Delano December 2016 by Maison Moderne

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LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

LËTZ B AUDAC E IOU S The much-heralded launch of a new signature for the country as part of Luxembourg’s nation-branding effort left many observers unimpressed.

the tram is linked to Findel, but that is only due to happen in 2021. Meanwhile, there are countless examples of ways in which Luxembourg lets itself down. Despite recent efforts, the quality wo years ago, in the wake of the of service, opening times and the choice LuxLeaks scandal, the government of shops and restaurants leave a lot to be stepped up its efforts to define Luxembourg’s desired. Cultural venues, which offer world identity and to create a positive brand class programmes when open, shut down image for the country. Secretary of state during the school holidays leaving visitors at the ministry of the economy Francine with the impression that there is nothing Closener told me in an interto do in Luxembourg. The view for Delano in November website of the national football "IT IS GOING 2014 that the end goal was federation looks like it was not just about creating a logo TO TAKE MUCH made ten years ago by a or finding a banal slogan in 14-year-old--fans struggle to MORE THAN order to sell Luxembourg. find information and then AN UNRESadly, that is what seems the federation complains MARKABLE to have happened. The counnobody turns up to matches. STYLISED X try’s new signature “LuxemThese are indicative of an AND A bourg: let’s make it happen”, inward-looking hierarchy in HACKNEYED with a stylised “X” in the too many institutions and national colours, is precisely commercial endeavours; of SLOGAN TO what Closener didn’t want: a country still too often stuck MAKE banal and meaningless. Now, ways. LUXEMBOURG in Inits2014 I have great respect for the Closener recognised 'HAPPEN'." talents involved in the creation that Luxembourgers are often of the new signature, but this too modest, and that expats time they have missed the sometimes make the best mark. Or maybe their brief was just not ambassadors for the country. So get them bold enough. more involved, find out what foreign resIt is going to take much more than an idents love about Luxembourg and use unremarkable stylised X and a hackneyed that to create a strong image. slogan to make Luxembourg “happen”. There is so much in which Luxembourg First impressions count, and in the days can take pride. Let’s be audacious in letting after the launch social media was awash the world know about its ability to punch with criticism of the airport--everything above its weight, its innovative spirit, its from waiting times, the cost of food and generosity and its achievements. beverages, the price of a taxi ride into the city and poor public transport connections. DUNCAN ROBERTS The latter will be improved vastly once Editor-in-chief

ON MY MIND Public petition no.717 calling for an end to questions about sexual preference for potential male blood donors (www.chd.lu)--hypnobirthing classes at CHL Maternité (www.maternite.chl.lu)--Future Of The Left coming to Rotondes in February (www.atelier.lu)--getting nationality in time for the October 2018 parliamentary election. (www.mj.public.lu) December 2016

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Write to PO Box 728 L-2017 Luxembourg Offices 10 rue des Gaulois, Luxembourg-Bonnevoie ISSN 2220-5535 Web www.maisonmoderne.com Founder and CEO Mike Koedinger Administrative and financial director Etienne Velasti Innovation, quality and operations director Rudy Lafontaine PUBLISHER Phone (+352) 20 70 70 Fax (+352) 29 66 19 E-mail publishing@maisonmoderne.com Publisher Mike Koedinger Editor in chief Duncan Roberts (duncan.roberts@maisonmoderne.com) Desk editor Aaron Grunwald (aaron.grunwald@maisonmoderne.com) Contributors Wendy Casey, Neel Chrillesen, Jean Comte, Isabella Eastwood, Stephen Evans, Martine Huberty, Marina Lai, Elodie Lamer, Sarah Pitt, Alix Rassel, Tonya Stoneman, Wendy Winn Photography Sven Becker, Luc Deflorenne, Marion Dessard, Jan Hanrion, Anna Katina, Lala La Photo, Andrés Lejona, Mike Zenari Proofreading Pauline Berg, Muriel Dietsch, Sarah Lambolez, Inès Sérizier DESIGN Phone (+352) 20 70 70-200 Fax (+352) 27 62 12 62-84 E-mail studio@maisonmoderne.com Director, Maison Moderne Studio Guido Kröger Creative director Jeremy Leslie Studio manager Stéphanie Poras-Schwickerath Art director Cassandre Bourtembourg Layout Sascha Timplan (coordination), Monique Bernard, Sophie Melai

CONTENTS

DELANO DECEMBER 2016

FAMILY Think of the children

The government’s reform of the congé parental law is supposed to encourage parents with a higher salary to spend more time with their children. Opponents of the bill say it will leave some parents worse off.

ENVIRONMENT Question on the table

Can Luxembourg slim down on the amount of food that it bins each year?

ADVERTISING Phone (+352) 20 70 70-300 Fax (+352) 26 29 66 20 E-mail regie@maisonmoderne.com Director, Maison Moderne Advertising Sales Francis Gasparotto (francis.gasparotto@maisonmoderne.com) Sales director Luciana Restivo (luciana.restivo@maisonmoderne.com) Account manager Anca Marinescu (anca.marinescu@maisonmoderne.com) SUBSCRIPTIONS For subscriptions, please visit www.delano.lu Luxembourg (shipping included) 1 year / 8 issues / 25 euros 2 years / 16 issues / 50 euros Europe (shipping included) 1 year / 8 issues / 31 euros 2 years / 16 issues / 68 euros

ENTREPRENEURSHIP Ten innovators You should know about these cool projects. Delano explains why.

COVER STORY Alternative funds revolution

It didn’t take long for Luxembourg’s financial sector to take advantage of new EU rules regulating “alternative funds”. So, what exactly are alternative industry funds and what does the industry really think about their potential?

Printed by Imprimerie Centrale Distribution by Valora Services Luxembourg

In accordance with article 66 of the law of 08.06.2004 on the freedom of expression in the media: the company that publishes Delano is indirectly held, by a stake exceeding 25%, by Mike Koedinger, an independent editor registered in Luxembourg. Mike Koedinger is chartered with daily management. Delano™ and Maison Moderne™ are trademarks used under licence by MM Publishing S.A. © MM Publishing S.A. (Luxembourg) COVER PHOTO

Andrés Lejona photographed Denise Voss, Jean-Christian Six, Gérard Matheis, Jan Vanhoutte, Claude Niedner, Gudrun Göbel and Alan Ross, seen in a collage by Cassandre Bourtembourg. NOTE TO OUR READERS

The next print edition of Delano will be published on 9 December. For updates, commentary and our weekly what’s on guide, visit www.delano.lu.

MEDIA Technology in search of a narrative

Virtual reality could just be the next big thing in the entertainment world. How are Luxembourg companies using VR to tell stories in new ways and engage with audiences via the new medium?

FASHION All the small things

From glasses to gloves, here are some of the stylish accessories made in Luxembourg.

December 2016

CONTENTS

CURRENT AFFAIRS 10

UPFRONT Catching up with…

The head of Luxembourg’s translators and interpreters trade group has a few words for you. 12

BUSINESS

THE JOURNAL Dispatches from Delano writers

UPFRONT Carte blanche

Luxembourg’s financial sector can help developing countries develop their own risk management solutions, writes Dirk Zetzsche.

LIFESTYLE 70

UPFRONT Quick take

The new president of the Bazar International talks about the organisation of the weekend-long charity event, one of the highlights of the Advent season.

SNAPSHOTS Chief execs talk leadership

CINEMA Celebrating Brazilian Film

Four local CEOs shared their own-and Oscar Wilde’s--advice during this British Chamber of Commerce forum.

“NEEN” TO LUXEMBOURGISH ONLY

A petition to keep Luxembourg multilingual Search for “Luxembourgish”

SNAPSHOTS Economic development The storm of criticism surrounding the government’s handling of refugee housing; Luxembourg researchers are digesting research into how bacteria influences our health; the potential for bilaterial trade with Bangladesh; will proposed EU tax rules spell the end of transfer pricing; what impact will the new US president have on trade with Luxembourg; and who is Sven Clement?

The government has unveiled the new “Luxembourg: let’s make it happen” icon and tagline. 42

The agriculture ministry talks to the food industry about chucking less away.

IN FOCUS We are all Swedish fans

Computer security researchers in Luxembourg say that “everyone is vulnerable”, but have some straightforward safety tips.

Author and chef Anne Faber returns to Luxembourg for her third book, which is packed with her unique take on local recipes. 92

REAL ESTATE Why are there so many cranes?

ON STAGE Timeless tale

NETWORKING Spreading the word

The Indian Business Chamber of Luxembourg turned five earlier this year. Its new board has plans to expand both in the Greater Region and further afield. 68

MY OTHER LIFE True spin

Stéphanie Laplane’s soundtrack for living.

Why two American expats supported their candidates Search for “US election”

Two chances to see Charles Dickens’ classic, A Christmas Carol, plus 14 other shows to help you escape the late autumn.

KIDS Don’t stall

US PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION

More firms are setting up or expanding operations in the Grand Duchy, and building development continues apace. But the market will remain tight.

CORRECTION

MEDIA Bringing home the bacon

Yellow and blue clad football supporters brighten up the Gare district.

In the October edition, in the article about private health insurance on pages 48 and 49, we misspelled the name of Thomas Merten. Our apologies.

GETTING INVOLVED Hirsute heroes

Local rugby players are doing their bit for the “Movember” movement, which raises millions for charity.

Delano previews the festival that puts movies from Latin America’s biggest country in the spotlight.

TECHNOLOGY Make life harder for hackers

SNAPSHOTS Tackling food waste

DIGITAL DELANO DIGITAL HIGHLIGHTS: HIGHLIGHTS WWW.DELANO.LU

Christmas markets make it easy get in some quality holiday time--whether your family makes one traditional outing a year, or you go every weekend.

CLOSE BORDER FOR A DAY

Luxembourg PM floats a radical idea in Paris Search for “Bettel”

AUNTIE ELEANOR Bikeshare to work

Delano’s advice columnist helps solve readers’ first name and mobility conundrums.

HOME PRICES

Cost of housing up 1%-4%, says report Search for “housing prices”

HAVE A COMMENT? Delano is always looking for reader feedback and guest contributors: news@delano.lu

December 2016

Chambre des Députés Flickr user Bill B (Creative Commons) ME Flickr user Mélanie (Creative Commons)

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UPFRONT

CURRENT AFFAIRS IN BRIEF

JEAN MONNET Plans have been unveiled for the European Commission’s new Jean Monnet building on Kirchberg. The project, which should be completed by 2022, will feature a 23-storey office block and 7-storey building, both with underground parking. SERGE WILMES The 34-year-old historian has been elected the head of the CSV party in the capital city, one year ahead of local elections. Winning 72% of the vote ahead of Maurice Bauer, Wilmes succeeds Isabelle WiselerLima, the wife of CSV party president Claude Wiseler. ENRICO LUNGHI The Mudam director was under scrutiny and forced to apologise after footage showed he had grabbed RTL journalist Sophie Schram by the forearm. The journalist waited ten days after the incident before seeking treatment for the injury she claims she sustained. December 2016

TURBO FOR IRRGARTEN

Minister for sustainable development François Bausch has revealed plans for a “turbo roundabout” makeover of the Irrgarten, the traffic bottleneck between Hamm and Sandweiler. Dedicated lanes and traffic lights should help ease congestion, says the ministry. Work on the project will start in the middle of 2017 and could last some 15 months.

"AS MEMBERS THEY ASKED THE EU FOR EXCEPTIONS; NOW THEY WILL BE OUT AND THEY WANT A LOAD OF OPT-INS. IT’S NOT ON." PRIME MINISTER XAVIER BETTEL ON THE UK’S ATTITUDE TO BREXIT FOLLOWING EU DISCUSSIONS IN BRUSSELS WITH HIS COUNTERPART THERESA MAY.

CONCERN OVER YOUNG REFUGEES

Foreign minister Jean Asselborn has revealed that close to half of the unaccompanied minor refugees who arrived in Luxembourg in 2016 are not accounted for. Answering a parliamentary question from CSV deputy Martine Mergen, Asselborn said that up until 30 September some 83 unaccompanied minors had made it to Luxembourg, but that 37 of them had disappeared before formally applying for asylum. Our photo shows a young refugee boy in Slovenia. Minors are initially given shelter in the Luxexpo facility for refugees. From there they are transferred to the Lily Unden shelter in Limpertsberg, which is run by the migrants and refugee service of the Luxembourg Red Cross. Usually, the youngsters are then given a more permanent home in a shelter run by the Office National de l’Enfance. But up until the end of September only 39 minors had actually applied for asylum in Luxembourg, Asselborn said. He thinks many of them use Luxembourg as a transit stop on their way to other countries--minors are exempt from the Dublin accord, which states that refugees must apply for asylum in the EU country in which they first set foot.

Charles Caratini (archives) Meabh Smith/Trócaire

Luxembourg’s ranking, out of 144 countries, in Save The Children’s Girls Opportunity Index. The Grand Duchy placed ahead of the UK (15th), France (18th) and the USA (32nd) but behind Belgium (5th) and Germany (12th). The top 3 countries for girls to grow up in were Sweden, Finland and Norway. www.savethechildren.net

RITA SCHMIT The chair of the Grand Duchy’s trade group

A HEATED DEBATE

Representatives of America’s two main parties had a passionate exchange of views on 20 October. See full report: www.delano.lu/ USelectiondebate2016

Jan Hanrion

US ELECTIONS A. James O’Neal and William Abundes of Republicans Abroad Luxembourg; David McKean, US ambassador to Luxembourg, who moderated; and Eva Moynihan and Will Bakker of Democrats Abroad Luxembourg B. Colette Flesch C. Marc Elvinger of the law firm Arendt & Medernach, which hosted the debate, on right D. Alison Shorter-Lawrence and Claude Radoux

CATCHING UP WITH…

for professional translators and interpreters has a few words for you.

The Luxembourg Translators and Interpreters Association (Alti) celebrated its 5th anniversary with a symposium for professional translators and interpreters on 30 September, which marks International Translation and Interpreting Day. “We decided to do something special for the occasion, as five years is quite a milestone and we are proud that we are growing steadily,” says Rita Schmit, founding president of Alti. It was the first day ded dedicated to translators and interpreters in the Grand Duchy, and Alti is the only association of its kind comhere. The idea began, in 2009, among a few com mitted linguists disgruntled by the lack of possibilities for those in the profession to exchange ideas and experiences. They decided to meet up every couple of months and, in 2011, a group of 16 founding members established the association that exists today, now with 75 members and counting. The association is a platform on which translators and interpreters in Luxembourg and the Greater Region can exchange ideas, train or simply meet for common activities. Schmit elaborates elaborates: “Our meetings every two months or so are varied and can involve a presentation by a member, a training session or general discussions. Interested non-members can come along, such as students who don’t yet have a degree but are interested in the association.” Maintaining high standards demands a tough selection process. All members are highly-qualified active professionals, have a degree in translation or interpreting, and many are sworn before the Superior Court of Justice in Luxembourg. “It is important for us to become stronger. Translation and interpretation are not protected professions in Luxembourg which means that anybody can claim to be a translator, but not necessarily everyone has the same credentials,” explains Schmit. Covering 24 languages, the association does not sell services but provides a directory of its mem members along with the languages they offer who can be contacted directly. Unsurprisingly, the majority of requests concern Luxembourgish, German, French and English. Looking ahead, Schmit says Alti “hopes to offer even more training as we strongly believe in lifelong learning”. www.traducteurs-interpretes.lu Interview by SARAH PITT Photography by ANNA KATINA December 2016

CURRENT AFFAIRS

THE JOURNAL

ROUGH PATCH FOR REFUGEE AGENCY The government has been facing a storm of criticism over living conditions for refugees. Have officials been slow in properly housing the influx of more than 2,500 asylum applicants?

n recent months, there has been a surge of negative commentary regarding the treatment of refugees and asylum seekers in Luxembourg. Pictures of poor living standards,

December 2016

protests and general dissatisfaction have been widely reported in the media, and condemnation has firmly fallen on the doors of the country’s foreigner integration agency, the Office Luxembourgeois de l’Accueil et de l’Intégration (Olai). But are the Luxembourg authorities really to blame? “I think that people forget that whilst Olai has overall responsibility for more than 80 facilities, they are not the only stakeholder involved

in the process,” said Halim Abdoulrazzak, an asylum seeker from Amouda, Syria (pictured), who was recently awarded the Luxembourg Peace Prize for his work with refugees in Luxembourg and abroad. “Other NGOs are also responsible for the day-to-day running of many of the foyers [shelters], so accountability cannot be placed solely on the Olai’s shoulders.” Indeed, out of the more than six dozen facilities in the country, 25% are run and managed daily by NGOs, with Olai social workers, educators and security teams visiting regularly. “Many of the emergency asylum centres are managed by an NGO but staffed almost entirely by

"BEST EFFORTS" At the height of the refugee crisis in 2015, Olai was quick to set up several emergency centres to house people for the short term, considered to be up to six months, with plans to build more permanent structures in 2016 and 2017. However, according to a Woxx newspaper interview with Yves Piron, the agency’s director, there are now several legal appeals preventing container villages being established in certain communes. (Olai declined Delano’s repeated requests for an interview.) “Communication is key to solving problems and managing expectations,” states Abdoulrazzak. “If you effectively explain the processes to asylum seekers, things will go more smoothly. If you are a refugee sitting in the foyer waiting for your papers and you do not know the process, you may get frustrated and annoyed. Refugees want to contribute something to society like anyone else; it is the nature of all people to have a purpose.” Initiatives such as The Connections project supported by the Association de Soutien aux Travailleurs Immigrés aim to assist asylum seekers find training, internships and mentoring prior to receiving official refugee status. Additionally, the Œuvre Nationale de Secours Grande-Duchesse Charlotte, another major charity, established the “Mateneen” project in December 2015, which has invested over €12m in projects designed to provide asylum seekers with participative activities.

