Delano February 2013

february 2013

understanding Luxembourg

Current affairs • Business • Lifestyle

2013

The year of the Irish International relationships

A couple of foreigners

This is not a minister

Étienne Schneider Economy and trade minister

Issue 17 - 4€ www.delano.lu

5 453000 010015

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EDITORIAL

Luc Deflorenne

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Gun control

Calm debate call draws ire

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In accordance with article 66 of the law of 08.06.2004 on the freedom of expression in the media: the company that publishes Delano is indirectly held, by a stake exceeding 25%,

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Delano™ and Maison Moderne™ are trademarks used under licence by MM Publishing S.A. © MM Publishing S.A. (Luxembourg) Cover photo Julien Becker shot Étienne Schneider at the Luxair cargo centre.

T

wo weeks before president Barack Obama was sworn into office with a pledge to ensure that “all our children, from the streets of Detroit to the hills of Appalachia to the quiet lanes of Newtown, know that they are cared for, and cherished, and always safe from harm,” Luxembourg’s justice minister François Biltgen was urging a debate on gun control laws in Luxembourg. The evocation of Newtown by Obama will have only emboldened Biltgen, because it was that tragedy that was the catalyst for his call to have a “debate without stress.”

Reportedly using terminology of dubious taste, the minister said that he was not “shooting from the hip” and warned against over-reacting to violent events. Indeed, in a letter to interest groups including the police, the national hunting association, sports gun federation and gun collectors’ society, Biltgen emphasised that his aim was not to “stigmatise” gun ownership, nor to judge those who use guns responsibly and legitimately. However, the minister does want to establish common ground in an effort to prevent potentially dangerous situations such as guns being used in cases of domestic

violence or being stolen from homes or cars, people with mental health problems having access to firearms, and guns being stored in places that could be accessible to unlicensed people or minors.

This all seems sensible enough, the sort of calm language that few could find objectionable.

However, Biltgen has drawn the ire of some lobbyists because he used rhetoric that suggested gun ownership in Luxembourg is on the rise and stood at an “alarming” rate--it has, in fact, fallen in relative terms as the population has increased over the last ten years. In an open letter to the minister, Bill Erpelding accused the minister of engaging in “cover-my-ass” politics. That seems unfair when Biltgen is merely opening debate on a sensitive subject. It is true that Luxembourg’s gun laws are already strict, but as the 2009 killing of 15 victims in Baden-Württemberg by a boy who took a legally owned Beretta from his parents’ bedroom showed, there is a need for extreme vigilance. Yes, Biltgen may well be covering his ass but if, heaven forbid, a similar tragedy struck Luxembourg he would be the first to be blamed for not having done enough to prevent it.

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CONTENTS

current affairs

lifestyle 10

50

February 2013 A couple of foreigners

Why international relationships are the spice of life in Luxembourg

Year of the Irish

Ambassador Diarmuid O’Leary talks about Ireland’s big agenda for 2013 8

54

24

SCOTS TOAST BURNS

56

64

THE GATHERING

kids

Activities right under your nose

Irish promote their isle 18

DISCOVERY ZONE

Third season kicks off

“You don’t have to be Scottish” 16

LANDSCAPING SECRETS

“Gardens are like supermodels”

JUNCKER TESTIFIES

Secret service murkiness

Business

Regulars 34

42 Think Local Marty Davis How the Kiwi helped shake up rugby in Luxembourg

Great expectations

Delano’s guide to the Alfi spring conference 32

STABLE FINANCES

S&P says Luxembourg is tip-top 36

PATENT COURT

New EU institution coming to town 40

EXTENDING EQUALITY

Check your insurance policy

66

coverstory

my other life Patrick Ernzer His zombie film experiment and the dark creature coming soon

This is not a minister: Étienne Schneider says he’s not “really” running for re-election. But after his first year in office, the economy and trade minister already appears to be one of the cabinet’s canniest operators.

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Nationality up for grabs

Bettel on top

Fashion pavilion

Police arrests

Royal engagement

Luxembourg’s pavilion for the Shanghai World Expo in 2010 finally has a new tenant. The asymmetrical pavilion designed by François Valentiny will house a fashion school, with the Chinese investing 500,000 euro in its redesign for that purpose.

A total of three police officers were arrested in December in connection with an investigation into prostitution at “cabarets”. All three officers worked in the Esch-sur-Alzette jurisdiction. A civilian was also arrested in connection with the same investigation.

Plans are afoot for royal nuptials after Prince Félix, the second son of Grand Duke Henri and Grand Duchess Maria Teresa, announced his engagement to Claire Lademacher. Ms. Lademacher is German but has spent time as a child and during her career in the United States.

With his popularity among voters at an all-time high--even threatening JeanClaude Juncker’s unprecedentedly high approval ratings--Xavier Bettel has become president of the Democratic Party. The mayor of Luxembourg was his party’s parliamentary faction leader before he took office in city hall in October 2011. He was the only candidate to succeed previous president Claude Meisch.

Child killer arrested in States A man convicted in 2011 of the killing of a three-year old child in Luxembourg three years earlier has been apprehended by police in Georgia, USA. Ricardo Chaves dos Santos was arrested for drunk and disorderly behaviour at a service station.

The arresting officer realised his name and description matched that of the fugitive, who now faces extradition.

Lionel Allorge (Creative Commons)

Troublemaker (Creative Commons)

Cour grand-ducale / Collection privée

Hermann Valentiny & Partners

Olivier Minaire

Luxembourg’s nationality law is once again open to debate following remarks by justice minister François Biltgen that he is open to suggestions on the reform of the current legislation. Parliament was due to discuss the 2008 law and possible amendments at the end of January (after Delano went to print), with clauses on length of residency, language ability and obtaining nationality through marriage all on the agenda.

Biltgen has said he does not want to overhaul the basic principles of the current law, but rather carry out a “polishing up” that could still be quite radical.

For instance, the minister has said that the question of whether applicants had to fulfil seven years of consecutive residency or five years (as was previously the case) was “irrelevant”. He could imagine that an application for Luxembourg nationality could be made after just one year of residency. On the other hand, Biltgen is opposed to abolishing the Luxembourg language test, even though a certain amount of “accommodation could be considered” in the language obligation.

Biltgen also seemed to hint that nationality through marriage was not out of the question. More on the debate about nationality and voting rights in the March edition of Delano.

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Julien Becker

CURRENT AFFAIRS

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CURRENT AFFAIRS

David Laurent/Wili

Transport and parking price hikes dispute

Airport staff under scrutiny

86,427 Guns

100,000

21,506 Number of gun licences: 21,506 Number of gun owners: 15,670 Number of guns: 86,427 Number of confiscated illegal weapons: 1,826 (31.12.2012) David Laurent/Wili

Crosstown traffic

Uni move imminent The University of Luxembourg could move some of its faculty to its future site in Esch-Belval sooner than anticipated. According to reports the natural sciences faculty housed in Kirchberg may have to relocate before its new headquarters in Belval are fully ready. Its current home is being vacated by the government, which owns it, for budgetary reasons, says minister for further education and research François Biltgen. He wants the move to happen at the earliest possible date.

Rector Rolf Tarrach wrote in a recent letter that “this is not our preferred scenario, but if raising the needed funds makes it necessary, we will make the best out of it.”

Work has begun on preparing the site of a new temporary road bridge across the Petrusse valley to carry traffic between the city centre and the Gare district while work is carried out on the Pont Adolphe. The Pont Adolphe, or Nei Brëck in Luxembourgish, was built in 1903 and at the time held a record for the largest arch span in Europe. But it has long required strengthening and now also needs to be renovated if it is to carry tracks for the new tram system that will run from the city station through the centre to Kirchberg. Trees in the valley have been uprooted and taken to a nursery to be nurtured before replanting when the work is completed. An exhibition detailing the bridge project opened on February 1 in a temporary container on boulevard Roosevelt, opposite the Casino contemporary art forum.

21,506 Gun licences

1,826

Confiscated illegal weapons

WEAPONS IN LUXEMBOURG (December 31, 2012)

Galerie Kons gives way to Orange Bricks Following initial reports that the Galerie Kons shopping centre and office building, opposite the city’s railway station, would be renovated comes news that it is to be demolished completely. ING Luxembourg is to build its new headquarters on the site, says the bank’s CEO Rick Vandenberghe. The new project, code named

Orange Brick, will see some 700 staff housed in the brand new HQ--currently the bank has four buildings in the capital city. But reports suggest that the ground floor of the building may still house some shops. Work on the project will start in 2014 with the bank moving into the flagship building in 2016.

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15,670

Gun owners

Charles Caratini

University of Luxembourg – Boshua

Charles Caratini

The operators of Luxembourg’s airport and the LCGB union are in dispute over the introduction of tighter security controls for staff. The union had complained the new security measures, which have at times included searches of employees’ wallets and even their packed lunches, breach legitimate and tolerable consideration. But the airport counters that it is merely employing measures to ensure it complies with new EU security directives. However, director Fernand Brisbois has conceded that searches need to be made with tact, whichNumber is not always the ofcase. gun licences:

Deflecting criticism over its decision to increase car parking prices in the capital city, the Ville de Luxembourg argues that the prices were necessary following an increase in public transport fares imposed by the government. François Bausch, deputy mayor in charge of mobility, explained that the car park hike was in line with city policy introduced in 1991 that links car parking prices with public transport.

“We can’t encourage use of public transport if it is cheaper to use the car,” he said.

Bausch argues that the introduction of car parking charges by the quarter hour five years ago had made short-term parking cheaper--in other cities drivers have to pay for a full hour as soon as they park. He also said Luxembourg, with its daily influx of over 100,000 workers, faced unique challenges and that its P&R facilities allowed drivers to park for free all day. Plans to introduce some 20 short-term (under an hour) free Park & Buy spaces for shoppers and people who had to run quick errands were also advancing.

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CURRENT AFFAIRS

Allan Stewart and Evita Selecka

Piping in of the haggis (piping hot, of course) at the Scottish Association Luxembourg’s Burns Supper

Traditions

Scots toast Burns

From left: Alan Dunbabin, Liz Dickinson and Mike Dickinson

Nearly 100 Scots and friends of Scotland attended the Scottish Association of Luxembourg’s fourth Burns Supper last month. Burns Suppers--which are held all around the world--honour one of Scotland’s most iconic poets, Robert Burns, who died at the age of 37 in 1796.

