged grasslands are declining (20% of the grassland species studied are on the Luxembourg Red List of vascular plants). Vegetation in the lower southern part of the country (approximately 300 m), in the so-called Gutland, is characterized by agricultural use and viticulture along the Moselle.
Luxembourg's spruce forests, which cover 30% of the country's forest area, are considered unnatural. They are the result of the reforestation of scrub forests and unprofitable areas with this fast-growing species, which became fashionable after World War II. However, with the exception of Scots pine, all conifers in Luxembourg are outside their natural range.
The fauna is typical of Central European countries. However, the Ösling impresses with large populations of deer and wild boar, as well as birds of prey and rare bird species such as the black stork or capercaillie. Other species, on the other hand, have experienced a marked decline in their numbers. In the 1960s, for example, there were between 3,400 and 4,200 long-eared owl breeding pairs in Luxembourg. By 2006, the population had declined to between 15 and 20 breeding pairs. Luxembourg is known for its abundance of fish; there are trout, pike, walleye, eels, carp and many other species of fish. Especially in the gentle Moselle valley, but also in many other places (for example along the railways), the wall lizard has settled, an animal that is more common in Mediterranean countries.
Hunting in Luxembourg is inextricably linked to land ownership and is organized into a district hunting system. The most important game species for their hunting value and for the damage that hunting causes in forests and fields are roe deer and wild boar. Other relevant game species are deer, mallard and brown hare.
54.8% of mammal species, 41.5% of bird species, 33% of reptile species, 71.4% of amphibian species and 62% of fish species Luxembourg are threatened, according to the Observatoire de l'Environnement Naturel (OEN), which has updated the National Nature Protection Plan.
There are several nature conservation projects planned or already completed: for example the Bongert Altenhoven, the semi-arid grasslands near Junglinster, the Deiwelskopp nature trail, the Neibruch near Grosbous, the Prënzebierg nature reserve, the nature reserve Sonnebierg, the Canecher Wéngertsbierg or the Cornelysmillen wetland.
Economy
Luxembourg has an economy based on the management of investment funds, hedge funds, telecommunications management, logistics (thanks to its privileged location between France, Germany and Belgium), aerospace investment and management (especially in satellites thanks to the Luxembourg company SES S.A.), private banking and capital management. All this accompanied by one of the most lax tax regimes in the European Union, which has generated certain scandals under accusations that certain multinationals such as Pepsi, Ikea, Accenture, Burberry, Procter & Gamble, Heinz, JP Morgan, FedEx, Amazon or Deutsche Bank, among others, have avoided millions of euros in taxes each year. Its economy is stable, with high income and moderate growth, low inflation and low unemployment rate. The industrial sector, until recently dominated by steel, has been expanding and diversifying to include the chemical, rubber and other products industries. During the past decades, the growth of the financial sector had more than offset the decline of the steel industry. Agriculture is based on small family farms.
Luxembourg is one of the most important commercial and financial centers that competes with Belgium and the Netherlands. Luxembourg has the second highest GDP per capita in the world, after Qatar, although some organizations put it in first place. Luxembourg is also home to the headquarters of several multinational corporations, including Ternium, Tenaris, and one of the six headquarters of the world's leading steelmaker Arcelor Mittal.
The Luxembourg labor market represents 445,000 jobs held by 120,000 Luxembourgers, 120,000 foreign residents and 205,000 cross-border workers. The latter pay their taxes in Luxembourg, but their training and social rights are paid by their country of residence. The same goes for pensioners. The Luxembourg government has always refused to share part of its tax revenue with the French border territorial authorities. This system is considered one of the keys to economic growth in Luxembourg, but to the detriment of the bordering countries.
In 2019, the country's Ecological Debt Day (the day of the year on which human consumption of natural resources exceeds the earth's capacity to regenerate those resources that same year) is 15th of February. Luxembourg is the European Union country whose consumption exceeds the planet's capacities to a greater extent.
Budget
Thanks to higher tax revenue, Luxembourg was able to reduce its overall public deficit to 709 million euros in 2010. Thus, the national debt remains 18.4% of gross domestic product (GDP). This makes Luxembourg one of the least indebted countries in Europe.
For the total public budgets - that is, for the State, municipalities and social security - there was a deficit of 1.7% of GDP in 2010. This means that Luxembourg meets the Maastricht criteria, which allow a maximum deficit of 3%.
In addition to various transfer taxes, the state generates a large part of its revenue from income and profit taxes: these include income tax, corporation tax, and trade tax.
Investment funds are exempt from corporation tax, business tax and wealth tax in Luxembourg. The wealth tax has also been abolished for individuals since 2006. Inheritance tax is only paid in the event of the death of a resident in the country. Residents also pay a ten percent capital gains withholding.
With a maximum personal income tax rate of 42%, Luxembourg has a higher personal income tax rate than the European Union average (for comparison, Bulgaria, for example, has a single tax rate of 10%).
The corporate tax rate is also above the European Union average, at 17% (or 15% for a turnover of up to 175,000 euros), plus a surcharge of 7% for the unemployment fund.
