FEBRUARY 2022
No. 86
Luxembourg in English
Nancy Braun: Creating accessibility
The Esch2022 director on how the European Capital of Culture has broadened its mission and seeks to emphasise the potential of the region.
Paving the road for the future: automobility report €4
Metaverse: missing the mark? As we start the new year, the Delano team has been busy identifying the hot topics for 2022 and how they may shape Luxembourg over the next 12 months. One of the anticipated trends I’m most curious about is the metaverse. The Financial Times cites investors anticipating a “gold rush”--a new record was set in November 2021 when a virtual real estate lot sold for the equivalent of $2.4m in cryptocurrency. Optimists predict the metaverse eventually becoming its own full-fledged economy--so woven into the fabric of our daily social lives that we’ll hardly notice it. Despite the hype, I remain a bit of a sceptic. Nearly two decades ago, I was tasked with reviewing digital solutions in educational publishing. One of the much-hyped platforms then was Second Life, developed in 2003 by Linden Lab, which peaked at around 1m users in 2007. There was excitement about the platform’s possibilities, from learning a foreign language to taking virtual tours or discovering culture, history, music and more. I’m no gamer, but I dabbled in this virtual world. On one occasion, I travelled to a remote island and saw an architectural gem on top of a hill, stunning vistas all around. But within seconds, not only was I kicked out of the house but I was also booted off the island entirely. Someone had paid for the site, and apparently I had been e-trespassing. It left a bad impression. Mark Zuckerberg has referred to the metaverse as the “embodied internet” promising “richer” interactions. That sounds not just like a contradiction but also just a tad… creepy.
Seeing how other media could be seamlessly integrated into the metaverse, how the physical and virtual worlds will interact, is mesmerising yet nebulous. It may seem appealing during the pandemic to “meet” with loved ones in a creative virtual space, but personally I prefer their real faces. Many are already stretched thin with how the digital world is invading personal lives, so it will be interesting to see how this space develops on a professional front. The proposed renderings of different brand worlds I’ve seen so far have failed to impress. The immersive environments feel vacuous, forced. And the creators often seem to be missing the mark with creativity. Why visit a virtual grocery store that mimics a physical one when you could instead shop in outer space or underwater? I would always prefer to feel the actual texture of a fabric before purchasing an item of clothing, or experience the vibrations of a concert in the real world over the virtual one. And, while I still read plenty of news online, I doubt I’ll be doing so in the metaverse. There’s still nothing like the quiet leafing of pages in a printed magazine, or the smell of fresh ink on its pages...
Editor-in-chief NATALIE A. GERHARDSTEIN
3
FEBRUARY 2022
Editorial #HotTopics
PUB VIDE xxxx.
Contents February 2022
Ristretto
Automobility: paving the road for the future
“Yes, we have diversity, but it’s not represented” –
38 Head to head
08 #BUSINESS - MARIN NJAVRO
3G in the workplace p. 22
–
10 #FINANCE - SINOR CHHOR
NORA BACK VS JEAN-PAUL OLINGER
“Not only the environmental aspect of ESG, but also social”
40 Essay
Esch2022 general director Nancy Braun on accessibility and citizen participation and the sustainable legacy of the Capital of Culture programme
Is it game over for open banking? 44 Gusto
Valentine’s Day!
–
12 #CULTURE - SASCHA LEY
“There has been much more movement within audiences” 14 Dashboard
46 Business club
Conversations 16 POLITICS - JEAN ASSELBORN
Building global bridges for human rights
50 Pick’n’mix
Upcoming artist(e)s
–
22 CULTURE - NANCY BRAUN
Photos
Guy Wolff, Illustration
Salomé Jottreau
Economic recovery “Our culture is defined scenarios, housing costs by very different and largest employers elements”
p. 16 Jean Asselborn on Luxembourg’s UN Human Rights Council mandate p. 40 Open banking: are customers in Luxembourg actually benefitting?
FEBRUARY 2022
30 Business report
06 #POLITICS - JANA DEGROTT
“It’s about putting Luxembourg on the map”
5
Ristretto #Politics
FEBRUARY 2022
6
“Yes, we have diversity, but it’s not represented” DP politician Jana Degrott is the co-founder of We Belong Europe, a platform and safe space for people of colour. In January she joined the Obama Foundation Leaders programme. You recently became an advisor at the Apolitical Foundation. How did that come about? I’ve been an activist for many years. I’ve been advocating for young voices in political decisionmaking since I was 16. Apolitical spotted me as an emerging leader on how to make politics more youth-friendly and more diverse. So I am a council member, and I’m very happy because I sit there along side some incredible profiles from very different backgrounds. The older I get, the more I realise how important it is to have this intersectional approach to policy making, because policies affect people differently. If you’re a disabled person, public transport policy will affect you differently. So it’s important to be at the table where the decisions are taken to get your experience and your views across. In Luxembourg, we keep on saying ‘we live diversity’. Yes, we have diversity, but it’s not represented. This is also a theme of the Wat leeft? web chat series you produce for the Journal… It’s a platform where we really try to keep politics aside, which I enjoy. I want to force this diversity. I invest a lot of time in this, and I hope that I can maybe also help other journalists find more diverse guests when it comes to different topics. I think it gives people hope, because if they see it they can become it--that’s really my mantra. When I grew up, I always had a big mouth and wanted to be on the big stage. But people have questioned if it’s the right path for me, even from close circles and family. Not because they don’t believe in me, but maybe because they don’t see people like me doing this sort of thing. The grand duchy is always held up as a multicultural society, but is there also systematic racism in Luxembourg? There is definitely systematic and institutional racism. I started mentoring young black girls after I ran for office in 2018 [Degrott was elected to
Steinsel council] because I realised that they have a real doubt about their capacities, and they don’t know what to do in life. They think they are inferior. One of my mentees experienced a lot of bad things in school. Students told her in the WhatsApp chat that someone bought her, and they were using the n-word and really bad racism. Nothing happened, so she changed school. Then in her new school they did theatre using black face, and she went to the head of the school and again nothing happened. So, because I have access to these spaces, I took the responsibility. Even if I get some haters, it’s okay. I need to be true to myself. And I want to stand up for those that do not necessarily have a voice and have no visibility. Are there plans to run in the national or local elections in 2023? Yes, I will be running, because why not? I already decided to take on this mandate during my law studies, so why not continue? But it’s always up to the voters, because politics should never be a job. If I don’t get elected, I won’t cry, I will be fine. You have also been selected for the Obama Foundation Leaders programme. Did they inspire you? Yes, Michelle Obama inspired me, of course. But it always seemed so far away, and I missed having someone to look up to in Luxembourg or the EU. Which is not the case anymore. Samira Rafaela, the Dutch MEP for Renew Europe, inspires me a lot, as does Monica Semedo in Luxembourg. And this is what I want to change with We Belong Europe, to create this new pool of role models. Jana Degrott has been advocating for youth since she was 16 Interview DUNCAN ROBERTS Photo ROMAIN GAMBA
Ristretto #Business
FEBRUARY 2022
8
“It’s about putting Luxembourg on the map” Managing director Marin Njavro says the Luxembourg School of Business serves professionals already in the grand duchy, but also provides the local business community with a pool of top talent. LSB is preparing for its next intake of Weekend MBA students in March. Is there a typical profile of the sort of student this programme attracts? Yes, the 10th cohort will start in March, but the programme itself is just about to turn six and a half years old and has been accredited for five years. The initial idea behind the Weekend MBA was to offer experienced professionals in Luxembourg an opportunity to continue educating themselves at a high level without being required to quit the country. The only way, in our view, that made sense was to create a flexible programme and then bring a really top world-class faculty to Luxembourg. So today in the programme you have people who are, on average, 38 years old and with 12 to 13 years of experience. Almost all of them have master’s degrees already. They are already technical experts who are starting to move into management… and they need this 360-degree view. Suddenly they are entirely measured based on the work that others do, and not any more on their own technical expertise. You mentioned the diverse and highly experienced wealth of talent in its faculty. What are the criteria for selecting these specialist educators? Very simply, we work with people that are already at some of the top institutions in the world. So the selection is very easy. But these are not just people that randomly come in. These are people that we have worked with, some of them for the last 20 years, way before LSB existed. Because the founders of LSB have created other institutions before, outside of Luxembourg, and we have been in these academic circles for almost four decades. Without that, it would have been impossible.
The school also runs a full-time Master in Management programme, I assume aimed at younger students looking to start their careers? Whereas the MBA is really serving talent that is already here, the Master in Management takes us in this direction of trying to position ourselves more internationally. The idea is relatively simple--a rigorous academic programme anchored in Luxembourg, providing students with opportunities to integrate in the job market here and providing companies with talent. It’s really about this whole package. It’s about putting Luxembourg on the map for good international students as the place where they should kick off their careers. That programme includes a 6-month internship… Since the beginning, we were very focused on building connections to the corporate sector. The value of a business school is reflected in the value that it brings to the business community. We’ve also developed a career centre at the school specifically to help our master students find jobs, as well as to help our MBAs in their careers. Pretty much everybody found an internship. Predominantly in finance, but also in industry and with service providers. So, seven years on, do you feel LSB has received the recognition it deserves? Absolutely. We’re a fully accredited institution. That was a huge step. We have gone through multiple rounds of accreditation with the ministry of higher education. I get a feeling that they’re very protective of Luxembourg as a jurisdiction from which, when you see abroad that someone has studied in Luxembourg, it’s something decent. Nobody needs another crappy school. Because you have one of the top French schools, ICN, in Nancy, and you have HEC Liège. So it just wouldn’t work.