“It is natural that when people are busy and fulfilled they feel like they have a role to play in local society,” says Abdoulrazzak. “It is easy to find fault when you have nothing to keep you occupied.” Reported by ALIX RASSEL

IS OUR GUT "THE SECOND BRAIN"? Bacterial activity in our digestive tract may have huge influence over our physical and mental health. Researchers at the University of Luxembourg have made a step towards unlocking these secrets.

here is growing evidence that cancer, depression, obesity, Parkinson’s disease, asthma, and more are greatly influenced by the activity of bacteria in our guts. Some are hyping up this idea by calling the digestive tract our “second brain”. A team at the Luxembourg Centre for Systems Biomedicine at the University of Luxembourg has made a major, unique step forward which will enable scientists to look for further evidence. Scientists need to accurately mimic how bacteria grows and how it interacts with food and medicine. “Growing bacterial cultures in the lab in a Petri dish can only give us basic understanding, and testing in germ-free animals contends with their physiology being different to that of humans, as well as the ethical concerns,” explained Paul Wilmes, head of the LCSB Eco-Systems Biology Group. Systems biomedicine employs a variety of interdisciplinary techniques to find solutions. Professor Wilmes heads a group of natural scientists and engineers who for four years

sought to develop an experimental system that closely replicates the gut. They were assisted by colleagues from the University of Arizona in the US. The result was “Humix”, which stands for “Human Microbial Crosstalk”. This allows intestinal cells to be grown and kept alive, then bacteria can be introduced and the interaction observed. Drugs or food can be added, and that too studied. Humix has a square polycarbonate frame about the same dimensions as a beer mat. This frame supports semi-permeable membranes that form three parallel chambers. Human gut cells grow in the middle layer, fed by nutrients flowing in from the upper chamber, with bacteria cultivated in the lower chamber. Material interacts just as it does in our bodies. “Before Humix, nobody had been able to co-culture human and microbial cells while ensuring that the microbes grow under anaerobic [oxygen free] conditions as is the case in the gut,” explained Wilmes. This “gut on a chip” device is unique, and is now being used exclusively by LCSB and University of Arizona research teams. For example, they are currently researching exactly how high-fibre food seems to prevent colorectal cancer. It could also be a commercial success. “The reaction has blown my mind,” enthused Wilmes. “We receive about 10-15 expressions of interest a month from researchers, investors and companies that would like to use Humix.” For example, if the gut December 2016

University of Luxembourg/Michel Brumat

Mike Zenari

volunteers,” explained “Dianea”, a Good Samaritan at a facility run by a major charity who asked that her real name not be used because she was not authorised to speak with the press. “Whilst we try our very best as volunteers, we are not ‘trained’ as such and are completely reliant on the amenities that we are provided with. For the most part, things run smoothly, but sometimes fundamental items are missing such as cutlery or food for babies.”

CURRENT AFFAIRS

THE JOURNAL

CONTINUED

has the impact that is believed, it could be possible to develop drugs or even probiotic food that could help counter obesity, stress, diabetes, cancer, among other illnesses. The technology might be world leading, but selling it to food and drug companies is a tricky, specialist business. Success would be great news for the advancement of science, and would be highly lucrative. Reported by STEPHEN EVANS

NEW PERSPECTIVES ON BANGLADESH Bangladesh is a growing economy with potential, says its honorary consul to Luxembourg. Nasreen Zamir talks about her country’s image and the prospects of bilateral trade with the Grand Duchy.

raceful and smart, Nasreen Zamir is a lady who knows what she wants. The freshly appointed honorary consul of Bangladesh to Luxembourg recently completed her first working visit to the Grand Duchy and came away with a view of the country that could help the nation-branding cause. “It touched me that Luxembourg is rich but thinks about the welfare and well being of people who do not have anything and are far away-that’s the biggest CSR you can think of; you really should use it. I think Luxembourg people are reliable, focused, open and warm. And I must add, they are elegant… though I don’t look at clothes, but at the mind and the intention.” Zamir had a packed programme over four days in October, meeting with the grand duke, her Luxembourg

December 2016

counterpart Thierry Reisch, representatives from the ministry of foreign affairs, the ministry of the economy, the Luxembourg Chamber of Commerce, the university and a number of private businesses and the head of the Bangladesh Business Chamber of Commerce, Luxembourg, Roy Suhash. “It was so well coordinated; I am completely impressed. I had to be fit to manage all of it, and now it is my job to make the connections.” Of course, Bangladesh is best known for its textile production. Its ready-made garment exports are currently worth some $28 billion, making up around 80% of the country’s export business, and the goal is to increase that to $50 billion by 2020-21. Zamir met with Cargolux to discuss the possibility of making Bangladesh a destination for the freight carrier. “But we also need to work out how much freight they can carry.” But, as

Zamir explains, there is so much more to Bangladesh than the garment industry. Enjoying 6% economic growth, Bangladesh has an exp a n d i n g m i d d l e c l a s s wh o s e purchasing power has huge potential, says Zamir. The country is very keen on education, for example. At the university, Zamir met with Tonie van Dam in charge of international relations at the faculty of science, communication and technology to talk about the possibility of Bangladeshis attending the university under an exchange programme or some kind of grant and to explore the possibility of a masters programme for women. “Bangladesh is moving towards the empowerment of women. We are a very secular country, and women play an important role in the garment industry, in teaching, banking, event management and as entrepreneurs.” The country also has a female prime minister and a number of parliamentarians are women. “Digital Bangladesh and the blue economy are top priorities for our present prime minister, Sheikh Hasina,” says Zamir. The financial services industry is another area in which the two countries can cooperate. “I think Bangladesh can prof it from Luxembourg ’s k nowledge,” says t he honorary consul, who is already toying with the idea of creating a banking roadshow. An interior designer by profession, Zamir has a close connection to the arts and crafts industry and when she met the grand duke he suggested a showcase of the country’s unique and vibrant arts and crafts to promote Bangladesh as a tourism destination. Reported by DUNCAN ROBERTS

" I THINK BANGLADESH CAN PROFIT FROM LUXEMBOURG’S KNOWLEDGE." NASREEN ZAMIR

Sven Becker

CURRENT AFFAIRS

THE JOURNAL

CONTINUED

THE END OF TRANSFER PRICING I

n late October, the European Commission gave a new push to establish a European Common Consolidated Corporate Tax Base, an ambitious tool to fight tax avoidance and make tax payments easier for companies. The proposal is made of two draft directives: a common definition of taxable profits, and a ‘consolidation’ system allowing companies to add up all the profits and losses of their subsidiaries in different EU member states, to reach a net profit or loss for the entire EU. This is the second time that the European executive is proposing a CCCTB. A first attempt, back in 2011, ended in a deadlock as member states opposed the proposal. But the commission hopes that the recent LuxLeaks and BahamasLeaks scandals have created new momentum for the draft rules. But to make sure the text won’t be rejected again, the commission made some changes to its 2011 proposal. First, the CCCTB system would be mandatory, and not optional. It would apply to multinational groups with global revenues exceeding €750m a year. Consolidation was the most controversial issue back in 2011, and one of the reasons why the proposal was never agreed between finance ministers. The commission now proposes a two-step approach, meaning the member states would first agree on the common base (with rules applicable starting in 2019) then on the consolidation aspect (thus applicable in 2021). In the meantime, companies will be able to offset profits in one EU country against losses in another. Once the consolidation is implemented, that would de facto mean the end of transfer pricing in the EU, which is one of the main vehicles for profit shifting within groups. December 2016

Secondly, the proposal now has a stronger focus on fighting tax avoidance, instead of being just a tool to make life simpler for firms. The commission also added its own tax incentives. One aims at fostering research and innovation through a super deduction scheme, where startups would be allowed to deduct twice their R&D expenses. If adopted as such by finance ministers, the CCCTB would have a notable impact on national budgets. According to the commission’s calculations, Luxembourg would see the biggest impact, with a decrease of corporate tax revenues equivalent to 1% of its GDP, followed by the UK (-0.88%) and Spain (-0.61%). NGOs welcome the proposal, but are worried about the timing. “The CCCTB is what we need to tackle tax avoidance, but with the consolidation scheme,” said Tove Maria Ryding of the European Network on Debt and Development. “If we work only on

the common base, we actually reinforce existing loopholes--for example through this R&D deduction scheme.” The private sector is even more sceptical. BusinessEurope said it regrets that consolidation would be mandatory. “CCCTB could be a good thing for multinational companies,” Nicolas Henckes of the Union des Entreprises Luxembourgeoises (pictured) told Delano. “But let’s be clear: it is a very complicated text, and I am not sure that finance ministers will agree on it.” Reported by JEAN COMTE and ELODIE LAMER

LOOKING BEYOND 8 NOVEMBER Will the US elections have any impact on trade with Luxembourg?

any people bemoan that this US presidential election is less about policy issues and more about the personal qualities and deeds of the two main candidates. Both are hotly contested; the recent allegations of Donald Trump’s lewd behaviour towards women and charges of sexual assault have led many fellow Republicans to desert him, while the leaks of Hillary Clinton’s emails shed a negative light on her credibility and transparency.

James Savage, a professor of politics at the University of Virginia and visiting fellow at the University of Luxembourg, told Delano in mid-October the recent developments indicate that “the issue is no longer Trump. The issue is what Clinton is going to do when she is president. Trump’s campaign is collapsing.” How will Luxembourg’s economy be affected by a Clinton presidency, if at all? Savage says: “I don’t see anything radical taking place between Luxembourg and the US. The major policy areas are domestic; her focus will be on immigration, national security, dealing with issues like Syria.”

Luc Deflorenne (archives)

EU-wide company tax rules are back on the table.

However, he notes that in the area of taxation, problems may arise. Clinton states on her website that “congress should act immediately to prevent corporations from engaging in inversions, where businesses move their corporate residence abroad on paper in order to escape paying their fair share of taxes. This includes imposing a commonsense 50% threshold for foreign company shareholder ownership after a merger before an American company can give up its US identity, and an ‘exit tax’ to ensure multinational companies that change their identity pay a fair share of the US taxes they owe on earnings stashed overseas.” She also wants to limit the ability of multinationals to engage in earnings stripping. That is when “a foreign-based multinational [loads] up a US subsidiary with debt through loans from one part of the company to another and claim a large deduction for the interest in the United States--all while sending the interest income abroad to a country with low tax rates.” The case against McDonald’s as revealed by LuxLeaks is a case in point. The original tax ruling exempted McDonald’s Europe Franchising from corporate income tax if it could show that the profits had been declared and subjected to tax in the US. In 2009, McDonald’s requested a revision, arguing that it shouldn’t need to prove that it actually paid US tax. Luxembourg agreed. The European Commission is investigating those tax deals, which it alleges resulted in McDonald’s paying no tax on their European royalties either in Luxembourg or in the US. One of the likely consequences of a Clinton presidency could be more cooperation with the European Commission on this issue and a crackdown on these loopholes. On the other hand, “she is an establishment personality and she represents New York and the financial industry,” argues Savage. “It all depends on who wins congress. If the Republicans are able to maintain control of the House of Representatives, nothing radical will take place.” Reported by MARTINE HUBERTY

QUICK BIO Born 19 January 1989 in Luxembourg City

SVEN CLEMENT

Education 2001-2008: Lycée Aline Mayrisch 2008-2012: Universität des Saarlandes (BSc mathematics and computer sciences) Career 2009: co-founded the Piratepartei Lëtzebuerg 2010: elected president Piratepartei 2010-2013: Java developer on research projects at DFKI in Germany Since June 2014: co-founder and partner Clement & Weyer Digital Communications Consultants Hobbies New technologies, volleyball, golf, snowboarding

WHO’S WHO?

" OUR AIM IS TO BE REPRESENTED IN COMMUNES IN ALL FOUR ELECTORAL REGIONS." One of the new breed of young politicians, the re-elected president of the Pirate Party is outspoken and ambitious. At the age of 27, Sven Clement already has several years’ experience in politics. He co-founded the Luxembourg Pirate Party in 2009 and has been its public face ever since. On 22 October he was re-elected the party’s president, gaining 91.67% of the vote--a result that he self-effacingly said was democratic. “No North Korean parallels @Piratepartei #merci“ he tweeted. A mathematician and computer scientist, Clement has been an outspoken critic of traditional party politics in Luxembourg. He said after the party’s congress meeting that he was looking forward to next year’s local elections when the party would show that it provided a real alternative to established political parties. At the 2013 parliamentary elections, the party already achieved its primary goal of winning above 2% of the popular vote--that meant it could receive state funding.

But Clement is also a vocal advocate of privacy rights and was fined in 2014 for his part in the so-called Médicoleaks affair. In 2012, with the help of a third party, the then 22-year-old Clement had managed to “steal” medical records from the database of the Service médico-sportif. He informed the state security service and made public the deed (but not the data) and argued that he had only taken the data to prove how easy it was to obtain the information. Such capers seem beyond the more mature Clement now as his party makes a serious bid to win seats at the local elections next year. The issue that the Pirate Party faces, however, is that it rarely makes the headlines away from the elections. Clement knows how to play the media and needs to start doing so soon if he wants to achieve the sort of familiarity with voters that is required to fulfil the party’s ambition. December 2016

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CURRENT AFFAIRS

PARENTAL LEAVE

Text by DUNCAN ROBERTS

Illustrations by JAN HANRION

WON’T SOMEBODY PLEASE THINK OF THE CHILDREN? The government’s reform of the congé parental law is supposed to encourage parents with a higher salary to spend more time with their children. Opponents of the bill say it will leave some parents worse off than before.

he coalition government has made no qualms about who it is targeting with its much heralded reform of the criteria by which employees can take parental leave. Corinne Cahen has said that new congé parental law will benefit children whose parents will now be able to afford to spend more time with them. “Currently it is taken as granted that women apply for parental leave. In the future, it should become the norm for fathers as well,” the family minister said after the new law was passed by a clear majority in parliament. The main changes to the existing law will allow parents to reduce the time they take off work or to choose more flexible modules for their leave. Parents working at least 20 hours a week on a contract will be able to take off 4 or 6 months full-time or 12 or 8 months half-time. The current conditions only allow for the 6- or 12-month module. But in a move aimed at giving parents even more flexibility on how they manage their time, employees on a full-time contract of 40 hours per week will also be able to choose to take a one-month break four times or to work four days a week over a 20-month period. However, the latter options must be agreed upon with the employer. But the parliamentary reporter of the bill, DP deputy Gilles Baum, reckons that employees and

December 2016

employers will work together to find a solution, and even hopes that increased flexibility will help develop more trust between businesses and workers.

REPLACEMENT SALARY The other major change is that parents under a 40-hour contract who take the congé parental will receive up to €3,204 as a “replacement salary”, and at least the minimum salary of €1,922, rather than the universal monthly payment of €1,788 under the current law. However, under the new system the income will be taxed,

leaving some parents who only work part time worse off than under the old system. For instance, parents who work half-time but take full-time congé parental will only receive between €961.5 and €1,602.5 before tax--well below the payment accorded under the previous regime. Even those who work full-time and want to take their leave on a part-time basis could end up losing out. “The aim was quite clearly to increase the amount of money received by those taking congé parental, to encourage those with a higher salary, and principally fathers working full

REPLACEMENT SALARY * Up to €3,204 per month gross for full-time leave. * Minimum of €1,922 per month for full-time leave. * A gross income calculator is available on the Zukunftskeess website. www.cae.public.lu

MORE FLEXIBLE MODULES * 4 or 6 months full-time * 8 or 12 months half-time * 1 day per week over 20 months * 1 month 4 times over 20 months

"CURRENTLY IT IS TAKEN AS GRANTED THAT WOMEN APPLY FOR PARENTAL LEAVE. IN THE FUTURE, IT SHOULD BECOME THE NORM FOR FATHERS AS WELL." CORINNE CAHEN

time, to take the parental leave,” said Myriam Schanck, president of the Zukunftskeess, which manages parental leave applications. “But you can’t say that everyone who will take the congé parental will get more net revenue under the new regime.” On the other hand, now that parents receive a “replacement salary” rather than a social security benefit, they will continue to pay into their state pension fund for the duration of the parental leave. And the salary is index-linked (the next index rise is expected towards the end of this year).

PHILOSOPHICAL DIFFERENCES The bill was approved by a clear majority in parliament, even though the 23 members of the CSV faction decided to abstain from the vote. The opposition party’s Françoise Hetto-Gaasch said they had wanted even more flexible modules included in the law. Indeed, the CSV had introduced formal suggestions to the government that would have seen parents allowed to take up to eight months congé parental, and also called for a module that would allow them to take leave at 20% of their working hours. “Rather than more money, families want more time to grow together,” said Hetto-Gaasch. The CSV also disapproved of the fact that parents would now receive varying compensation depending on their salary, even though they would all be doing the same job of raising their children during the congé parental. But that argument was dismissed by the LSAP’s Taina Bofferding, who said that the “replacement salary” module was aimed at compensating parents for lost income, not as any sort of remuneration for work as a parent. While the populist ADR supported the bill, its leader Fernand Kartheiser also voiced criticism. “People who work receive better conditions for their congé parental, which as a party we welcome. But our problem lies in the fact that all the others, who maybe want to stay at home and look after their children full-time, December 2016

CURRENT AFFAIRS

PARENTAL LEAVE

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TIMING AND CONDITIONS * Parents who are on a permanent contract: full- or part-time. * The employment contract must cover the full period of the parental leave. * The new rules will come into effect on 1 December 2016. * Parents who have already applied for their congé parental, but take their leave after 1 December will benefit from the new conditions. They must, however, submit a new application. * One parent must take the parental leave immediately after the end of the mother’s maternity leave. * Employers cannot refuse to grant the first parental leave. * The other parent can take parental leave any time up to the sixth birthday of the child. * Parents can now take their congé parental simultaneously.

"RATHER THAN MORE MONEY, FAMILIES WANT MORE TIME TO GROW TOGETHER." FRANÇOISE HETTO-GAASCH

December 2016

are being denied a choice.” The ADR would like to see stay-at-home parents receive social security and pension contributions.

BANK AGREEMENT ON MORTGAGES In another surprise move that will help parents, the government and the ABBL bankers’ association signed an agreement that will encourage banks to suspend mortgage repayments for those taking a financial hit during their congé parental. The agreement was signed by Cahen and ABBL vice president Carlo Thill. “Too many families don’t take congé parental because it is not possible to fulfil their credit obligations,” Cahen said. She hoped that the ability to suspend their payments would encourage more parents to take up the leave. Thill emphasised that the agreement did not oblige banks to suspend credit repayments. “It will remain a case by case negotiation between the banks and their customers,” he said. He suggested that some banks may agree to suspend the interest payments or part of a credit.

ents v e d n ets a k r a 16 0 sm a 2 . m t 2 1 Chris .- 24.

plan K

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artist: Florence Weiser

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CURRENT AFFAIRS

ENVIRONMENT

Text by ALIX RASSEL

Photography by MIKE ZENARI

QUESTION FINALLY ON THE TABLE Can Luxembourg slim down on the amount of food it bins?

ood waste has certainly been a hot topic for Luxembourg this year. In May, there was the “Breadgate” incident, when a city bakery was criticised publicly via social media for allegedly throwing away consumable produce. Then, in conjunction with World Food Day on 16 October, several governmental initiatives on the subject were launched. These include the requirement for prominent labelling of household dustbins, distribution of an information pamphlet, and a conference entitled “Together against food waste!”

FOOD REDISTRIBUTION “The subject of how we can manage food waste in Luxembourg City has always been extremely important,” explained Viviane Loschetter, a Green MP and deputy mayor of the capital. The media may have focused on one particular city premises as an example, but Loschetter is keen to point out that this was not an isolated incident. “We are aware that city shops and restaurants often have a surplus of food and that it should be redistributed to those who need it.” “Our focus is on how to get the food to those who need it most whilst following the directives in place,” she says. As a result of the media attention, Loschetter organised a roundtable with representatives from the city, health ministry and NGOs including Caritas, Stëmm vun der Strooss and Cent Buttek. The discussions focused on the need for a third party to collect and redistribute food within the directives, public awareness of the established brown bin scheme for organic household waste, and a more comprehensive system of providing food waste to animals. December 2016

While the city is keen to put measures in place to tackle food waste, Loschetter was quick to highlight the responsibility of the consumer in the process; the greater the demand for choice, the more likelihood there is of unsustainable biological products, such as food waste.