On January 1, 2015, the ordinary VAT rate went from 15% to 17%
Services
Luxembourg's favorable tax environment and its geographical proximity to Germany, France, Belgium and the Netherlands make it very attractive to international companies in the tertiary sector, especially banks and insurance companies. The "financial services" contributed to the national gross added value in 2008 around 24.9% (1995: 22.1%, 2000: 25%); the "real estate, rental and business services" sector, 20.6% (1995: 17.2%; 2000: 18.7%).
Most of the large companies established in Luxembourg do not offer their services in the country, or do so to a limited extent, but mainly operate through the free movement of services in other States of the European Union.
As the seat of several European Union authorities, the country is also important as an international administrative center.
Financial Center
The heart of the Luxembourg economy is the financial sector. The emergence of Luxembourg as a financial center was favored mainly by the advantageous conditions of the legal framework, the international orientation and the attractive tax rates ("niche strategy& #34;). Since 1963, Banco Ambrosiano had a holding company in Luxembourg. Already in 1970, the weight of the financial sector in the Luxembourg economy was slightly higher than in other countries, but subsequently the financial sector became the main engine of the Luxembourg economy, as well as of the region in general.
In 1970, Deutsche Bank founded Deutsche Bank Luxembourg S.A. as its first foreign subsidiary, and other German financial institutions, such as the Postbank, but also international banks followed suit and offered special financing instruments. In 1972 the Banco de Crédito y Comercio Internacional (BCCI) was founded.
As of June 30, 2010, there were 149 banks registered in Luxembourg, almost exclusively subsidiaries or branches of large foreign banks from 25 countries. Banks of German origin are by far the largest group, with 44 units. One of the main pillars of the Luxembourg financial center are its funds. At the end of May 2010, more than 3,500 investment funds (organismes de placement collectif or "OPC" for short) had their registered office in Luxembourg. These managed a total of more than 2 trillion euros in investment assets, making Luxembourg the largest location for funds in Europe; globally, it ranks second, behind the United States. The largest market share in terms of investment volume is held by fund providers from the United States, Germany and Switzerland. In 2011, Luxembourg ranked third, behind the Cayman Islands and Switzerland, in the Tax Justice Network's Shadow Finance Index, thus being considered a tax haven.
At the same time, the dependence on financial institutions represents a major risk for the Luxembourg economy, as in the event of a crisis in the financial sector, this will also have a major impact on the economy as a whole. The European Central Bank and the European Commission already warned Luxembourg about this on October 1, 2010. However, while in 2009 the profits of Luxembourg banks continued to increase despite the financial crisis since 2007, the number of employees and of banks operating in Luxembourg decreased. According to the director of the central bank, by contrast, the profits of the banking sector plummeted 19% in the first nine months of 2010 and there were some 1,000 layoffs. Luxembourg is a headquarters of reinsurance companies and a major center of the insurance industry.
Luxembourg is a location for reinsurance companies that does not play a significant role in international terms.
According to an analysis by the Committee for the Development of the Financial Market, the financial sector accounted for 25% of the country's gross domestic product in 2008. The financial center directly employed some 47,700 people - equivalent to 14% of the total employment - and contributed directly to 25% of the State's tax revenue.
In November 2014, 28,000 original pages of confidential documents documenting tax evasion schemes by global companies were made public in the so-called Luxembourg Leaks scandal. The publication had been prepared for months by 80 journalists from 26 countries.
Heavy industry and manufacturing
Heavy industry, which remained dominant until the 1970s and had been established since the mid-19th century, mainly with German capital, was the cornerstone of Luxembourg's prosperity and was based on the rich ore deposits of the southwest of the country. Since the great structural crisis of the 1970s, it only represents around 30% of industrial production and has been losing importance. The steel industry now generates only 2.7% of gross value added. The main employer was the steel company ARBED, which was able to survive the steel crisis at the cost of reducing the workforce (from 27,000 workers in the early 1970s to about 6,700) and rigorous modernisation. In January 2002, Arbed merged with Usinor (French) and Aceralia (Spanish) to form Arcelor, then the world's second largest steel company, which merged with Mittal Steel in 2006 to form ArcelorMittal, the world's largest steel producer.
Meanwhile, other industries have been added since the mid-1970s, such as chemicals, especially automobile tires (Goodyear) and other rubber products, as well as plastics and synthetic fibers, the manufacturing of machinery and vehicles, ceramics, glass, textile production and food. Its share of gross value added amounts to 6.6%. The main location of the manufacturing industry remains the former heavy industry district in the southwest of the country, with its center near Esch on the Alzette ("Minette").
Foreign trade
The most important export goods are metals and metal products, machinery and equipment, plastic and rubber products, transportation equipment, stone products, glass, ceramics, and chemical products.
The most important import goods are machinery and equipment, products of the iron and steel industry, transport equipment, minerals, including petroleum products, chemical products, textile products and clothing, plastic and rubber products.