Marin Njavro co-founded LSB in 2014
Interview DUNCAN ROBERTS Photo GUY WOLFF
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Ristretto #Finance
FEBRUARY 2022
10
“Not only the environmental aspect of ESG, but also social” Delano spoke with Sinor Chhor about environmental, social and governance (ESG) funds and her new role six months after she was named managing director of Nordea Investment Funds. What has been the hardest part of your transition to MD? The most challenging part is the fact that the areas that you’re involved in span so many directions. Actually, 20 hours within a day is not enough if you really want to deep dive into each of the different topics, because it spans from HR matters to finance matters to regulatory topics. All of that within a couple of hours. You have to [be able to quickly] switch your mind. And because I really want to get involved in the subject I’m working with, I actually don’t count hours. So that has been a real, real challenge for me, to just make sure that at the end of the day, I could stop and just do something else.
the S aspect, and especially when it comes to healthcare and education. And that’s where the offering, in terms of our products, has been elaborated a bit more. We’ve added a global equity strategy, for example, focusing on social issues. That’s also, I think, what we would like to see further developing in 2022 and 2023, so not only the environmental aspect of ESG, but also social. Any changes coming up for Nordea? What is not a change, but what we would like to strengthen, is [that] we’ve put a lot of effort during 2021 in terms of enhancing our ESG target from a corporate perspective. We’ve talked a lot about our funds [during this interview], but it’s important, from an organisation perspective, to reflect a little bit on what we [as a firm] do with respect to ESG. And we’ve decided to reduce our carbon footprint from our internal operations. That means reducing, for example, our travelling, our usage of paper, water consumption, etc.
How are you handling that? With the teams that I have, I really have this comfort that I’m working with very professional people, who are taking their responsibilities and ownership themselves. And that creates a feeling that you can trust people you’re working with. So that also makes me able to sleep at night. Would you say that ESG criteria are the main focus of your funds? It is, and it’s also part of our Nordic DNA within Nordea. We have been integrating sustainability for a decade now. So, our teams have been bred and fed with the ESG aspects. So I would say, when all this regulation kicked in, for us, it was not new. What was different is how we labelled those different processes. We had to give them a name that was concordant with the regulations, but those processes were already in place and the teams already exist as well. So, it hasn’t been so difficult for us to transition to an ESG organisation, because it has been part of the way we were working already. What would you like to accomplish in terms of ESG this year and next year? I can say that in 2021, there has been a lot of focus around the E. But I think what we have seen with covid-19 is that there are also concerns around
Do you have a good handle on your environmental footprint now? That’s a target we have started to [work towards]. It’s the plan for 2022 and 2023, to set objective targets so that we are able to measure them. We’ve done that as well with our supplier selection, whereby we have integrated more [sustainability] questions into our due diligence process. What else are you working on? What we’ve called inclusive job ads, which take into account other aspects [than] just purely your profile as an expert, but also take into account those more unconscious bias aspects that we could have. Sinor Chhor joined Nordea Investment Funds as a conducting officer in 2016
Interview AARON GRUNWALD Photo GUY WOLFF
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Ristretto #Culture
FEBRUARY 2022
12
“There has been much more movement within audiences” Actor and singer Sascha Ley has a busy schedule for the start of 2022, starring in Larisa Faber’s new play and pursuing a multimedia project as well as her jazz vocal work. You appear in Larisa Faber’s play Papercut at the end of January in Mersch. What attracted you to the play? The first attraction was working with Larisa Faber because I really like her work. I think she’s a great actress. And I like her writing. She called me during the first lockdown and told me she was going to write a piece about the school leaks that happened here a few years ago. I thought it was very interesting that the play hadn’t been written yet. There was only the sketch, but Larisa had her actors in mind so she could sort of write it for us. And even if it’s been postponed and the situation is complicated, there’s been so much trust in the process. Have you ever worked in this way before? Yes, last year there was another project that was postponed several times, Onirisée. This was a really great experience with two German artists, Katharina Bihler and Stefan Scheib, and Élodie Brochier from France [collectively Les Oniristes]. We were supposed to start rehearsing several times last year. During lockdown we decided to start nevertheless. We would meet online every morning to talk and discuss and we found out how to build up this performance--because it is a concert with texts. Basically it was about the female artists in surrealism and dream. And then I found out there were so many interesting people, that a lot of these women were like me and the other three in Les Oniristes, wearing different hats--not only painting but also doing music, writing, making films or doing photography. Last year you also performed in Dürrenmatt’s Der Besuch der alten Dame directed by Claire Thill. Now you are working with Larisa. How encouraging is it to see young female theatre directors emerging in Luxembourg? Oh, yes. It’s really nice to have more people from this new generation getting back to me. For a long time I did my own projects. When I was younger, I was shy. And now, even though, I’m confident, I’m not someone who likes to force myself on other people. Of course, if I like
their work I tell them and sometimes I say let’s work together. But I like to wait until it happens organically. And part of the audience is also new, maybe younger and they haven’t seen you before. And then they become more curious to see the other stuff that you do. There has been much more movement within audiences over the last two years, also for music. Talking of which, last year you guested on an album by Georg Ruby Village Zone. How did that come about and how much freedom were you given to improvise on the tracks you worked on? We have been in contact for a while and we follow each other. When I did the last CD with [double bass player] Laurent Payfert, Ruby offered to sign us on his label, JazzHausMusik, which he founded with other musicians in Cologne in the ’70s. It offers a platform for really good music that remains unheard on the bigger labels. Then, a year ago, he invited me to join his band for a concert. So I did that. There are a few songs that were arranged, but with, I’d say, 70% that is freely improvised music. Are there any plans for a new recording with Laurent or for other projects? There’s a little plan for a CD with him and Murat Öztür of our Free Spirit Songs project. It’s some of my own songs, but it also pays homage to certain, mostly jazz ladies. They are songs about inner freedom and also about racism and slavery and so on. Interview DUNCAN ROBERTS Photo GUY WOLFF
Sascha Ley is a multitalented performer and creative artist
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€2,256.95
ECONOMIC GROWTH IN LUXEMBOURG Projected change in real GDP, based on three covid crisis recovery scenarios. Statec
Minimum monthly gross salary starting in January 2022. The figure is €2,708.35 for skilled staff.
8 % 7 %
Source
Social Security Ministry
0.9%
6 % 5 % 4 % 3 % 2 %
Share of Luxembourg’s workforce employed in the sports sector in 2020, up from 0.8% in 2016.
1 % 0%
Source
-1%
9.3°C
-2% 2020
2021
Central scenario
2022
Upper scenario*
Lower scenario**
*Vaccination campaign boosts confidence **New variants dampen demand
Average temperature in the grand duchy in 2021, cooler than the 1991-2020 average of 9.9°C.
ONLINE SALES
Source
Enterprises* with e-commerce sales of at least 1% of turnover, 2021. Source 0%
10%
20%
Statec
Agrarmeteorologie Luxemburg
Eurostat 30%
40%
Denmark Ireland Sweden Lithuania Belgium Croatia Malta Spain Czech Rep. Finland Netherlands Austria Germany Greece Slovenia EU27 Estonia Hungary Cyprus
50%
“ I think that the covid crisis has shown that digital is necessary, that it is a catalyst, but that it cannot replace the human element. It comes as a complement.” Pascal Martino The Deloitte partner commenting on his firm’s Wealth and Asset Management 4.0 study, which found that 40% of wealthy investors considered digital access a higher priority, and 42% expected more from their advisors.
Latvia Poland Slovakia Italy France Romania Bulgaria Luxembourg * Firms with 10 or more employees and self-employed persons, excluding the financial sector
Marion Dessard (archives)
Portugal
Photo
FEBRUARY 2022
Source
15
LARGEST LUXEMBOURG EMPLOYERS
The central government has, by far, the largest workforce
The country’s three biggest employers* are in the public sector. The largest private sector employers are a supermarket, a building services provider and a bank. Statec
FEBRUARY 2022
Source 30,000
25,000
Public and not-for-profit sector
Building and related services
Retail, distribution and transport
Financial and related services
Industrial
* As of 1 January of each year 20,000
The steelmaker has been shedding staff in recent years
15,000
Luxembourg’s largest hospital has been hiring steadily
10,000
2021
2020
HOUSING COSTS Property inflation in the North, South and East regions outpaced increases in the Centre. Prices** rose moderately in the West. Source