“You don’t have to be Scottish” to participate, stresses SAL president Michael Doyle. While many traditional Burns Suppers feature 20-minute or longer speeches in Old Scots, “we don’t have speeches lasting more than five minutes” because “we try to make it an event that’s open for everyone.”

In fact, a Polish attendee has signed-up to do next year’s “reply from the lassies” and her husband, also Polish, promises to attend wearing a kilt. AG

Alan Botfield and Helen McCann

Andrea Bartelloni and Silvia Puliti

Photographed by Steve Eastwood

09_adresse_internet Michael Doyle and Yvonne Houston during the address to the haggis

Thomas Köhler, Tingting Köhler and Franc Réolon

Maureen Rodgers, Katarzyna Dyzewska and Aleksandra Domanska

Colin Ewen, Alina Biberi, Louise Bennett and Luke Firth

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CURRENT AFFAIRS

Ireland in 2013

Homecomings and honest brokering Having assumed the presidency of the Council of the European Union, and with big plans for The Gathering, this year sees the spotlight very firmly focused on Ireland.

Ambassador Diarmuid O’Leary talks about expectations for both as well as the challenges ahead for Ireland’s economy as it emerges from the crisis in 2013.

Text by Duncan Roberts Photography by Luc Deflorenne

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CURRENT AFFAIRS

W

ith fewer than 2,000 Irish citizens settled in Luxembourg, the ambassador to the Grand Duchy has to reach out to a very small number of expats--a tiny proportion of the 70 million people around the world that the website of The Gathering claims make up the Irish diaspora. Nevertheless, Diarmuid O’Leary is keen to do his bit in promoting the year-long public relations exercise for Tourism Ireland.

“The Gathering is about reaching out to that diaspora and the links they have made wherever they are. To try and encourage them to come visit Ireland with their families or in a group of friends and to experience what is going on in Ireland during the course of the next 12 months.”

O’Leary says that around 40 million of those are located in the United States alone, while other significant numbers are found in Australia and Canada and the UK. “They would tend be more recent emigrants, who went to the UK in the 1950s and again in the 1970s and 1980s--people are going there all the time--whereas the vast majority of emigrants to the United States went during and after the famine years of the 1840s,” the ambassador explains. Irish immigrants to Luxembourg arrived when the country first entered the European Union, with a second wave arriving in the late 1980s and 1990s, as Luxembourg’s fund industry began to take off.

O’Leary recognises that contact with the diaspora has always been important. In the days before Ireland joined the EU, emigrants working abroad would send remittances to family back in Ireland. “We have always found that a lot of Irish people occupy decision-making positions, which has helped us as a country to attract foreign investment. Many of the multinational companies that set up in Ireland come because they have that historical connection, that spiritual connection almost.”

No apologies The Gathering actually came out of the Global Irish Forum, a meeting of key decision-makers from the diaspora to discuss what their contribution could be to helping the country emerge from the crisis. The government is targeting to get 325,000 additional visitors to Ireland this year. “The Gathering is linked to the fact that we are coming out of the economic crisis, and it is

part of trying to get the diaspora to help in the recovery effort, in a way. It is an effort to reach out, but it is also a tourism campaign. It also has the effect of boosting morale at home.” O’Leary does not quite repudiate actor and former Irish cultural ambassador Gabriel Byrne--who last November slammed the fanfare launch of The Gathering and has said that Ireland should always be nurturing its relationship with the diaspora--but he is quietly dismissive. “I haven’t heard many other people criticising it in that way. He obviously has strong views and he is entitled to them. But it is what it is. It is about getting people to visit Ireland and to experience what is going on, and that can only be positive. I don’t think we should apologise for that.”

The event is focused on community events all around the country. “It is about creating a momentum around the idea of community and family, of sporting and cultural organisations coming up with ideas that will attract people to their town or event. It is about involving local

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DiarmUId O'Leary A sense that Ireland is a country in recovery

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CURRENT AFFAIRS

people,” says the ambassador. Even Luxembourg’s Irish community has entered into the spirit, with many locals organising initiatives (see page 16). The fact that Luxembourg resident Nicola McEvoy is the reigning Rose of Tralee also means the Grand Duchy is heavily involved in The Gathering. Indeed, the Tralee festival and especially the contest to find the Rose of Tralee has long attracted those of Irish descent, with girls from the United States, the UK, Australia, New Zealand, Dubai and Luxembourg competing with those living in Ireland for the coveted crown (see box). “The festival in Tralee will be especially big this year, so Nicola will have a big role to play.”

Positive outlook

Luxembourg Rose of Tralee Association

Hosts fundraising events throughout the year and a Rose Ball in March at which the Luxembourg representative to take part in the Rose of Tralee festival is chosen. www.rose.lu

Ireland Stand at the International Bazaar

Organises fund raising events and coordinates the stand at the annual charity event held just before Christmas. bazar-international.lu/bazaarstands/ireland

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When asked whether Ireland’s image has changed over the last two decades, O’Leary is charmingly forthright and candid. “I think perception has changed several times over the past 20 years,” he says. “I guess they were impressed by our economic development through and 90s. But then we had the crisis and our international reputation took a hit. Our reputation as a place to do business was affected negatively.” But while admitting that the crisis still hasn’t worked its way out through the domestic economy, that the mood at home is low and that unemployment remains a problem, O’Leary is optimistic about recovery as a result of the efforts made to get the economy back on track. “Some major reforms have been introduced, both in our banking system and in our economy generally. And those reforms are ongoing. The indications are all positive now that we have managed to turn the corner. And I think the international perception has changed again and the outlook is much more positive.”

Indeed, the ambassador says he senses that people in Luxembourg have been quite impressed by what Ireland has achieved in the last two or three years. “We still have a lot to do, a long way to go but there is a clear sense that Ireland is a country in recovery. The worst is over.” He points out that retail figures just before Christmas were the best in three years and the fact that Ireland was able to go back onto the bonds market at reasonable rates is another positive. And jobs are still being creat-

ed, although he admits that many more need to be created. Indications also suggest that the measures taken to improve competitiveness are working, with exports rising right across the board. Indeed, food and drinks exports last year surpassed nine billion euro for the first time ever. “That is quite an achievement. It represents a 25 percent increase over two years.”

This is welcome news for the country as Ireland takes over the rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union. Ireland is targeting stability, growth and jobs as the three pillars in which it hopes to achieve real progress during its term. “There are substantive things we can drive forward under each of those headings.

For instance, under stability the first thing for Ireland is to progress the banking union proposals. Our job will be to take the agreement on the single supervisory mechanism to the European Parliament. The other elements will be the deposit guarantee schemes and the bank resolution system--a deadline of June 2013 was put on that by the council in December, so we have a lot to do on that.” Indeed, European Commission president José Manuel Barroso has said that the system, whose aim is to break the link between banking and sovereign debt and ultimately to allow the European Stability Mechanism to capitalise banks, is “a matter of utmost political priority.”

Following budget agreement, which Ireland will also have to take to the parliament in Strasbourg, a series of some 70 proposals will require implementation. These range from the common agriculture policy and fisheries reform to Horizon 2020 (the framework for innovation and research) and cohesion policy.

“So it will be a very busy six months.”

EU unemployment and growth Ireland’s focus for jobs will be on youth unemployment--Ireland is one of 13 European Union member countries where youth unemployment stands at above 25 percent. “The informal meeting of employment and social affairs ministers will focus on this issue in particular. There are some 26 million young people without work in the EU.” As for growth, the presidency is hoping to make progress on trade agreements with the United States and also to reach early agree-

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Tourism Ireland/James Fennel

CURRENT AFFAIRS

Clifden Ponyshow Part of the Gathering celebrations

Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann Luxembourg

The cultural circle organises classes in Adult Set Dance and Children’s Step Dance and also music sessions and lessons.

An annual Céilí is held around the St. Patrick’s Day celebrations in March.

view that a committed UK will make the EU stronger. On many files they would be our natural allies.” O’Leary says it is unfortunate that the debate in the UK on the EU is so one-sided.

Ireland’s relationship with Luxembourg is very strong at the moment. “We share many common views on the EU agenda, on the EU budget, foreign policy issues, human rights and the Middle East peace process. And on financial transactions tax.” The ambassador also points to the launch of the Ireland Luxembourg Chamber of Commerce last June, during a visit by Ireland’s deputy prime minister and minister for foreign affairs and trade, Eamon Gilmore. “The chamber is building on the strong links of the two economies.”

www.comhaltas.lu

leinsterman/Creative Commons

ments with Canada and Singapore as well as to open negotiations with Japan. “The view is that good trade agreements could add two percent to European growth.” Measures to help small and medium size enterprises will also be a priority.

“Because they really are the driving force behind growth,” says O’Leary. Initiatives to help them gain access to credit and research funding will be on the table. A professional qualifications directive and the digital market are other areas of focus--the latter an area where young people have real strengths. The environment and especially blue growth, using the resource of the sea--the EU has some 89,000 kilometres of coastline--will also be on the agenda.

“Our objective will be to try, as an honest broker, to achieve agreement between all of the member states.” That may include having to deal with the challenge of the UK undertaking a potentially drastic view of its relationship with the EU. “From Ireland’s point of view the UK is our single largest trading partner. And we have strong cultural, historical and human links through our diaspora. And we have made progress together on the Northern Ireland issue. We are firmly of the

Red line

CRAIC

The Club Representing All Irish Chieftains is an international group for senior Irish executives to promote business and discussion.