PRODUCING LESS Laure Nnganyadi-Goedert (who is related to the owner of the bakery that was at the centre of the “Breadgate” scandal) ensured that sustainability was part of her business plan when she opened her café, Glow, in Bonnevoie this summer. “Glow is a vegetarian and vegan restaurant, which means that by definition we already consume less produce,” she says. “We also offer a small changeable menu card each day, focusing on fresh and local seasonal produce which ensures that we produce minimal waste.” Even though a smaller choice means that there is often no leftover food at the close of business, it does come with a cost to the consumer, albeit not a monetary one. “Some days, due to popularity, we may sell out of a particular dish,” she notes. “This means that in late afternoon, the consumers may not have a choice as wide as they were expecting, but we always try to accommodate them.” Nnganyadi-Goedert is also hopeful that Luxembourg City will offer a pick-up service for shops and restaurants that have surplus food. “For health and safety reasons, the process for distributing food to shelters is understandably regimented,” she states. “It would be great if there was a hotline or food truck service that shop and restaurant owners could contact on a daily basis to ensure that those in need get leftover foods.”

VIVIANE LOSCHETTER A. The MP is looking for ways for businesses to share surplus food LAURE NNGANYADIGOEDERT B. Everyone needs to purchase in more careful quantities

In today’s increasingly hectic society, ease of use is particularly important when implementing any new environmental and social campaign. “If residents do not have access to a brown bin then of course there will be food waste,” says Simon Norcross, who’s lived in Luxembourg for more than 20 years. “Brown bins which are specifically designated for food waste are readily available, but people need to know about them,” in his view. “A campaign to educate and explain the benefits of recycling food waste would certainly raise public awareness and potentially generate peer pressure.”

KNOWLEDGE GAP At present, householders need to request a brown bin from their commune and pay an annual cost to use it. Whilst this cost is relatively small, as little as €30 per annum, many people simply don’t view it

as a priority. “Education is key to tackling the issue of food waste,” reckons Norcross. “If you know that by placing your food waste into the designated bin you are doing your bit for the environment and green issues in general, of course you will be motivated to do it. If there is an additional incentive, such as a reduction in the cost of the bin for the first year, it would be of even greater interest to the consumer.” Although all parties agree that more can be done to tackle wasted food, they are also in agreement that consumer mentality has to change to ensure the issue declines at the source. “We should look at our own habits first before criticising others,” stresses NnganyadiGoedert. “It is easy to pass judgment on others, but what are we doing when we only eat half of our food at a restaurant or throw away food that’s within its sell-by date?” December 2016

CURRENT AFFAIRS

SNAPSHOTS

Text by ALIX RASSEL

Photography by ANNA KATINA

TACKLING FOOD WASTE

ccording to a survey by the research firm TNS Ilres, Luxembourg generates, on average, 123 kilos of food waste per person each year. This sobering statistic helped prompt the agriculture ministry to launch the campaign “Ensemble contre le gaspillage alimentaire” (Together against food waste). In October, the ministry held a conference for food professionals to exchange best practices. Today’s consumer-based society has led us to the point where “we no longer appreciate the fair value of food,” said Fernand Etgen, the agriculture minister. While supermarkets have been doing a better job, “the majority of Luxembourg residents are not aware of the food waste problem”.

QUIT SQUANDERING A. Werner D. Prill of Food TV Germany moderates the food waste conference organised by the agriculture ministry (www.ma.public.lu) and held at the Chamber of Commerce B. Around 200 food professionals attended the forum, although restaurant and café representatives were largely absent C. Marc Fischer and Ines Hansson D. André Kayser and Jean-Paul Kieffer E. Edith Stein and Jeannette Muller F. Fernand Etgen G. Pierre Treinen and Jeanette Muller H. Tulay Can and Manon Carre I. Torsten Bohn

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MANAGEMENT FORUM A. Patrick Birden and Sandro PaceBonello during the CEO leadership forum organised by the British Chamber of Commerce for Luxembourg (www.bcc.lu) and held at the Banque de Luxembourg in late October B. Daniela Italia and Ole Roed C. Sarah Battey, Jill Saville and Yvonne O’Reilly D. Christophe Ponette and Guillaume Bauer E. Elisa Jensen and Henry Munster F. Alison Macleod, Sophie Kerschen and Rebecca Kellagher, all of the BCC, with Iris Straube G. Monica Jonsson, Henri Wagner, Alberta Brusi, Bob Kneip and Amanda Cameron

H. Bob Kneip listens to Amanda Cameron speak during the BCC panel talk I. Philippe Salomon and Stéphane Compain J. Robert Deed K. Juuli Vuojärvi and Riccardo Marcantonio L. Monica Jonsson, Amanda Cameron, Alberta Brusi and Anthony Mellinger M. Gérard Sinnes and Virginie Boyard N. Henri Wagner (speaking) O. Marie Jublin and Camilla Lindberg P. Mario Willems Q. Darina Cochrane and Johan Lindberg R. Sarah Theo and Laura Warburton

December 2016

BUSINESS

ENTREPRENEURSHIP

Text by AARON GRUNWALD

TEN INNOVATORS YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT We like these projects.

s regular readers of this magazine can doubtlessly attest, startups and entrepreneurship are an everincreasing part of Luxembourg’s economic scene. Delano’s editorial staff regularly runs across super cool outfits in the Grand Duchy, but sometimes there simply has not been enough space in the print edition to highlight them all. But, in this issue, we try to rectify that. Here are ten innovative initiatives that Delano thinks will be making big waves. They are presented alphabetically by organisation name.

DANIEL CLARENS MARC LAROCHE 101 STUDIOS

Title: Co-founders. What: Clarens, a graphic designer, and Laroche, a photographer, run this communications agency, which is based in the 1535° creative centre in Differdange. Why they are cool: 101 Studios is one of five finalists for the “Best Company Created by an Artisan 2016” prize, run by the Chamber of Trades, which will be announced on 24 November. Earlier this year they won a Media Awards people’s choice prize for their National History and Art Museum campaign. Proudest accomplishments so far: “Our satisfaction comes from the fact that, every day, we can provide our clients with quality finished products.” In their own words: “It is the union of our skills that creates our originality.” www.101.lu

December 2016

BERT BOERMAN 2GEARS

Title: Co-founder and CEO. What: The company’s Governance.io platform facilitates regulatory compliance in the investment fund sector. Why they are cool: In June, the company was named “Fintech startup of the year” at KPMG’s Fintech Lion Awards (which has since been renamed the Fintech Awards Luxembourg) winning €50,000 and four months at the Technoport incubator. Bert Boerman started the firm with his twin brother, Rob Boerman, who runs the company’s operations in the Netherlands. In figures: 2Gears has 11 employees and plans to hire 6 more; it announced a €2m funding round in October. In his own words: “The UK, Ireland, Germany and France are top of the list as we make headway developing our global strategy to meet increasing demand.” www.governance.io

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MICHEL RECKINGER AMA MUNDU TECHNOLOGIES

Title: Co-founder and co-CEO. What: Based at the Technoport, their filtration systems separate out animal waste, fertiliser and nanoparticles from used water. The technology launched at the Ettelbruck agriculture fair in July. Origin of the company’s name: “Ama” is “water” in Cherokee and “mundu” is “clean” in Latin, states Reckinger. Why they are cool: Not only is pure water recovered, but so is each chemical substance, meaning farmers, for example, can reuse fertilisers. What’s next: Commercial water extractors “are under construction” and expected to enter service in early 2017, the firm says. In his own words: “Fast track cleantech innovation actually serving circular economy and sustainable development and natural resources preservation!”

CLEANCARB

Title: Founder and CEO. What: The Kopstal-based firm makes energy storage systems for electric and hybrid vehicles. Why they are cool: Cleancarb is part of the Somabat project, an 11-country European consortium out to build better performing batteries. In figures: The company employs 3 staff and 1 contractor; turnover last year was “between €250,000 and €500,000,” reports Dooley. Proudest accomplishments so far: “Starting and sustaining the company since 2009, as well as our success with customers in Europe and around the globe for green energy applications.” In his own words: “Cleancarb provides the best lithium battery solution for your energy storage needs at a good price and in a very short time.”

04 www.cleancarb.com

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Ama Mundu Technologies

www.ama-mundu.com

PETER DOOLEY

December 2016

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AN RCES M HU SOU RE

EUGENE MIZIN JOB TODAY

GLENN LAWYER HEALTHCAST

Title: Co-founder. What: Parents use the startup’s cold and flu forecasts to decide if they should keep their kids home from daycare. They will eventually add respiratory allergens and communicable threats like Zika and Denge. Why they are cool: “We initially built on our own funds, though non-financial support from Technoport and Nyuko was extremely helpful,” Dr. Lawyer told Delano. In August, “we were accepted into UpTech, a Cincinnati, US, based tech accelerator. They invested $50,000, and a few other angels came in as well at the same time. It is enough money to move the team to the US while we complete the program.” They finish beta testing and return to Luxembourg in March 2017. In his own words: “We’re getting people to take their health more seriously. Sure, you can power through a cold, but how many other people are you putting at risk?”

Title: Co-founder. What: A recruitment app for small and midsized firms, particularly in the service sector; they say applicants can “find a job in 24 hours”. Why they are cool: It’s “the Linkedin for blue collar jobs” as Mizin’s business partner, Polina Montano, put it to TechCrunch. In figures: “Job Today now processes close to one million job applications per week,” reports Mizin; a $10m series A round was announced in January and “we have closed a substantial new funding round which we will be announcing shortly”; and “the company is over 50 people strong now, with about half of the team based in Luxembourg and the rest in London and Barcelona.” In his own words: “We estimate that just about 100,000 people have found a job through Job Today in just over a year since we launched. Makes me feel like this is a job worth doing.” www.jobtoday.com

www.health-cast.com

C TE H T AL E H

December 2016

Healthcast Mike Zenari for Delano

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ROMAIN LEMAN KRÉALUX

Title: Co-founder. What: They are the outfit behind SoLux (a ‘what’s on’ app launched in 2013), luxparking.lu (a garage marketplace started last year) and luxpic.lu (a recently unveiled site somewhat similar to Instagram). Why they are cool: If you’re looking for a place to park your car, they have a pretty nifty idea. In figures: “For the moment, we are not generating any revenue,” says Leman (an alias he uses to avoid complications with his day job). More than 1,000 people have downloaded the SoLux app. Proudest accomplishments so far: “Kréalux has allowed us to find a group of friends that we have had since we started. They share their ideas with us and that makes us grow and develop new projects.” In his own words: “We create ideas into websites.” www.krealux.co

DENIS KISELEV SNAPSWAP

Title: Founder and CEO. What: The “first company in Europe to acquire an electronic money institution authorisation” to use blockchain technology. Paul Helminger, the former mayor of Luxembourg City and now Luxair chairman, joined SnapSwap’s board as chair in September. Why they are cool: It’s essentially a super cheap multi-currency debit card service. In figures: Kiselev declined to disclose any. Proudest accomplishments so far: In addition to the EMI license, SnapSwap’s “partnerships with Worldline (payment processing), LuxTrust (authentication and identity management), BGL BNP Paribas (SEPA integration), Bil (treasury management), Ernst & Young (EYnovation program)”. In his own words: “We develop Gloneta, a mobile app to chat and send money--instantly and with no fees.”

08 www.snapswap.eu

December 2016

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Mike Zenari for Delano

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CLAUDE WOLF

UPCYCLING ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING (“UPAM”) PROJECT, UNIVERSITY OF LUXEMBOURG

BENJAMIN LOOS ANDRA LEZZA SANKALP GHATPANDE TEAM PING, UNIVERSITY OF LUXEMBOURG Title: Former computer science master’s degree candidates. What: The trio developed flight management software for unmanned aerial vehicles after seeing news reports of UAVs “almost causing disasters,” says Ghatpande. “The aim of such a system is to make the airspace more secure by providing a way to manage flight paths and avoid collisions.” Why they are cool: Team Ping won second place overall, and Best Space Project, at the Morpheus Cup 2016, a pan-European competition held in Luxembourg this past May (pictured). Also, Delano has a thing for drones. What’s next: “We haven’t pursued the idea further,” since graduation in September 2016, states Lezza. Theoretically, they could try “to work with SES and develop our projects with the help of their technologies and support.” In Loos’s own words: “PilotSafe.lu: a one-stop shop for safe UAV piloting.”

www.uni.lu/fstc

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December 2016

Title: Senior lecturer, mechanical engineering. What: The project created machines, unveiled at the Oekofoire in September, that convert old plastic bottles into “higher value products, such as cell phone cases, using 3D printing,” as Luxinnovation put it. Why this is cool: Seriously, you can turn an old Coke bottle into an iPhone case. Wolfe hopes the technology will encourage recycling and the maker movement. What’s next: The current machines will tour secondary schools around the Grand Duchy; Wolf aims to add more types of plastics to the mix. Proudest accomplishments so far: “The machines were fully engineered, developed and assembled by students during their studies at [the University of Luxembourg].” In his own words: “Use your polymer waste to make your own object, with great added value.” upam.uni.lu

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"LET’S MAKE IT HAPPEN"

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uxembourg’s government has unveiled the country’s new visual identity. After launching a “nation branding” exercise two years ago, Francine Closener, the LSAP secretary of state for the economy, presented the “Luxembourg: Let’s make it happen” icon and tagline during a conference in October. The logo and slogan reflect the country’s values of openness, dynamism and reliability, she said. Indeed, a 3-minute video on Luxembourg’s values was premiered during the event; it will be promoted on social media in the coming months. The government also introduced inspiringluxembourg.lu, which groups together existing materials--such as brochures published by the LCTO, Luxembourg Chamber of Commerce, Luxembourg for Finance and other promotional outfits--in a single site. The initiative has a total 2016 budget of €970,000. Not all residents received the new campaign warmly. Chris Pesch commented on Twitter: “‘Luxembourg – Let’s make it happen.’ So has Luxembourg... not happened yet?”

December 2016

LËTZ BRAND A. Francine Closener, the secretary of state for the economy, who was in charge of the nation branding initiative (on right), speaks with Mars Di Bartolomeo, Chamber of Deputies speaker (centre), and Marc Angel, the MP (on left), shortly before presenting Luxembourg’s new national logo and slogan B. The new “Luxembourg: Let’s make it happen” icon and tagline is seen for the first time on screen at the Rotondes in LuxembourgBonnevoie C. David Goldrake talks with Désirée Nosbusch D. Silvano Vidale of Vidale-Gloesener, and Miriam Rosner and Marc Binsfeld of Binsfeld, the two local communications agencies that worked on the campaign, speak with Désirée Nosbusch E. Sascha Ley F. Raoul Thill G. Charles Margue H. Jan Glas I. Linda Bos

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TECHNOLOGY

Text by SARAH PITT

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MAKE LIFE HARDER FOR HACKERS Computer security researchers in Luxembourg say that “everyone is vulnerable”, but have some straightforward safety tips.

any of us have fallen prey to some form of computer security breach, however great or small. Most of us know there are basic guidelines, but do we heed these security measures? With insider information and valuable advice from key cybersecurity services and institutions in Luxembourg, we explore the risks, why it’s important to protect your data, and simple steps you can take to keep it safe. Securitymadein.lu, run by an outfit backed by the economy ministry called Security Made in Lëtzebuerg, is the main online information source for cybersecurity in Luxembourg. It publishes news and tools for private users, organisations and the ICT community. It also coordinates several other government computer security initiatives, including the Computer Incident Response Center Luxembourg (www.circl.lu). “Circl is like the fire brigade for computer security in Luxembourg,” says Alexandre Dulaunoy, a security researcher for the center. “We are a team of seven and we carry out network and system forensics and analyse incidents. Circl provides all kinds of services from tech support to malware analysis.” In 2015, Circl recorded 62,000 notifications of which more than 1,400 required technical investigations and 1,286 were marked as incidents with significant impacts. Over 10% of these attacks targeted individuals. “There are two main types of risks: hackers infect machines either through internet browsers or through mail servers,” explains Dulaunoy. “If you use a browser, which everybody does, you are vulnerable. We have all been victims of an attack simply by receiving fake December 2016

emails. These are potentially malicious mails, often inviting you to click on a link or to download a file that will install malware on your device.” Most threats in Luxembourg come in the form of professional e-banking applications, information leaks and ransomware. “However, a major threat is that people do not feel threatened and they should,” he warns.

EVERYONE IS TARGETED “When it comes to data privacy, Google knows everything about you from the services and devices you use to your location,” cautions Radu State of the University of Luxembourg’s Interdisciplinary Centre for Security, Reliability and Trust (www. uni.lu/snt). He conducts applied research with local companies as well as carrying out academic research. “You are constantly being profiled and your data is being used for marketing. Everyone who is connected is targeted and often not aware of it, and especially not of how it works and how to avoid it,” he warns. “Education is imperative when it comes to the best way to stay safe. But for which people, which age groups and to what extent is harder to determine. What is vital is not only public awareness but education at an underground level also, for those who write the software. Ideally security should be a built-in feature of the system, not an add-on! We need to invest in the way we identify and monitor small anomalies,” stresses State. We are all vulnerable, but we don’t all realise it. We don’t consider our data interesting or important enough to feel targeted. “I think younger people who have grown up with these technologies are more aware and concerned than older generations,” says Pascal Steichen, who serves as CEO of Security Made in Lëtzebuerg and as managing director of

ALEXANDRE DULAUNOY Keep backups and use two-factor authentication

Cyberworld Awareness and Security Enhancement Services (www.cases.lu), another government-backed initiative. “It is fascinating that most of the working population comprises people who were not born with the internet and while they know how to use it, they still don’t fully understand it.

" THE BEST THING YOU CAN DO IS TO CONTACT PEOPLE, LET THEM KNOW THAT YOUR ACCOUNT HAS BEEN HACKED." December 2016

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is more dangerous, but that more people now report attacks, though there is still a lot more individuals can do,” Vinot points out.

" IT IS NOT NECESSARILY THE CASE THAT THE INTERNET IS MORE DANGEROUS, BUT THAT MORE PEOPLE NOW REPORT ATTACKS." This generation feels comfortable behind a screen at the office or at home and doesn’t feel threatened at all. It is important to be cautious and conscious of threats. Once you understand how they work, you realise that everybody who is connected is vulnerable.” Cases is concerned with prevention, awareness-raising and risk management, and has published best practices on how to protect against threats.