Luxembourg's main trading partners are Belgium, Germany and France. About 60% is exported to these countries and almost 80% is imported from them. Although the trade balance is negative, the services balance is greater than the negative balance of the trade balance, so the current account balance is positive.
Demographics
Luxembourg had approximately 602,000 inhabitants in 2018. In the last 30 years the population has increased by more than 100,000 people. Compared to its neighboring countries, it is an exceptional phenomenon. The prominent reason for this growth is immigration. The nationals have seen their population stagnate at around 280,000, and without the resort to naturalization they would have decreased. The average annual rate of immigration was 1% for the decade 1990-2000, when the average for the EU-15 was around 0.23%.
Of the 455,000 inhabitants in 2005, 277,600 were Luxembourgers, 65,700 Portuguese, 22,400 French, 18,800 Italians, 16,100 Belgians, 10,400 Germans, 4,500 British, 3,500 Dutch, 9,600 citizens of other EU countries Union and 26,300 citizens of other states.[update]
The phenomenon of immigration dates back to the 19th century. Already in 1880, 6% of the population was of other nationalities, rising to 12.2% in 1900, 12.8% in 1922 -despite the negative effects of the First World War- and 18.6% in 1930. Only the crisis of 1929 and the Second World War counteracted the phenomenon, so that the percentage of foreigners in 1947 was 10%. But after the postwar period, the previous rhythm has continued, reaching 18.4% in 1970, 26.3% in 1981, 29.7% in 1991, and being 39% in 2005.
In addition to immigrants residing in Luxembourg, a third of the workforce is provided by day immigrants residing in neighboring countries.
Health
Luxembourg has a health system based on the Bismark system, in which the State manages health services through taxes, while each patient pays approximately 20% of the medical expenses they incur, whether they are medicines, visits or hospitalization.[appointment required]
In Luxembourg it is not compulsory to have a GP in every area. The citizen can hire one (in Luxembourg it is common for the doctor to consult in private homes) or go to health services in other areas.[appointment required]
On January 1, 2003, an assistance program for low-income people was launched, promoted by the Ministry of Health.[citation required]
Languages
Luxembourg's linguistic situation is characterized by the recognition of three official languages: French, German and Luxembourgish. Luxembourgish is a language of High German origin.
In the early days of the country, French had great prestige, and it still enjoys preferential use as an administrative and official language. German was used in the political field, to formulate laws and ordinances in order to make them understandable to everyone. In primary school, education was limited to German, while French was taught in secondary education.
The law of July 26, 1843 reinforced bilingualism, introducing the teaching of French in primary schools.
Luxembourgish is a language heavily influenced by colloquial French, it was introduced in primary school in 1912.
Official languages
Until 1984, the official use of the languages was based on the decrees of 1830, 1832 and 1834, which allowed a free choice between French and German. French was preferred for administration. The Luxembourger did not yet have official status.
The 1984 constitutional revision gave legislators the ability to regulate languages by law. On February 24, 1984, a law made Luxembourgish the official language: "Luxembourgish is the national language of Luxembourgers," says its article 1. In addition, this law recognized the three languages used (French, German and Luxembourgish) as official languages. French still remains as the language of legislation (according to article 2 of the aforementioned regulation), due to the application of the Napoleonic civil code. The third article establishes French, German and Luxembourgish as administrative and judicial languages.
According to recent surveys, French remains the most widely used language in professional life.
In everyday life, French is the dominant language in commerce and in written communications intended for the public (eg road signs, billboards). German is very present, along with French, in the print media. For example, it is common for written publications to alternate without translation, articles in French and articles in German.
Official documents (eg passport) and government communications are generally written in French only.
Education
Luxembourgish is taught in schools, after French and German. Their teaching is limited to just one hour a week and during the first years of primary school. Secondary schools also teach English and often also Latin, Spanish or Italian. At the University, the variety of languages allows local students to continue their higher education in countries where German, French or English are spoken.
Public infant school starts at age four. Classes are held for five mornings and three afternoons per week. Primary school goes from six to eleven years. Secondary schools are divided into complementary, technical and general. Luxembourg has only one university (the University of Luxembourg), created in 2003. All teachers have to prove their command of Luxembourgish, French and standard German before starting to work in schools.
Higher Education
Luxembourg has had an independent university since 2003, which is considered multilingual, international and research-focused, with about 6,200 students in the winter semester 2012/2013. Its students are trained in three faculties in the fields of natural sciences, technology, law and economics, as well as social and educational sciences, history, political science, philosophy and multilingualism. The University of Luxembourg offers bachelor's and master's programs and supervises doctoral students. Most degree programs can be fully studied up to bachelor's level in Luxembourg. However, for undergraduate students a stay abroad of at least one semester is mandatory. Belgian, French and German universities in particular play an important role as hosts. However, the University of Luxembourg maintains collaboration agreements for the exchange of students and researchers with some 50 universities from 15 countries, including China, the United States and Canada.
The University of Luxembourg and the Luxembourg Institute of Health (LIH) collaborate on research and doctoral studies in medicine, including in the field of modern molecular medicine.