Luxembourg and Ireland have both come under fire over corporate tax levels of multinationals that supply customers in other jurisdictions. “Ireland is not a low tax economy,” the ambassador insists. “It has always been our policy to have low corporation tax. Because we are

Follow CRAIC on Linkedin

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CURRENT AFFAIRS

Carling Ford Oyster Festival Attracts thousands of tourists

Gaelic Sports Club Luxembourg

a small economy on the edge of Europe we don’t have many natural resources, and we don’t have many large multinational companies that can help grow our economy outwards, so one of the ways we have of building our economy is to attract foreign investment. And we have been very good, very successful at that over the last 50 or 60 years. Our corporation tax rate has just been one of the tools we have used to attract those companies.” Ireland’s corporate tax rate has been fixed for many years at 12.5%. During the criticism that has been levelled at Ireland over the past few months in the international media, the ambassador thinks that sight has been lost of the fact that those companies employ thousands of people in Ireland. “They are making a very substantial contribution to the economy, often in regional or very rural areas. They are paying salaries, social insurance, VAT, all of those things.

And their employees are paying income tax and are spending in the domestic economy.” Indeed, payroll expenditure in 2011 by clients of IDA Ireland (the Irish development agency) stood at

14

7.3 billion euro and almost 12 billion euro was spent on Irish sourced materials and services.

O’Leary argues that if Ireland or Luxembourg doesn’t win the mobile investment business of companies such as Amazon or Google, then they will go to set up elsewhere problably outside the EU. “In all likelihood it will go to Switzerland or Singapore or Israel one of the BRIC countries.

That’s where the real competition is; it’s not necessarily within the EU.” Furthermore, says the ambassador, the corporation tax rate is transparent, the effective rate is very close to the headline rate, and has not been questioned by the OECD. “It enjoys cross-party support and has strong support within the population generally. It will be defended to the last. It’s an absolute red line.”

The Gathering www.thegatheringireland.com Irish presidency www.eu2013.ie

Open to all, the club fields men’s and ladies’ teams in Gaelic football, hurling and camogie in official European leagues.

The club also hosts international tournaments in Luxembourg. www.luxembourg.europe.gaa.ie

Ireland Luxembourg Chamber of Commerce

Supports the introduction of individuals and businesses to each other across the Grand Duchy, represents the interests of its members and organises speaker and networking events. www.ilcc.lu

february 2013

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CURRENT AFFAIRS

Ambassador Diarmuid O’Leary and Rose of Tralee Nicola McEvoy

Colette Waters, Viviane Adams and Emma O’Leary

Henry Abbott, Daniel Frank and Geraldine Cassels

The Gathering

Luxembourg takes a shine

Fubar supplied food for the reception

Ronan Carroll plans to cycle the Ring of Kerry

A select gathering of Irish residents was invited to the residence of ambassador Diarmuid O’Leary in January to hear all about The Gathering and, more specifically, the plans of a number of Luxembourg residents to get involved in the events in Ireland this year.

The ambassador says that The Gathering is “not a single event, but a year-long celebration of all things Irish. Of the Irish people, of culture, heritage, sports…” Damien Higgins, president of the Gaelic Sports Club Luxembourg, explained that his organisation is taking teams to Ireland for special The Gathering events such as a GAA World Club Football competition in Dublin in July and hurling in September.

Businessman Ronan Carroll presented his plans to participate with friends in the Ring of Kerry Charity Cycle in July. John Chalmers will be taking a group of people on a fishing trip to Courtmacsherry in County Cork from May 30 to June 3. And Thérèse Collins of the Luxembourg Rose of Tralee committee is organising a five-day tour of Kerry with bus company Demy Schandeler to coincide with this year’s Tralee festival at which international Rose Nicola McEvoy, representing Luxembourg, will hand over her crown to a new title-holder. DR

Eóin Mac Domhnaill, Nicola McEvoy, Damien Higgins and Ronan Carroll

Luxembourg media show interest in The Gathering

Photographed by Jessica Theis Thérèse Collins and Nicola McEvoy

Emma O’Leary was a gracious hostess

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CURRENT AFFAIRS

Secret service

Juncker testifies

In an unprecedented move, prime minister Jean-Claude Juncker was questioned by a parliamentary investigation committee about the workings of the secret service.

Text by Duncan Roberts Photography by Luc Deflorenne

D

ismissing claims that he was somehow obsessed with the secret service, JeanClaude Juncker calmly fielded questions from the parliamentary investigation committee on the secret service in a session broadcast live on parliamentary channel Chamber TV. The prime minister had been called to testify in his role as the minister responsible for the SREL (Service de renseignement de l’État) as the committee investigates allegations that the service abused its authority and illicitly bugged a number of individuals.

Juncker was adamant that to his knowledge the SREL did not conduct surveillance of leftwing figures or groups. Indeed, the prime minister said that left-wing extremists did not currently pose “a significant threat to the state.”

He did say, however, that the observation of extremists was evidently connected with the security of the country, but that he had a high opinion of freedom of expression and the right to demonstrate. “I would not wish the secret service to take up surveillance of anyone who takes part in a demonstration.”

He estimated that since 1982 some 300 electronic voice buggings were authorised by the state, but he could not provide figures for before that. However, Juncker admitted that he had never before wondered how his authorisation for a bugging reached the operatives who installed listening devices. In fact, he now realises that the system, which gave operatives a dossier number based on a file created whenever Juncker signed an authorisation, could easily have been manipulated.

He has since introduced a new procedure, valid from February 2013, that requires operatives to receive a copy of the prime minister’s signed authorisation before they begin any bugging operation.

Records from the SREL data bank show that between 1960 and 2000 the secret ser-

18

Jean-Claude Juncker Says neither he nor Grand Duke Henri knows identity of Bommeleeër

“I could also live

without having responsibility for the secret service.”

Jean-Claude Juncker

vice collated 6,645 dossiers on individuals and a further 2,270 on groups and companies.

Juncker conceded that the data bank should be handled more professionally and that new regulations need to be put in place. “We need to clearly define what can be placed there and what not.”

As for the alleged conversation Juncker had with Grand Duke Henri about the so-called Bommeleeër affair, the premier admitted that he had talked with the Grand Duke because “a witness had claimed it [the bomber] was his brother.” Rumours suggest that this conversation was recorded and handed to the SREL in

the form of an encoded CD; however the secret service has still not been able to decode the CD. But Juncker insisted that the conversation contained nothing “shattering”.

“He [Grand Duke Henri] doesn’t know who it was, and neither do I.” Juncker said he hoped the committee did not have the impression that he was somehow obsessed with the secret service. “You should not have the idea that I sit in my office the whole time and every half hour think about what the secret service is doing. I could also live without having responsibility for the secret service. At the moment I could live significantly better like that.”

february 2013

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30/01/13 18:19

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21.09.12 12:09

Paul Wurth

Olivier Minaire (archives)

business Job losses Board moves

Polish links

R/DV/RS/Creative Commons

A new group to promote economic ties between the Grand Duchy and Poland launched at a networking event hosted by the Polish embassy.

The Luxembourg Poland Business Club will initially focus on building links in the start-up, financial and tourism spaces. www.lpbc.lu

Dexia deal gets OK Moody’s affirmed its Baa2 rating on Dexia Crédit Local after the European Commission approved a new bailout of parent Dexia. Belgium and France injected €5.5 billion into the troubled banking group, while the two states plus Luxembourg pledged €85 billion in refinancing guarantees.

20

Markets warm to ArcelorMittal Luxembourg’s steel giant saw strong demand for its shares and bonds, despite a challenging steel market and the firm’s heavy debt load. ArcelorMittal raised $4 billion in an oversubscribed sale of convertible bonds and shares last month, $500 million more than had been expected. The world’s largest steelmaker floated $1.75 billion in ordinary share sales and $2.25 billion in mandatory convertible notes, which will convert into ordinary shares in 2016, despite credit agencies Fitch and Moody’s downgrading ArcelorMittal’s debt to “junk bond” status last autumn. The firm’s largest group of shareholders diluted their stakes by buying into the offering. “The Mittal family participated by placing an order” for $300 million in the convertible bonds and $300 million in shares, ArcelorMittal says.

The steel firm will use the proceeds to reduce its debt load, which the company placed at $22 billion at the end of September, but Moody’s reckoned was more than $30 billion when pension and other liabilities are included. The firm is in the midst of a multi-billion euro cost-saving programme, which includes the shuttering of plants and “temporarily” quitting its iconic headquarters on avenue de la Liberté in Luxembourg-Gare, as well the sale of non-core business holdings.

ArcelorMittal sales were down 8.3% during the third quarter of last year and analysts predict shipments will continue to shrink in 2013, as the auto and construction sectors stagnate.

3 million Approximate number of UK jobs dependent on EU trade, according to British government estimates.

Marc Solvi, CEO of engineering firm Paul Wurth, has joined the managing board of SMS Siemag, after the Düsseldorf-based construction equipment group acquired 59% of Paul Wurth late last year, including 48% from ArcelorMittal. The state still directly and indirectly holds 41% of Paul Wurth, which “will continue to operate as an independent company within the SMS group”, the firms say.

Mixed economic metrics Two new European reports reveal low unemployment and low economic confidence rates in the Grand Duchy.

Luxembourg had the second lowest unemployment rate in the EU in November: 5.1% compared to an average 10.7%, Eurostat reports. Separately, the European Commission says business and consumer confidence in Luxembourg dropped 3.7 points from November to December, but rose 0.3 points to 88.4 across the EU27.

European Commission (archives)

Luxembourg Poland Business Club

Charles Caratini (archives)

Labour minister Nicolas Schmit says there were 16,963 jobseekers registered with state employment agency ADEM in December 2012, compared to 15,028 the year before. Nearly 1,500 jobs were lost from January to September due to company bankruptcies in the construction sector, Statec reports.

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business

Helminger heads Cargolux board Chris Yunker/Creative Commons

Paul Helminger has been named chair of Cargolux’s board of directors, with five new directors taking seats on the body. Helminger, a DP member of the Chamber of Deputies and former mayor of Luxembourg City, only joined the Cargolux board a year ago.

The moves follow the Luxembourg state’s reacquisition of a 35% stake in Cargolux from Qatar Airways in December, after the middle eastern carrier wanted to outsource and downsize operations. Helminger says that “aircraft maintenance will not be relocated and the fleet will be reduced” by the smallest number possible. A new strategy for the airline, which is Europe’s largest cargo carrier, is urgently needed, as Cargolux continues to bleed cash and reportedly needs more than a €500 million capital injection (see cover story). “My first priority will be to ensure that the strategic review currently being finalised will be adopted by the shareholders. Richard Forson has done an excellent job”, Helminger says, adding that Forson--interim CEO since August--would remain at his post “for the moment”.