RAPHAËL VINOT Internet users need to change their behaviour

December 2016

IMPROVING AWARENESS In recent years, Luxembourg has seen an increase in informational campaigns and training sessions. Bee Secure (www. bee-secure.lu) promotes public awareness through events and workshops; and the annual tech event Hack.lu features state-of-the-art attack demonstrations and defence techniques from hackers themselves. Community-run Hackerspace (www. hackerspace.lu) is where people come to

share tools and knowledge. Several times a year Hackerspace hosts a Privacy Salon, an event geared towards people with little technical knowledge who would like to learn more about computer security. “Privacy Salon teaches you about the informatics infrastructure that we use daily,” explains Raphaël Vinot, organiser of Privacy Salon and also a member of Circl. “Participants learn about practical protection from surveillance, how to avoid being tracked and unwanted advertising. Its goal is to improve awareness of online activities in order to have a positive impact on online behaviour with a view to keeping data safe.” Privacy Salon is in English, for all ages, and the next one will be announced shortly. So far in 2016, Circl has received 100,000 notifications and over 5,000 cases where they needed to take action. “While the numbers have risen, it is not necessarily the case that the internet

YOUR MONEY OR YOUR DATA Over the last six months, the number of ransomware cases has exploded. “It is one of the biggest threats that individuals currently face. If you are not prepared, you will be compromised and lose data,” he warns. Also known as “data kidnapping”, a computer or smartphone is infected with malware which encrypts the data and the hacker takes over the device. Once the malware is installed, the next time you turn on your device, you will be met with a message directly from the hacker, demanding a sum of money in return for access to your data. “If more people had proper backups of all their devices, there would be far fewer problems, as backups mean you do not need to rely on access to any particular device in order to access your data,” says Dulaunoy. If you haven’t backed up your data, this can cause major hassle, but be aware that paying the ransom does not guarantee access to your data. The hacker is in complete control and might even ask for more money. Circl receives three to four notifications a day of ransomware attacks, bearing in mind that not everybody reports them. How to avoid being a victim of data kidnapping? Dulaunoy’s advice is to “use strong passwords and, whenever possible, two-factor authentication. On Google, you can activate additional identification via a different device. This provides great protection against the theft of your account or online services. Any connection attempt from an unknown device will require an additional code, which will be sent through another channel, by SMS, for instance.” INFORMATION LEAKS We all rely on passwords for one thing or another, from email and social media, to online banking, shopping and gaming. The risk here is clear-cut: the more subscriptions and passwords you have, the more vulnerable you are.

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THINK BEFORE YOU CLICK

RADU STATE People underestimate the value of their personal data

“Password and authentication problems occur via information leaks when servers are compromised. The biggest issue here is people using the same or similar passwords for multiple accounts. This makes the life of any hacker so easy,” he says. We have all heard the guidelines: don’t use obvious personal information; use a combination of numbers, symbols and letters; don’t use the same password for different accounts. While it may be easier to remember, at best you are compromising the safety of your data, the security of your devices, your accounts and even your identity. “Information leaks are very common,” states Dulaunoy. “We receive about 20 notifications daily of such December 2016

events. As an individual user, you can be proactive: the best thing you can do is to contact people, let them know that your account has been hacked, that your service has been compromised and ignore and delete any emails they receive from you,” he advises. “Then forward the mail to Circl, as this helps us to track the malware and to discover new techniques early so that we can be better prepared.”

ZERO RISK DOESN’T EXIST Data breaches range from small to vast: data from at least 500m Yahoo user accounts was stolen in 2014 and the more recent Dropbox leak in August affected 68m user accounts, of which at least 13,000 were

Luxembourg-registered email accounts. Countless leaks occur regularly that we don’t know about. No matter how much computer security researchers can lower risk, they cannot eliminate all of it. “Research in computer security is a dynamic and challenging environment,” says Dr. State. “The threat is always present. There are some truly smart hackers out there; they will always keep us busy! To be entirely free of risk, you have to disconnect all devices.” The tactics to get individuals to unknowingly share their information, for attackers to access your identity, devices and data, are endless. Yet Vinot remains positive: “There is no need to be scared; just be informed and stay curious.”

When it comes to your smartphone, it may be hard to resist having as many apps as your memory can take, but the Computer Incident Response Center Luxembourg says that fewer is better. “The more applications you have, the larger your attack surface and therefore the more vulnerable you are,” explains Raphaël Vinot. The centre recommends having only the apps you need, and to do a proper clean-up regularly, removing any apps that you don’t use. In addition, make sure browsers and plug-ins are updated regularly, and look twice before installing anything as smartphones are at particular risk. Before you publish information on social media, think twice: do you really need to post this? “Protection requires a balance between understanding the impact of clicking, posting, sharing, and consciousness that it can all be correlated, aggregated and used,” reckons Pascal Steichen. “Once something is on the internet, technically it is always there; it never disappears.”

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triking a balance between jobs and housing remains a key planning challenge for Luxembourg City, attendees heard during a recent architecture conference. François Bausch, the Green infrastructure minister, and Lydie Polfer, the DP Luxembourg City mayor, agreed that the supply of constructible land within the capital’s existing limits was sufficient for the moment. Vincent Bechet of Luxreal argued that buildings have to be built higher or the city will be forced to expand beyond its current borders. Markus Hesse of the University of Luxembourg reckoned that more needs to be done to promote affordable housing. And Christine Muller of Dewey Muller architectes urbanistes argued that cars should no longer be the primary concern of urban planners. The comments came during the “Luxembourg, ville tentaculaire?” (Luxembourg, a sprawling city?) roundtable. The event was organised by the Paperjam Club on the release of the latest edition of Archiduc magazine. (Both are part of the same company as Delano)

December 2016

URBAN PLANNING TALK A. LSAP MPs Marc Angel and Franz Fayot (in front row) B. Didi Liu and Ugur Eroglu C. Irina Chireu and Elena Lalueza D. Vincent Bechet and François Bausch listen to Christine Muller speak E. Françoise Bruck, Sala Makumbundu and Lisi Teisen F. Luc Wagner, Jean Kayser, Jacques Wolter and Alex Hornung G. François Bausch, Markus Hesse and Lydie Polfer listen as Vincent Bechet speaks H. Markus Hesse, Lydie Polfer and François Bausch (standing) moments before being called on stage at the Paperjam Club (www.paperjam.club) roundtable in October

BUSINESS

REAL ESTATE

Text by STEPHEN EVANS

Photography by MIKE ZENARI

WHY ARE THERE SO MANY CRANES? More firms are setting up or expanding operations in the Grand Duchy, and building development continues apace. But the market will remain tight.

NO VACANCY Luxembourg has one of the tightest commercial property markets in Europe, said a recent report by the estate agency JLL Luxembourg. On average there was 5.4% of the country’s office stock free for occupation in the third quarter of this year. This figure is similar to that in Geneva and Hamburg, but only the City of London (3.7%) has less available commercial property. There is more leeway in Dublin and Paris (with vacancy around 7%) and Frankfurt and Amsterdam (9.3% vacancy).

onstruction cranes are everywhere when you scan the Luxembourg City skyline. Where is the demand coming from for these new constructions, and what is the outlook for the commercial property market? It’s easy enough to find office space for 30 to 50 people anywhere in and around Luxembourg City. However, operations bigger than that could have to wait six months before an acceptable property comes on the market in a more or less central location.

WHERE IS THE DEMAND COMING FROM? There is about one percentage point more capacity this year than last, thanks to the on-going building work. But where is the demand coming from? Financial and professional services businesses have accounted for the majority of transactions in Luxembourg in recent years, said a recent report by the estate agency JLL Luxembourg. Yet there is also a general drive to increase activity in the Grand Duchy, to a large extent due to international efforts to clamp down on tax avoidance through shell “letterbox” companies employing few people. “International businesses that have had a presence in Luxembourg for many years are increasing their activities here to create fully operational business units,” explained Romain Muller, managing director of JLL Luxembourg. Muller estimates that up to a quarter of recent commercial real estate transaction growth is directly linked to this trend which has been gathering pace in recent years. What is the outlook? Muller said that the shortage of medium-sized first December 2016

ROMAIN MULLER Despite continued construction, Luxembourg’s commercial real estate vacancy rate will remain roughly the same in the coming years

grade properties in central districts will decrease, and vacancy rates will remain at about the current level. There is a lot of talk about UK-based businesses pre-empting Brexit uncertainty with a quick move to the EU27, but little has happened yet. Muller said he had received half a dozen related inquiries. However, he points out that places like Luxembourg or Dublin might not have the spare office capacity for a major relocation readily available. A dedicated building project would need to be undertaken. However, Frankfurt, Paris or Amsterdam all have a good supply of decent quality space, he said.

The large Ban de Gasperich project in the Cloche d’Or is the biggest growth area at the moment. Builders are converting these fields into a mixed-use area. A quarter of the planned 1,000 homes are currently being built, with most already sold. Work has started on the shopping centre. It will have 120 new retail units (double the current total of the Kirchberg mall) as well as an Auchan supermarket (this will be a similar size to that on the Kirchberg). A new French language school is also planned, and much of this site will be for offices.

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It didn’t take Luxembourg long to become an important player in the “alternative” investment fund industry. Regulation has revolutionised the industry’s approach, but more change is likely in this fast-changing business.

nly two years after the EU’s Alternative Investment Fund Managers Directive (AIFMD) came fully into force Europe-wide in July 2014, alternative investment funds (AIFs) already account for one in six of all fund assets under management in Luxembourg. As with standard UCITS funds, Luxembourg is the leading European centre for administering and distributing funds, while the investment decisions are generally taken elsewhere. "THE OVERALL At the end of EXPERIENCE fund centre) of 9.1% and 17.9%. At June 2016, total the end of August, there were 169 AIF assets in LuxIS POSITIVE." licensed AIF managers supervised by embourg were DENISE VOSS — CHAIRMAN, ASSOCIATION OF THE the Luxembourg financial regulator, €555bn out of a LUXEMBOURG FUND INDUSTRY the CSSF. total of €3.46trn for the industry as a whole. Thus LuxemOVER 10 YEARS’ EXPERIENCE bourg has 10.5% of the EuroLuxembourg has been building its pean alternatives market, compared alternatives expertise for about a to 36% of UCITS, according to decade. Fund vehicles appropriate figures from the European trade asfor these strategies were created sociation EFAMA. This compares to by law in 2004 and 2007, respecrespective market shares for Ireland tively the investment company in (the other major EU cross-border risk capital (SICAR) and the December 2016

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"AIFMD HAS INCREASED THE EASE WITH WHICH IN-SCOPE FUNDS CAN BE MANAGED AND MARKETED." ALAN ROSS — MANAGING DIRECTOR, AZTEC FINANCIAL SERVICES LUXEMBOURG

WHAT ARE ALTERNATIVE INVESTMENT FUNDS? “Alternatives” is a broad term that covers everything other than the most basic investment strategies. Thus a typical alternative fund might invest in real estate: buying property or backing infrastructure projects. A private equity fund will invest in startups and young, growing businesses. The term “hedge fund” covers a vast range of strategies. One type bets that share prices or currencies will fall, or rise. Another sort invests in companies on the verge of bankruptcy, hoping to turn these businesses around. These are just two examples of dozens of hedge fund strategies. Alternative funds carry a relatively high degree of risk, so are only intended for those with deep pockets and patience: pension funds, insurance companies and very wealthy individuals. December 2016

specialised investment fund (SIF). Complementary to these regimes is the reserved alternative investment fund (RAIF) which was introduced earlier this year (see below). These vehicles are covered by AIFMD, but other investment vehicles can also be used, such as limited partnerships. As well, UCITS funds can operate a certain, limited range of alternative strategies. This has been possible since the introduction of the UCITS III directive in 2004. Given these diverse methods for running an alternative fund, it is difficult to quantify the full extent to which they are used. But we can be sure that the alternative assets based in Luxembourg funds are

substantially more than the €555bn figure for AIFs quoted above. Thus when AIFMD was introduced, the country had already built substantial experience in this area. The new directive took this to a new level. There is no clear dividing line between work to administer alternatives and more traditional funds, but there can be no doubt that the more labour-intensive and value-adding alternative fund administration work accounts for a large share of the 14,000 people who work directly in the Luxembourg fund industry.

BRAND NEW PHILOSOPHY One of the aims of the European political decision makers was to encourage funds to move to onshore, regulated jurisdictions, away from the likes of the Cayman Islands. It was perceived that unregulated finance has contributed to the global financial crisis. Luxembourg and Dublin have been the main beneficiaries. “There is an increasing demand by institutional investors to hold alternative investment funds that are managed in a regulated framework. I believe

I can safely say that we are starting to see the promise of AIFMD,” commented Denise Voss, chairman of the Association of the Luxembourg Fund Industry. “AIFMD has increased the ease with which in-scope funds can be managed and marketed to investors across the single market,” said Alan Ross, managing director of Aztec Financial Services Luxembourg. A manager just needs to be based and regulated in one EU country following a common pan-European standard, and then they are free to market its funds around Europe without restriction. “So far, the AIFMD implementation process appears to have gone smoothly and local regulators across the EU have for the most part been successful in its implementation,” remarked Olivier Carré, partner at PwC Luxembourg.

FOR AND AGAINST Advocates hope that this single market bolstered with a robust regulatory regime will increase quality, give investors greater choice, increase competition, and thus grow the market for alternative funds. It has created new opportunities to offer “different services that were previously prohibited from being carried out, such as professional depositary for non-financial assets, or Annex IV reporting that only became a requirement under the directive,” said Jan Vanhoutte, managing director of Vistra Fund Management Luxembourg. In short, some are choosing UCITS over there are hopes that AIFMD will AIFs,” noted Ross Thomson, direceventually acquire favourable tor of operations oversight at the brand recognition amongst invesmanagement company Fundrock. tors in Europe and beyond. He thinks these fears are misplaced, There is not unanimous support and that there would be lower risk for AIFMD. Some say the added and the opportunity for cost savings cost and complexity is not required by switching to the more flexible for every client. Some funds have AIFMD regime. sought to restructure their operations outside of the EU to circumvent AIFMD, although the majority MUCH ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT have decided to comply to continue Asking industry professionals about to access European clients. Yet many the areas of AIFMD that could be clients welcome the greater regulaimproved elicits a stream of suggestory comfort. In a poll of institutions. “Several points of concern tional investors conducted in Dehave remained open for a while,” cember 2015 by the research firm commented Gérard Matheis, manPreqin, 28% said AIFMD was good aging director of United Internafor the hedge fund industry and tional Management Luxembourg. 23% disagreed. The remainder “Remuneration constraints, definiwere unsure, suggesting that the tion of marketing activities in differcosts are balanced by benefits. ent EU jurisdictions, multiple and Indeed, some funds could be excomplex requirements within the posing themselves to risk by seeking national placement regimes, availato use the most regulated UCITS bility of the third country passport rather than AIFMD. “There is still regime, and the complex process for a perception within the institutional determining the country of reference investor community that AIFs are which applies to non-EU AIFMs, not as regulated as UCITS, thus duplication in terms of reporting from a due diligence point of view requirements, and so on,” he said.

A MIXED REPUTATION For many years, alternative funds offered the promise of “absolute returns”: the ability to make a profit even when the market falls or during a recession. This reputation was dented during the global financial crisis when many alternative funds also suffered losses. These vehicles are generally complex and thus are costly to manage, so there can be disappointment when higher fees are not compensated for by strong returns. Nevertheless, the ability to diversify investments is attractive, particularly as many alternative strategies offer medium to long term investment options which chime with the needs of pension funds, for example. December 2016

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S OF D T N I O AL P REMAINE R E V "SE N HAVE HILE." W ER CONC EN FOR A AGING DIRECXTEOMRB, OURG OP THEIS — MANAGEMENT LU L MAN RD MA GÉRA RNATIONA E T D IN UNITE

WHAT IS AIFMD? Since the mid 1980s, only investment funds intended for retail investors were regulated in Europe. The EU’s UCITS directive has been successfully setting the rules in this market since the 1980s, and Luxembourg has become the leading global specialist in running and distributing these products across borders. Then came the global financial crisis, and the G20 called for all financial products to be regulated, including alternative funds. In Europe, this resulted in the Alternative Investment Fund Managers Directive. The legislation requires only the alternative fund managers (i.e., the people who make the investment decisions) to be regulated, rather than every fund. AIFMs are deemed to be those who manage funds that are not covered by UCITS. The directive came into force Europe-wide in July 2014. December 2016

One of the main problems is that the single market is imperfect. “Passporting does not always work the way it was initially intended,” noted Gudrun Göbel, executive director of Fundrock. “Some regulators are adding details to the regulation, complicating the passporting process,” she added. There is also a concern over the “sometimes substantial level of fees levied by national regulators,” said Voss. “In particular, some jurisdictions apply fees at sub-fund level and others only at fund level,” she explained, so adding to complexity. Nevertheless, the industry is broadly happy, despite the growing pains. “ALFI’s impression is that the overall experience is positive,”

she concluded. Kieran Fox of the trade group Irish Funds said that “over 12 countries are now using passporting to market their funds”. Asset managers can either look to deal with the various challenges directly, or they can hire a third-party manager, located most often in Luxembourg or Dublin. Some funds hesitate to do this, fearing this move could lead to a loss of control over investment management decisions, that this might create a barrier between them and investors, and that there is a risk of a leakage of knowledge. “To address these concerns, the AIFM has to be seen as an independent, neutral supervised service provider subject to law, regulation and professional secrecy,” said Vanhoutte.