In addition, in 2012 the recognized and accredited private university eufom (European University for Economics & Management) was created. The European concept of the eufom University is specifically aimed at professionals and apprentices from the so-called Grand Region and the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg who wish to obtain an academic qualification in parallel with their business activities or companies. The languages of instruction are German (bachelor's) and English (master's).
In September 2016, the Luxembourg Chamber of Commerce (Chambre de Commerce) and the Luxembourg Chamber of Trades (Chambre des Métiers) launched the ISEC Business University, as an independent university successor to eufom. ISEC is recognized and accredited by the State.
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The Wiltz Castle is home to the DTMD University of Digital Technologies in Medicine and Dentistry, an ISO-certified private university under Luxembourg law. It was founded by André Reuter (Chairman), Ralf Rössler (Dean) and Daniel Grubeanu (Assistant Dean for Teaching and Quality Management) and offers postgraduate, part-time Master's and PhD programs for doctors, dentists and dental technicians, as well as training curriculum for dental technicians and medical assistants.
The University of Innsbruck and the University of Vienna hold the title of "National University for Luxembourg" since the time of Maria Theresa, who was then also Duchess of Luxembourg. Luxembourgish students traditionally obtain their academic degrees abroad. About 19.6% of students are enrolled in German universities (especially in technical disciplines and natural sciences), while 22.6% are in Belgium and France.
The creation of the University of Luxembourg aims to strengthen Luxembourg as a place of research and consolidate Luxembourg as a place of business. In addition, it is intended to attract more foreign students to Luxembourg. However, Luxembourg has difficulties with the recognition of some foreign qualifications and has particular problems with graduates of German universities of applied sciences and cooperative education who, for example, cannot prove that they have had four years of professional experience in Germany, as required by the EC Architecture Directive. Luxembourg had its own university of applied sciences, the Institut Supérieur de Technologie, which was integrated into the new university in 2003.
CEDIES is responsible for student aid in Luxembourg. In the winter semester 2010/11, the government introduced a student aid scheme that is independent of parents. Each student whose parents work or reside in Luxembourg received 13,000 euros per year (half in the form of a loan at 2% interest). In July 2014, Parliament decided to amend the law. The new scholarship consists of five components: a basic scholarship for each student (2,000 euros); a mobility grant for students who study abroad and pay the rent (2,000 euros); a social scholarship linked to the income of the student's parents (up to 2,500 euros); a family scholarship if there is still a brother who studies with the student (500 euros), and a loan of up to 7,000 euros.
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Religion
In 2008, the year of the last survey, 73% of Luxembourgers adhered to forms of Christianity (68.7% were Catholics and 1.8% Protestants, while 1.9% adhered to other Christian denominations, especially Orthodox Christianity). 2.6% of the population followed non-Christian religions, the majority of them being Muslims (2%). 24.9% of Luxembourgers were not part of any religion. Regardless of their religious affiliation, 56% said they were religious, 35% said they were non-religious, and 9% said they were atheist.
Luxembourg is a secular state, but the state recognizes certain religions as official. This gives the state certain powers in religious administration and clergy appointment, in exchange for which the state pays certain operating costs and salaries. Currently, the religions covered by such agreements are Catholicism, Judaism, Greek Orthodoxy, Anglicanism, Russian Orthodoxy, Lutheranism, Calvinism, Mennonitism, and Islam.
Since 1980 it has been illegal for the government to collect statistics about religious beliefs or practices. A CIA Factbook estimate for the year 2000 is that 87% of Luxembourgers are Catholic, including the grand ducal family, the remaining 13% consisting of Protestants, Orthodox Christians, Jews, Muslims and others without religion. According to a 2010 Pew Research Center study, 70.4% are Christian, 2.3% Muslim, 26.8% unaffiliated, and 0.5% other religions.
According to a 2005 Eurobarometer survey, 44% of the citizens of Luxembourg responded that they "believe there is a God," while 28% responded that "believe there is some kind of God. of spirit or vital force" and 22% that "they do not believe that there is some kind of spirit, god or life force".
Telecommunications
Phone
The international dialing code for Luxembourg is +352. There are no area codes. Mobile or cell phone numbers consist of three-digit network dialing, so the "6" of the net dialing is part of the telephone number and must also be dialed from abroad. This network dial is followed by a six-digit phone number. Since September 2006, numbers always start with a "6". Before that, a "0" It was common. Changing the network dial from "0XX" to "6XX" it was done to comply with the international agreement on numbering plans.
The regulatory authority is the Luxembourg Institute for Regulation (Institut Luxembourgeois de Régulation)
In 2014, there were 271,100 fixed lines and 883,100 mobile subscriptions across the country. Mobile phone use is widespread in Luxembourg. According to a 2006 survey (Statec), 93.8% of Luxembourgers own at least one mobile phone.
- The largest operator is Post Telecom (old LuxGSM name) (network dairy 621).
- The second most important operator is the subsidiary of Tele2, Tango (access to network 691).
- The third most important operator is Orange (old Vox name) (net access code 661).