This Bud’s for you Julien Becker (archives)

Czech brewer Budejovický Budvar has lost its fight before the EU General Court in Kirchberg against American beverage giant Anheuser-Busch over the “Bud” beer trademark. The Czech firm had argued “Bud” was an “appellation of origin”, citing rules in Austria and France, which would have invalidated the US firm’s 1996 trademark application across the entire EU. But the court says the Czech company’s pre-1996 Austrian and French sales were too “negligible” and “limited” to meet European Commission rules on promoting products which claim an appellation of origin. Budejovický Budvar has until mid-March to lodge an appeal with the European Court of Justice, also in Kirchberg.

Less taxing, more revenues

Luxembourg had the 10th highest proportion of taxation in the EU last year, according to new figures from Eurostat. Taxes represented 38.1% of the Grand Duchy’s GDP in 2011, the official statistics agency says. Approximately two-thirds were income and production taxes and fees, while the rest were social contributions.

Here’s how Luxembourg compares with the rest of Europe: Denmark: 48.6% Belgium: 46.7% France: 45.9% Germany: 40% EU27 average: 40% Netherlands: 39%

LTZ

dat ass e Recht!

Breastfeeding breaks

das ist ein Recht! to breastfeed aNd work

EN

is your legal right!

The healthallaiter ministry launched a et travailler, c’est un droit! e’um direito! campaign towards new mothers and imate pravo! their employers, stressing that mums who work full-time are legally “entitled to two 45-minute breastfeeding breaks every day” or one 45-minute pause for part-timers. Among the benefits, breastfeeding helps protect children against developing infections and asthma, and mothers against cancer and diabetes. It also “results in their mothers being absent from work less frequently as well as being less stressed” and “promotes their commitment and satisfaction in the workplace”, the health ministry says. “Application of the law on breastfeeding breaks benefits the baby, the working mother, the company and, lastly, society as a whole.” amameNtar e trabalhar

dojiti i raditi,

HRV

Slovakia: 37.5%

DE

PT

Latvia: 27.7% Bulgaria: 27.2% Source: Eurostat

arbeiteN uNd stilleN,

UK: 37.8%

Lithuania: 26.4%

Ratio of tax revenue to GDP, 2011

Regional mobility

Claude Wiseler, Luxembourg’s infrastructure minister (photo, right), and Philippe Henry, Walloon’s mobility minister (centre), inked a “cross-border strategic mobility scheme”, with Bernard Caprasse, governor of Belgium’s Luxembourg Province (left), watching on. The accord codifies the ministers’ “common desire to improve cross-

border mobility between Luxembourg and Belgium with a view towards sustainable development and respecting the environment.” The governments say they will put the plan in place “as soon as possible” and all projects in the scheme will be co-financed, with costs split equally between authorities on each side of the border.

MDDI

NiereN a schaffeN,

Ministère de la Santé

Luxembourg: 38.1%

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february 2013

21 31/01/13 12:09

BUSINESS

Prof. Olsson Rickard (speaking)

The conference was held at the Abbaye de Neumünster

Hakan Lucius and Heidi Finskas

Funds

Sustainable goes mainstream

Mathilde Hildenfeldt

Nordic and Luxembourg fund industry managers discussed the future of the socially responsible investment sector, during Nobelux’s first ever sustainable investments conference.

Keynote speaker Henrik Malmsten said sustainable investments are becoming “mainstream” in Sweden.

Ten years ago, the sector saw itself as out to “save the world” by solving environmental problems. Today, it is an entrepreneurial space using technology to address challenges “in front of the pipe” and targets investors who expect better than an average returns.

Nevertheless, he called for widespread use of Swedish-style one-page “sustainable profile” summaries that “take retail investors five minutes to understand” and for increased pressure on brokers to provide more responsibility-related research. AG

Jane Wilkinson

Photographed by Jessica Theis

Stéphane Pesch (on right)

Prof. Lars Hassel

Vincent Ehx Henrik Malmsten

22

february 2013

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Open to the World

FACULTY OF LAW, ECONOMICS AND FINANCE 23_LSF.indd 23 annonce_LSF_delano_Wealth-Management_210x265.indd 2

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COVERSTORY

Étienne Schneider at Luxair’s Findel airport cargo centre

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february 2013

30/01/13 18:23

COVERSTORY

The Belgian artist René Magritte once famously inscribed the phrase “this is not a pipe” directly below an illustration of a pipe. His painting, The Treason of Images, aims to show that art is merely representation, not the real thing. So while Étienne Schneider modestly presents himself as a sort of anti-minister, just trying to do his best with the brief chance he’s been given, and swears he’s not really worried about getting himself re-appointed after next year’s general election, he is perhaps one of the canniest operators in the cabinet. After just over one year in office, and with a year and a half to go on his mandate, Delano sits down with the man who keeps the economy running and runs for the economy.

Text by Aaron Grunwald Photography by Julien Becker

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25 30/01/13 18:23

COVERSTORY

H

e was the chief civil servant working in the economy and trade ministry when news broke in late 2011 that Jeannot Krecké, who had been minister for nearly eight years, would resign. Étienne Schneider’s party, the LSAP, picked him to fill the spot that opened up on February 1, 2012. Since then he has Delano asked seven international been running non-stop, with exactly two free chamber chiefs what it has been weekends and a single five-day vacation over like working with Étienne Schneider the new year’s holiday. during his first year in office.

At the ministry, Schneider--a former Kayl alderman and general secretary of the LSAP’s parliamentary faction--had been in charge of the economic development, energy and infrastructure portfolios. “When I was thinking about taking over this job, my first reaction was, ok, great, becoming a minister, that’s cool. I knew more or g r u o less what the job would mean… but I b m n of Luxe must admit that I didn’t know that it “The fusio ith the Italian cy w e d u was ‘that’ hard to be a minister. Beit efficien tt a solving cause you have to cope with so many problem ccessful and a su topics.” tion… lead to a r o b a ll le co Equally difficult is connecting enjoyab emely extr with the public and parliament and an .” relation when “you’ve got 15 seconds” to ex positive plain complicated ideas via the orvilli Fabio M mbourg Chamber xe Lu n ia al media. “To avoid being misunderIt

ce er of Comm stood, that’s a challenge.”

Case in point: last year Schnei“Ministe der proposed a reform of night and his r Schneider flights at Findel airport. “I imme have a cministry diately had the mayor of the City r o l e t o e n t r al pl ay in of Luxembourg [Xavier Bettel] t he s

Business leaders say…

uc the Luxcess of economembourg the pro y and in of tradmotion e.”

who said, ‘I’m against [the plan], I’m working in favour of the people living here.’ He knew exactly what I meant, but he used it for his campaign.”

In fact Schneider had merely wanted to regularise Cargolux’s 1,500 annual night flights, instead of the cargo airline having to seek an exception and paying “extremely high allowances” for each separate take-off and landing.

“I don’t want one more night flight. I just want to give them officially to the companies, so they can sell them to their customers.” The minister says Cargolux has had problems selling capacity to “many customers” because “there were no official night flights.”

All about logistics While the proposal remains blocked--but not forgotten--for the moment, Schneider says “we’ve got another problem to tackle first, which is trying to find a new investor for this 35 percent share in Cargolux”, which the Luxembourg state re-acquired from Qatar Airways at the end of last year. The Middle Eastern carrier had a falling-out with the government over how to turn around the loss-making Luxembourg airline.

While Claude Wiseler, the transport minister, is heading up negotiations with potential buyers, Schneider has gotten involved because “the logistics sector is one of the four main sectors that we want to develop in order to diversify our economy. So I absolutely need Cargolux. That’s why I got the commitment of

Robert Dee British Cha d m for Luxem ber of Commerce bourg

ied, l qualif s l e w is es “He is busin h s w o kn ate passion b. and is good jo to do a s very hard k He wor problem s s g solvin ent companie r r fo r c u b o u r g a n d m in Luxe g new in re.” t c a r ome he att c o t s nie compa onenberg erce Paul Sch Chamber of Comm an ic er m A bourg in Luxem

26 24_28_coverstory.indd 26

“Schneide popul ar r is quite young en among and I per trepreneurs recognissonally a coopere him as for econative person rel ation omic Bangl ad s with esh.”

Ro y Suhash Bangladesh of Commer Business Chamber ce Luxembo urg

february 2013

30/01/13 18:23

COVERSTORY

the government that we will not give up Cargolux. We will save Cargolux the same way we saved others; banks, for instance.”

The government hopes to find a partner with complementary routes that “would bring activity to Europe and activity to the airport.

Because it’s not only Cargolux; it would bring activity to the airport and activity to LuxairCargo. As you know Luxair is in trouble as well, so that could help the entire sector.”

Progress in the logistics sector is where Schneider thinks he has done the best job during his first year in office, citing work on the Eurohub South rail-road centre, and new deals with Transalliance, Mass Logistics and Expeditors International, who the minister lobbied during a jog with executives at six in the morning during a visit to Seattle. “Running for the country!” he exclaims.

Logistics are worth the workout because it “is the only sector of the four sectors we are developing which will create mass [amounts of] new jobs for low qualified people. Because all of the other sectors--eco-technology, life sciences, ICT--are creating jobs, but mainly for very highly qualified people. We need one sector which is still creating jobs for less qualified people” to replace working class employment that used to be available in the steel sector, for example.

Not that Schneider is ignoring Luxembourg’s industrial base. When ArcelorMittal closed down facilities in Rodange and Schiff­ lange, “we found solutions to save all these people from being sacked.”

He compares the Luxembourg approach to discussions over the Florange site, about 20 kilometres south of the border. At one point during those heated talks, the French industry minister told a newspaper that ArcelorMittal’s CEO was no longer welcome in France.

In contrast, Schneider sympathetically notes the major decline in the steel market and says of ArcelorMittal: “It’s normal business what they do. I’m not happy with what they do, but I can understand why they do.”

So “of course” Lakshmi Mittal is “always very welcome in Luxembourg, but we will continue to have tough negotiations with them to save a maximum of activities in Luxembourg.”