NOT YET AIFMD II The complications have led to calls for reform through a second directive, but in general the industry is wary of making changes just a couple of years since the original came into effect. The European Commission has scheduled a review of AIFMD for 2017, but in the short term

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ALTERNATIVE INVESTMENT FUND SALES Between January and June of this year, the TO BE T, S A H IFM DEN highest net AIF inflows "THE AAN INDEPENISED were observed in S RV SEEN ATRAL SUPE IDER." Germany (€50bn), NEU ICE PROV CTOR, Luxembourg and the SERV TE — MANAGINLGUXDEIRMEBOURG T T Netherlands (€16bn NHOU GEMEN JAN VA FUND MANA each), and France VISTRA (€13bn), according to the Voss favours “technical adjustments which relate mainly to a need for stability”. European Fund and Markus Fuchs, managing director of the Swiss Fund Asset Management and Asset Management Association, also counselled cauAssociation, a trade tion: “Harmonisation, in terms of the regulators trying to get all asset management companies to move in the group in Brussels. The same direction, is very dangerous if that direction ends biggest net outflows were up being wrong. The system will collapse. I really hope noted in the UK (-€3bn). we do not see a private equity version of the AIFMD, a real estate version of the AIFMD and so on. I think it’s Across Europe, more than important for it to remain a single regulatory framework €100bn flowed into for all alternative funds.” alternative investment Another problem has been the if the fund is destined for sophistiscale of the task for regulators as cated investors. This move should funds. hundreds of managers adopt the dramatically speed up time-to-marFour European new rules. Even two years after AIFket for new alternative funds. countries ended 2015 MD was introduced, this still remains a problem in Luxembourg, A BREXIT BONANZA? with cumulative net AIF with approval processes often likely Could a “hard Brexit” be revolutionsales greater than €10bn, to take months. ary for the alternative fund industry? EFAMA said. They were According to Jean-Christian Six, a partner at the law firm Allen & STREAMLINING VIA THE RAIF Germany (€124bn), Overy Luxembourg: “The impact The industry worked with the govLuxembourg (€34bn), of Brexit on UK managers will vary ernment to attempt to ease the regIreland (€18bn) and the widely. UK managers focused on the ulatory burden, resulting in the UK domestic market or [who] allaunch of the reserved alternative UK (€13bn). The largest ready have a UCITS management funds (RAIFs) structure in July this cumulative net outflows company or an AIFM in another year. Luxembourg had added an last year were recorded in member state are well-positioned to extra layer of regulation when it weather the storm. However, UK adopted AIFMD, with the fund as France (-€49bn) and managers that either have their well as the manager needing the Spain (-€9bn). The space UCITS [management company] or OK from the regulator. However, as a whole was up AIFM in the UK or are distributing the RAIF is exempt from this extra €152bn across Europe. UK UCITS on a cross-border step if the manager is regulated and December 2016

"PASSPORTING DOES NOT ALWAYS WORK THE WAY IT WAS INITIALLY INTENDED." GUDRUN GÖBEL — EXECUTIVE DIRE CTOR, FUNDROCK

F BREXIT O T C A P IM "THE AGERS ON UK MANWIDELY." WILL VARY X — PARTNER, TIAN SI JEAN-CHRIS ERY LUXEMBOURG V ALLEN & O

DUBLIN’S PITCH FOR POST-BREXIT BUSINESS Dublin is Luxembourg’s friendly rival in the crossborder fund business, and both will be seeking to attract UK businesses which might want to establish a foothold in the EU27. Kieran Fox of the trade group Irish Funds outlined their pitch: “There are many reasons for the close links which exist between Ireland and the UK such as: geographical proximity; shared language; shared legal framework; time zone; business environment; and, long-standing cultural and social links. This close partnership is demonstrated by the fact that over one-third of all managers establishing funds in Ireland are from the UK, and more than 40% of the 520 overseas AIFMs operating in Ireland on a cross-border basis are UK AIFMs. This relationship gives Ireland a unique perspective on the potential implications of and solutions to a post-Brexit scenario for asset managers and investors alike.” December 2016

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AIFM PASSPORTS FOR NON-EU COUNTRIES? Access to the EU alternative investment fund market for non-member states has so far been granted, but this is a political decision and access could be withdrawn at any time. Markus Fuchs of the Swiss Funds & Asset Management Association called for access to be confirmed for the long term: “Switzerland fulfils all the requirements in order to continue to benefit from passporting arrangements. In my view, there are actually no legitimate reasons to postpone the extension of the passport to those countries that already fully satisfy requirements. In recent years we have seen a tendency for the EU to close its financial market to third-country providers. However, I am confident that recent developments on the international markets demonstrate the importance of open markets in the financial industry.” December 2016

"SIMIL A SEEN FO R TO WHAT W E R RESPEC MANY YEARS HAVE BASED AT TO SWISS OR WITH U SSET MA NAGERSSCLAUDE NIEDNE ." ALFI ALT R — CHA ERNAT IVE INVE

basis with the EU will be more profoundly impacted.” Much will depend on the exit negotiations which can only begin after the UK officially signals its intention to leave. Alan Ross suggests it will take “18 months to two years until there is a modicum of certainty.” There is talk of asset managers contemplating a pre-emptive move to the EU27 in order to eliminate uncertainty, and this could benefit Luxembourg and Ireland. It remains to be seen if this talk will translate into action. If there were a “hard Brexit” the UK could become a third country, like Switzerland or the US. “Luxembourg

IR ST M E N T M A N , S COMM ITTE

will be partnering with the United Kingdom in a way similar to what we have seen for many years with respect to Swiss or US-based asset managers,” explained Claude Niedner, chairman of the ALFI Alternative Investments Committee. At the moment these and other important non-EU asset management centres are deemed to be equivalent if they adopt AIFMD rules, and access to the single market. Many in the financial industry would like to see this situation made permanent, as they argue that Europe needs to participate to the fullest extent in global financial markets. However, this issue could become complicated by politics, particularly if the EU27 seeks to “punish” a Brexiting UK. AIFMD came as a shock to many, and is still grudgingly accepted by some. However overall the market appears to be embracing the new rules. And Luxembourg is leading the charge.

The Digital Fund

series

Digital fund distribution: stop talking in future tense Come to the fourth instalment of our Digital Funds series and watch the live demo. Expert speakers from the FinTech world will be coming to our Kirchberg HQ on 8 December 2016 to talk about eDistribution.

In collaboration with:

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Fund Administration

Depositary of Alternative Assets

> Fund Domiciliation

> Assets Safekeeping

> Corporate Secretariat

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> Reporting and Tax > Registrar and Transfer Agent

3rd Party AIFM > Portfolio Management > Risk Management > Valuation Services > Reporting > Internal Compliance Functions

Additional services to SPVs and GPs including:

Global Accounting and Corporate Administration, Plug&Play Support and Payroll

www.sgggroup.com

BUSINESS

NETWORKING

Text by SARAH PITT

Photography by MIKE ZENARI

SPREADING THE WORD The IBCL lays out its plans for expansion, and who it wants to set up a branch in the Grand Duchy.

aunched in 2009, the Indian Business Chamber of Luxembourg has grown into a community of 500 people who strive to forge commercial and cultural links between the two countries. And the IBCL has big plans for growth in both nations. After serving as board president since its launch, Sudhir Kohli passed the baton to Pedro Castilho earlier this year. India is the third largest economy in the world with one of the largest young populations. “We cannot ignore the needs of 1.3bn people, one fifth of the world’s population. India presents a lot of opportunities,” says Castilho, who runs the Verbalius executive coaching consultancy and has a background in the banking sector. As the only Indian business chamber in the Greater Region, the IBCL is ambitious. “We want to be the platform that people across the region use to strengthen business ties with India,” he states. “Likewise we want to spread the word in India to use Luxembourg as a gateway to Europe.” “Luxembourg cannot miss out on India and we want to make sure that India doesn’t miss out on Luxembourg,” says Vijay Goyal, vice president of the board. “Every year we help companies from India launch in the Grand Duchy.”

GOING THE EXTRA MILE “Over the past seven years we have built up credibility,” explains Castilho. “If you want to go the extra mile, you have to reorganise yourself in order to take on new challenges. I couldn’t have hoped for a better vice president to work with; Vijay is a well-connected and committed visionary and businessman.” December 2016

VIJAY GOYAL, PEDRO CASTILHO AND SUDHIR KOHLI The IBCL board members were photographed at the Sofitel Grand Ducal, near ArcelorMittal’s headquarters

A former CFO of ArcelorMittal and current CEO of ArcelorMittal Distribution Solutions, Goyal appreciates IBCL because he believes “that there is the right amount of vision, passion and energy to create value for the members. Our new president not only knows Luxembourg’s local culture and is multilingual, but also loves India.”

EXPANSION PLANS All IBCL events are open to members and non-members alike. The chamber offers a wide variety of conference topics and events, from bitcoin and intellectual property management to the unmissable Diwali festival. “I am very proud of the quality of our conferences; we fly in experts to present topics of interest for Luxembourg and India,” says Goyal. In addition to Kohli, Aditya Sharma, Mario Cortolezzis and Jim Penning round out the board. In 2017, the IBCL will aim to establish more partnerships. “Input

from our strategic advisory board led by Michel Wurth has led us to focus on providing information, connections and business opportunities for our members. In that context, we plan to set up an IBCL chapter in Mumbai for which we are currently conducting a feasibility study,” Castilho reveals. The IBCL will both own and manage the chapter in India, which is the first time a bilateral chamber based in the Grand Duchy has done this. “Another one of our main targets is to influence an Indian bank to have a presence in Luxembourg, a vision aligned with the Indian embassy here,” states Goyal. The IBCL will put more energy into becoming active promoters of business opportunities, but will continue to organise ten events per year, including the India Summit Day, an occasion for members to meet and network with companies from India. But next up this year is the “Bric” event on 17 November.

50 FREE TICKETS for international asset managers and institutional investors

EUROPEAN ALTERNATIVE INVESTMENT FUNDS CONFERENCE Are Alternatives going mainstream? 22 & 23 November 2016 European Convention Center, Luxembourg in association with:

BUSINESS

BREXIT

Text by AARON GRUNWALD

Graphics by MAISON MODERNE

BRITISH IMPORT POWER P

ro-Brexit leaders have long said that the UK would be able to strike a good deal with the EU because of Britain’s importance as an export destination for the rest of the EU. For example, during a press conference last July at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, the MEP Nigel Farage “said German car manufacturers and French wine and champagne produces would be ‘putting big pressure’ on their political leaders for a ‘common sense deal to be reached with the UK’,” according to the Daily Express. The UK foreign minister Boris Johnson “noted that Britons drank about 300m liters a year of Italian prosecco”, during a press conference held with his Italian counterpart in September, Reuters reported. Just how important is Britain as a trading partner? Here are just a few of the figures.

WINE The three largest wine exporting countries in the EU are Spain, Italy and France. And indeed, the UK is the leading market. These are last year’s numbers for Britain, the rest of the EU*, and the top three countries outside the EU by trade value.

2,500 million

2,250 million

2,000 million

1,750 million

1,500 million

1,250 million

1,000 million Total wine value in $US

Total sparkling wine value in $US

750 million

500 million Total wine volume in litres

Total sparkling wine volume in litres

exported to

250 million

EU* US

exported from

MOTOR VEHICLES Germany, Europe’s auto champion, did sell more cars to the UK in 2015 than any other country in the world, although it made more money per vehicle exporting to the US and China. Here is a comparison of five big markets. volume exported to value in $US

CHEESE Sacre bleu! The French sold much more cheese, and much more expensive cheese, to the Germans than to the British last year. Belgium, Luxembourg and the US also spent more per kilo than the UK. volume in kg exported to value in $US

December 2016

EU* US

France

997,804

Italy

€23,434,649,751

639,314

€26,895,473,400

406,649

France

€8,582,751,877

216,300

China

€12,008,988,506

180,177

Turkey

€3,609,266,655

144,077,194

Germany

€818,720,658

104,390,507

€355,166,709

82,814,025

Belgium

€455,399,770

39,146,113

Luxembourg

€213,907,857

13,391,630

€172,344,319

EU* US Spain

Sources: UN; European Commission; Delano estimate based on data from European Commission, UN, euro to dollar conversion rate for 31 Dec 2015 published on Reuters.com

What kind of trading agreement will the UK be able to strike with the EU after Britain quits the union?

On 13 December, come to the Grand Théâtre to find out who will be named number one in the next PAPERJAM TOP 100, the ranking of Luxembourg’s most influential economic decision-makers. Book your tickets now on Paperjam.Club

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BUSINESS

AGENDA

TEN EVENTS

Delano presents a selection of upcoming business, informational and networking events for Luxembourg’s international community. Starting times omitted from all day happenings. Advance registration and fees may be required, so consult the website indicated for details. All events are held in English unless otherwise noted. HACKATHON

THANKSGIVING DINNER

Sat 12 – Mon 14 Nov

Fri 18 Nov

Sopra Steria www.eventbrite.com (search for “Sopra Steria”) To mark its 15th anniversary of operations in the Grand Duchy, the IT services provider hosts a hackathon “on the theme of security in banks”. Technoport, Esch-Belval

Amcham www.amcham.lu The American chamber celebrates this classic American holiday. Claude Wiseler, CSV party candidate for PM, addresses the traditional fall fête, followed by a feast, dancing and tombola. Hôtel Le Royal, LuxembourgCentre, 19:00

EUROPEAN MICROFINANCE WEEK

LABOUR LAW BREAKFAST

TOP-LEVEL RECRUITMENT Tue 22 Nov

Female Board Pool www.femaleboardpool.eu An annual conference and networking event to connect senior women executives with companies and organisations looking for new board members. Alvisse Parc Hotel, Dommeldange

BREXIT TALKS Thu 1 Dec

Alfi www.alfi.lu “This leading edge conference will cover the impact and practical solutions following the referendum on Brexit,” says the fund industry trade group. Chamber of Commerce, Luxembourg-Kirchberg

LUXEMBOURG INTERNET DAYS

CHRISTMAS LUNCH

Tue 22 – Wed 23 Nov

British Chamber of Commerce www.bcc.lu John Marshall, the UK’s ambassador to the Grand Duchy, is guest speaker at this annual luncheon. It’s usually a sell-out, so book early. Hémicycle, LuxembourgKirchberg, 12:00

Lu-Cix www.luxembourg-internet-days.com Blockchain, internet of things and startups are the key themes at this annual tech conference and exhibition. Pictured: a guest visitor to the 2014 edition gets a quick demo. Chamber of Commerce, Luxembourg-Kirchberg

Fri 9 Dec

TOP 100 MAKE SOMEONE HAPPY Tue 22 Nov MNKS www.mnks.lu During this breakfast conference, the law firm’s Marielle Stevenot discusses how labour courts are interpreting the “real and serious reasons” needed for performance-based dismals. MNKS, Cloche d’Or, 8:00-9:30

FIND MORE EVENTS Check Delano’s online agenda for the latest happenings: www.delano.lu/agenda December 2016

Wed 14 Dec Wed 23 Nov Hub Dot www.hubdot.com The women’s networking group (which uses a clever colour-coded system to help break the ice) wants to spread good cheer at its Christmas time event. Stay Interior & Style, Bertrange, 19:00

www.paperjam.club Who will replace Banque de Luxembourg’s CEO Pierre Ahlborn as Luxembourg’s most influential economic decision-maker in Paperjam magazine’s biennial rankings? Or will anyone? In French. Grand Théâtre, LuxembourgLimpertsberg, 18:30

SUBMIT YOUR EVENT If your organisation’s upcoming event belongs on this page, let us know about it: news@delano.lu

The Preiser Project (CC BY 2.0) Maison Moderne (archives)

Wed 16 – Fri 18 European Microfinance Platform www.e-mfp.eu Aid officials, researchers and consultants discuss key development issues; the €100,000 European Microfinance Award will also be presented (2012’s recipient pictured with the grand duchess). Neimënster, Luxembourg-Grund; European Investment Bank, Luxembourg-Kirchberg

Conférences

Stands

Evénements

Service clé en main et organisation

YES, we do.

BUSINESS

Text by TONYA STONEMAN

Photography by LALA LA PHOTO

TRUE SPIN Stéphanie Laplane’s soundtrack for living.

he soundtrack of Stéphanie Laplane’s life is a mélange of rock, punk, new wave and hip-hop. A conducting officer at DNB, she lives a fairly typical Luxembourg life from 9 to 6, but the tunes that stream through her head provide continuity with her moonlighting pastime as a DJ. “When I wake up in the morning, the first thing I do is listen to music,” she says. The day Delano interviewed her, she listened to DMX while getting ready for work. On the way to the office it was Frustration, a French old-school punk/new wave band inspired by the sounds of Joy Division. And that night, she headed to Dudelange to play a set in a local bar. She isn’t a technical DJ--she doesn’t mix, rather she’s a selector. Laplane began spinning records about five years ago when she stood in as a DJ at d:qliq for a night. It was love at first spin. She joined a group of likeminded friends and they called themselves Les Problèmes. Soon after, she stepped out on her own with the name Steffou. Laplane doesn’t take any money for her work--which she does faithfully about every other week. She feels very strongly about maintaining a separation between business and pleasure and doesn’t want the DJ gig to become a chore. “It is a passion for me, and I don’t want it to become a duty,” she says. “A job is a job. And DJing is not a job. At work, you always find something you don’t like about it. But there isn’t anything I don’t like about being a DJ.” On a recent trip to Japan, a local bar owner let her DJ for a night and she treated the night clubbers to some of her favourites. She prefers 90s rock and roll (she’s psyched about The Cure’s show in Amsterdam) and classic hip-hop (Dr. Dre and Snoop Dog have December 2016

MY OTHER LIFE

sentimental ties to her youth). But her ultimate goal is to make people dance. Asked what she does when people aren’t dancing, she shrugs and says that she plays the songs for herself-but this is never a problem. “I play what they like,” she says. A self-described generalist, Laplane first takes mental notes on her crowd, then she starts the gig, adjusting the playlist accordingly. She knows the perfect song for every occasion. For instance, the best song to dance to? ‘Jump Around’ by House of Pain; a good second is ‘Maniac’ by Michael Sembello. The best song to kiss to? ‘Let’s get it on’ by Marvin Gaye. And the best song to heal a broken heart? ‘Respect’ by Aretha Franklin. With over 5,000 vinyl records in the personal collection Laplane shares with her husband, she has a lot to choose from. Being a DJ is fun, but it’s also important. “Gotta get your kicks, run fast from the gloomy grips, keep the bad thoughts out, and the smoke away,” as Bombay says in ‘Slow Motion’… which is, after all, the best song to wake up to.

DJ STEFFOU Stéphanie Laplane mainly wants people to dance

LIFESTYLE 70

UPFRONT

The diar y www.quartierstuff.lu

CULINARY SILVER A team of chefs representing Luxembourg won a silver medal in the catering category at the IKA Culinary Olympics in Erfurt, Germany in October. www.olympiadeder-koeche.com

RONALDINHO AT COQUE Football legend Ronaldinho was in Luxembourg in early October as he was appointed global ambassador for new sports craze Teqball, which combines table tennis and football on a specially designed playing platform.

AFFORDABLE WINE Luxembourg has ranked in the top 25 on the 2016 Wine Price Index produced by ShareaCamper. The Grand Duchy, the number one consumer of wine thanks to cross-border buyers, ranked 22nd in the affordability index, with an average cost of €11.78 for a 750ml bottle of wine. The study factors in the cost of both local and imported wines. Neighbours Germany, Belgium and France ranked 15th, 20th and 26th respectively.

www.teqball.com

www.shareacamper.com

LITTLE LUXOS Les Petits Luxembourgeois makes floral and stylish shepherd’s waistcoats, swimwear and bloomers for small children. The waistcoats, for boys and girls, are particularly suited to the local climate, the brand says.

MORE FRIDAY ISLAND Non-conformist artist collective Friday Island is hosting its next multidisciplinary event on 9 December at Hariko, in Bonnevoie. It will feature projects selected from a public appeal for submissions that tackle the theme of “The Other”.

www.lespetitsluxembourgeois. com December 2016

www.fridayisland.net

RIFF RETURNS The Riff festival is back at Rotondes on 12 November with an eclectic line-up of artists including French ska-punk Afro outfit No Water Please and four local acts--gypsy swing band Royal Circus (photo), indiepsychedelic stoners The Choppy Bumpy Peaches, electro-metal tweakers My Own Ghost and party animal Dr. GonZo. www.rotondes.lu

RED CROSS BAZAAR The 70th Bazar de la Croix-Rouge takes place this year on Sunday 20 November at its usual venue, the Halle Victor Hugo in Limpertsberg. President of the Luxembourg Red Cross, Grand Duchess Maria Teresa and Princess Stéphanie will visit the fair, which is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. www.croix-rouge.lu

head of the OPL and WDR Rundfunkchor Köln blockbuster performances of a live score to Stanley Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey (on 26 & 27 January), the Philharmonie hosts two live cinema shows featuring lesser-known classics in collaboration with the Cinémathèque. First up, on 18 November, is pianist Jean-François Zygel playing his own composition of a score to Fritz Lang’s fantasy epic Siegfried. The 1924 film, based on the Germanic legend, was made before Lang’s masterpiece Metropolis, but it has claim to greatness all of its own (even though, to Lang’s chagrin, it was later adapted by Hitler and Goebbels). Indeed, some critics have hailed the film--the first of his twopart Die Nibelungen--as the pinnacle of Lang’s career. It is compelling and a visually stunning example of German expressionism, an entertaining adventure and classical myth. Another director who didn’t shirk from making epics recounting the mythology of his country, albeit more recent folklore, was John Ford. His 1926 film 3 Bad Men was, ironically, the last western Ford made before he started exploring German expressionism. The film is a classic western in which the three bad men of the title, outlaws with a conscience, protect a fatherless young woman from bandits and a corrupt sheriff. Avant-rock trio Blueblut, featuring theremin virtuoso Pamelia Stickney, perform a brand new score for the film. www.philharmonie.lu

Luc Deflorenne (archives) Docler Holding Royal Circus

KIRCHBERG MARKET A new weekly fresh food market has opened on the rue Joseph Hackin in Kirchberg. The market is open on Tuesdays from 3 to 8 p.m. It features stalls selling fruits and vegetables, flowers, bread, cheeses, meat and olive oil.