The total turnover in the telecommunications business of all operators was 534.7 million euros in 2014.
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Television and radio
Luxembourg has television media such as RTL (Luxembourg Radio Television), TVDOK and Luxe TV. There are different radio stations depending on the 3 official languages, but they also exist in Portuguese, such as "Radio Latina" (due to the large Portuguese community in the country), and also in English. RTL Radio Luxembourg is the largest and is broadcast in Luxembourgish. In French, there is Radio L'essentiel, which comes from the same group as the free French-language newspaper L'essentiel.
In Luxembourgish there is also Radio 100.7, which is a station with a cultural program. The main communication group is RTL Group, a private group that has spread throughout Europe. Another peculiarity of Luxembourg is that the television channels broadcast simultaneously in PAL and SECAM; PAL for the French-speaking part of Belgium and Luxembourg itself and SECAM for France. The Grand Duchy is also the headquarters of SES Astra, the company that owns and operates the Astra series of geostationary satellites. An important milestone came on September 1, 2006, when Luxembourg became the first country in the world to fully transition to digital broadcasting.
Internet
In 2020, 98.8% of Luxembourgers used the Internet.
While Luxembourg is the European leader in online shopping by individuals, online buying and selling is not very common among Luxembourgish companies.
An organization has been created to guarantee the security of the network (Cases), as well as to guarantee the protection of personal data.
"Hot City" is a WLAN for the whole city in the capital of the Grand Duchy. The project was founded in 2007, the Luxembourg City Council has a 51% stake in the company and Post Luxembourg owns 49% of the shares.
Transportation
Roads
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Luxembourg has a dense network of national highways (Route Nationale, RN) 2,908 km long (2015), of which 161 km are motorways. The CITA telematics system is installed to control traffic flow on the freeways; real-time camera images are available online along with the latest traffic information.
The motorway connection to the A 8 to Saarbrücken was completed in 2003 (A 13 in Luxembourg). Further north, the German A 64 leads from Trier to Luxembourg; there it continues as A 1.
The A7 called Nordstrooss, which connects the Gutland and Minette region with that of Ösling (Éisléck), was opened in September 2015.
Due to favorable fuel prices, buoyant cross-border fuel tourism has sprung up. In doing so, it is not uncommon for the provisions of the Highway Code (Code de la Route) to be infringed regarding the maximum permitted amount of fuel transported.
Railroads
Luxembourg's rail network has a total length of 274 km. Passenger transport is mainly operated by the Société Nationale des Chemins de Fer Luxembourgeois (CFL). In freight transport, CFL Cargo operates as an independent company in the xrail association. As of February 29, 2020, state-operated public transport in Luxembourg is free for everyone in second class. The Grand Duchy is, therefore, the first State in the world to introduce it. So far, 90% of the €491 million costs for public transport have already been borne by the state, so the additional expense for lost revenue is comparatively low at €41 million per year. The use of first class on railways remains exempt from it.
In 2002 an agreement was signed with France on the connection to the TGV network. According to this, Luxembourg contributes 117.4 million euros to the construction of the new TGV line from Paris to Metz. At the same time, the line between Metz and Luxembourg was improved. Since June 2007, five TGV trains have been running daily on the new TGV route ("LGV Est européenne"), and since December 2009, six. This has cut the journey time between the Luxembourg and French capitals from around three and a half hours to just two hours and 15 minutes.
There are no longer long-distance connections with Germany. Local transport connections have been increased since December 2019. In principle, both an express regional train Luxembourg - Trier - Koblenz (a couple of trains daily continue as Intercity to Düsseldorf) and a regional train Luxembourg - Trier (weekdays continue to Wittlich) run every hour. Furthermore, instead of a rail connection run by CFL, there is a bus connection Luxembourg - Saarbrücken.
For some years a high-speed connection has been planned between the EU capitals, Brussels, Luxembourg and Strasbourg, with the so-called Eurocaprail. On the Belgian side, improvements are being built or planned on some sections of the Brussels-Luxembourg line. The introduction of high-speed traffic is planned after the opening of the TGV line between Metz and Strasbourg. In the long term, a connection to the German high-speed network is also planned.
Buses
In addition to the CFL trains and buses, regional buses of the Régime général des transports routiers (RGTR) also operate in Luxembourg. These lines usually work every hour and connect all the cities. In the canton of Esch, on the banks of the Alzette, buses of the Intercommunal Transport of People in the Canton of Esch-sur-Alzette (TICE): Intercommunal Transport of People in the Canton of Esch an der Alzette). Regional buses are operated by subcontractors on behalf of these two authorities.
In the capital itself, the city buses of the municipal company Bus de la ville de Luxembourg (AVL) operate.
These buses can also be used free of charge from February 29, 2020.
Tram
To improve public transport in the Luxembourg capital, a modern tram line called Stater Tram has been in operation since January 2018, with line extensions at both ends. Like trains and buses, it will be free to use from February 29, 2020.