Athome
NORTH
SOUTH
Apartments
Autumn 2020 Autumn 2021
Houses
€541,365 €642,733
€1,003,191 €1,084,859
€1,456,639 €1,523,363
NATIONAL
€830,789 €849,107 €531,911 €575,499
EAST
€835,725 €911,590
WEST
CENTRE
€1,263 €1,332
€2,504 €2,742
€,1304 €1,321
WEST
€2,265 €2,618
€1,743 €1,779
€708,247 €739,760
€3,605 €3,653
€2,465 €2,684
NATIONAL
€1,064,572 €1,167,854
NORTH
€1,023,665 €1,171,104
€667,489 €747,768
€702,941 €794,278
€1,527 €1,600
€2,908 €3,070
€457,802 €552,741
Average asking price
€1,453 €1,807
€1,077 €1,153
Average monthly rent
€1,501 €1467
0
2019
5,000
CENTRE
SOUTH
Autumn 2020 Autumn 2021
**Based on an average of adverts posted on Athome.lu in the 6 months to September 2020 and to August 2021.
EAST
Apartments
Autumn 2020 Autumn 2021
Houses
Autumn 2020 Autumn 2021
Under foreign minister 16 Jean Asselborn, Luxembourg served on the UN Security Council and is now joining the Human Rights Council
Conversation Jean Asselborn
Building global bridges for human rights Luxembourg in January 2022 joined the UN’s Human Rights Council for a three-year term. Foreign minister Jean Asselborn (LSAP) says that small countries can make a difference and wants to shape the global defence of human rights. Interview CORDULA SCHNUER Photo GUY WOLFF
When was the idea to campaign for the to the promotion and protection of human UN Human Rights Council first born? rights at the national and international In December 2013, the government declared levels. We furthermore participated, in a officially its candidature for the UN Human transparent manner, in a widely attended Rights Council (HRC) as a member of our pledging event organised by the Internaregional group, the Western European tional Service for Human Rights and and Other States Group (WEOG). At the Amnesty International in September 2021. time, Luxembourg was serving as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Coun- The US will be joining the council cil for the period 2013-2014. We wanted at the same time as Luxembourg. to assume responsibility also as a member What expectations do you have of the UN Human Rights Council, in line of the Biden administration? with our engagement and commitment The US is an important actor in the field to multilateralism, and protection and of human rights. I have high expectations promotion of human rights at both the national and international levels. The October 2021 election was a clean slate--three candidates for three seats. Do you still consider the nomination an achievement? Of course! I am proud of Luxembourg’s excellent result during the election in October 2021: 180 votes out of 193 member states of the United Nations. But that’s not what really matters. The important aspect of such a campaign is the process, the preparation and the commitments you make. During our campaign, we engaged with many states, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, as well as civil society representatives and other stakeholders. Together with national civil society and national human rights institutions, we have developed a set of voluntary pledges and commitments related
LUXEMBOURG AT THE UN 1945 Luxembourg signs the UN Charter, becoming the smallest founding member state. 1975 Prime minister Gaston Thorn presides over the General Assembly’s 30th session. 1988 Luxembourg donates the knotted gun sculpture to the UN, which still stands outside the headquarters in New York. 2013-2014 The country serves as a non-permanent member on the UN Security Council. 2022-2024 Luxembourg serves on the UN Human Rights Council.
in the US rejoining the Human Rights Council as a full member. Luxembourg is looking forward to a constructive and efficient cooperation with our American colleagues on many issues of shared interest, such as climate change and human rights, the protection of women’s and girls’ rights, including sexual and reproductive health and rights, the rights of LGBTIQ persons, and many others. The United States will be an important partner for the work of the council in assuring accountability for human rights violations in different regions of the world. What alliances do you hope to forge? Where do you see the greatest potential for coalition-building on the council? We will engage in dialogue and cooperate in good faith with all member states and observers of the council, in a spirit of friendly relations based on respect for the principle of equal rights of peoples. We will continue our close cooperation with the United Nations human rights mechanisms, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, as well as civil society. It is crucial to amplify the voice of civil society, which is essential for the council’s proper functioning. We are naturally going to engage closely with delegations from within the EU and our regional group, the WEOG, and we wish to also enhance our engagement with delegations from different regional groups and will work towards a strong cross-regional cooperation.
FEBRUARY 2022
17
Conversation Jean Asselborn
18
FEBRUARY 2022
FOUR PRIORITIES FOR THE COUNCIL MANDATE Luxembourg campaigned on four priorities--rule of law, gender equality, climate change and children’s rights. They are very broad platforms. What are you hoping to achieve in more concrete terms? We will, of course, engage on all different thematic and geographic situations under consideration by the council, but we have indeed defined four main priorities for our mandate at the Human Rights Council: the rule of law and accountability and the protection of human rights defenders, gender equality, human rights and climate change, and children’s rights. We will focus on these priorities during negotiations of resolutions, in our dialogues with special procedures mandate holders and in our contacts with civil society. We will try to get the best possible results and push these topics to the top of the agendas. Our delegation is also planning to organise various side events in line with these priorities. Consistent with Luxembourg’s feminist foreign policy, we will engage strongly on the protection and promotion of the rights of women and girls and will do our utmost to work together with other likeminded countries on the empowerment of women and girls around the world. Speaking of children’s rights and climate change, Luxembourg, together with 32 other European countries, is facing a complaint by four young climate activists at the European Court of Human Rights. They say their human rights are being violated over climate inaction. Is Luxembourg doing enough for the environment? As prime minister Bettel stated during the World Leaders Summit at Cop26 in Glasgow, we need ambitious collective climate action. As far as Luxembourg is concerned, I can assure you that we will continue to take up the challenge with determination. Let me give you some examples. Luxembourg has developed an integrated national energy and climate plan for the period 2021-2030, which outlines policies and measures to achieve the ambitious national targets for a reduction of 55% of greenhouse gas emissions, for 25% renewable energies and energy efficiency from 40 to 44% by 2030, in order to reach net-zero emissions at the latest by 2050. Since December 2020, these two ambitious objectives are anchored in our national
In this way, Luxembourg contributes its share to the global response towards the climate crisis. Indeed, our response to this crisis has to be global. Support for the rule of law, civic space and human rights defenders and the fight against impunity
What scope do you see for protection from climate change to be integrated into the UN’s Universal Declaration of Human Rights or the European Convention on Human Rights? Global issues have evolved considerably since the adoption of the Universal DecSustainable development and climate actions based on human rights laration of Human Rights and the European Convention on Human Rights more than 70 years ago. The scope of these two texts remains universal and timeless. For instance, the Declaration of Human Rights--while not explicitly referring to cliGender equality and the fight mate change--does set out the fundamenagainst all forms of discrimination tal human rights that are to be ‘universally protected’. These include the human rights to life, water and sanitation, health, food, housing and many others that can--and will inevitably--be severely impacted by The protection and promotion the consequences of rising global temof the rights of the child peratures and more extreme weather events. Making changes to these milestone texts could prove to be very long and tedious; yet the response to the climate crisis asks for immediate reaction and climate law. A set of binding sectoral tar- swift changes. We should focus on improvgets for the industry, transport, building, ing existing tools and frameworks, at agricultural and waste sectors will con- cross-regional and multilateral levels, to tribute to achieving these objectives. elaborate a clear roadmap and objectives In addition, as you know, the Luxem- for climate action. The Agenda 2030 and bourg government has introduced free its Sustainable Development Goals as public transport throughout the country well as the Paris Agreement, both adopted at the beginning of 2020 and production in 2015, go in that direction. of renewable energies has been doubled The Human Rights Council has recently over the past years, making it possible to strengthened its approach towards the cover the consumption of all households impacts of climate change on human rights. from now on. We attach great importance During its 48th session, the council adopted to the principle of energy efficiency and two resolutions, 48/13 and 48/14, which the maximised deployment of renewable Luxembourg actively supported. The first energy, which excludes nuclear energy. recognises the right to a clean, healthy and We will ensure that the transition is socially sustainable environment as a human right, just and inclusive by involving our citizens and the second creates the new mandate in setting these goals. of a special rapporteur on climate change. Let me stress also the importance that Luxembourg attaches to international Throughout Luxembourg’s campaign solidarity. Luxembourg has made avail- for the seat, human rights groups able an envelope of €220m for this pur- lobbied for national due diligence pose for the period 2021 to 2025. These legislation, for example in the funds, in addition to official development wake of the Pegasus project and assistance to which Luxembourg will con- the spyware firm NSO’s ties to tinue to allocate 1% of its GNI, will increas- Luxembourg. You favour an EU-wide ingly be invested in innovative instruments approach, but Brussels is slow to to leverage private financing, which is submit its proposals. How frustrated are you by this debate? essential for effective climate action.
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Conversation Jean Asselborn
FEBRUARY 2022
20
An interministerial committee chaired by my ministry is actively working on elements such as the material scope, the personal scope, the obligations, possible sanctions and remedies for a possible national due diligence legislation. This work will also prepare our positions for negotiations of a future EU directive. We have indeed called consistently on the European Commission to present draft legislation on this important issue, and I very much hope to see a first draft soon. And yet, does the country need more mechanisms to ban or regulate controversial companies? In parallel to the ongoing work on due diligence, the government is currently preparing the implementation of the European conflict minerals regulation, which requires EU-based importers of these materials to ensure that their supply chains do not help to fund armed conflict or other illegal practices. In the area of EU trade policy, Luxem bourg resolutely supports the strengthening of the provisions relating to respect for human and social rights as well as the fight against climate change. Our goal is to persuade third countries to engage in sustainable development policies and to provoke a real change of mentality in our partner countries.
CONTROVERSIAL COUNCIL Established in 2006, the UN Human Rights Council is headquartered in Geneva and counts 47 members that are elected for staggered three-year mandates. Countries are divided into five groups--Africa, AsiaPacific, Eastern Europe, Latin America and Caribbean, Western Europe and others. While its mission is to promote and protect human rights around the world, the council has been criticised for including members that engage in human rights abuses. The US under president Donald Trump in 2018 withdrew from the council, saying it had failed to clean up its roster. Ambassador to the UN at the time, Nikki Haley, said the organisation “makes a mockery of human rights”. The country is returning to the council for a fourth mandate as Luxembourg joins for its first.
Returning to the council, one of the main criticisms of the UN’s highest human rights body is that some of the worst human rights violators are among its members. What opportunities do you see to engage with, for example, China, Russia or Qatar? According to Resolution 60/251, establishing the UN Human Rights Council, elected members should uphold the highest standards in the promotion and protection of human rights and fully cooperate with the council and its mechanisms. While this is indeed far from being the case, it is, in my eyes, crucial to keep all countries engaged in the multilateral human rights system, rather than having an HRC that would be a ‘closed club’. Given the increased polarisation of the Human Rights Council, which reflects geopolitical tensions spilling over into the HRC’s work, it is important that democratic member states reach out across regional groups and seek to identify areas of common interest and concern, such as, for instance, the threat posed to human rights by climate change. To this end, it will be vital to engage with moderate and bridge-building states to build majorities on specific issues during our mandate. During a recent visit to Luxembourg, Tibetan activist Dhondup Wangchen said that “the time to talk and negotiate with the Chinese government is finished.” As a diplomat, how difficult is it to balance economic and other interests with human rights advocacy? While China is undoubtedly an important economic partner, this does not prevent us from systematically raising issues such as the death penalty or the human rights situation of the Uyghur and other minorities in our bilateral exchanges, such as during the recent visit of the Chinese Special Representative for European Affairs, Wu Hongbo, to Luxembourg in November 2021. Luxembourg has regularly supported joint statements calling for an unrestricted access of the High Commissioner for Human Rights to the Xinjiang region in the Human Rights Council and the Third Commission of the UN General Assembly. Luxembourg also supported the adoption of economic sanctions against Chinese officials involved in the perse-
“Luxembourg showed that ‘small’ states can make a difference in the multilateral system”
cution of the Uyghur minority under the EU Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime in March 2021. Luxembourg will be on the Human Rights Council until 2024 after serving on the Security Council in 2013 and 2014. What legacy do you hope will remain from these high-profile mandates? During its membership of the UN Security Council in 2013 to 2014, Luxembourg showed that ‘small’ states can make a difference in the multilateral system and make a tangible contribution to the maintenance of international peace and security. Luxembourg has notably played a central role in the humanitarian response of the Security Council to the situation in Syria through the adoption of resolutions 2139, 2165 and 2191 in 2014, and has left its mark as a staunch defender of the ‘children and armed conflict’ agenda. In the same vein, we will work during our mandate on the Human Rights Council with determination to achieve progress on our thematic priorities and actively contribute to shaping the council’s response to the most pressing human rights situations in the world.