MORE VOLUNTEERS, PLEASE

EXPLORATOR AND PASSIONATE PEOPLE The last ever print edition of Explorator before it moves to digital-only format was launched at a Paperjam Club 10x6 event featuring speakers who are passionate about their métier. www.explorator.lu

Luxembourg, Bazar International de weekend-long the of t en sid pre w ne The t the organisation of the Erika Erhard, talks abou highlights of the advent season. the charity event, one of

QUICK TAKE

Maison Moderne

IN THE CLUB A. Explorator winners on stage B. The team from restaurant La Boqueria and friends C. Ezri Kahn and Odette Tonnaer D. Johan Herelixka and Charles Maes

D.R: What’s new for the Bazar International in 2016? E.E: For the time being we have to settle. We have 70 stands from 61 different countries, and there is a waiting list. So there are no new stands for this year. There is little room to grow, but then again growth doesn’t necessarily mean better quality. D.R: The principal charity to benefit from the Bazar this year is the Blue Dragons children’s foundation in Vietnam. How are the charities chosen? E.E: The stands propose different projects, then the seven committee members make a short list of the projects--we look at different criteria, including whether their needs meet the limited financial support we can provide. The final choice is made by the heads of all the stands. D.R: You were elected president last year, but how long have you been involved with the Bazar? E.E: I started in 1995 at the German stand, and then served as the head of that stand between 1996 and 2008. In 2010 I joined the committee. I took over as president last year--it is something like running a small company. But we are all volunteers. D.R: Do you have enough young volunteers coming through to manage the Bazar in the future? E.E: We have around 1,400 volunteers during the weekend of the Bazar. But we do need more volunteers, especially for the committee. It is difficult, because the younger generation are all working. We have 61 national stands, but we are not sure how many different nationalities work with us. D.R: Last year the Bazar International raised some 600,000 euros. Do you expect to meet that target again this year? E.E: Yes, like every year we hope to match the previous year. We are shortly going to make a donation to the victims of Hurricane Matthew in Haiti from our “fonds d’aide humanitaire d’urgence.” D.R: And finally, will there be a royal visit at the Bazar International this year? E.E: Yes, we have a visit planned. We cannot yet confirm who it will be, but it will be a top-ranking royal. www.bazar-international.lu Interview by DUNCAN ROBERTS Photography by LUC DEFLORENNE December 2016

LIFESTYLE

CINEMA

Text by DUNCAN ROBERTS

Celebrating Brazilian film

The Festival du Film Brésilien is a showcase for what organisers say is the true spirit of the Brazilian culture.

ow in its sixth year, the Festival du Film Brésilien has been run by a passionate group of volunteers who want to introduce local cinema audiences and film buffs to new aspects of Brazil. “Our goal is to try to show Brazil from another angle,” the festival’s founder Pieca Levy has said. “I think most people pick a few images of Brazil that are clichés. The festival is a place where people can explore. Brazil is almost a continent; each region is like a country in itself. They have different cultures, different ethnicities, different landscapes, different foods… just a huge variety. And that is reflected in the films at the festival.” Originally part of a travelling festival that toured the world, the first edition of the Luxembourg Festival du Film Brésilien in 2011 featured just four films and was an instant success. Two years later, Levy and her team of volunteers decided to create their own association to run an independent event. The festival tries to get the most recent films, and to show audiences as diverse a selection of genres as possible. The biggest country in Latin America, Brazil is very multicultural and this year’s films all draw December 2016

Three to watch FESTIVAL INFO & SCHEDULE: WWW.FESTIVALDU FILMBRESILIEN.LU

from the great social, ethnic, and cultural diversity the country has to offer. The films reflect on a multitude of cultural, aesthetic and ecological issues and employ widely different approaches to storytelling. There are eight films on the programme, two of which have English subtitles and one of which is without dialogue (see box). The other films are all screened with French subtitles, but are also worth considering for anyone who understands Portuguese or French. They include The Space in Between, a documentary about controversial contemporary installation artist Marina Abramović, Órfãos do Eldorado (Orphans of Eldorado), a drama based on an acclaimed novel by Milton Hatoum about a man who returns to run his dead father’s ferry business and becomes consumed by ghosts. Then there are Aspirantes (Hopefuls), an award-winning drama about a young man who dreams of becoming a professional footballer, Por Trás do Céu (Behind the Sky), a dystopian fantasy which is followed by a party featuring Brazilian singer Gregório, and Tudo que Aprendemos Juntos (The Violin Teacher) about a talented violinist played by Lázaro Ramos (photo) who has to resort to give lessons to teenagers in a public school.

NISE--O CORAÇÃO DA LOUCURA Roberto Berliner’s critically acclaimed real-life drama follows the efforts of doctor Nise da Silveira (played by the great Glória Pires), who pioneers a revolution in psychiatric treatment in Brazil in the 1940s but ends up fighting the medical establishment in the process. English subtitles. 17 November, 19:30 Utopolis, Luxembourg-Kirchberg www.utopia.lu

AMAZONIA A family film, this dramatised documentary follows the adventure of Saï, a capuchin monkey born and raised in captivity who finds himself alone and lost in the wilderness of the Amazon jungle following a plane crash. No dialogue. 20 November, 16:00 Ciné Utopia, Luxembourg-Limpertsberg www.utopia.lu

O PREFEITO Bruno Safadi’s third feature film is a comedy in which Nizo Neto stars as an ambitious freshly-elected mayor of Rio de Janeiro. Wanting to make history, he resolves to declare independence from Brazil. English subtitles. 22 November, 18:30 Cinémathèque, Luxembourg-Centre www.cinematheque.lu

Vantoen Pereira Jr > Canal Brasil > Canal+ > TV Zero

BERNARD-MASSARD HAS COMMISSIONED 4 YOUNG ARTISTS TO CREATE A LIMITED EDITION OF ITS MUSELET CAPS. DISCOVER THEM ON ALL OF OUR CUVÃ&#x2030;ES.

LIFESTYLE

GETTING INVOLVED

Text by ALIX RASSEL

Hirsute heroes

ty, at to a $700 million chari From a beer-fuelled ch ge deal. A local rugby player Movember is now a hu mbourg. is doing his bit for Luxe

Photography by MARION DESSARD

RCL’S MOVEMBER: WWW.RCL.LU/MO

ovember originated in Melbourne, Australia in 2003 when two friends, Travis Garone and Luke Slattery, started discussing bygone fashion trends and in particular the seldom seen, but once exceedingly popular, moustache. Their idea was a simple one; get a bunch of mates together, grow a moustache for the month of November and raise money for charity. Thirteen years later, that beerfuelled conversation has been responsible for raising over $700 million and providing funding for more than 1,200 men’s health projects--from raising awareness of prostate cancer to mental health and suicide prevention. Even celebrities including Brad Pitt, Ben Affleck and Colin Farrell have all been vocal and ‘facial’ supporters of Movember. Today, over 21 countries participate in the Movember foundation and Rugby Club Luxembourg, led by Ruadhri Guilfoyle, is ready to muck in for this year’s challenge. This will be the 11th year that Guilfoyle has taken part in the initiative and he is aiming to make it the most successful year to date. “Last year we raised €2,128 with nine members of RCL taking part,” he explains. “This year our aim is to raise €5,000. So I’ve stepped in as the team leader to ensure the lads are up to the job.” Guilfoyle came to learn about Movember through Antipodeans who played for the club over the years and more directly when a team mate’s brother died of prostate cancer several years ago. “I lost my own mother to cancer around the same time as Movember began, so it’s always been something that resonates with me,” says Guilfoyle. “The Movember foundation has also expanded to cover mental health care and suicide prevention in males, which is something that is sadly on the increase these days.” December 2016

MOVEMBER Since 2003: $710 million has been raised, 5,258,380 Mo Bros and Mo Sistas have taken part and 17,927,133 donations have been made to the Movember Foundation. 1 in 7 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime. Testicular cancer is the most common cancer in young men aged 15-34 years. The world’s longest moustache measures 4.29 metres and belongs to Ram Singh Chauhan of India. www.movember.com

According to Movember website, every minute, one man commits suicide and prostate cancer kills 35 men every hour. The funds raised by the Movember Foundation go towards treatment and prevention of these illnesses by providing testing, raising awareness and education to staffing helplines. In 2015 Guilfoyle, assisted by his daughter, dyed his own moustache pink when he reached €1,000 in donations. This year RCL has teamed up with The Tube bar for a Mo-Party fundraiser on Saturday 26 November. “There will be six international rugby games on that day and plenty of other festivities to keep people entertained,

so we are hoping for a great turnout to reach our €5,000 target!” In addition, donations are welcome via the Rugby Club Luxembourg’s Movember foundation page or by contacting the club directly. RCL has also provided a “how to” guide on its website with lots of helpful information, links and videos on its own website. On 30 November, the Ferber Barbershop in the Belle Étoile shopping centre in Strassen is the place to be. “All the guys that grow their moustaches can get a free shave and the money collected will go to the Movember foundation,” explains Laura Ferber. No points for guessing where the RCL team will be on that day, then.

THE HARLEM GOSPEL SINGERS SHOW GOOD BYE TOUR

QUEEN ESTHER MARROW’S

GRAND THÉÂTRE 31ST DECEMBER 2016 AT 7PM 1ST JANUARY 2017 AT 5PM OFFICIAL PREMIERE AT THE GRACE CATHEDRAL IN SAN FRANCISCO IN 1965 MUSICAL DIRECTOR ANTHONY EVANS CHOREOGRAPHY LESLIE DOCKERY COSTUME DESIGNER GAIL COOPER-HECHT SINGERS QUEEN ESTHER MARROW (A.O.) PRODUCTION BB PROMOTION IN COOPERATION WITH THÉÂTRES DE LA VILLE DE LUXEMBOURG PRESENT A PRODUCTION OF MICHAEL BRENNER

> AFTER THE SHOW ON THE 31/12, THE TEAM OF THE BRASSERIE SCHUMAN WILL HOST A DELIGHTFUL EVENING IN THE FOYER OF THE THEATRE COMPRISING A SUCCULENT DINNER MENU AND FESTIVE MUSIC. Price of the menu: 80€. Booking: Luxembourg Ticket.

ADULTS 65€, 40€, 25€ I STUDENTS 8€ GRAND THÉÂTRE I 1, ROND-POINT SCHUMAN I L-2525 LUXEMBOURG WWW.LESTHEATRES.LU BOOKING: WWW.LUXEMBOURGTICKET.LU I TEL.: + 352 47 08 95-1

LIFESTYLE

VIRTUAL REALITY

Text by ISABELLA EASTWOOD

Photography by ANNA KATINA

h c r a e s n i y g o l o n Tech of a nar rative tainment. ng in the world of enter thi big xt ne the be to ovative ways Vir tual reality is set mpanies adapting to inn How are Luxembourg cogaging with audiences via the new medium? of telling stories and en

icture this: you’re on the outskirts of town, but seated very much within a circus pit. It’s Cirque du Soleil’s Kurios: Cabinet of Curiosities, and sure enough, apparition after apparition ensues, exotic and bizarre, a spectacle extraordinaire. Fast forward: a landscape flashes before your eyes, you’re hovering above the middle of a lake. Then you’re in a wheelchair, being carted through a macabre, nightmarish psychiatric ward. Curiouser and curiouser… With each scene, I am transported: the headset is on, images feeding into my brain, sound-cancelling

December 2016

headphones shutting out lock, stock, and barrel. I’ve swivelled around in the desk chair so much that I have completely lost my bearings; my knee hits the desk. I am speaking, of course, of virtual reality. It’s my first ever experience, and it is unique beyond explanation. It’s the doubleedged sword of singularity: so other that it can only be understood firsthand, only understandable if it’s been lived. This intensity of experience is what has convinced everyone in the digital industry that VR is to cinema what cinema was to theatre. To begin, a quick reflection on the exact nature of VR. We all know

roughly what it is, but are not necessarily aware of the immensity of what it entails. VR is a computergenerated world that superimposes itself onto your conscience, projecting your body into a desired alternate dimension. As in this world, the choices you make influence the path you take. Subsequently, VR has the capacity to alter perception, tap into the unconscious to an unprecedented extent and create virtually real experiences. These qualities make VR unparallelled compared to past and existing media, which only speak to a few of our most basic senses (such as sight and sound).

"VR’S CAPACITY FOR CHOICE AND FREEDOM IS PARTICULARLY INTRIGUING." BERNARD MICHAUX AND OLIVIER PESCH

So who is it that wants to thrive off of the impressive immersiveness that is VR? In short, everyone. Businesses, activists, entertainers, all can find use for the enveloping nature of VR. Whether it’s for informative, educational, commercial or medical purposes, VR has the advantage of adaptability and is able to meet a diverse range of needs through the same method--triggering an intense emotional reaction and thus, connection.

ALTERED PERCEPTIONS For film production company A_Bahn, VR is mostly “a means to an end”, says the outfit’s Stéphane Hueber-Blies. Focusing on content rather than the medium, the point is to find the optimal way to impart a message, not senselessly stun with gratuitous graphics. VR renders discourse accessible and imbues content with personalised meaning. It enhances storytelling and creates individually intimate experiences, while providing rather than imposing a narrative. You can become engrossed in the given topic and explore it at your own pace: it’s an incredibly dynamic and energetic way to build a bridge between an individual and a cause. This is what A_Bahn is counting on, in the hopes of extending a vision that will strike, reverberate and settle within the stomach of the public. Tackling themes such as wartime sexual violence and domestic slavery, the company has a high bar in terms of moral impact, although the promotion of alternative lifestyles and holistic approaches is also on their agenda. TAPPING INTO EMPATHY VR as a tool to tap into the human capacity for empathy is not a new concept, and many of us will be familiar with Seeking Home: Life inside the

Calais migrant camp. Other initiatives such as Jane Gauntlett’s In My Shoes or Francesca Panetta and Lindsay Poulton’s 6x9: An Immersive Experience of Solitary Confinement rely on VR to successfully reconstruct personal realities and experiences that until now have been lost in translation. However, as much as these projects can be used for social purposes, there is concern about straddling the line between “engagement” and “intrusiveness”. Wary eyes are contemplating the tipping point that sees affective content evolving into “empathy porn”, according to neuropsychiatric disorders researcher David Cox, cited in The Guardian. Of course, empathy and activism are not the only fertile centres of creativity. Samsa Film has created Realab, a studio dedicated exclusively to immersive experiences including virtual and augmented reality. Its first production, a 360° short fiction in virtual reality titled Next, is exclusively focused on entertainment. For director Olivier Pesch, the idea of working with VR speaks to a “subjective interest” of his. Less impressed by the entertainment paradigm that follows a predetermined journey, the capacity for choice and freedom are particularly intriguing. Next is billed as a thriller that begins at the end and backpedals through the past, reminiscent of Memento. It will demonstrate the individual viewer’s newfound ability to make decisions and arrive to their own conclusion. While revolutions of this kind provide ample opportunities, they also involve obstacles to overcome and flummoxing foibles to unscramble. For example, the shift that VR has brought requires a fundamental reimagining of the whole concept of cinematography. Specified scenes, cues, angles and transitions no longer apply, and with

360° coverage, new means of film, lighting and sound technology are necessary. Fred Baus of Realab highlights the particular challenge of “stitching” scenes together to create the fully immersive experience, with seamless transition. “What is a transition?” asks Bernard Michaux of Samsa Film. “They exist in every other medium apart from VR. We don’t really know how to answer that question yet.” In brief, as Marion Guth of A_Bahn explains, the “entire visual grammar” of cinema has to be re-evaluated and readapted.

TRANSFORMING DYNAMIC This in turn transforms the entire dynamic of film, both in terms of watching and producing. Instead of passive consumption, virtual reality introduces the active path of discovery: less demonstration, more adventure. It seems that convergence, a topic that has been intrinsically linked with technological development since its inception, is only growing in importance and complexity. As computers have merged with diaries and communication tools spawning smartphones and tablets, so films and games are slowly merging together. Indeed, as Fred Baus reveals, the gaming industry is one of the largest drivers of VR, with industry players such as Sony’s PlayStation democratising the virtual experience. The fusion makes the question of how to sell VR all the more complicated. For all the buzz, VR is still at the cusp of development, and it’s unclear how exactly it will transcend into mainstream culture. As a largely individual adventure, it seems clear that the traditional cinema set-up will not be applicable to VR headsets. In terms of individual sales, the high-tech headsets at €350-€700 apiece are still relatively expensive, while cheaper versions do not offer the quality that makes the experience worth the investment. Nevertheless, the first VR reality centres are beginning to open around the world, notably in the UK, the Netherlands and multiple locations December 2016

LIFESTYLE

VIRTUAL REALITY

CONTINUED

VIRTUAL REALITY IN LUXEMBOURG REALAB www.realab.lu A_BAHN www.a-bahn.com LUXEMBOURG CITY FILM FESTIVAL www.luxfilmfest.lu FARR INTERNATIONAL VR FILM FESTIVAL www.farr.lu

MARION GUTH The entire visual grammar of cinema has to be re-evaluated and readapted

in the US. It remains to be seen whether Imax has really “cracked the business model” of VR marketing, as CEO Richard Gelfond claims. There is little doubt that the technology will develop; and it’s more of a question of “when” than “if”, especially considering the scope of investors: the porn and gaming industries, and the body of consumer corporations, each looking to make their hardware appealing and unforgettable.