Air transportation
Luxembourg's international airport in Findel has experienced a significant increase in traffic in recent years. Findel is serviced by 16 scheduled airlines and also German charter airlines. The Luxembourg airline for passenger traffic is Luxair. Its counterpart in the cargo sector is Cargolux, whose location has direct access to the motorway and is integrated into Findel Airport.
Sea transport
After the completion of the canalization of the Moselle and since the opening of the Moselle port in Mertert in 1964, inland shipping also plays an important role in supplying Luxembourg.
Following the approval of the law on the creation of a Luxembourg maritime register (pavillon maritime) in November 1990, in 2009, 205 maritime vessels with a total tonnage of 1.6 million were sailing under the flag of the Grand Duchy. This includes the Samson work platform from the Belgian company Deme, the Bourbon Liberty 115 from the French company Bourbon and five supply vessels from the Belgian Jan de Nul group. Pleasure yachts are not included in these figures (according to the Commissariat aux affaires maritimes). Some three hundred shipping companies have offices in Luxembourg. The industry currently generates an annual turnover of four billion euros. The president of the maritime cluster is Freddy Bracke.
Culture
In 1994, UNESCO declared the entire Old Town of Luxembourg a World Heritage Site. Luxembourg was the European Capital of Culture in 1995 and 2007. In 2007, Luxembourg was the European Capital of Culture along with the Greater Region. The Romanian city of Sibiu was also involved.
In October 2003, the French-German-Luxembourgish tri-national cultural institute Pierre Werner (named after the former Prime Minister of Luxembourg) was launched in Luxembourg.
Music
Luxembourg's music scene has been growing in importance since the 1990s. Although very few music bands are known beyond the country's borders, many student bands are created every year. In particular, the Luxembourg metal/rock/hardcore scene is growing (eg Eternal Tango).
In addition, almost every community has its own town music band that performs at many fiestas. In summer there are well-attended and generally high-quality concerts as part of the "Summer in the City" campaign. One of the most prominent events is the "Blues'n'Jazz Rallye" in the Old Town and a round of concerts on the market square, as well as the 'New Orleans Jazz Festival', which is organized annually at Easter in collaboration with Luxembourg's twin city, New Orleans.. Another well-known event is the "Blues Express", which is held annually at the beginning of July in Fond-de-Gras.
Classical music also plays an important role in the cultural life of Luxembourg. The Luxembourg Philharmonic Orchestra (former RTL Symphony Orchestra) and the Orchestra of the Armed Forces are important. Luxembourg has also produced several outstanding soloists, for example with the Solistes Européens under the direction of Jack Martin Händler.
Luxembourg has won the Eurovision Song Contest five times, including in 1972 with Vicky Leandros (Après toi). The country participated for the last time in 1993. For some years, there has been speculation about the possibility of returning to the contest.
Cinema
Relatively few films are produced in Luxembourgish. On the other hand, these are especially well received by the national public, such as the feature Little Secrets (2006) by Pol Cruchten. Foreign film productions, which prefer Luxembourg for its scenery or the most favorable production conditions, are better known internationally. Among these productions are the film The Girl with the Pearl Earring (2003), with Scarlett Johansson, who was nominated for three Oscars, and the film The Shadow of a Vampire.
At the 2014 Oscars, a Luxembourg co-production won an Oscar for the first time. Mr Hublot won in the Best Animated Short Film category.
In recent years, several Luxembourgish film production companies, such as Samsa Film, Delux Film, Minotaurus Film, lucil film or Iris Production, have made themselves known. In 2010, the National Fund for the Support of Audiovisual Production (Fonds national de soutien à la production audiovisuelle) subsidized a total of 23 films with 4.68 million euros. The National Audiovisual Center (CNA) in Düdelingen offers insight overview of Luxembourg cinematography.
Internationally known Luxembourgish actors include René Deltgen, Thierry van Werveke (as Henk in Knockin' on Heaven's Door), Luc Feit and André Jung, who was voted best actor twice (1981 and 2002) by Theater Heute magazine.
Andy Bausch, who made probably the most popular Luxembourg films, among others with Désirée Nosbusch or Camillo Felgen, was also active in Germany as a director in various series and in TV movies. He usually shoots in the three most used languages in the country. The young Luxembourg film scene is creative and innovative, as the examples of Filmreakter, Pyramid Pictures and Feierblumm Productions show.
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Literature
Antoine Meyer laid the foundations for an independent Luxembourgish literature with his E' Schrek ob de' Lezeburger Parnassus Edmond de la Fontaine, called Dicks, took the next great step towards a "national literature" luxembourgian. Because he was the first author to write plays in Luxembourgish. However, he became best known through poetry and as a composer. "Ach du mäin am Kamäin" or "Gëff mer eng Bees, gëff mer eng Bees fir mat op d'Rees" they quickly became popular songs. The National Literary Archives were founded in 1986, moved to the Maison Servais de Mersch in 1995 and expanded by the Becker-Eiffes House in mid-October 2009. The Literary Archives serve research on the one hand, and from the general public, on the other, in particular through special thematic exhibitions. Since November 2011, the Luxembourg Encyclopedia of Authors has been available online.