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Nancy Braun was appointed general director of Esch2022 in September 2018
Conversation
“Our culture is defined by very different elements” General director of the Esch2022 European Capital of Culture project Nancy Braun talks about accessibility and citizen participation, the multilingual aspect of the programme and what she hopes will be a sustainable legacy. Interview DUNCAN ROBERTS Photo GUY WOLFF
With just a few weeks until the grand because we’re starting on 26 February. away because of the pandemic? opening of Esch2022, what is And we’re very eager to see what will come And what sort of contingency plans the atmosphere like in the team? in the following weeks and months until have been put in place? I think first of all we have to define who the end of December when we close the It is clear that the planning process was is the team. There are different aspects first chapter of Esch2022 and are then pre- really difficult. We started in 2018 and of how the team is made up. First of all, paring the next chapter, creating the impact beginning 2019 with the call for projects in normal times. Then came covid and we have more or less 30 people who are we want to leave after 2022. the world changed. We skipped very easworking internally on the project that ily to a digital form of working together. we have been preparing since 2018. We We can’t talk about the coming year are all looking forward to finally present- without talking about covid, But we also saw the consequences of only ing the project and to giving the official unfortunately. So do you have any working digitally. I mean, we did not make go in February. Another aspect is our fears that some events might be progress as we should have, and I think external team. These are the cultural cancelled or that people will stay covid made us lose more or less six months. departments of the 19 different municiBut we were working very closely with palities that are part of the Esch2022 our project partners, so we did a survey to assess what their project was looking territory – 11 in Luxembourg and eight in France – as well as their public relations like and how should it be adapted in order and communication departments. So to fit in a covid situation. So we have a that comprises another 40 to 50 people very clear view on that. NANCY BRAUN who I would like to say work on a daily And then, of course, we are in very SELECTED CV basis for Esch2022. close dialogue with the health directorate May 2004 - December 2008 We also have project partners that at the ministry of health. They are very Deputy coordinator, Luxembourg and Greater caring and solution-oriented and are givare developing the programme. We made Region European Capital ing us really great support. So I’m really this call for projects in 2019 and we have of Culture looking forward to it because one of the more than 130 projects in the programme, January 2009 - September 2014 aims is not to cancel projects or events meaning that we will end up with more Admin and finance director, because we need people to stay in diathan 2,000 events from February until Barreau de Luxembourg logue. I think we have a responsibility to the end of the year. And another very December 2014 - October 2015 show that we can organise events, even important aspect is the team of over General coordinator, Democratic Party Luxembourg if we have to find alternative ways to do 600 volunteers. And I also see our sponsors and supporting partners as part of it, and to maintain cultural development. January 2016 - October 2018 Administrator, the team. So I’m quite confident on that aspect. On Casino Luxembourg So what is the feeling? We are all very the other hand, the public is another conOctober 2018 - present busy. Priorities are different depending on cern. I feel people are eager to go out and General director, who you talk to. We are looking ahead, we’re to discover, but there’s always some fear. Esch2022 European Capital excited. We definitely feel the pressure And our mission is really to convince of Culture
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Conversation Nancy Braun
Conversation Nancy Braun
FEBRUARY 2022
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people, and also to communicate, that attending events and visiting Esch2022 means you’re also in a safe environment where you can take advantage of what we are programming.
It’s not that easy. I mean, it’s like remixing or linking the known to the unknown, high art with everyday culture, the possibility to create different ideas and combine them into something new. Citizens are invited to participate in this mission, so we encourage them to join in, to actively shape the future of the region. And, of course, have fun doing it. This is, I think, the most important because it’s about culture, it’s about having fun and getting out of this normal daily life and doing something different with great pleasure.
“ One difference between 2007 and now is that the concept of a European Capital of Culture has changed”
The programme seems to take a very eclectic approach and reach out across different strata of society. Is part of your mandate to make culture accessible to all, and how do you balance that with the need to provide high-quality art? Well, I think one thing has to be very clear, it’s not only about art. It’s about culture. You mentioned the 11 communes And our culture is defined by very differ- in Luxembourg and also those across ent things, by different elements. For the border in France. Was there a real example, traditions, eating and drinking, challenge in coordinating between are also part of our culture. How we live these entities, especially as they have together and, especially here in Luxem- diverse political leadership? bourg, how we live in Europe, is part of It definitely didn’t make things easier. our culture. So culture is thought of in a When I started in 2018, I mean, the provery broad sense. ject already had some history [Braun took Culture year, when Luxembourg And that is what the European Capi- over leadership of Esch2022 after the and the greater region held the title, tal of Culture is about. Broad culture, cit- city of Esch said it lost confidence in for- help in that respect? izen participation on different levels, mer general coordinator Andreas Wagner Of course. I think what was definitely an creating accessibility. I think this is very, and artistic director Janina Strötgen]. So, advantage in that you feel the scale of the very important. So, yes, it might be that when I started, the first thing was onboard- project. You realise that it involves so many the programme is eclectic, but it’s impor- ing the different municipalities and mak- different institutions, structures, associtant to have elements that touch a very ing them adhere to the project. Because ations, people, different elements, differbroad audience. Esch2022 is not really some municipalities, or some politicians, ent missions, different objectives. And I about big international names. This might were questioning why they should be think with Esch2022 the scale is even larger than it was in 2007, even though have been part of a concept years before. part of Esch2022. So it took some time to explain the the territory in 2007 was much bigger. We I think our mission is to underline the strong potential of the region. There is advantages or benefits of the project. Of really had this greater region which I think a clear focus on local and regional artists, course, it’s about Esch, because Esch is is about 11m inhabitants. Now we are covalthough many of them have a very inter- the centre of the region. But they can ering 200,000 inhabitants. But I think it’s national background. benefit from the radiance of the project. much more fun because we can have a But the international aspect is impor- It’s about the development of a city, of a very close working relationship. tant. We have collaborations with inter- region, it’s about transformation that will national institutions like ZKM in Karlsruhe, attract more people to the region. So The region historically, because Ars Electronica in Linz, and the House there will be also an economic develop- of its location and immigration history, of Electronic Arts in Basel, who are really ment and together with Esch we will put is clearly heavily French speaking. renowned for digital art. We have artists the whole region on the map. So now Obviously, there are events that require no specific language skills, like [Argentinian choreographer and everybody’s on board. dancer] Cecilia Bengolea, and there are What helped was setting up different but how much of the programme quite a lot of big names coming to our informal working groups. Because I’ve caters to those who speak neighbour, the Rockhal. seen that municipalities are used to work- Luxembourgish or English? And we shouldn’t forget the relation- ing together on certain levels, but in cul- I think there’s something for everybody, ship we have with our partner cities, Kau- ture and some communication aspects for each single community. We have two nas in Lithuania and Novi Sad in Serbia, this was not a given. So we brought together countries and 19 municipalities, and over which is important for a European Capital these people who work every day in these 100 different nationalities. But there’s really of Culture to give a European dimension different communes and showed them a very big range of events. For example, that they are part of a very big project just to give you some figures, we have 294 to the programme. and that we can only achieve the mission events in German, 298 events in English, You’ve basically answered my next if we work together. 407 in French and 376 in Luxembourgish. question, but how would you sum up I think this is one of the talents we the intention of the programme Did your experience of being deputy have another not only as the Esch2022 in three sentences? coordinator of the 2007 Capital of team, but in general in Luxembourg, that
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Conversation Nancy Braun
FEBRUARY 2022
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The Konschthal, inaugurated in October 2020 under the leadership of former Esch2022 artistic director Christian Mosar, is one of three new structures in which the city of Esch has heavily invested not just for the European Capital of Culture year but also for the future
Photo
immediately see the advantages it could When you see a map of Europe indicatbring to the company. ing Kaunas, Novi Sad and Esch, you see And then of course, as you said, covid this triangle, and the three cities are didn’t help either. Difficult times not embracing Europe. We are bringing not knowing what future will look like. But only people together, but cities and counThere has been a real emphasis on I think we did quite a good job. We have tries. And this is a really nice aspect of corporate partnerships for Esch2022. three main partners, and we have quite this European dimension. How difficult was it in these I would say about one-third of our proa lot of supporting partners. challenging times to convince Also, using the experience from 2007, jects are set up with these two cities. But companies to commit to we are setting up a Business for Culture as well as projects, it’s artists, it’s best pracinvesting resources in culture? Club. Because it is not only the executive tices, capacity building, I mean, we are in The first challenge, with or without covid, structure, but also our project partners constant contact with the cities and we are is to explain what a European Capital of that are looking for financial partnerships. part of the opening in Kaunas and in Novi Culture is about and why it is important After 2007 all the partnerships we had Sad, and artists from those cities will be to invest in such a project. Because at were cut and everything was lost. So, we part of the opening here on 26 February. the beginning, when you start with this decided to develop a strategy for our proconcept, it is very abstract. And if you ject partners, to set up a platform to bring As we mentioned, you served as have to sell an abstract project to an them together with the economic sector deputy coordinator for the 2007 investor who doesn’t really see immedi- in order to see if there are partners who Capital of Culture programme. ately what will be the return on invest- are interested in supporting these differ- What would you say are the main ment, it’s very difficult. ent projects. And if they work fine in differences in how culture is viewed For example, our first message is that, 2022, well, they can also work after 2022. in the grand duchy 15 years later? when you invest in Esch2022, you clearly Although it exists abroad, this is some- A lot. Just like it changed a lot between invest in the future of a region. I think thing very new for Luxembourg. 1995 and 2007. For example, we can now the return on investment will be after rely on structures and initiatives that were Esch shares the title with Kaunas 2022. We saw that in 1995 and in 2007. initiated in 2007 or developed afterwards. Another aspect is that most of the in Lithuania and Novi Sad in Serbia. We don’t have to reinvent everything, international companies we approach What sort of cooperation has there because elements are in place and we just for these main partnerships do not have been between the cities? have to bring them together and push for their real decision makers in Luxembourg. Well, it’s about sharing ideas, sharing further development. So it’s very difficult to convince people projects. I think one of the most imporBut one difference between 2007 and that are not in the middle of the action tant parts of this collaboration between now is that the concept of a European to invest in a project where they don’t the three cities is that we are one project. Capital of Culture has changed. Definitely.