NOVELTY OR TRANSFORMATIONAL? No, the question is how to transform VR into a lasting prototypal shift instead of a short-lived novelty like 3D. Jerry Daykin, digital partner at Carat Global, notes: “It’s pretty easy to come up with mind-blowing tech demonstrations of VR content that December 2016

amaze when you experience them for a few minutes, but far harder to understand is what kind of content, beyond gaming, would keep you hooked for hours.” He points out that a large part of the entertainment industry thrives off supplying a narrative. Whether the VR centres will bridge the leap from “short-lived novelty” to “transformational new technology” is a puzzle that remains to be solved, says The Guardian technology reporter Alex Hern. The closest centre to Luxembourg is in Eindhoven in the Netherlands, but looking closer to home, the 2017 Luxembourg City Film Festival will once again have a VR corner that is expected to be even larger than this year’s debut. However, it’s likely to be more of a “transition period” rather

than a full-blown VR experience says Alexis Juncosa, the festival’s programming coordinator. Since financial investment has only just been confirmed, plans are still vague, focusing first and foremost on relevant films, speakers and venues. The main element however has already been largely established: the focus will revolve around activism and the “social”, such as immigration and animal welfare, which means we can expect close collaboration with A_Bahn. In addition, the festival’s spinoff VR film festival “Farr” is set to premiere in December, which is definitely worth keeping a look out for. The headset goes back on. I’m standing in an empty room, with a variety of brushes and colours at my disposal. Time to get creative.

www.saumur.lu 13, Rue Dicks Luxembourg

LIFESTYLE

IN THE SPOTLIGHT

Text by DUNCAN ROBERTS

You’re having a laugh ational the Luxembourg Intern The inaugural edition ofplace in November with Comedy Festival takes ts spread over four days. over 20 shows and even

COMEDY FEST:

WWW.INTERNATIONAL COMEDIANS.COM/ LUXFEST2016

ans of English-language stand-up comedy had little to laugh about until a few years ago. Lime-O-Lux had hosted intermittent stand-up comedy at Scott’s Pub in the Grund between 2006 and 2009, and there were some more sporadic shows there afterwards. But it was only really in 2012 that regular stand-up shows were organised by Konrad Comedy Club in the café of the same name and two years later by Canadian Joe Eagan of International Comedians at the Le Coral (now Marionnette) in rue de Strasbourg. Now Eagan is organising the first Luxembourg International Comedy Festival, which will primarily feature shows in English, with some shows in Swedish, Danish, German and Dutch also on the programme. Among the choice of international acts performing in English are Maureen Younger from the UK, Andy Valvur from the United States and Yianni Agisilaou (photo) from Australia. Younger, who has performed stand up in German, has been December 2016

Fun info

KIDS SHOW There’s also a show for kids (recommended for ages 6 to 13+) in English with three comics, including the UK’s Dave Thompson, who was Tinky Winky in the popular Teletubbies. FESTIVAL CARD Festival Card passes at €60 a pop allow fans to attend four shows of their choice during the festival. The Festival Card also allows free entry to certain other shows. Entry to individual shows without a card is €25. VENUES MARIONNETTE 15 rue de Strasbourg, Luxembourg-Gare

labelled “fast, feisty and more than a little dangerous” and manages to establish a natural rapport with the audience from the outset. Valvur has a truly international background--born in New York, he grew up in Japan, went to boarding school in Switzerland and university in California. Nowadays he divides lives in San Francisco and Cologne, so he has great insight into European affairs and can make his set relevant to any audience. Agisilaou will perform his latest show, The Simpsons Taught Me Everything I Know, which he debuted at the Edinburgh fringe this year. Other acts include Adam Fields from the UK, Carly Baker from the United States, Bob McLaren from New Zealand, Neil Robinson from Canada and Cologne-based American stand-up Johnny Hollywood. The festival features a number of different show formats--from solo specials to group shows and an all-female line-up. There is even a comedy workshop for aspiring local stand-ups, who can then perform at a later show during the festival.

KONRAD CAFÉ & BAR 7 rue du Nord, Luxembourg-Centre URBAN 2 rue de la Boucherie, Luxembourg-Centre CROSSFIRE 15 rue Dicks, Luxembourg-Gare

LIFESTYLE

MEDIA

Text by DUNCAN ROBERTS

e m o h g n i g Brin the bacon r third book , s to Luxembourg for he urn ret r be Fa ne An ef ipes. Author and ch r unique take on local rec which is packed with he

Véronique Kolber

ince launching her “Anne’s Kitchen” brand some six years ago, Anne Faber has become a household name in Luxembourg--even though she lived in London until earlier this year. From her London apartment she started with a blog, then developed a TV series, shot in her own kitchen, and began writing cookbooks. Faber explored British cuisine (often adding a little Luxembourg twist to traditional recipes) and then travelled further afield to Barcelona, Istanbul and Berlin. Now she has come home--quite literally and quite literary. Her latest book, available in English, is called Home Sweet Home: My Luxembourg. Since moving back to the Grand Duchy, she says she started remembering the “innumerable village fêtes celebrating seasonal produce”. She started turning to local recipes of her childhood years, but rather than simply reproduce them she started recreating them. “In London I had gotten used to eating fusion food on a daily basis, and I wasn’t going to change that…” So, she has created a chilli con Mettwurscht, a Wäinzoossiss toad in the hole, a curry Rieslingspaschtéit and Judd mat Gaardebounen cannelloni. She has even created a cordon bleu dish out of the humble Gromperekichelcher. The book covers everything from soups and salads to tasty snacks, to hearty and sophisticated main courses (pulled pork with bacon-wrapped pears, for example) as well as desserts and even drinks. Faber photographed many of the finished dishes herself, but employed local photographer Véronique Kolber to take atmospheric shots that are peppered throughout the book. The recipes are easy to follow and many feature a personal introduction and include additional tips from Faber on how to enhance each dish. Home Sweet Home: My Luxembourg is published by Editions Schortgen. It is available from local bookstores. A third season of Anne’s Kitchen, filmed by Tim Lecomte and Fred Neuen of Radar, will be broadcast on RTL Télé Lëtzebuerg.

ANNE’S KITCHEN: WWW.ANNESKITCHEN.CO.UK

December 2016

LIFESTYLE

ACCESSORIES

Text by MARINA LAI

Photography by ANNA KATINA

: s g n i h t l l a m All the s s e i r o s s e c c a local e m o h a d fin ced overseas t had been mass produ wever, tha ng thi me so en wh e ho There was once a tim pular all over the world. In the last decade, d Duchy itself. would be incredibly po ducts that are created and made in the Gran pro thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s been a rise in

MAURICE LEONARD Important that every step of production happens in Luxembourg December 2016

here is no doubt that Luxembourg has many international brands and stores, but the endearing quality of an accessory that has been designed and created by someone in Luxembourg offers something more personal. As the eldest of 12 children, Belgian native Maurice Leonard was told by his father that if one walks the path that everyone else walks, you will arrive at the same destination. So in order to get there quicker, he had to find a different path. More than 20 years later, Leonard, son of a farmer, now lives in Luxembourg as the CEO and founder of Wood and Gold. The luxury glasses brand produces high quality spectacles in Luxembourg made with locally sourced wood, horn and painted silk. Leonard’s mission was to prioritise style as well as quality. “Each part of the frames is handmade. We don’t rely on machines to do the jobs that human hands can do. That’s why we will always excel when it comes to quality. I know that many companies outsource their production to factories overseas, but it’s so important for me that every step happens here in Luxembourg. Each pair of glasses is handled by around 30 people here in our atelier.” Though Leonard may not be the one making each pair of glasses by hand, he’s definitely the creator behind them. Their factory, in Hosingen, is filled with frames of every colour with classic designs as well as funky, modern ones. “There’s no limit to the styles! We can create anything using our materials, from tinting the lenses

to bespoke frames, we will provide it and ensure that we always do it to the best of our ability.” His next collection of frames will be made of painted silk and he has created a line of painted silk scarves to compliment the glasses; a unique and quirky way to match your accessories.

UNIQUE STYLE Wood and Gold is also enjoying international success. Surprisingly, only five percent of the company’s sales take place in Luxembourg. When asked about the secret of his success, Leonard explains, “Nowadays, for a designer brand to be 20 years old is extremely rare. New brands pop up and disappear all the time. We make sure that we provide ongoing customer service, so that the opticians that we supply will always have follow up. This type of continued customer service gives us the edge over our competitors.” Perhaps it’s that kind of customer service that is also the secret to Fabienne Freising’s success. She is the owner of the women’s fashion boutique Fabienne en ville. Freising sources a great deal of her couture from Italy, but she also creates her own designs. As a retired model, Freising definitely has an eye for fashion. “I’ve always loved clothes, especially the colours and textures of clothes,” she says. One of her most popular accessories are her coloured gloves, which she designed herself. “Gloves are often seen as boring, I wanted to do something a bit different whilst keeping a classic style. That’s why I created these dual colour gloves. When I see

" I GREW FRUSTRATED WITH RECOGNISING THE SAME PRODUCTS IN SO MANY DIFFERENT STORES." SOPHIE DEWALQUE

different fabrics, I become inspired to create different things with it. Perhaps a certain silk would make a great skirt or a shade of merino wool is the perfect cardigan.” Whether it’s cashmere, leather or silk, Freising has one of a kind pieces which she designs and has made in Italy. “My regular customers love the fact that they can find things in my shop that won’t be found on the high street.”

MULTICULTURAL INSPIRATION It’s no secret that Luxembourg is a melting pot and over the years it has become home to many different nationalities. A by-product of this multicultural community is the beautiful accessories that are handcrafted in Luxembourg, inspired by the origins of expats. Be Bold by Diamany is a vibrant range of handbags made with African-inspired fabrics created by Congolese-born Diamany Ngandu. She was looking for an African fabric bag, and couldn’t find one in Luxembourg. “So I did what I always do when I cannot find something, I made it!” That’s how the first bag was created. She continued to make different bags until a friend suggested that she start an online shop. She creates and designs each piece right here in the Grand Duchy and in March 2015 she launched her first collection. Since then, Ngandu has turned her nifty skill into a flourishing business, creating a new collection for every season. Ngandu was pleasantly surprised when she discovered that starting her own company here was much easier than she had initially thought. After connecting with other entrepreneurs in Luxembourg, she learned what was required to set up a brand. She says, “it definitely took some time and it required research but that’s all part of the learning curve. I wasn’t going to let that stop me!” December 2016

LIFESTYLE

ACCESSORIES

CONTINUED

Her determination, like her name, is a force to be reckoned with, “Diamany derives from the word Germany, which represented strength when the Congolese men were sent to war in Europe during World War I. Since then, this name has remained in my family and I wanted to associate it with my brand, I want to help people bring the best out of themselves.”

CRAFTSMANSHIP The charm and appeal of an accessory crafted by a skilled professional in their atelier offers that extra personal message. That’s where Stine Bülow’s jewellery shines. Each piece is designed and created by Bülow herself using December 2016

precious metals and stones. Having been commissioned by the Luxembourg government to develop her “Renart” collection in honour of the Grand Duchy’s EU presidency in 2015, she’s enjoyed overwhelming success. Learning her craft in Denmark, Bülow became inspired by her daily life in Luxembourg and two years after she graduated, she started her company as a goldsmith. As for the inspiration behind her unique pieces, she explains: “I love perfect imperfection. The heart pendant, for example, shows the strokes of the crafting process. For me, that is far more perfect than a perfectly shaped heart created by a machine.”

True quality comes from attention to detail and fortunately for Luxembourg, there are many designers working closely with their products to deliver top quality accessories. Nuvola Baby’s blankets are no exception. Made of 100% Icelandic wool and yarn, their entire collection is crafted in Europe and their priority is to produce high quality blankets with a dash of colour. The unique Icelandic wool means that it is lightweight, antibacterial, water repellent, breathable and super warm. Their iconic “Turquoise” cloud collection is by far their best-selling accessory and they have plans to develop this cloud in various other colours for future collections.

FABIENNE FREISING Customers love designs not found on the high street

LIFESTYLE

ACCESSORIES

CONTINUED

Having started in 2013, they admit that one of the surprising obstacles is the amount of paperwork they have to tackle for such a small company. They aren’t deterred though, their company is gaining steady momentum and an exciting new collection involving a local Luxembourg manufacturer means that fans can look forward to a 100% Luxembourg collection very soon. “Made in Luxembourg” is a label which stores and designers wear with pride. Nathalie Siebenaler created her line of scarves which were inspired by the lifestyle of those living in Luxembourg. “I make a small range of limited edition scarves which bring fantasy to those living a busy lifestyle.” Each collection that she releases is limited edition and all offer something new. As her brand evolves, so do her designs, her new collection, which was released this autumn, consists of a new square silk scarf which is double lined with silk and cashmere to get us through the chilly winters.

DIAMANY NGANDU Connected with other entrepreneurs in Luxembourg

WHERE TO BUY WOOD AND GOLD Optique Moitzheim (Luxembourg flagship) 2 rue Philippe 2, Luxembourg-Centre

www.gold-and-wood.com

FABIENNE EN VILLE 11A place du Théâtre, Luxembourg-Centre

www.fabienneenville.lu BE BOLD BY DIAMANY

www.beboldbydiamany.com

December 2016

NATHALIE SIEBENALER

www.bysiebenaler.com NUVOLA BABY

www.nuvolababy.com SOPHI(E)STICATION

www.sophiesticationblog.com

LOCAL FABLES Like many other designers, Sophie Dewalque, creator of Sophi(e)stication, couldn’t find what she was looking for. “I grew frustrated with recognising the same products in so many different stores, many coming from factories in Asia that weren’t necessarily prioritising quality over quantity,” she explains. Dewalque’s designs are playful and soulful children’s accessories. Taking inspiration from movies like Marie Antoinette and The Grand Budapest Hotel, her shop is more of a ‘by appointment’ showroom where parents can come with children to play, explore and discover something perfect for them. The focus stays on Luxembourg though, using characters from local fairytales and stories, her soft toys are iconic and one of a kind. Her latest accessory is a black and white textile book which is screen printed and can be coloured in for interactive reading. Inspired by the Luxembourg fable D’Maus Ketti by Auguste Liesch, she is one of the many designers who are waving their Luxembourg flags with pride.

Where are you going to eat today?

Campagne_explo_delano-DEMI.indd 1

02/11/16 14:03

Where are you going to eat today? The answer is at your bookstore.

10â&#x201A;Ź Available at newsagents and via eshop.maisonmoderne.com

Independent restaurant guide in Luxembourg since 1994

DELANO ADVERTORIAL

This winter, cashmere stay cosy in by Bram this season? Then stop Are you feeling the cold ourite sweater in cuddly cashmere. to pick out your new fav

uxembourg’s leading fashion retailer Bram invites you to beat the autumn chill in its Knitwear and Cashmere department, where you can pick up all of your cold-weather staples. With 160 square metres of sweaters, cardigans, scarves and accessories, Bram offers the biggest collection of cashmere in Luxembourg.

COCOON YOURSELF IN CASHMERE If you haven’t felt the delicate caress of cashmere on your skin yet, don’t wait any longer. This luxurious knit is nothing like the heavy wool jumpers you’ve worn in past winters. Exquisitely soft and finely knitted, cashmere can even be worn with nothing else underneath. Lightweight but twice as warm as ordinary wool, it makes a perfect layering piece that goes with everything in your closet. In-the-know devotees of cashmere come back to Bram each year when looking to add a piece to their wardrobe. As the skies become grey, the wind picks up, and a chill sets in for the season, we follow nature’s cues and cocoon ourselves in warm pieces. Curling up with a mug of steaming tea and a good book is made even cosier with the softness of a cashmere wrap from Repeat. You can keep warm in the office while maintaining a polished look by layering a cashmere sweater from Donna Lane under a blazer. And of course, don’t forget to add that finishing touch of warmth before stepping out into the cold with a classic cashmere scarf.

FALL AND WINTER TRENDS Bram offers a large selection of colours, cuts and styles in 100% cashmere and fabric blends from house brand Donna Lane and Swiss brand Repeat. The current season’s trends are inspired by the 70s, with mustard and bordeaux the must-have colours of the season. Popular styles at the moment are the classic striped Breton top in blue and white and long A-shape sweaters layered over cotton tops. This winter, try pairing a cashmere sweater with jog pants and sneakers for a relaxed look, or with jeans and high heels for a stylish night out. Wear with on-trend

December 2016

cropped trousers and flats for the perfect office look. For a more feminine style, pair a cashmere cardigan with a dress, or with a delicate silk top.

THE PERFECT CHRISTMAS GIFT A classic investment piece for any closet, cashmere is easy to take care of, and will last for years when well-maintained. A very breathable fibre, it can be refreshed with mist (think: after a shower or out the window on a foggy day) and doesn’t need to be laundered often. Wash it on your machine’s wool setting, at about 20-30 degrees Celsius. Be sure to dry it flat to avoid shrinkage and iron on low if needed.

"100% CASHMERE BY DONNA LANE" SWEATER IN A-SHAPE

" THERE’S NOTHING SOFTER ON THE SKIN THAN CASHMERE." Pilling is normal and can be easily removed with a cashmere comb to keep the piece looking like new. Cashmere makes the perfect gift for your loved ones. Bram offers a collection for men from house brand Johann by Konen with 100% cashmere knits in three classic styles: round collar, V-neck and turtleneck. Choose from a selection of sweaters and scarves in neutral tones as well as eye-catching olive and lilac. Whether you’re looking for a special cashmere gift for your partner, mother or best friend, or a new item for your wardrobe, you’re sure to find it at Bram!

PHOTOS LEGENDS A. "100% cashmere by Donna Lane" cardigan B. The exclusive range of high-end brand Repeat

December 2016

LIFESTYLE

HEALTH

Text by NEEL CHRILLESEN

Photography by MIKE ZENARI

. . . k a e r b a e Tak at work ay break s during the workd Studies show that taking d productivit y. In Luxembourg, increases both health anof company culture. it’s not necessarily part

t’s a common belief that people who never take breaks during their workday are more efficient, successful and valuable to their employer. Hanging out at the coffee machine, leaving the office for some fresh air or even going out to eat lunch is easily viewed as a lack of ambition. That might explain why only one in five US workers take a lunch break and a majority of employees in the UK eat at their desks. As for French workers, formerly known for stretching their midday meal over a couple of hours, they now only take 22 minutes off for lunch. Yet, time and time again, scientific studies prove that taking regular pauses during the day helps regain focus and motivation. Without downtime to recharge, we are less productive, less creative and less efficient. In Luxembourg, employees are entitled to one break if they work more than 6 hours a day. Some collective agreements have more specific regulations, but in general, employers here do not impose break times or limitations. One manager from Deloitte--regarded as one of the country’s most progressive companies --explains: “We don’t keep tabs. People can take as many breaks as needed, as long as they are always available when required and do quality work that lives up to the objectives.” Specialists are more precise in their recommendations, suggesting for example the use of the Pomodoro technique for maximum focus and efficiency: 25 minutes of work, followed by a five-minute pause. And, after four successive 30-minute periods broken down like that, one longer break of 30 minutes. Another popular method advises working in 90-minute intervals, which corresponds to our bodies’ natural rhythm, with 15-minute breaks in between. Finally, research has shown that the 52-17 December 2016

DON’T SPEND BREAK TIMES PLAYING WITH YOUR PHONE — RESEARCHERS SAY IT IS EMOTIONALLY DRAINING. method--working for 52 minutes, then taking a 17-minute break--is also highly effective. The general idea of these systems is that, when timed, you work with more focus and purpose. Moreover, planned pauses recharge your batteries and lead to less headaches, backaches, eyestrain and stress. If none of these “break management” methods seem feasible, opt for two 15-minute breaks a day, plus a proper lunch, which should not be eaten at your

desk. Don’t spend break times playing with your phone--researchers say it is emotionally draining. Instead, talk to colleagues, go for a walk outside, drink tea (which induces creativity), read, doodle, daydream, exercise, listen to music, eat, nap… one study even suggests that you’ll perform better if you spend your break looking at photos of baby animals! Bottom line: don’t be afraid to take a breather. You’ll be both healthier and more productive.