The economy minister also stands confident on today’s “aggressive tax policy” debate targeting, among others, the Luxembourg and Ireland units of multinational corporations, which the EU and US have said are merely used to shift revenues to lower tax jurisdictions.

“I think the problem is not as big as that, because most of these companies choose Luxem-

bourg for doing business. They have real substance in Luxembourg. That’s the point.”

“One point is this VAT question for e-commerce companies like Amazon.” The rate will be standardised across the entire EU in 2015.

Schneider went to Seattle to ask Amazon if the firm would decamp after the harmonisation. The firm seems to be staying put, telling the minister “we are extremely happy with what Luxembourg has to offer besides VAT.”

The un-minister Schneider says of his private life, “there is none anymore.” Not only because of the long working days and booked weekends, but also--because he is single--he keeps saying “yes” to engagements. “I’m not blaming anybody but I can just tell you there is no private life. And if there would be, it would be in the newspapers. It would be a scandal!” he laughs.

Looking back at the past year “I must say that I’m really very lucky with the staff I have in the ministry. They’re really very committed,

“I find th a enterpr t he is ising, trustw o to comm rthy, open u and cha nication nge, flex reliabl ible, e, and bol friendly d decisio at right n making .”

Sudhir Ko hl Indian Busi i ne Chamber ss of Luxembo

Archive photos: Charles Caratini, Luc Deflorenne, Étienne Delorme, David Laurent

urg

“I am loo kin forward g t more co o much ntact wit h the min is given th ter in 2013 e ment of developth chambe e Chinese r.”

Francis H oo Chinese-L gewerf Chambe uxembourg r of Commer ce

be und him to “ We have fo pproachable, a open and ged and a frank, eng e ILCC looks Th engaging. working to d istry forwar nd his min a im h h it w nths and in the mo .” ad years ahe mmerce uggard Joseph H mbourg Chamber of Co xe Lu nd la Ire

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february 2013

27 30/01/13 18:23

COVERSTORY

Economy minister Logistics means jobs

and the cooperation is just great. We’re really more friends than collaborators, and we see each other like this”, he says. “They don’t see me as the minister. They tell me frankly about things that I say or do” helping to keep Schneider’s feet on the ground.

As for the future, Schneider says he is not focused on winning a second mandate. “I [didn’t take] this job in order to get re-elected” he claims. “If I get re-elected, the better it is, but I will not focus my work on this election campaign in 2014. I have some ideas about the economy. I have some ideas about what we should change, where we should go. If I can’t do it… then I’d prefer not doing it at all.”

“I will do my job the best I can… and if that’s not accepted by the people, then I’ ll do something else.”

Looking further ahead, “I don’t know what I will do in ten years’ time, but I’m quite sure that I won’t be in government anymore.” That is because “I’m still convinced that a minister shouldn’t do more than two mandates.” He says a first term is needed to learn the ropes, but during a second mandate “if you know that you will not be re-elected, [then] you know that you can do the things that you think are best, and not only the things that guarantee you to be re-elected. That might be two different things.”

28 24_28_coverstory.indd 28

“They don’t see me as the minister” Étienne Schneider

What Schneider thinks is best is a major revamping of legislation to rejuvenate the economy. He has requested a parliamentary debate “about the competitiveness and the growth of the Luxembourg economy.” Normally ministers fly solo during debates, but this one will be conducted jointly with Luc Frieden, the CSV finance minister, and Nicholas Schmit, the LSAP labour minister.

“That will be the first time, I guess, in parliament that three ministers together try to get into a discussion with parliament about where shall we go” as a nation. He hopes this will lead to a wide-ranging bill covering the entire spectrum of regulations and policies: “one law that we will be able to vote on and

bring into force before the end of ” the current parliament.

He hopes the debate will take place before Easter. “That’s very ambitious, I know, and it will be very tough” but “the fact that it’s both coalition partners, it will make things easier.

I hope at least.”

Indeed, the un-minister may have his eyes on the coming election after all, which will in some ways be a citizens’ report card on the current CSV-LSAP government.

Speaking of his proposed competitiveness bill: “If you want to succeed, you need to do it over the borders of one party. The whole coalition needs to be involved”, Schneider says. “So let’s wait and see. Or let’s work and see.”

february 2013

30/01/13 18:24

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1/28/13 30/01/13 11:19 14:30 AM

BUSINESS

Euro zone

Juncker passes reins Luxembourg’s prime minister officially has stepped down as head of the Eurogroup.

fter eight years in the post, Jean-Claude Juncker was succeeded by the Netherlands’ finance minister as president of the Eurogroup, the body that takes political decisions regarding Europe’s single currency.

Jeroen Dijsselbloem was elected to serve a two and a half year term as the group’s chief, during a meeting of euro zone finance and economic ministers in Brussels. The vote was 16-1, with only Spain opposing.

Juncker, Europe’s longest-serving prime minister, was re-elected as head of the Eurogroup last summer for a special six-month term after France and Germany had failed to agree on his successor.

“His famous sense of humour and directness was praised during a news conference held after the vote. His shrewd and witty lockerroom talk helped to boost morale,” Olli Rehn, the European commissioner for economic and financial affairs, was quoted as saying.

In addition, Juncker has been widely praised for helping keep Luxembourg as one of four euro zone countries that has maintained a top-notch AAA credit score (see page 32).

Dijsselbloem has been the Dutch finance minister since November, a position he will keep, and was previously the parliamentary leader of the Labour Party in the Netherlands’ lower house.

“I believe that our attention should be more intensively focused on restoring sustainable growth,” Dijsselbloem says in a policy statement. “We should drive innovation, support the development of new technologies and reprioritise public and private expenditure towards R&D investment.”

But the Dutch finance minister has not indicated a push for a major shift in Europe’s austerity and reform policies: “Given that sustainable public finances are a prerequisite for durable growth, we will need to remain fully committed to taking all necessary budgetary and structural policy action to ensure sound finances in the short-, medium- and long term.”

Jeroen Dijsselbloem and Jean-Claude Juncker Milestone meeting

Banking

Icesave cases dismissed

A European regulator has lost its bid to hold Iceland’s government responsible for that country’s collapsed bank deposit insurance scheme.

The EFTA Court in Kirchberg rejected a claim by the EFTA Surveillance Authority--which regulates disputes between the EU and Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway--to force Iceland’s government to compensate savers in the Netherlands and UK after Iceland’s Landsbanki failed in 2008.

Among other claims, the regulator had said Iceland treated British and Dutch savers differently than domestic depositors.

But the judges ruled that European rules at the time did not provide specific protection for cross-border bank bailouts, although they have been amended since.

The court’s decision is final.

After the ruling, Iceland’s government said repayments would continue for “priority claims”.

The EFTA regulator said the ruling brought “clarity” to the issue.

“My country has adopted a modern and coherent arsenal of legislative and regulatory measures in the fight against money laundering and the financing of terrorism.”

Jean Asselborn, the foreign minister, in his first speech to the UN Security Council.

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(c) MAE / Thomas Barbancey

Council of the European Union

A

Eraldavanzurk/Creative Commons

Text by Aaron Grunwald

february 2013

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Business Portal

Alone

in business?

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30/01/13 14:30

BUSINESS

Sovereign debt

S&P says Luxembourg finances stable One of the world’s main credit ratings agencies has taken the Grand Duchy off its downgrade warning list, citing the strengths of its financial centre and government budget.

Text by Aaron Grunwald Photography by Luc Deflorenne (archives)

R

atings agency Standard & Poor’s has revised the outlook on Luxembourg’s long term debt from “negative” to “stable”, while affirming its top-notch AAA credit score.

“The outlook revision reflects our view that Luxembourg’s strong government balance sheet, wealthy population, and stable political environment are sufficient to outweigh risks to its economy,” the agency says in its report, issued in January.

A negative outlook indicates that a rating could potentially be downgraded in the foreseeable future, while a stable outlook indicates no immediate threat. The Grand Duchy was placed on the agency’s negative watch list--over concerns that Luxembourg’s economy would be dragged down by the euro zone recession and sovereign debt crisis--last summer.

In its report last month, S&P cites the Grand Duchy’s high GDP per capita “including sizable value-added of cross-border commuters”, “a stable, predictable, and transparent political environment with demonstrated control over its public finances”, and “net general government assets estimated at 17 percent of GDP in 2013” underpinning the country’s balance sheet.

“Part of Luxembourg’s wealth and resilience derives from the growth and diversification of its financial activities. Almost 2.3 trillion euro of assets are managed in Luxembourg and the country has the main listed exchange for the European corporate bond market.”

At the same time, “Luxembourg’s well-established financial sector, which accounts for approximately 35 percent of GDP, is undergoing structural change as a result of the on-going institutional reform in the euro zone. In our view, pressures on financial sector profitability have depressed Luxembourg’s growth performance since the onset of the global financial crisis in 2008,” S&P writes.

“Nevertheless, we believe that Luxembourg should benefit from sufficient fiscal flexibility to adapt to Europe-wide measures such as a

32

financial transactions tax or a combined consolidated corporate tax base, should they be implemented. Similarly, the competitive advantages of Luxembourg’s central location, its highly skilled workforce, and strong regulatory reputation will, in our opinion, allow Luxembourg to retain an important role in Europe’s financial markets,” the agency concludes.

S&P also removed Finland from its negative watch list the same day, although it maintained a negative outlook on the Netherlands.

Germany is the fourth AAA-rated euro zone country and has kept its stable outlook throughout the financial crisis.

Rival credit agency Fitch Ratings affirmed the Grand Duchy’s AAA score with a stable outlook in September.

A lower credit score typically leads to higher borrowing costs in the capital markets.

Luxembourg’s financial centre Still key to its AAA rating

"Luxembourg

[will] retain an important role in Europe’s financial markets" Credit ratings agency Standard & Poor’s

february 2013

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BUSINESS

Great expectations Delano previews the Alfi Spring Conference.

L

uxembourg’s fund industry trade group, Alfi, marks its 25th anniversary this year, with the group asking if the sector is facing an “evolution or revolution”.