Nader Ghavami
we try to have this diversity of languages in order to attract audiences and speak the languages they understand. So, that’s also about accessibility.
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Conversation Nancy Braun
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ESCH2022 BUDGET
FEBRUARY 2022
Financing
Expenditure Culture programme
€17m
€2.4m €1.5m €40m
€54m
€10.1m
€54m
€16m
State
EU
City of Esch-sur-Alzette
Sponsors
€21m
Co-financing external projects Esch2022 initiated projects Administration (includes communication, marketing and personnel costs)
Look at the history from 1985 to now, at how to do it. But we have also signed a how the concept itself has changed in charter with the ministry of sustainable three different phases. Now we are in the development focusing on different axes. third phase, where it’s definitely very impor- So not only green events, but also tourtant to underline citizen participation. It’s ism and communication. But one impornot about big names. It’s not about bring- tant axis is accessibility. And this is an ing top stars to Esch or to Luxembourg. element that still needs further developBut it’s really about implicating the pop- ment after 2022, because I think we have ulation, it’s about co-creation and having to give it a push to really make things as citizens be part of the project. accessible as possible to a larger audience. I mean, in Luxembourg we have such a wide range of culture on offer. So we need The 1995 and 2007 Capital of Culture to put other elements into this Capital of programmes both provided a boost to Culture concept in order to showcase some- the culture scene in the grand duchy. thing different from what we normally see. What sort of legacy do you hope For example, Kaunas will now open on Esch2022 will leave? 22nd January with an exhibition by William We have seen already in Esch, for examKentridge. Marina Abramović will also be ple, the three new structures which have part of the opening. The European Com- been created with the enormous budget mission asked, well, what about the names the city administration dedicated to them. in Luxembourg? But we don’t need Wil- We have the Konschthal, which opened liam Kentridge because he was already here in October; the old Ariston cinema, which last year at Mudam. So, we really have to will be a space for kids and young folks differentiate between what we can deliver as part of the Escher Theater; and then as a complementary programme and what you will have the Bridderhaus, which is destined for artists in residency. These Luxembourg already has to offer. spaces were bought and renovated not only for 2022, but they will have a life Before talking about the cultural afterwards. But for 2022 we will create legacy, you have also mentioned the content to give these spaces a push sustainability and the importance to put them on the map. of that in the whole project… Then there is the European dimenWell, sustainability follows us like a red thread in the different projects. Of course, sion we mentioned before. We are accelit’s about green events, and we are all erating our collaboration with the used to that now and know, more or less, Communauté de Communes Pays Haut
Val d’Alzette in France on different levels. And I must admit, it’s really working very well. I see this collaboration as a small European laboratory, and if we succeed it can be an example for how to reach across the border. Because, I think, talking about the greater region, it’s easier to give it a try on the border and then see how it can be developed further. As well as culture, we have to touch upon the aspect of tourism. That means putting the spotlight on existing products and also developing new one. For instance, the Minett Cycle Trail, which was created in the framework of the [successful] candidacy submitted by Pro-Sud for the southern region of Luxembourg to become a Unesco Man and Biosphere Reserve. But, as Esch2022, we have the possibility to put the Minett Trail on the map and develop a cultural programme around this trail in order to show the richness of the region through culture. We talked about the Business for Culture Club, which will be a legacy. And I would say the legacy really will be the future of the region.
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FEBRUARY 2022
Paving the road for the future 159,454
150 K
100 K
Diesel-driven passenger cars are more fuel efficient and less polluting than petrol motors. Despite a rise in the 2000s, their numbers have decreased over roughly the last decade.
53,434
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0
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Between the Paris Agreement and the Fit for 55 pacts, the automobile industry is now under scrutiny. It must take a new, greener route while also responding to the growing demand in mobility. With tools like flexible mobility packages or fleet data consulting, it won’t be impossible to switch gears.
look at the entire mobility chain” Mobility minister François Bausch on the future of public and private transport p. 32
2 “A good window
into what will happen” A closer look at the challenges ahead for fleet managers in the transition to electric fleets p. 34
3 “The dealership will always have a role to play” On succeeding as an automobile business in a time of transition p. 36
Though petrol motors saw a decline for 10 years, they have become and remain the most common car model.
114,672
77,170
Petrol Diesel Electric Hybrid (electric + petrol) 20-year evolution of registered passenger cars in Luxembourg. The numbers indicate petrol and diesel motors remain the dominant vehicles, though electric cars and hybrids are on an upward trajectory. Source
Statec
Electric and hybrid models were slow to gain traction but have grown exponentially in the last year, thanks to government subsidies and campaigns.
2012
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4,468 3,141
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1 “We have to
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“We have to look at the entire mobility chain”
“My philosophy is to think of multimodality,” says François Bausch. Assessing and improving the value of each link of the mobility chain is key to keeping up with EU directives on pollution while answering the demands of a growing population. Cars are part of a mobility network While his mobility strategy--to be presented in spring 2022--pushes for the development of public transport, Bausch doesn’t want to banish cars. “Cars have their value in this mobility chain, but they have to be used rationally,” Bausch argues. Studies by the mobility ministry found that 40% of car trips in Luxembourg are less than 5km long. Bausch calls current car usage “extreme” and says cars should be used flexibly, alongside public transports, walking or bicycles. Multimodal corridors, park and rides around larger public transport platforms and local bypasses are a solution, according to Bausch. Rearranging urban spaces and making the daily transition between different modes of mobility more fluid would improve the lives of local and foreign commuters alike, while making urban spaces more liveable for city dwellers. Yet, “the foundation is that everything has to remain accessible by car”.
François Bausch
time, “it will only be interesting to buy zero emission cars,” according to Bausch. He also bets on technological breakthroughs, an increasing variety of e-cars by smaller and important brands, and a decrease in prices as the demand for electric vehicles grows. Plus, the minister argues, the maintenance fees are much lower for electric cars than combustion motors, and the price of electricity is less subject to fluctuations than fossil fuels. “In two or three years, there will barely be a difference between the price of an e-car and a combustion motor,” Bausch concludes.
2030 mobility to be electric Offering aid of up to €8,000, for instance, the government aims to “reach by 2030 a 50% rate of electric cars in Luxembourg,” Bausch says. Currently, 191,842 petrol or diesel passenger cars are registered in Luxembourg, according to Statec, versus 4,468 hybrids and 3,141 fully electric cars. Regardless, Bausch assures the transition will be smooth, as half of the A changing approach to mobility The market is changing, and EU direccars in Luxembourg are leased. Tax benefits, exemptions and a gradu- tives are looming over car manufacturers ally decreasing CO2 emission threshold, and dealerships. The government supon top of the generous voucher, should ports them in this transition, but comalso convince people. The threshold for promises will have to be found. The polluting vehicles will gradually approach gradual adaptation of the emission threshzero until 2025, meaning that after that old gives dealerships and leasing businesses “a phase of two to three years to adapt to the change and manage their stock,” though Bausch believes they can ADVANTAGES OF ELECTRIC expect a more radical transformation. MOBILITY IN LUXEMBOURG “Car dealerships in the future have to Source Ministry of mobility, sell cars but also sell mobility,” accordLuxembourg customs and guichet.lu ing to Bausch, who mentions Mobility as a Service (MaaS) and the concept of a mobility package. “Because the need isn’t always the same,” such packages would allow users to switch between Maximum voucher for electric cars different car models based on the activities they have planned. A pack that could later include other means of transportation. Supercharging stations promised Ultimately, for Bausch, mobility is by mobility and energy ministries over about “combining everything that’s there two years rationally and sustainably,” and this includes cars.
€8,000 85 0
Excises for e-cars in 2022
Words TRACY HEINDRICHS
Matic Zorman
The future of mobility isn’t about vilifying cars, says mobility minister François Bausch (déi Gréng). Instead, the solution to the 21st century’s mobility issues--traffic, pollution or equal access--lies in rethinking the entire transport system.