The Bibliothèque nationale du Luxembourg is the largest scientific library in Luxembourg. All fields of science are represented here. The general collection comprises some 750,000 volumes and 3,500 titles of international journals from all disciplines. Some 30,000 volumes are freely accessible in the reading and consultation rooms. Every year the general collection is expanded by about 10,000 volumes. The linguistic situation of Luxembourg makes the acquisition of literature additionally expensive. The second most important library is that of the court, with 30,000 volumes and important collections, which is only open to the public when visiting the palace. Only 10% is accessible and therefore remains largely unknown.
The most important academic libraries are those of the University of Luxembourg, some specialized libraries (Centre national de la littérature, Bibliothèque du Grand Seminaire, Statec, etc.), the libraries of foreign cultural institutes and the libraries of European institutions: the European Commission, the European Parliament, the European Court of Justice and the European Investment Bank, etc.
Gastronomy
The cuisine of Luxembourg is influenced by the cuisine of its neighboring countries. There are few dishes that do not similarly exist in one of the neighboring regions. Specifically, there are then German influences (for example, Sauerkraut - sauerkraut), French (for example, quiche lorraine) and Belgian (for example, moules-frites - mussels with fried potatoes). They are considered, among others, as national dishes:
- Bouneschlupp: a soup with green beans
- Judd mat Gardebounen: pork meat with beans
- Kachkéis: a type of semi-liquid cheese, also known in France and called there Cancoillotte.
Haute cuisine in Luxembourg is clearly of the French type (haute cuisine française), while traditional cuisine is simpler and has more Germanic or Lorraine features. As in many countries, an international cuisine (Italian, Chinese, Greek, Japanese, Mexican, American fast food, etc.) has also established itself, which finds a certain success. Due to the high number of Portuguese immigrants, Portuguese cuisine is also very well represented, so many Luxembourgers have become used to dishes from this country.
Being on the border of the Latin and Germanic worlds, the country has both a wine and beer culture. Much of both is drunk, and both are produced locally. Luxembourg beer is typically of the Pilsener type, while Luxembourg wines are light white wines or cava-type wines, then called crémant.
Traditions
In Luxembourg, traditions are alive in many secular and religious festivals. The Schueberfouer (Schober Fair), which takes place from the end of August to the beginning of September, is the most important fair on the Place du Glacis, with its origins dating back to the XIV. On Éimaischen, the traditional Emmaus festival on Easter Monday, many Luxembourgers go to the square near the fish market and the Nospelt to get one of the bird-shaped ceramic pipes, the Péckvillchen, which can only be purchased that day. On the first Sunday of Lent, the burning of castles is celebrated in many towns.
The most important religious festival in Luxembourg is the Eighth of Our Lady, (Muttergottesoktav) which is celebrated from the third to fifth Sunday after Easter and during which pilgrimages are made to the Virgin Mary, the patron saint of Luxembourg. The festival is accompanied by a fair, the Oktavmäertchen, on Wilhelmsplatz. The Echternach Spring Procession (Echternacher Springprozession) is a religious procession that takes place every year in Echternach on the Tuesday after Whitsun. Participants "jump" to the rhythm of the polka in rows through the streets of the city until they reach the Basilica of Echternach with the tomb of Saint Willibrord.
Written press
The landscape of the Luxembourg press has traditionally mirrored the landscape of parties in their political diversity. Currently, of the four multilingual dailies, with the sole exception of the Zeitung vum Lëtzebuerger Vollek, the KPL's newspaper organ, all belong to the Editpress group or to the Saint-Paul media house. Due to the generally more difficult economic situation (increasing production costs, declining readership of the print media as a whole), publishers are increasingly dependent on advertising revenue, which has led to a deterioration of journalistic quality. Through the press aid system introduced in 1976, the State subsidizes the daily press with approximately 1.5 million euros per year and the weekly press with 200,000 to 300,000 euros. A part is paid in proportion to the number of editorial pages.
The Luxemburger Wort, founded in 1848 and published almost exclusively in German, is the newspaper with the largest circulation, with some 82,000 copies, and is close to the Catholic Church and the CSV. The second in dissemination is the Tageblatt, close to the OGBL and FNCTTFEL unions and the LSAP party. There is also the Lëtzebuerger Journal, close to the DP and which has recently entered into collaboration with Editpress.
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The weekly newspapers are woxx and the independent d'Lëtzebuerger Land, more oriented towards business associations. A private tabloid is published weekly.
Two weekly magazines, Télécran and Revue, offer extensive television programming adapted to the special linguistic conditions of the country and are dedicated to current affairs in Luxembourg in reports. Also, the celebrity magazine Promi.
The satire section was represented by Den neie Feierkrop, which was published weekly but ceased publication in 2018. The magazine d'Wäschfra was published monthly. A popular comic book series has the Superjhemp as its hero.
Foro de Política, Sociedad y Cultura is a Luxembourgish magazine that is published in eleven issues a year and focuses on a specific theme, generally sociopolitical, in each one of them. The Luxembourg-German magazine Grenzenlos is also published once a month.