The organisation will try to answer that question--which largely stems from the depth and breadth of new EU and US regulations coming into effect--during the Alfi Spring Conference, one of fund space’s two main annual events in the Grand Duchy.

To help you prepare for the confab, Delano asked five Alfi Spring Conference participants what part of the programme they are most looking forward to, and why. The conference takes place March 19 and 20 at the Conference Centre in Luxembourg-Kirchberg. AG

Denise Voss

Conducting officer, Franklin

Templeton Investments “Naturally, the part of the conference that I am chairing! The first morning kicks off our exploration of the question: are we in the midst of an evolution or a revolution?

Starting with perspectives from Luxembourg’s minister for sustainable development and infrastructure and from the CEO of an asset management company known for innovation, we will also look at the two main reasons why we speak of ‘evolution or revolution’, namely the financial crisis and the resulting wave of regulation in Europe and abroad. I anticipate a fascinating debate!”

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february 2013

Laurent Antonelli/Blitz, Luc Deflorenne, Étienne Delorme and Olivier Minaire (archives)

Funds

Sébastien Danloy

Managing director,

RBC Investor Services Luxembourg “Out of a packed and informative agenda, I am most looking forward to hearing the session on ‘What distributors expect from the fund industry?’ In an environment where raising assets is increasingly important, being able to satisfy distributors’ needs will be even more essential. This is especially the case given the new regulations impacting distribution. It is important we provide our fund manager clients with flawless transfer agency and distribution services, so I am keen to hear the distributors’ angle on the key drivers of successful distribution strategies.”

BUSINESS

Georges Bock

Bank Luxembourg “The conference is a rare opportunity to get regulators and all the professionals from the industry together, speaking in practical terms, and have a view on today’s environment. It addresses key topics but also looks at the future developments. I see this conference as an enriching experience where we have a balance between the regulatory changes of our industry and the participants’ insights on future challenges and opportunities. I’m looking forward to hearing about the regulators’ insights and what they see the industry should be doing.”

KPMG Luxembourg “It is great that Alfi managed to have an interview session with Mr Luedenscheid, the head of asset management at the European Commission. On the one hand, it is always interesting to hear from ‘the horse’s mouth’ the newest developments and comments on regulation. On the other hand, his presence hopefully contributes to intensify again the dialogue between the EU regulator and the asset management industry.”

Managing director, State Street

Managing partner,

Jean-Marc Goy

Counsel for International Affairs, Luxembourg regulatory

agency CSSF “In consideration of the fact that the Alfi spring conference draws some 850 participants, I particularly appreciate the possibility to interact and to have exchanges of views with a great number of experts from the financial sector. These discussions contribute to getting a better feeling of the current developments, trends and innovations, but also, and this is equally relevant from the perspective of the supervisory authority, of the worries and concerns of the Luxembourg investment fund industry.”

Photo : étienne Delorme

Martin Dobbins

february 2013

35

BUSINESS

Intellectual property

New EU court is coming A new European institution is setting up shop in Luxembourg. How will the new Unified Patent Court’s Court of Appeal change intellectual property protection?

Text by Aaron Grunwald Photography by Olivier Minaire

A

new European institution is getting started in Luxembourg. The Court of Appeal of the new Unified Patent Court, the UPC, could begin operations as early as next year, if the European Patent Office has its way.

On January 11, an agreement was finalised and published by the European council of ministers that establishes a new “unified patent” across most of the EU, and a new court system to deal with legal disputes that arise from the new intellectual property regime.

Under the current system, inventors can either file national patent applications or receive a patent from the European Patent Office, which is then transformed into a series of national patents, explains Pierre Kihn, head of intellectual property law firm Office Freylinger.

Negotiations over the new system started in the early 1970s, and will essentially allow inventors to file a single registration for their patents and receive protection across 25 European countries in one go.

“It is difficult to get something good out of negotiations that last 30 years,” comments Kihn.

But ultimately, the new system “is a good thing for Luxembourg and for Europe that we finally have something” despite it not covering the whole EU. Italy and Spain have refused to participate in the new scheme. Indeed the two have tried to block it before the European Court of Justice in Kirchberg, although they lost the first, but not final, step of the process in December.

“The UPC will start operations once the agreement on a UPC will have been ratified by at least 13 member states, including France, Germany and the United Kingdom,” Eskil Waage of the European Patent Office in Munich tells Delano.

“The--ambitious--declared aim, to which we stick, is that this should take place by mid-2014.”

The UPC’s appeals court will be based in the Grand Duchy and “will hear appeals against decisions of the UPC’s court of first instance”, which will be comprised of tribunals in London, Munich and Paris--each specialised on

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Pierre Kihn New system is a “good thing”

different areas of intellectual property law.

Waage explains that “appeals may be lodged not only against final decisions” of the specialised courts “but also against orders or ‘intermediate’ decisions.” So the patent appeals court is likely to receive its first cases in short order.

“It will not take years before the first appeal cases reach the court of appeal”, he reckons.

The appeal court will have 10 judges, but Luxembourg will also be home to the UPC’s registry, which is responsible for “large number of practical-administrative issues relating to the functioning of the UPC” across the system.

Waage says “it is pure guess-work to try to predict more precisely how many cases” the appeals court will hear annually and how large its staff and budget will end up representing. Those details will be hammered out in “preparatory committee” meetings set to take place after the 13 signatures is reached.

The UPC will be open for signature by the 25 EU member states starting February 19.

not Unitary adaption

With the introduction of Europe’s new unified patent, Luxembourg inventors will have a third possibility for intellectual property protection, explains attorney Pierre Kihn.

The existing European and national patent systems are not disappearing: “Nothing will be eliminated. We have a further option”, he says.

In fact Kihn predicts many of his clients will wait before taking advantage of the new scheme, to avoid becoming test cases.

“A lot of people will stick to the proven ways of doing it. Nobody wants to be the first one in this kind of thing.”

www.epo.org

february 2013

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30/01/13 14:29

BUSINESS

Brigitte Pochon Supreetee Saddul

Renée Aakrann-Fezzo

Female Board Pool

Quotas dilemma A panel at the fourth Female Board Pool seminar discussed the impact of Viviane Reding’s initiative to oblige company boards to have at least a 40 percent female membership.

The panel broadly agreed with Reding’s sentiment that she doesn’t like quotas, but she likes what they achieve.

Fatiha Charti of IRML Luxembourg said that the initiative has the merit “that it will speed up the death of the cliché” of a board comprising old men with grey hair. Fedil president Robert Dennewald pointed out that it would only apply to listed companies, so he doesn’t think it would have much of an impact at all.

Brigitte Pochon expressed concern over the lack of decision on penalty measures.

“If there are no sanctions, then nobody will implement the quotas directive,” she argued. DR

Hanna Pri-Zan

Rita Knott

Full article at www.delano.lu Photographed by Jessica Theis

Fatiha Charti and Robert Dennewald

Rosa Villalobos talked about her mentoring experience with Robert Dennewald

Corinne Migueres

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www.inglife.lu

BUSINESS

Financial services

Extending equality to customers

The European insurance industry adopts unisex pricing.

Text by Tonya Stoneman Photography by Olivier Minaire

T

he European Commission recently adopted guidelines requiring the insurance industry to implement unisex pricing after a ruling by the European Court of Justice determined the use of different premiums for men and women constitutes sex discrimination.

The ruling went into effect at the close of 2012. For many, including European justice commissioner Viviane Reding, the decision is a civil rights victory. “This is a matter of respect for fundamental rights,” she says. “It is an important moment for gender equality in the European Union.” But others see the ruling as an unfair imposition that forces companies to abandon risk-based rate assessment in favour of socially determined rates.

According to Jérôme Wiwinius of Lalux Assurances-Vie, “the ruling makes no sense.” He sees no connection between gender discrimination and the use of scientific variables in determining price structures. “It is a fact that women live five to seven years longer than men,” he says. “This information is proven by statistics, yet we can’t use it anymore so we re-evaluate portfolios and put in new variables. But it always comes back to the same question: are you female or are you male?”

According to Perry Resl, also of Lalux Assurances-Vie, two main types of insurance will be impacted by the directive: mortgages and annuities. Still, he expects little change in the Luxembourg market. “Mortgages aren’t driven by a demand for insurance,” he says. “And most of those are bought by couples, so it will even out.” He applies the same logic to annuities.

“We see couples taking out two separate contracts for annuities, so that will even out, as well.” Resl does concede that some Lalux products will see substantial changes. “Mortgage insurance will be more expensive for women and less expensive for men by about 10 percent,” he says.

Marc Folmer, corporate secretary of Groupe Bâloise Assurances, takes a more philosophical view of the court order. “This is a topic about

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Marc Folmer It’s easy to harmonise prices

equal treatment if you see it in a global way,” he says. “Surely it is a very important topic for our company. It’s obvious that we can’t treat people differently in these matters.” But he isn’t entirely unsympathetic to the ruling’s detractors. “We are talking about these differences in gender based on scientifically objective differences.

You have a longer life and more illness and claims by women. These facts are there. They are not linked to any ideology. They are clear scientific findings, and they have worked for us until now.”

Nevertheless, Folmer stresses that these differences are merely statistical in his line of work. “It’s okay to rethink our approach,” he says, “and it’s easy to harmonise prices. Men and women are equal, yet there are scientific differences. There are higher mortality risks depending on gender. So we have to find a price that will cope with this artificial equality and still offer security. Knowing that we are facing competition within the market, we must balance both sides of this--the right price for buyer and for the market.”

WHAT HAPPENS NOW?*

AUTO INSURANCE: Men are used to paying more, now they get a reduction.

The cost for this goes to women, who now will pay more.

ANNUITIES: Women have always received worse rates than men because they live longer. In this scenario, women are the winners.

Men lose about 1-6% and women gain 6-11%.

LIFE INSURANCE: Men pay more because they don’t live as long, statistically.

Women will pay about 23% more; men will pay 3% less.

Critical illness with life cover will rise about 6% for men and 16% for women.