Pomodoro Hannes Grobe/Creative Commons Isalinky/ Creative Commons

APP BOOST Use one of the many apps available to remind you when to take a break. They can also keep track of how you spend computer time and help manage tasks. Among the most popular: Pomodoro Time, Timeout, Pomodone, Hourglass, Focus Booster, StayFocused, Smartbreak, Tomighty, Flowkeeper, SelfControl and Timed Timeout.

PEPPERMINT BOOST If youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re not getting the needed breaks during the day (or sleep during the night) staying awake at work can be a challenge. Forget coffee, drink peppermint tea instead. It is known to boost brain function and energy and improve concentration. You can get the same effect by taking a whiff of peppermint oil.

MUSIC BOOST Listening to music during your break or while you work boosts cognitive performance significantly. Studies have shown that baroque music has the best effect on mood and productivity. Furthermore, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s suggested that tracks paced at about 60 beats per minute promote quick thinking and creativity most.

December 2016

LIFESTYLE

IN THE SPOTLIGHT

Text by DUNCAN ROBERTS

Photography by MIKE ZENARI

Timeless tale with universal appeal st familiar stories as Carol is one of the mo tm ris Ch A ’ ns productions ke Dic es ng Charl Two English-la uage n. so sea e tiv fes the h d tale. connec ted wit aches to the much-love showcase dif ferent appro

s families around the country gear up to celebrate Christmas, what better reminder of the spirit of the season than Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol? The novella, first published in December 1843, has attained classic status as a cautionary tale about meanspiritedness, poverty and social injustice. It was allegedly inspired by a visit Dickens made to Manchester, which had been at the forefront of the industrial revolution and would famously be described by Frederich Engels, just two years after Dickens wrote his novella, as a place of “filth, ruin, and uninhabitableness.” Nevertheless, reports suggest that after the publication of A Christmas Carol, Britain experienced a sudden increase in charitable giving. What’s more, the story is credited with a resurgence in the merriment of celebrating Christmas. The plot of A Christmas Carol in Prose, Being a Ghost-Story of Christmas (to give it its full title) is well-known and its protagonist, Ebenezer Scrooge, is an iconic figure of literature whose surname has become a byword for cold-hearted miserliness. Countless screen adaptations and re-imaginings of the novella--most notably The Muppet Christmas Carol and the more literal 1951 adaptation starring Alistair Sim-have given new generations a chance to become familiar with the story.

LOCAL STAGE SHOWS Here in Luxembourg, two Englishlanguage stage productions will give fans and newcomers to A Christmas Carol a chance to see how others reflect on the story. First up is Berlin Grundtheater’s production spearheaded by Tony December 2016

Kingston, who will direct a multinational cast in a punchy adaptation by his wife June Lowry. “I love Dickens and have always wanted to tackle him,” says the director. Unusually for the way he tends to work with BGT, Kingston and musical director Carl Springer spent a lot of time exploring new ways of creating atmosphere and soundscapes without resorting to amplified sound. So on top of the ensemble singing carols such as ‘God Rest You Merry Gentlemen’ and some original new music by Springer and Lowry, effects throughout the play will be performed live by the cast. “Dickens loved theatre, and famously did readings in the later part of his life,” Kingston explains. “We are trying to retain the style of the original; the story as an ode to Christmas.” A keen advocate of youth theatre, Kingston has seen a growing demand from parents and kids themselves to get involved in English-language productions. “There is a lot of talent there, and I am always on the look out for material that will give that talent an outlet.” So the BGT production will accommodate a number of young actors. Kingston sees advantages and disadvantages of audience familiarity with the story. “On the one hand everyone knows what they’re going to get, so they will come and see it because ‘it’s Scrooge, A Christmas Carol and 90 minutes long--perfect.’ On the other hand, they will compare it to other versions they have seen.”

MAGICAL SIMPLICITY Over at the Théâtre des Capucins, local actress Larisa Faber and musician Damien Thill will be reviving their animated reading of A Christmas Carol with shows in English and a

Luxembourgish adaptation by local author Ian de Toffoli. The pair performed the show last year (in English and German), with Faber reading many of the characters and Thill also contributing voices as well as creating music and sound effects. “It’s storytelling in its purest form, not a stage adaptation,” says Faber. They have shortened the work to trim the reading down to a manageable 50 minutes--the show is, after all, primarily aimed at families with young children. “The material is so strong, you just jazz it up with the soundscape and give it additional flavour,” Faber explains. “We worked with the basics of our respective crafts… there’s something magical in the simplicity of it.” Thill, who is based in London, says he took inspiration from an old BBC radio version of the story that he managed to dig up after extensive research. “They employed a lot of soundscape that we can use live.” The production is stripped down and the duo will be seen making the sound effects. “We try to do as much as we can physically rather than rely on playback. It’s quite visual. You can see what’s happening, but it still retains the illusion.” Thill and Faber were commissioned by theatre supremo Tom Leick to create the work, but given pretty much a blank slate. They are clearly huge fans of the work. “It is magical and so much fun. There is the appeal that we have a lot of artistic freedom and there is something so playful about creating voices,” Faber explains. For Thill the appeal lies in the fact that they could “push the boundaries”. But ultimately, he says, it is down to the genius of Dickens. “The story has a timeless message that we can still relate to.”

BAH, HUMBUG! Bjørn Clasen plays Scrooge in the BGT production of “A Christmas Carol”

Performa nces BGT PRESENTS A CHRISTMAS CAROL 1 & 2 December, 20:00; 3 December, 15:00 & 20:00 Neimënster, Luxembourg-Grund www.neimenster.lu 8 & 9 December, 20:00; 10 December, 15:00 & 20:00 Mierscher Kulturhaus, Mersch www.kulturhaus.lu www.bgt.lu A CHRISTMAS CAROL READING WITH LARISA FABER AND DAMIEN TILL 27 December, 15:00 (in English) Théâtre des Capucins, Luxembourg-Centre www.theatres.lu

December 2016

LIFESTYLE

ON STAGE

Text by DUNCAN ROBERTS

14 shows you must see

TOUMANI & SIDIKI DIABATÉ Malian family A father and son duo of kora players from Mali, Sidiki and Toumani Diabaté recorded an album together in 2014. Toumani is one of the most respected musicians in the world, while Sidiki has been experimenting with hip-hop and cites Kendrick Lamar as an influence. Their music has been described as being “touched by a profound sense of melody.” 22 November Philharmonie, Luxembourg-Kirchberg www.philharmonie.lu December 2016

GLEN HANSARD Songwriting genius Irish singer-songwriter Glen Hansard made his name as the leader of The Frames, then found a wider audience when he starred in romance film Once. Now an established solo performer his second album, Didn’t He Ramble, received critical acclaim for its melodic beauty and for Hansard’s songwriting craft. Support comes from fellow Irishman Colm Mac Con Iomaire. 14 November den Atelier, Luxembourg-Gare www.atelier.lu

HARLEM HOTEL Funky 70s cabaret Pirate Productions puts on an original cabaret-style show (drinks and dinner can be ordered) set in a New York hotel in the early 1970s and featuring classic jazz, funk, soul and pop numbers from that period (our photo shows Al Jarreau). The directors are Nataša Vlaović and Julien Farlin, whose previous show, The Jazz Club, proved very popular. 16-20 November Gasperich Church Hall, Luxembourg-Gasperich www.pirateproductions.lu

WEYES BLOOD West Coast warmth New folk singer Natalie Mering brings her Weyes Blood project to Luxembourg on the back of brand new album Front Row Seat To Earth. The record has been described as having a “faded Californian beauty… a gentle honesty that recalls the finest folk music made on the West Coast of the 70s.” Performing live, Mering has an easy charisma on stage and a strong voice that entrances her audience. 18 November De Gudde Wëllen, Luxembourg-Centre www.deguddewellen.lu

COPLAND & ABERCROMBIE Intimate jazz duo Legendary jazz guitarist John Abercrombie and pianist Marc Copland are no strangers. They first played together in Chico Hamilton’s group in the 1970s (when Copland was a saxophonist) and have since worked on several projects. But they have a special understanding as an intimate duo, as evidenced in 2011’s Speak To Me album, which is how they will line up for this show. 23 November Opderschmelz, Dudelange www.opderschmelz.lu

KLAUS JOHANN GROBE Infectious psych-pop Swiss duo Klaus Johann Grobe play funky psychedelic pop with a heavy hint of irony. Their music is infectious, often danceable and sometimes melancholic and just the right side of cheese without being overbearingly stinky--think Stereolab meets The Frank Popp Ensemble by way of Air, only with German lyrics and a soupçon of Krautrock. Support comes from Slow Steve. 23 November De Gudde Wëllen, Luxembourg-Centre www.deguddewellen.lu

MARIINSKY THEATRE Prokofiev programme The acclaimed Mariinsky Theatre Orchestra makes what has now become quite a regular stop at the Philharmonie for two performances. Both programmes are devoted to the works of Sergeï Prokofiev, with Valery Gergiev (photo) conducting on both nights. Denis Matsuev and George Li are the soloists for the First and Second piano concertos, and Symphonies 1, 2, 3 and 6 are also on the bill. 23 & 24 November Philharmonie, Luxembourg-Kirchberg www.philharmonie.lu

Danny Clinch > Konstantin Kern > Marco Borggreve > Stig Ove Voll / Creative Commons

escape the late autumn, As we head indoors to on Luxembourg’s stages. there is plenty to enjoy ge from world, jazz Selec ted highlights ran rimental theatre, and indie music to expeto mesmerising dance. from a night of cabaret

Miikka Heinonen

SEAFRET Bracing harmonies Bridlington on the Yorkshire coast of England is more renowned for bracing seaside holidays that for its musical legacy, but singer Jack Sedman and guitarist Harry Draper are about to change that. As Seafret, the duo makes beautiful harmonic songs on debut album Tell Me It’s Real that evoke a range of emotions. What’s more, they sound authentic and credible. 24 November Rotondes, Luxembourg-Bonnevoie www.atelier.lu

WAYNE SHORTER Veteran master Veteran saxophonist Wayne Shorter, now 83 years old, brings his quartet to the Phil for a show that will have jazz fans drooling. Shorter has played with Art Blakey and Miles Davis and also formed jazz fusion band Weather Report. The Guardian called his current quartet “probably the most skilful, mutually attuned, and fearlessly adventurous small jazz group on the planet.” 27 November Philharmonie, Luxembourg-Kirchberg www.philharmonie.lu

RY X Cathedral sounds Australian singer-songwriter Ry X’s Jeff Buckley stylings will be well suited to the unusual venue of the Notre-Dame cathedral on a late autumn night. Brought to Luxembourg by den Atelier, Ry Cuming was inspired to write music by Buckley’s landmark Grace album. The New York Times says that Ry X’s new album, Dawn, “floats in a gorgeous, dolorous haze.” 5 December Cathedral Notre-Dame, Luxembourg-Centre www.atelier.lu

ALICE ON THE ROOF Charming popster Still only 21, Belgian singer Alice Dutoit was a semi-finalist on The Voice Belgique. She released her first single ‘Easy Come Easy Go’ in 2015. It shot to number 1 in Belgium and was eventually awarded gold status. She returns to the Rockhal with debut album, Higher, which is packed with similarly charming pop songs topped by Dutoit’s appealingly smoky voice. 5 December Rockhal, Esch-Belval www.rockhal.lu

ANU SISTONEN Ebb and flow Luxembourg-based Finnish choreographer and dancer Anu Sistonen unveils her latest work to local audiences. Mood(s) is her fourth solo work that “will combine and integrate the ebb and flow of human emotions”. Inspired by the works of photographer Miikka Heinonen, it features five dancers who are joined on stage by singer Stephany Ortega and percussionist Sven Kiefer. 29 & 30 November Grand Théâtre, Luxembourg-Limpertsberg www.theatres.lu

DISTRACTFOLD Mancunian experiment An experimental piece by the Distractfold collective of musicians from Manchester, even Tom Leick admitted he had little idea about what Sound Theatre With Crocodiles might involve. The company, which makes hybrid electronic music for the 21st century, will transform the studio space into a fitting setting for this performance, which is part of the Rainy Days festival. 3 December Grand Théâtre, Luxembourg-Limpertsberg www.theatres.lu

TANZTHEATER WUPPERTAL Pina Bausch The legacy of the legendary choreographer Pina Bausch continues through her renowned Tanztheater Wuppertal. The troupe returns the Grand Théâtre with the 2006 show Vollmond (Full Moon), which employs a set by Peter Pabst and dancers of all ages in poignant and dizzying solos that “alternate with games of sensual or playful seduction and comical theatre sketches.” 7-10 December Grand Théâtre, Luxembourg-Limpertsberg www.theatres.lu December 2016

LIFESTYLE

KIDS

Text by WENDY WINN

r u o y t u p , l l a t s t Don’ t e k r a m e h t n o kids NUIT Three performers juggle a perfect blend of mystery and magic on a darkened stage in this poetic performance, Night. 24 and 25 November, Rotondes. rotondes.lu JUST INK ABOUT IT Yes, Dad, it really is art, so can I have one? This Art Freak workshop, reserved for Art Freak members aged 13 to 21, is all about tattoos. At Mudam, 26 November. www.mudam.lu

he City of Luxembourg’s Winterlights programme includes Christmas markets at various locations around the capital. You can head there when it suits your family’s schedule, allowing parents to sip a cup of mulled wine and the children to warm themselves with a ‘chocky’. What’s more, you can forgo cooking for the evening and fill up on hearty soup or grilled chops. You can even get a little candle or an ornament as stocking fillers presents or a beautiful lamp or musical instrument for someone on your gift list. What’s not to love? You can even venture farther afield and sample them all, in Esch, Differdange and other towns as well as in the capital December 2016

(which boasts that magical Ferris wheel). One popular variation the kids might really like is the medieval one in Differdange. www.winterlights.lu For some hands-on fun and in the spirit of giving to others, why not get your kids busy with paper, glue and paint at a workshop to make holiday cards? Where better to get artistic than at a museum--even if it’s the history museum in Diekirch! The 22 and 24 November workshops are open for kids aged 6 to 12. www.mhsd.lu But hands-on isn’t all about glue sticks and scissors. Sometimes it’s about reaching out for that

mittened hand and flying around the globe with a snowman. Just hearing the first familiar notes of Howard Blake’s music for the adaptation of Raymond Briggs’ book The Snowman is going to have some parents dabbing at their eyes... that too, is part of the holiday parcel. Classes from the Esch Conservatory will interpret the music on stage before this charming, silent animated film is screened on 4 December. It’s a Sunday morning, so you’ll have time afterward to head to the market right there in Luxembourg’s second largest city for Gromperekichelcher. www.esch.lu/culture

DANCEPERADOS OF IRELAND Get jiggy with it, down at the Kinneksbond in Mamer, 1 December at 8 p.m. www.kinneksbond.lu

Lala La Photo (archives)

Christmas markets make it easy to get in some quality holiday time--whether your family makes one traditional outing a year, or whether you go every weekend.

KNUEDLER ON ICE It’s become a tradition already! Lace ‘em up and take advantage of this temporary ice rink on the place Guillaume! www.winterlights.lu

LIFESTYLE

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Bikeshare to work

that names can be freely chosen as long as they are not an invention and that they do not damage the interest of the child or a third party. The guichet.public.lu portal even provides the example of ‘Satan’ as a name that would not serve the interest of the child, though I have come across a few little devils in my time.

vice columnist This month Delano’s adourg answers reader mb xe Lu ng on every thi s and petrol prices. questions on first name

Dear Auntie Eleanor, people say Luxembourg is a “fuel tourism” destination. Is that really true? — Minnie in Merl Gentle reader, there is an element of truth to that statement, but the answer is not terribly straightforward. The Grand Duchy certainly sells a lot of petrol. According to the CIA, Luxembourg is the 8th largest oil consumer per capita in the world (ranked between Kuwait and the Bahamas) and the highest in Europe (excluding island states, the next highest is the Netherlands, in 20th place). Also, Eurostat says Luxembourg has the highest number of passenger cars per inhabitant in the EU. As with all “per capita” statistics, both these numbers need to be taken with a pinch of salt. Cross-border commuters represent around 40% of Luxembourg’s workforce and 20% of the country’s daytime population, but they are not included in the “per inhabitant” part of the calculation. Many commuters have leased cars through work, and they buy petrol using the accompanying gas cards (which often only work at Luxembourg service stations). Others simply fuel up their own cars here because the petrol is indeed cheaper. Aside from Andorra, Luxembourg has the least expensive gas in western Europe, reports www.globalpetrolprices.com (and around the same prices as Romania). In fact, it’s €0.18-€0.20 cheaper per litre than in Belgium, Germany and France. Of course, Luxembourg’s government could December 2016

AUNTIE ELEANOR

hike petrol taxes to match its neighbours’ rates. But in fairness, shouldn’t that be followed by rises in Spain (where it’s €0.15 cheaper per litre than next door France), in France (€0.15 less than across the border in Italy) and in Germany (€0.15 lower than in Denmark and €0.19 cheaper than in the Netherlands)? Why do so many Luxembourgers have nonLuxembourg-sounding names like Mike, Steve, Jeff, Lynn or Kim? — Anni-Frid in Dommeldange Gentle reader, one thing you have to know is that the most

important part of a Luxembourger’s name is their surname. They will refer to “den Hoffmann’s Jeff” or “de Schroeder’s Kim” (the definitive article is, for some reason, crucial). That is why so many Luxembourg Facebook profiles are listed as though they went to English public school, with their surname first. As to why parents choose to give their offspring such anglicised names, it is perhaps to show how worldly and well-travelled they are. Conversely, many expat families who have settled into Luxembourg for good give their children names that they think can easily be pronounced in Luxembourgish, French or German. The official rules are

Dear Auntie Eleanor, I live in the commune of Hesperange and work in the city. I really enjoy cycling so I am bloody frustrated that there isn’t a Vél’oh station in Hesperange. — Mike in Alzingen Gentle reader, have you tried cycling up the route de Thionville from Hesperange, especially on one of those heavy Vél’oh bikes? Believe me, you would arrive at your office requiring a fresh shirt after working up the sort of sweat that even a quick spray of Axe (which, given the coarse language in your question, is the deodorant I imagine you favour) simply won’t hide. Though maybe you work for one of those trendy new companies that has showers for their employees. Anyway, my research reveals that Hesperange is indeed part of the Vél’oh scheme and has stations up in Howald (which belongs to Hesperange and not to Luxembourg). Hesperange also has a perfectly good electric bike (and car) hire system. So you could actually e-bike it up to Howald, leave your battery powered two-wheeler there and then hop on a Vél’oh to get to your office arriving fresh as the proverbial daisy. Now wouldn’t that impress your co-workers?

ASK YOUR QUESTION Want to know something about Luxembourg? Contact Auntie Eleanor via AuntieEleanor@delano.lu. Please indicate if Delano can publish your name or if you wish to remain anonymous.

Illustration by Jan Hanrion

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