Photo
FEBRUARY 2022
Future mobility
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“A good window into what will happen” Antonio Da Palma Ferramacho
German Castignani
Adopting all-electric fleets might align with the goals of the European Union, but it doesn’t necessarily take into consideration the hurdles a company fleet may encounter if it ignores its mobility needs. The challenge of all-electric fleets “All these [electric] vehicles will come back [to the workplace] in the evening. They must be charged, all together! We’re speaking of hundreds, or thousands, of vehicles,” explains German Castignani, CEO and co-founder of Motion-S, a data-driven solution provider in mobility. “What energy provider will be able to provide the capacity of power needed for all cars to be fully charged in the morning?” A lot of parameters must be considered with electric cars, in comparison to internal combustion engines. “Before, the choice was binary. If someone did a lot of distances, they’d drive a diesel; if they drove short distances, they had a petrol engine,” says Castignani. It’s a concern that is shared by the Automobile Club of Luxembourg (ACL)’s head of mobility technologies, Antonio Da Palma Ferramacho. “The autonomy of electric cars is still limited,” says Da Palma, explaining that an electric car’s autonomy is influenced by road and weather conditions. For these reasons, a manager might be faced with increasingly complex choices when deciding what electric or hybrid model to use for different tasks.
Through data and a realistic evaluation of the existing electric vehicles though, the right balance between all-electric, combustion and hybrid vehicles can be found, Da Palma and Castignani say. Observing fleet tracking data Castignani’s company Motion-S, through fleet data tracking, supports and advises fleet managers in their task. He identifies three main uses of the data his company processes: ecomobility, maintenance and risk assessment. The data harvested either through external hardware, a special mobile app or--in the last two to three years--through
A STEEP HILL TOWARDS ELECTRIFICATION Source Automobile Club Luxembourg, Fleet Europe and House of Automobile
300
Different electrified models available for sale in Luxembourg
1.8%
Proportion of electric vehicles for all engines registered in Luxembourg (2019)
8%
Share of battery-powered electric vehicles sold in Luxembourg for Q1 2021
cars connected to car manufacturers directly is shared with Motion-S, which then analyses the driver’s usage. With this, Motion-S can then offer a selection of cars that correspond to the user’s habits and needs. Castignani explains: “[Our clients’ question is:] ‘We have data of these trajectories; can you tell us what the right distribution would be?’ And that’s exactly what we do.” Castignani remains measured when it comes to the future of fleets. “Not everything can immediately be all-electric.” After collecting data for four to six months, his company can suggest the mix of different engines a fleet would need. While considering that “the fleet that was bought only a few years ago can’t be replaced this quickly”. Da Palma agrees that the solution is a mix between electric and hybrid cars, for unplanned distances or 24/7 operationality. An experiment ACL, which founded the Fleet Association for Mobility, also offers counsel to fleet managers who want to undertake the change. Da Palma notes that there is a risk some might not be ready to adopt, should they go all-electric: slower, more expensive deliveries for instance. “A fleet manager might notice that an all-electric fleet doesn’t work and will pick those models when possible and keep hybrids they’ll use for logistics. Because logistically, it wouldn’t make sense for them to shoot themselves in the foot by prolonging the time of delivery just to be carbon neutral.” Perhaps, though, automobile fleets, by having to renew their stock faster than private car owners--since they must follow state directives--will provide a “good window into what’ll happen,” Da Palma concludes.
Words TRACY HEINDRICHS
Isabelle Scherer, Claude Piscitelli
In the process of going green, businesses also must reconsider their mobility, both for corporate and logistics vehicles. Is it realistic for companies to adopt an all-electric fleet in a short timeframe? What tools are available to them?
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FEBRUARY 2022
A question of balance
Dreaming of a new car?
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“The dealership will always have a role to play”
Michael d’Agostino
Global, local actions on the agenda To successfully adopt greener mobility, the CO2 emission tax on cars will not be enough, though. “Key factors are local legislation and the availability of clean, CO2-free primary energy,” says d’Agostino. “The more climate-friendly the energy mix is, the more cliIn 2019, Luxembourg counted the high- mate-friendly electric mobility is.” Yet, est shares of cars per capita--681 per 1,000 in 2021, only 10% of Luxembourg’s enerinhabitants. A position it has held for the gy was renewable. Losch, though, as the official retailer past 30 years. The grand duchy also has one of the highest proportions of new of the grand duchy’s most owned car cars (23.7%) in the EU. But, as climate brand--14% of all Luxembourg cars in awareness rises, can a car dealership ride 2021 were VWs--is already investing in the transformative wave while sustainably surviving as a business?
Independent mobility, a basic human need Cars won’t disappear from the market, d’Agostino tells Delano. Unshaken by the lower sales in 2021, “the car will become more popular than ever,” the COO says. “[The car] stands for individual freedom and satisfies the need for mobility. In particular, the pandemic has made many of us aware of the fact that mobility is a basic human need.” He adds that “in 2030, people won’t want to do without the experience of driving safely, comfortably and sustainably.” How, then, to convince drivers to embrace the transition from internal combustion engines to electric cars? For d’Agostino, “a reform of the current system was necessary to maintain the incentive effect for a permanent improvement of the emissions without penalising too abruptly and severely those who do not yet have the possibility to consider the use of a zero-emission vehicle.”
THE VW STRATEGY Source
Losch Import Luxembourg and Volkswagen
The brand’s goals for the next decade
60%
Share of all-electric models VW wants to reach in 2030
34t
The maximum C02 emission a VW car in 2030 should generate over its lifetime
€27bn VW’s investment in digitalisation by 2025
the change. goTOzero, the VW Group’s strategy, represents “a way of doing business that is CO2 neutral and does the least harm to the environment,” as d’Agostino explains it, by focusing on climate change, resources, air quality and environmental compliance. In addition to VW’s investments in future technologies (50% of all investments), and scaling of BEV platforms, Losch Luxembourg acts locally too-namely with a fleet made up largely of electric and hybrid vehicles, photovoltaic solar systems for its buildings, publicly accessible hyperchargers and an optimised reutilisation of materials, energy, and water. Furthermore, charging management solutions, like consulting, software and hardware assistance and maintenance, as well as a sustainability council contribute to the dealership’s green portfolio. Reviewing the business model “The way we use cars will also change radically in the coming decade,” says d’Agostino: “The way the customer will inform and purchase a car will change.” The digitalisation of sales and customer support will lead to a more efficient, tailored, and convenient experience. However, the Losch Group doesn’t consider dropping direct contact with customers any time soon: “Most people who want to buy a car still go to their dealer, they want to test the car, discuss with the salesperson who can provide information.” Meaning that “the dealership will always have a role to play”, both in the delivery of the car and the aftersales service. While the expectations and behaviour of potential buyers evolve, the future of car dealerships, in the end, will depend on their ability to prepare and adapt ahead of time. Words TRACY HEINDRICHS
Johannes Nollmeyer
“Safe, smart and ultimately autonomous”: for Michael d’Agostino, COO of Losch Luxembourg, cars will be more popular than ever in the next 10 years. Fully committed to a greener future, the Volkswagen Group importer looks at its changing approach to car retail.
Photo
FEBRUARY 2022
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Head to head
38
FEBRUARY 2022
3G in the workplace Nora Back, president of OGBL and the Chamber of Employees
The heads of the UEL and OGBL debate the merits and flaws of the 3G covid check regime, introduced to workplaces on 15 January. Does the 3G measure have merit in your eyes, or should we be testing everyone? NORA BACK I think we should have a combination of the two. The position of OGBL has always been that we need to continue doing tests, because the goal for everyone is to get out of this pandemic situation and return to normality--and if we want to do that, we must limit the number of infections. We have also always been for the vaccination, but for us it was not a good idea to stop free testing, which prevents those who are positive to circulate at work. JEAN-PAUL OLINGER Testing or 3G, for us, the solution is vaccination. The only way out of this crisis is vaccination, as much as possible. Testing up to now has been more of a hindrance on vaccination. Of course, testing helps to detect when people are positive, but we follow the guidance of the scientists; it is them who tell us we must increase the rate of vaccination. Further, we are absolutely in favour of clear and easy regulations which do not change every day. A model like 3G within business gives additional security for all members of staff, and solidarity is also important amongst employees.
“ It has given a false sense of security”
NB I am not in total agreement that 3G gives us additional security. It has given a false sense of security, because you can just show you are vaccinated and remove your mask and move about.
Who should pay the tests for workers? For me, the individual. He has a solution which is the vaccination, that is free. We agreed together with the government, people who get their first dose will get tests for free until 28 February. And that was a very good compromise, in order to show people if they give in a little bit, then everybody gives in, in a positive way. We need a little bit of solidarity, and solidarity is not a one-way street. NB The moment where there is a political situation where people are told they must pay in order to enter their work premises--we can no longer agree. And I will remain very clear on this point: a society that does not mandate vaccines retains the right for people to not get vaccinated--we cannot give this right to some and not to others. There are those who have the means to pay for the tests and those who financially are not able to do it. It is a form of social discrimination. They’ve introduced a right that exists only in theory. Either the boss pays partially, and the state pays the rest, or the state pays. JPO
Let’s talk about the changing role of workers and business in society: what is their social responsibility? NB We have in Luxembourg a well-known tripartite social model which is involved with the social dialogue. The three of us make up ‘the vital forces of the nation’ in political decision-making. We have a social responsibility beyond just going to work and making money. But ulti-
Social dialogue
How do you see the situation developing in the future? Do you believe this is to be a temporary measure? NB I don’t know! [Laughs] We cannot predict anything anymore. Currently, we are moving towards debating the mandatory vaccination. I think, if this opinion is explored further, it will end the need for 3G in businesses. If we don’t have forced vaccines, then I believe we’re going to be living with this so-called 3G for a while. Maybe it will all work how we imagine and hope, that it will push people to such an extent to get vaccinated that there won’t be any big problems. Or it will further worsen the social divides, there will be more revolts and opposing confrontations, we’ll have people without salaries and political, economic and social frustrations. It is all very uncertain, like the future is very uncertain. This
“ 3G within business gives additional security for all” pandemic throws us surprises every few days, so it’s difficult to predict. JPO There are European tendencies in Luxembourg to integrate with what happens around us. We’re not going to be the island in Europe. But we have our heads in the sand, because there are other problems and challenges that are hiding, emerging behind covid: inflation, energy transitions, rising energy costs and issues with supply chains. These are all elements which we are not focused on at the minute, but they will be great challenges in the medium term. We’re still on a path of energy reduction, decreasing our usage by 55% for 2030. That means, for all of us, more than halving our energy consumption, and we’re not yet conscious of it, or the implications that it will have on our daily lives. These are big challenges that are covered by covid, which will slowly come to the fore. When that happens, we will have to be ready, together, to come to some good decisions.