INCOME PROTECTION INSURANCE: Experts anticipate men will pay 20-25% more, and women will pay 28% less. *These are averages collected from a variety of European companies

BUSINESS

Michael Cancian Both sexes will pay the same amount

While companies all over Europe are working to adjust pricing strategies, ING Life has taken a uniquely customer service oriented approach to the directive--they have decided to partly absorb the cost internally, rather than pass the burden along to their policy holders.

Premium approaches Michael Cancian, head of product management, says his company is managing to minimise the effect of this ruling on customers. “The fear was a negative impact; suddenly women would be paying much more than in the past. So at ING Life, we decided to be reasonably fair with customers and to treat woman and men with the same tariff. Both sexes will pay the same amount and we will partially absorb the cost.” ING manages this feat by leveraging its demographic of more men than women to offset the cost.

“The strategy and philosophy of our group is very customer centred,” says Cancian. “Every-

thing comes at a cost, but we focus on service to clients. We are making less profit off of women, yet we are still profitable.”

And that’s just the response the EU was hoping for. The press release announcing the ruling states the following: “Gender is a determining risk-rating factor for at least three main product categories: motor insurance, life insurance/annuities and private health insurance. It is likely that a transition towards unisex pricing will have consequences on premiums and/or benefits. The insurance industry is competitive and innovative. It should be in a position to make these adjustments and offer attractive unisex products to consumers without unjustified impact on the overall price level. Price reductions resulting from unisex pricing should be passed on to consumers with the same level of fairness as price increases.”

Whatever a company’s philosophy, insurers are coping with big changes. The application of this ruling is immediate, but the verdict won’t be rendered for years to come.

"The ruling makes no sense" Jérôme Wiwinius

february 2013

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THINK LOCAL

New Zealander

“The game’s changed drastically” Ten-year resident Marty Davis gives his insight into living and working in the Grand Duchy.

Text by Aaron Grunwald Photography by Steve Eastwood

Originally from Invercargill, on the southernmost edge of New Zealand, Marty Davis moved to the Grand Duchy in 2003 after coaching rugby in Auckland, the UK and France. Today he is national team coach at the Luxembourg Rugby Federation.

Marty Davis Rugby is no longer an “expat sport” in Luxembourg

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AG: How did you end up in Luxembourg?

MD: My son came to play rugby professionally, that’s what started it all.

[He] got a contract in France and came out in November 1999.

Then we came out in June 2000 to visit him. And it just so happened that a friend had said to me, ‘you should take a CV with you’. I didn’t have a coaching CV! [But he said:] ‘There are jobs over there, there’s money to be made’. So I did. I got a job initially in England, spent a few years in England, [then] one year in France.

AG: How did that go?

MD: I went there not speaking one word of French. It was a nightmare!

The club that I worked for was financially unstable, like a number of them.

They got relegated because of financial irregularities.

AG: So then you looked for a new job in the Grand Duchy?

MD: I didn’t even know anything about Luxembourg. At the time I was totally ignorant of the country, and I drove up from Dijon to meet some players. It was instigated by some players who wanted to play better. In those days we had quite a good group of elite players, the top level was quite good, but we had no depth.

No development process at all.

AG: What’s changed since then?

MD: The game’s changed drastically.

Especially at the teenage years from under-13 through under-19, it’s been outstanding. We had almost nothing in that grade before.

AG: And you grew in numbers?

In 2002, I think we had 237 players.

And now we’ll be 800 at the end of the season.

AG: How did you get there?

MD: We got into the schools. That’s been without a doubt the biggest plus.

In 2004, we ran a ‘continuing training’ for [PE] teachers. We had 24 introduce rugby in their school in some format, whether it was touch or flag, but they used it in their five week sports class.

AG: It’s not just expat kids playing?

MD: No, absolutely not. In our under-20 team, it was exactly 40 percent that had Luxembourg passports. That’s what we have to do, in order to survive, and especially now, because of what’s happened in the financial markets the past few years, we can’t rely on the itinerant expat coming in and working and staying. We have to be able to grow the game locally and that’s the future.

AG: Is that a tough message to deliver?

MD: The big problem is that because of how, in my opinion, we’ve operated in the past, we’ve been seen as an expat sport. We are not seen as a Luxembourg sport. And now when [Luxembourgers] come to see the national team and we sing the national anthem, they’re astounded. They’re taking photos of the rugby players singing the national anthem because they’re not aware of it.

AG: Do you want to expand the sport more outside of the capital?

MD: The next plan for me is to have discussions with authorities in the north. I have to find a commune that would make a ground available.

AG: What’s your tip for watching this year’s Six Nations Rugby Championship?

MD: France-Wales in Paris [on February 9], to me that could be a crux game. If England replicate what they did against New Zealand, then they will be very hard to beat.

february 2013

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ABDEF GHI J K L M N O PQ RSUVW XYZ Is your brand communication missing something ?

W W W.c tc O M . L U

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AGENDA

ten events

Delano presents a selection of the next two months of business and networking events for Luxembourg’s international community. Advance registration or fees may be required, so consult the website indicated for full details. All events are held in English unless otherwise noted.

Sacred Heart Univ.

www.mediaawards.lu

www.shu.lu

Wed 20 February For the second year in a row, Maison Moderne and RTL jointly honour the most creative advertising in Luxembourg. Jury and public prizes bestowed across all types of media. In French.

Rockhal, Esch-Belval, 18:30

Thu 21 February DIVERSIFICATION

The Network

Conference examines the emergence of financial services as a dominant force in Luxembourg’s economy, and the future of the technology sector as the Grand Duchy broadens its economic base. Speakers include SES chief Romain Bausch.

Forum Da Vinci, Luxembourg-Merl, 18:00 Jette Wede

www.the-network.lu

February

www.itas-event.com

Elisabeth Møllgaard (photo), Tessa ­Montague and Dr. Susie Tunstall-Pedoe discuss wellness issues that every working woman should know about, including nutrition, stress management and ­common health challenges.

Sofitel, Luxembourg-Kirchberg, 19:00

luxembourg2013.easl.eu

Thu 21 - Sat 23

February

VIRTUAL LIVERS

The European Association for the Study of the Liver hosts “the first dedicated liver meeting with a focus on systems biology”.

Includes tracks on the genetics of liver diseases and creation of a “virtual liver”.

Doubletree by Hilton, LuxembourgDommeldange, Thursday 17:00-19:30, Friday all day, Saturday 08:45-14:30

Tue 26 February In keeping with the economic climate, the chamber hosts an evening seminar on “more bang for my buck” which provides practical advice on “increasing your marketing ROI and getting better results for less” for startups and established marketing departments alike.

Arnold Kontz, Luxembourg-Bonnevoie, 18:30

www.amcham.lu

MON 4

March

During the March ABAL luncheon, consultant Dick Brandt touches on managing and leading Generation Y employees and what steps companies need to take to get the most out of their Gen Y staffers.

Parc Hotel Alvisse, LuxembourgDommeldange, 12:00

FUND OPERATIONS

The International Transfer Agency Summit covers key industry challenges in fund distribution, operations and transfer agency.

Speakers include JP Morgan’s Graham Goodhew.

Abbaye de Neumünster, Luxembourg-Grund, all day event

www.tedxluxembourgcity.com

WED 6

March

BRAVE CONFERENCE

The event’s second edition--which is part of the world-famous network of intel-

44

Sacred Heart Univ. www.shu.lu

THU 14

March

EXPLOSIVE GROWTH

GEN Y

Tue 26 February Fri 1 March

lectual confabs--will feature speakers who have “ideas worth spreading” on the topic of “courage”.

Mudam, Luxembourg-Kirchberg, 13:30-20:00

Amcham

ITAS 2013

WOMEN’S HEALTH

EASL

www.amcham.lu

BUDGET MARKETING

BEST ADVERTS

Wed 20

Amcham

With a potential 50% population increase over the next 30 years, the conference tackles the urban and regional planning challenges facing the Grand Duchy and Greater Region. Speakers include Paul Helminger, former Luxembourg City mayor.

European Investment Bank, Luxembourg-Kirchberg, 18:00

CRP Henri Tudor www.tudor.lu

Wed 20 February PROJECT MANAGEMENT

The public research centre hosts its 7th congress on project management, the largest such confab in the Greater Region, with sessions covering the bank, industry, transport and public sectors.

In French and English.

Chamber of Commerce, Luxembourg-Kirchberg, all day event

HAVE A SUGGESTION? If your organisation is holding an event of interest to the international community, send details to: news@delano.lu

february 2013

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alfi spring conference

www.alfi.lu

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centre de confĂŠrences kirchberg, luxembourg march 19th & 20th, 2013

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History

This woman’s work

Cedric Letsch

Luc Deflorenne

Opener Lifesyte

New Phil boss

Seed to Tree single

Koltz video nominated

Stephan Gehmacher has been named as the successor to Matthias Naske as general director of the Salle de Concerts Grande-Duchesse Joséphine-Charlotte--the Philharmonie. Gehmacher, born in Salzburg in 1970, is currently manager of the Bayerischer Rundfunk symphony orchestra in Munich and has previously worked with Sir Simon Rattle in Berlin. He will take up his post in Luxembourg on September 1. www.philharmonie.lu

Luxembourg trio Seed to Tree has just released its second single.

‘What Would You Do?’ is another track off the group’s debut EP, released last September. The track is described as “less folky” and “more dynamic and powerful” than first single ‘Broken Down’. The trio plans to play several live shows this year and hopes to support international acts coming to Luxembourg. www.seedtotree.lu

Luxembourg director and Filmpräis winner Beryl Koltz’s video for French musician M’s song ‘Mojo’ has been nominated in the best video clip category at this year’s Victoires de la Musique--the French equivalent of The Brit Awards. The video show M (Matthieu Chedid) and his group performing the song in outdoor locations and being joined by members of the public in a nerdy ‘Mojo’ dance.

46

Luxembourg remains fascinated with the Nazi occupation it suffered during the Second World War, and has never forgotten the extreme hardship nor the bravery displayed by many during those four-and-a-half years. A new exhibition pays tribute to the women who joined the Luxembourg resistance, participating in political action, psychological warfare and occasionally armed resistance.

Many were involved in distributing leaflets or writing anti-Nazi graffiti, while others played their part by helping to hide young men who were evading forced conscription into the German Wehrmacht. Some ended up in concentration camps such as the notorious Ravensbrück women’s camp (the photo shows a memorial at the camp by Will Lammert).