In 2007, two free newspapers, Point24 and L'essentiel, entered the Luxembourg market for the first time. Point24 stopped working in December 2012. On the other hand, L'essentiel was the medium with the greatest reach in the press in May 2021, according to a study by TNS-Ilres.
Since 2017, there has been a purely digital magazine, reporter.lu. The Internet newspaper participated in the investigation of the Pandora Papers, for example.
Most of the newspapers and magazines in Luxembourg are multilingual. The vast majority of the articles are written in German, but many are also in French and only a small number in Luxembourgish. For some years now, dailies and weeklies purely in French have also been published (Le Jeudi (suspended in June 2019), La Voix du Luxembourg (suspended in September 2011), Le Quotidien). Contacto and Correio are published exclusively in Portuguese.
Parties
| Date | Name in Luxembourg | Name in Spanish |
|---|---|---|
| 1 January | Neijoerschdag | New Year |
| February | Fuesent | Carnival |
| March/April | Ouschterdag | Easter Monday |
| 1 May | Dag vun der Aarbecht | Labour Day |
| May/June | Christi Himmelfahrt | Ascension |
| May | Päischtméindeg | Monday of Pentecost |
| 23 June | Nationalfeierdag | Grand Duke's birthday (National Party) |
| 15 August | Mariä Himmelfahrt | Assumption of Mary |
| 1 November | Allerhellgen | All Saints |
| 25 December | Chrëschtdag | Christmas |
| 26 December | Stiefesdag | San Esteban |
Sports
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The most famous athlete from Luxembourg is the skier Marc Girardelli (Austrian by birth, but a Luxembourg national), winner of the overall Alpine Ski World Cup in 1985, 1986, 1989, 1991 and 1993. He also He was a silver medalist in the giant slalom and super-G events at the 1992 Albertville Olympics.
In tennis, Gilles Muller and Mandy Minella have stood out, reaching positions 34 and 66 in their respective rankings, the ATP and WTA.
Football
Football is the most popular sport in Luxembourg.
As of 2021, the Luxembourg Stadium or Stade de Luxembourg is the largest football stadium in the country (capacity: 9,471 seats). It hosts the home games of the Luxembourg national football team (national stadium) as well as the Luxembourg national rugby union team. Before, the Josy Barthel Stadium, opened in 1931, was the national stadium and the largest football stadium in the country (capacity: 8054 seats). Jeff Strasser, the second most capped player for the national soccer team, was active in the first German Bundesliga for seven years. Internationally, the national team has performed well in recent years (FIFA ranking: 83rd place). The national football association of Luxembourg is called the Fédération Luxembourgeoise de Football (FLF).
The highest division of club soccer is the National Division. The most successful soccer teams in Luxembourg are Racing FC Union Luxembourg (28 times champion, 20 times Luxembourg Cup) and Jeunesse Esch (28 times champion, 13 times Luxembourg Cup).
Cycling
Cycling is the most successful sport in Luxembourg.
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The Tour de Luxembourg stage race is one of the first preparatory races for the Tour de France since 1935. After three decades, Fränk Schleck became the first Luxembourger to win in 2009. Winners also include Lance Armstrong, who achieved his first success here after overcoming cancer. With François Faber (1909), Nicolas Frantz (1927 and 1928), Charly Gaul (1958) and Andy Schleck (2010), a total of four Tour de France winners come from Luxembourg. Faber was also the first non-French to win the world's biggest stage race.
Runners Laurent Didier, Jempy Drucker, Ben Gastauer, Alex Kirsch and Bob Jungels are currently into this type of sport. Bob Jungels was the junior world champion in the individual time trial in 2010. There are currently two major cycling teams in Luxembourg: Leopard Pro Cycling (continental team) and Team Differdange-Losch (continental team). The Schleck brothers fell just short of winning the 2011 Tour, placing second and third respectively behind Cadel Evans at the end of July.
Athletics
The Grand Duchy of Luxembourg has produced two Olympic champions in athletics to date. Michel Théato won the gold medal in the marathon race at the 1900 Summer Olympics in Paris. However, the victory continues to be attributed to the medal table for France to this day. The second Luxembourg Olympic champion was the track and field athlete Josy Barthel. He won in the XV. 1952 Summer Olympics in Helsinki over 1500 m.
In 2013, Luxembourg City hosted the Games of the Small States of Europe, a biennial multi-sport event organized by the National Olympic Committees (NOKs) of nine small European states.
Olympics
Luxembourg has won 4 Olympic medals throughout the history of the Olympic Games (both winter and summer).
| Medalla | Name | Games | Sport | Test |
|---|---|---|---|---|
02! | Joseph Alzin | Antwerp 1920 | Halterophilia | +82.5 kg male |
| 02! | Marc Girardelli | Albertville 1992 | Alpine skiing | Giant masculine |
| 02! | Marc Girardelli | Albertville 1992 | Alpine skiing | Male Super-G |
01! | Josy Barthel | Helsinki 1952 | Athleticism | 1500 masculine meters |