Moderated by EDOUARD OMBREDANE Photos ROMAIN GAMBA
FEBRUARY 2022
mately, it’s the government who makes the laws. We do not get involved on health issues. We are here to protect jobs and so we got involved with the 3G. There is substantial change happening, and it could be seen as a good thing having more sway in the argument, but sometimes, we have to say, this is not for us to say. We are not listed as a political party, we’re not on the front row of parliament. And we want to leave that to those who represent our society. JPO It’s not about power, it’s about responsibility. We have a responsibility which goes beyond companies, who want simply to function. Our role is to ensure that companies can work, and that people are able to work in a healthy and agreeable environment. The government could accuse us of ‘cherry-picking’ if we didn’t participate in the 3G debate. It was crucial that we did, our role is to keep the economy open, to keep companies and wider society open. Last year, with lockdown, public debt increased rapidly--and we quickly reached our limit. Our role is to inform the government on the situation at ground level for business. Our organisations are more focused on putting out fires that are everywhere. As social partners, we’ve worked a lot together, which has helped us understand and respect our roles, strengthening our relationship. We have achieved a lot, proving that social dialogue works in Luxembourg.
39
Jean-Paul Olinger, director and chairman of the Union of Luxembourg Companies (UEL)
Essay
FEBRUARY 2022
40
Is it game over for open banking? It promised to revolutionise the customer banking experience. Frictionless payments, multiple accounts in one place, mortgages agreed in an hour--but three years in, few bank customers in Luxembourg are benefitting. Is this normal?
Words JOSEPHINE SHILLITO Illustrations SALOMÉ JOTTREAU
Banking
Banking reluctance Luxembourg has historically performed well in the payments innovation space, with an efficient regulator boasting a team of payments institutions experts and the likes of mobile payments platform Payconiq (formerly Digicash) launched in the country. “Six to eight years ago, Luxembourg looked set to be the leading country to transpose PSD into law,” said the financial services source. Yet progress is now sluggish, and part of the blame lies with the banks. For some, PSD2 regulation represents nothing but time-consuming regulatory headache with very little tangible benefit. The effect is amplified in Luxembourg, which hosts €508bn assets in the private banking sector as of December 2020, according to the Luxembourg Bankers’ Association (ABBL), where payment accounts fall under the PSD2 but cannot exploit it in the same ways as retail banks do. “While private banks have payment accounts, they primarily use them to route payments to savings and securities, so it’s not a customer interaction point as it is
“ Every bank is complying. They have to. But few banks are exploiting PSD2 in the way it was envisaged”
for a retail bank,” said the financial services source. “Yet they fall within the scope and have to comply.” Ananda Kautz, head of innovation, digital banking & payments at ABBL, agrees. “Wealth management and private banking clients have payment accounts, but it’s not through this that they differentiate their services.” For retail banks, the benefit is clearer. Payment accounts are a customer interaction point through which they can sell products which make a profit margin. “It’s a serious threat to be disintermediated from this customer contact point, so it’s strategic to comply or at least to put in place common resources,” explained the financial services source. Luxembourg bank Spuerkeess is one of the banks to embrace the possibilities under PSD2. The bank, in collaboration with BGL BNP Paribas, Banque Raiffeisen and Post Luxembourg, created Lux- “At present, you pay your doctor, submit hub in 2019, an open banking fintech receipts and the CNS reimburses 80%. delivering PSD2 compliance to institu- With the correct APIs, a Spuerkeess custions in Luxembourg. tomer could pay the doctor only the 20% Spuerkeess has also pioneered multi- they would pay anyway, with payment ple third-party bank account management triggered directly between CNS to the through its S-Net app, allowing customers doctor for the remaining 80%.” Luxhub has also become a key PSD2 to manage accounts with six Luxembourg banks plus neobanks N26 and Revolut in enabler for retail and private banks in Luxone place. It also sees wide potential for embourg and in Europe. “To overcome revolutionising payments in Luxembourg. the PSD2 APIs fragmentation challenges, “APIs could help people pay their doc- Luxhub has developed one single API to tor through the Luxembourg health insur- facilitate integration for API consumers. ance system, the Caisse nationale de santé, On top of this product, Luxhub provides in a smoother way,” Spuerkeess’ head of account aggregation and payment initiadigitalisation, Fred Giuliani, explained to tion services to regulated entities and can Delano in an interview in November 2021. offer similar services to non-regulated
ADOPTION OF OPEN BANKING IN EUROPE Level of adoption in country for regulator-led countries Source
McKinsey analysis
Initial steps
Transpose to national lax
Grant licenses
Nigeria
Indonesia
Hong Kong
Japan
UK
India
Australia
USA
Saudi Arabia
Brazil
Malaysia
Germany
Finland
Sweden
Canada
Mexico
Turkey
France
Ireland
Hungary
Colombia
Singapore
Spain
Czech Republic
Denmark
Italy
Norway
Belgium
South Korea
Netherlands
FEBRUARY 2022
In 2018, the European Commission had a big idea for fostering innovation and competition in Europe. All banks would be obliged to share information (APIs), allowing fintechs to interact with banks and creating a myriad of possibilities for finding the best deal to even paying the doctor. Through amending the existing 2007 Payment Services Directive into a PSD2, it would further protect consumer data, launching a plethora of products from better mortgage to comparing household bills to tracking payments across all accounts. At a time when post-pandemic retail customers are taking a greater interest in personal finance, open banking should soar. Yet it’s 2022, almost a full four years since PSD2 was launched, and in many ways, open banking is floundering in Europe, not least of all in Luxembourg. “Every bank is complying,” said a source at the Central Bank of Luxembourg (BCL). “They have to. But few banks are exploiting PSD2 in the way it was envisaged.” The sentiment is echoed time and time again among sources familiar with open banking. One source working in the financial services area goes even further. “It’s a disaster. With competition coming from Asia superapps WeChat and Alipay, open banking in Europe just isn’t going to fly.”
41
Essay Banking
FEBRUARY 2022
42
entities,” Claude Meurisse, chief operating officer at Luxhub, told Delano. However, sources privately disagree. “In many ways it’s slowing down the interaction with fintechs as it’s the only entry point for startups,” said the financial services source. “What are the banks in Luxhub going to do beyond PSD2? They are competitors so it’s hard to agree on a common roadmap.”
ECONOMY BONUS The boost to the economy from broad adoption of open-data ecosystems could be as high as 1.5% of GDP in 2030 in the European Union
Sticky regulation Source McKinsey Global Institute analysis According to some commentators, PSD2 is part of the problem. Although the original PSD text was “a good enough compromise”, according to Ralf Ohlhausen, chair of the European Third Party Payment Provider Association, certain regulatory to others with deeper pockets or are going technical standards introduced in 2018 out of business altogether.” While some changes are on the horimade life very difficult for the third-party zon, for example, the 90-day rule went payment providers it was meant to help. One of these was the so-called 90-day under consultation with the European rule, which forces customers to re-authen Banking Authority in November 2021, the ticate their accounts every 90 days. “In process has been slow and cumbersome. “Two years on from when the RTS on essence, AISPs have to start from scratch and onboard their customer base at least strong customer authentication went live every 90 days. This means they lose valu- [in September 2019], the vast majority of able customers every 90 days,” Ohlhausen APIs are still not compliant with PSD2 and RTS,” said Ohlhausen. “Very few told Delano. Monopoly APIs, where banks have the [national] regulators took action to set freedom to make just one API-dedicated deadlines or to enforce penalties in cases interface available to TPPs and to block of non-compliance. We’ve essentially lost any alternative access, means that these a year in the process.” payment providers have no fallback to any Given the clunky start to PSD2, a group other user interface when the bank-ena- of industry participants have united to bled interface fails. Other obstructions create a more industry-led approach under include allowing TPPs only four API calls the SEPA API Access Scheme. This will per day without customer presence, mean- provide the additional features allowing ing the customer can no longer receive TPPs to compete with card payments and real-time alerts and preventing the addi- the bigtechs at “eye level” and compention or removal of trusted payees, forcing sate banks for it. “The biggest lesson [we] learned so far the customer to update their own payees is that trying to enforce good APIs with and opening the process to error. Although individually small errors in technical regulation results in an endless functionality, these obstructions have the and destructive cat-and-mouse game,” said combined effect of turning customers off Ohlhausen. “Banks must want to create a the much-vaunted seamless payments that good API and must be properly incentivised to do so.” open banking was expected to enable. For TPPs, the effects are even more Regulating the desired outcome, rather serious. “Many TPPs have moved away than technical details, can go a long way from business-to-customer services to towards that, he added. business-to-business services as a result of the 90-day rule,” said Ohlhausen. “Worse, A disrupter--or not some of these TPPs are startups who As time drags on, there are question marks launched their businesses in expectation hovering over open banking’s disruptive of innovating and competing under new potential. “It’s something of a damp squib,” regulation. They are finding they can’t said Nasir Zubairi, CEO of the Luxemoperate successfully and are either selling bourg House of Financial Technology.
“There’s nothing hugely disruptive about an API, not with the constraints around authentication that have come with PSD2. Hopefully, open banking will eventually lead to more customer-oriented solutions.” Zubairi argues that there could be greater value in using the data supplied by APIs as a third-party aggregator for simplifying KYC [know your customer] process and onboarding in financial services. “Strong partnerships between banks and fintechs have been created in Luxembourg, looking at various ways to exploit data throughout the banking product cycle,” added Kautz. “I see a real evolution when financial services become embedded in a transaction,” expanded Zubairi. “For example, embedding insurance or even the approval of a mortgage in a house purchase.” Some of the directions in which PSD2 intends to progress should create more interesting opportunities for customers beyond the arena of payments and into the areas of trading and investment. This will help capture some of the pent-up capital held by retail customers unable to spend on experience-related goods during the covid pandemic. “Most banks have a trading facility but it’s not always that good. However, APIs from brokers will let customers trade directly through their banking platform,” Giuliani told Delano in the November interview. However, it is not all bad. In comparison to other European countries, Luxembourg has fared better in the adoption of PSD thanks to its coverage and various existing solutions for payment such as Fitbit, Apple Watch and Apple Pay. “The [payments] market in Luxembourg is quite sophisticated,” said Kautz, while Ohlhausen agrees. “Luxembourg is certainly not the biggest problem [in Europe].” Yet not being the biggest problem is not the lofty ambition of a country which has historically been a centre of excellence in payments. Sources point out that Luxembourg itself has lost opportunities to smooth the process for open banking and in other areas of payments innovation and a great deal of this responsibility lies not just with regulation but with the regulator CSSF. “The regulator needs to make the process of granting e-money licenses smoother and quicker,” the financial services source concluded. “This will help Luxembourg to lead the way on payments [and other areas] as it used to.”
FR/EN
10�6 INCLUSION FROM WORDS TO ACTION
31.05
Tuesday 18:30
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Gusto
FEBRUARY 2022
44
Valentine’s Day! We go to Luxembourg’s artisanal chocolatiers, vineyards and bars as the air gets saturated again with love.
1 Bernard-Massard The cuvée Clos des Rochers rosé, which is composed of 100% pinot noir, is a sensuous and pleasurable vintage with an enticing rose-tea hue. It can be enjoyed alone, with canapés before a meal or with a low-sugar dessert. www.bernard-massard.lu
2 Madame Chocolat The bear represents cuteness, and the heel symbolises the elegance one feels while wearing them. The heart pralines contain 40% milk chocolate, sweet caramel, with refreshing and exotic orange and lemon, just as love should be. Ruby chocolate, which is made from naturally-occurring ruby cocoa beans found in Ecuador, Brazil and the Ivory Coast and processed to give the chocolate a distinctive rosy hue, is used for the shoe and one of the bears. www.madamechocolat.lu Words ABIGAIL OKORODUS Photo ROMAIN GAMBA, GUY WOLFF
3 Lola Valerius The 11.9cm heart represents the iconic shape of Valentine’s Day and is a great representation of love. As for the taste, Lola Valerius has surprises in store, including white, milk and dark chocolate hearts with creamy, crunchy and other fillings.
“St Valentine’s is a day to express our love, so demonstrate yours for people and planet.”
FEBRUARY 2022
45
Jill Timms and David Bek, Coventry University
ry ts fo our v n e
ntine ale
Three ev
www.lolavalerius.com
Cupid’s annual visit falls on one of the busiest weekdays this year: Monday. Nevertheless, here are some late evening and early event ideas to explore with your partner.
1
Clink glasses with that special someone as you enjoy this Valentine’s Day cocktail made with love by the bartender with carefully placed raspberries in a colour associated with love. www.piano-bar.lu
View a series of astonishing paintings by famous Dutch painter, Vincent van Gogh, in the Sunflowers exhibition on screen that runs for 85 minutes. 13-15 February, starting at 5pm & 7pm www.theatres.lu
3 Go dinner hopping in an American school bus converted into a restaurant. The romantic four-hour ride includes a full-course meal, a drink and live music. 14 February, departure at 7.15pm www.kinepolis.lu
Shutterstock
Piano Bar
2
Photo
4
Book tickets to see Welsh heavy metal veterans, Bullet for My Valentine, perform at Rockhal if you’re into early Valentine’s Day celebrations or maybe just a hard rock music fan. 9 February, doors open at 6.30pm www.rockhal.lu
Welcome to the Club
Business Club
FEBRUARY 2022
46
In numbers
Flashback Your events
1,100
COMPANIES The number of company members of the largest business club in Luxembourg.
18,000 MEMBERS
The number of individuals who are part of the vibrantly active Paperjam + Delano Club community with whom you will get to interact.
383
EVENTS The number of digital and on-site events. Choose from about 400 conferences, training, networking and workshop events each year.
On 2 December, the Paperjam + Delano Club organised the Paperjam Recovery Awards, with the attendance of the minister of the economy 1 Franz Fayot (LSAP) who presented the awards to So Graphiste (Solidarity Award), Michel Greco (Resilience Award), BDO Luxembourg (Digitalisation Award) and Santé Services/MedLogistics (Innovation Award). We thank our partners Resultance, the Luxembourg Chamber of Commerce, Spuerkeess and the Lhoft for their support. The Paladium offered a cosy setting for a final tasting with 2 Lucas Ney (Vinaly) who shared his favourite wine selection of the moment. Finally, the Start-up Stories Awards 2021 took place on 15 December. 3 Philippe Linster (House of Startups) held the opening speech, followed by a keynote speech by 4 Genna Elvin, (Tadaweb). Congratulations to Ta-Da!, elected Startup of the Year, and to WEO, who received the Jury’s Favourite award. Thanks to Startup Luxembourg and the jury members for their continuous support as well as Tadaweb for hosting this event.
500
HOURS
The number of annual training hours for your employees to develop their hard and soft skills: an additional benefit for you and useful extras for your teams.
1
3
HOW TO ATTEND PAPERJAM+ DELANO CLUB EVENTS ? You’re already a member Please check the Club section on our website paperjam.lu. Select, among all the digital and on-site events listed, the ones you would be interested in, fill in the registration form at the bottom page and register.
You’re not a member yet Please email the Paperjam+Delano Club via club@paperjam.lu and an account manager will be in touch to introduce you to all the perks offered by the largest business club in Luxembourg.
“Startups are more likely to die of suicide than homicide.” Genna Elvin Tadaweb
47
Programme February/March Tuesday 22 February
FEBRUARY 2022
10×6
Women: Leaders’ role models TIME 18:30 – 22:30 VENUE Athénée de Luxembourg SPONSOR IQ-EQ Thursday 24 February TALK
Apéro Talk with Nathalie Reuter - Luxembourg: Future Urban Developments TIME 18:30 – 21:00
3
VENUE Namur
“We need to have more female entrepreneurs.”
Tuesday 8 March TALK
Philippe Linster House of Startups
Photos
2
Simon Verjus, Eva Krins
7
4
Breakfast Talk - Supporting the financial industry: the new rules of outsourcing TIME 08:30 – 10:30 VENUE To be confirmed
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LITERATURE
VISUAL ARTS
THEATRE
DESIGN
DANCE
Adaptive, instinctive, energetic.
Phenomenological. Post-vandalism.
I still haven’t figured out how to actually have one, to be honest.
The work I’m the happiest with so far is my short story Panima.
What can be done to showcase more Luxembourg talent abroad?
By distracting myself (which is very hard if I’m in the middle of writing a story, but it’s always worth it).
I think that question should probably be answered by someone who has more experience in marketing than me.
If my work succeeds in challenging people’s world views, and if readers come up with their own interpretations of my stories.
If you are dedicated to your work, this is no easy task.
Horrendously.
I don’t try to create ‘the one’ best masterpiece, but if I had to choose a favourite in 2021, it would be my installation at Casino for Brave New World Order.
All acting projects are collective efforts, so I can’t claim any as ‘my masterpiece’. If I were to pick a production I consider a great success, it would be Moi, je suis Rosa!
Go to the studio every day, and it wil work out fine.
I have the good fortune of being able to turn to my directors, fellow actors or loved ones to help me whenever I feel stuck.
More international residency programmes, more international juries at awards.
The Luxembourgish art scene has so much to offer and should act confidently. For theatre productions, this requires actively pursuing distribution and touring.
Being able to do what you love every day.
I think of success as two sides of a coin: I want to merge with a role, so that each of us changes the other, while also creating a shared experience with the audience.
Contemporary dance, although my background in figure skating, ballet and jazz dance strongly influences my movement vocabulary.
I either rest, go to the gym, meet up with friends or go to exhibitions. This gives me space for new ideas and thoughts to emerge.
Together with my partner Antoine Colla (who also works in the artistic domain), who supports me and lets me know when I am overdoing it!
I am still working on that.
My latest piece, Clementine, a duet performed with Giovanni Zazzera, video artist Jonathan Christoph and Antoine Colla as creative assistant.
I go to exhibitions, to the theatre or I meet friends. Being social during a creative block helps me a lot and in the worst case, I travel.
Through dialogue, mainly with the artistic team or with those I trust and respect their opinions.
I think young talents from any country should apply to competitions abroad and try to build up an international network.
Production and management agencies that would represent Luxembourgish artists abroad and help with administrative needs.
Being recognised by the industry you work in.
Interesting question! I believe success lies in being surrounded by like-minded people who share and support your vision and help you grow both as a human and as an artist.
Photos Provided by participants, Julien Hübsch, Seif El Islam Essam, Bohumil Kostohryz, Béatrice Cruveiller, Unsplash, Markus Spiske, Valentina Jorio, Emanuela Picone, Oswaldo Ibanez, Shutterstock
Colourful and fun.
How would you define success as an artist(e)?
How do you overcome creative blocks?
What would you consider to be your greatest masterpiece so far?
How do you manage a worklife balance?
How would you describe your style?
FEBRUARY 2022
Here are five top emerging artist(e)s to look out for in Luxembourg’s cultural scene.
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