Researchers have used biographical material, personal artefacts loaned out by family members and even conducted personal interviews with survivors to compile a fascinating insight into the lives of these courageous women.

Vergessene Luxemburger Resistenzlerinnen (forgotten Luxembourg female resistance members) is on until February 28 at the Grand Théâtre (rond-point Schuman), open daily from 2 to 6.30 p.m. www.vdl.lu

february 2013

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30/01/13 18:57

Louis Vuitton correction

No more graffiti

Cupcakes grow

No city Buergbrennen

The Utopia group of cinemas has announced that it will no longer produce its Graffiti magazine, which contained previews of upcoming films and news from the cinema. The magazine, which had a print run of 70,000 copies, was produced in association with weekly magazine Revue. The January edition is the last of its kind. www.utopolis.lu

Having started as a one-woman business some four years ago, Christine Lambert’s Lux’Cupcakes has now moved from Limpertsberg into rue du Curé in the city centre. Lambert was inspired by the cupcakes she tasted on numerous visits to the United States, but says she has refined her recipes to suit European tastes. www.luxcupcakes.lu

The annual Buergbrennen festival in the Petrusse valley organised by the City of Luxembourg has been cancelled this year. Access to the valley where the huge bonfire is lit has been limited by the construction work on a new temporary bridge (see page 7). However, neighbourhoods in the city and communes across the country do organise smaller festivities on February 17.

Think Pink guide

Cancer support group Think Pink Lux has launched a new guide as part of its efforts to raise awareness and provide information to women battling female cancers in Luxembourg.

The Think Pink Guide: Living in Luxembourg with Cancer is co-authored by Carrie Cannon and Ros Browne. Its aim is to answer many of the practical questions and organisational issues that arise after initial diagnosis. “A time when anxiety may seriously impact the ability to cope.”

Inspired by the personal experiences and advice of English-speaking women with breast and ovarian cancer living in Luxembourg, the guide provides practical tips on everything from how to tell your family you have cancer, to questions to ask about tests and procedures, medical insurance and social service, rehabilitation and convalescence, wigs, cosmetics and prostheses, mental health and well-being, and food and nutrition.

The guide is available for free. www.thinkpinklux.com

Olivier Minaire

In our December edition we erroneously published the wrong photograph to accompany information about Louis Vuitton in Luxembourg.

We have also been informed that no date is set for the store on avenue de la Porte-Neuve to move to a new location in Grand-Rue. We apologise for any misunderstandings this has caused.

Charles Caratini

Luc Deflorenne

Charles Caratini

LIFESTYLE

Wine corner

Luc Deflorenne

Steve Eastwood

Les Caves du Lentzen Eck, on rue du Marché-aux-Herbes, is a new wine retailer run by experts Maurice Humber and Paul Lottin Fouquet. They have created a cosy wine bar corner in the shop, which sells some great vintages and also accessories for wine buffs.

The bar also occasionally hosts tastings.

Les Caves du Lentzen Eck on Facebook

Sunday shopping Shops in the capital city will open on the first Sunday of every month between April and October this year.

The open Sundays will coincide with the monthly vide-grenier second-hand sales on the place Guillaume II. Other Sunday openings include the two Sundays of the sales--January 6 and June 30--the Shopping de Printemps on March 17, Mantelsonndeg on October 20, and the pre-Christmas Sundays of December 1, 8, 15 and 22. www.cityshopping.lu

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february 2013

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LIFESTYLE

Steven Severin interview

Sonic riddles, honest intent Ahead of a performance at the Cinémathèque of Cocteau’s Le sang d’un poète, the former Banshee explains why he has taken to scoring silent films.

Text by Duncan Roberts

A

veritable icon of the music scene in the late 1970s and early 1980s, Steven Severin now composes music for films. After writing music for a number of original films, he now focuses on “silent” film and has so far created new, contemporary scores for Germaine Dulac’s La Coquille et le Clergyman, Jean Cocteau’s surreal Le sang d’un poète and, most recently, Carl Dreyer’s Vampyr which he toured extensively last year. He brings his Cocteau score to the Cinémathèque as part of the capital city’s celebration of the great artist.

“For as long as I can remember, I’d always been intrigued by the idea of live accompaniment,” says Severin.

He explains that when writing for new films he often felt that the music was never prominent enough, was slotted into the wrong place or truncated in an unmusical way. It was this dissatisfaction that finally pushed him toward working with “silent” film. “Maybe I’m just a terrible control freak but I prefer working with directors who have long since passed on. It’s nice and quiet that way,” he says with a smile. Of course, writing music for films that many consider sacrosanct brings with it other problems. While Severin says it is always important to take note of people’s reaction to the work, he dismisses the school of thought that thinks the films he has chosen should remain “intact”. “I have no time for the intolerance of purists.

I know that my intent for bringing these films to a new audience is honest, and that is the only purity that counts.

48

When does one get the opportunity to see Cocteau in a cinema, these days?

Almost never. I grew up through the Golden age of Arthouse cinema in the 70s. Doing what I do, in my own small way, keeps that spirit alive, I hope.”

The projects he has so far chosen could all be considered surreal to a more or lesser extent. Severin says that this allows for manifold ways to interpret the narratives and therefore, multiple ways to score these films. “More than

that though, films of this nature are my personal choice. I love the riddle, the loose ends.” Following the Luxembourg performance, Severin returns to Vampyr and a tour of the southern United States. As for his next project, he has not yet decided. “I’m tempted by The Golem, by The Lodger, by L’Âge d’or. It just hasn’t hit me yet. I have to be totally convinced for it to work, not least because a lot of time and work goes into each project before I take it out.”

Steven Severin Long intrigued by live accompaniment

Steven Severin Le sang d’un poète, February 15, Cinémathèque, Luxembourg-Centre, www.cinematheque.lu

february 2013

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LIFESTYLE

International relationships

What are you?

A couple of foreigners?

In multi-cultural Luxembourg, it’s likely that you’ll date or marry or live with a foreigner. Is it also likely that you’ll soon send them packing, taking their disgusting Bacalhau or Marmite with them?

Or do opposites attract?

Text by Wendy Winn Photography by Olivier Minaire

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John and Kristina Cox German clear speech meets Irish time

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f you’re single in Luxembourg, chances are that the next person you’ll be holding tight will hold a different passport than you do. And if you’re already in a relationship, especially one that has sprung up here, you and your partner probably do not speak the same languages when talking in your sleep, have different ideas about what it means to be on time or tidy, and have not grown up with the same TV shows, books or family traditions.

Just as they say that being bi-sexual doubles your chance for a date on Saturday night, being single in very international Luxembourg more than doubles your chances of winding up in a romantic liaison with someone who is most definitely not from your old stomping grounds.

Given the frailty of many human bonds, and the fact that couples bicker over which way the toilet paper hangs and if it is civilised or scandalous to remain in PJs or sweats all Sunday, what chances do these bi-national couples--with all their built-in differences--have of enjoying a long and mutually happy relationship?

Based on our interviews with three different couples of different nationalities, Cupid seems to know what he is doing when he shoots through the hearts of people of different backgrounds (editor’s note: our proofreader wanted to cross that last sentence out as a factual error, but we gave her a box of Valentine’s chocolates and taught her the words “artistic license”.

She put away her red pen.).

Proofreader’s objections aside, it does seems that cultural differences add a little spice, a lot of laughs, and quite a big dollop of glue for couples to stick together.

These differences can even add a real richness and depth not only to the relationship, but to the individuals in it.

That’s the sort of life-enhancing advantage that takes time to cultivate.

Larry and Giselle Elliott have been enjoying their marital cultural exchange since 1969 and met two years before that, and both feel that they have only benefitted from his being American and her being European (she’s harder to “classify”, being

Luxembourgish-Austrian but born in France and raised in Canada).

“I have learned a tremendous amount about European culture from Giselle,” says Larry, who met Giselle when he was sent to Paris as a writer for Reader’s Digest. “Before there was Google, I’d just ask Giselle.” She was working for the same publisher as a researcherinterpreter and was assigned to accompany Larry. “He wasn’t used to being told to get up at six to catch trains and having to run around all day,” she grins.

It turned out even though she was the French expert and he spoke English, they were speaking the same language-enough so that romance blossomed.

Literally too, Giselle could speak his language like a native--she’d lived in English-speaking Canada from the ages of nine to 20.

Two peas in a pod “We could not have been any more in tune with each other had she been born in Brooklyn,” Larry says. “She gets my moods, my jokes, my references... even the ones in Yiddish.”

“We’re very comfortable in Europe and in the United States,” adds Giselle. You could call them a perfect, well-educated, well-travelled, charming multicultural couple. Or you could call them what Larry’s sister calls them: “midAtlantic bastards”.

As a couple, the Elliotts have also lived in New York City for many years and Aix-enProvence--not bad gigs for the Reader’s Digest roving reporter and his intrepid researcher, but they decided to come to Giselle’s familial base of Luxembourg so that their now-grown up son Nicolas could attend an international school.

“We’ve been here longer than anywhere,” Larry says. “And we’ve loved it.”

John Cox, as Irish as rain and Jameson whiskey, and his German wife Kristina moved to Luxembourg a couple of years ago with children who were a few years shy of school age; they are just now ages five, three and two. “Luxembourg is fantastic for children,” John says. “The place bends over backwards to make it kid-friendly.”

“I speak to the kids in English and she speaks to them in German”, John

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Giselle and Larry Elliott Speaking the same language

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Sandrine Mayer and Deborah Lehnen Spicing things up

explains, and they go to a Luxembourgish crèche “run by French people”.

Typical Luxembourg.

Yet another kind of language John has learned from his wife is less about vocabulary and accents and more about content. “It’s possibly the world’s best language.” John says. It’s called “Klartext” or “clear speech”. Upholding the German reputation for being direct, Kristina calls a spade a spade and John has come to appreciate the practicalities of simply spitting things out. “It saves a lot of time. You just come out and say ‘get your stinking socks off the floor’ and that’s done. Otherwise, if you do it the Irish way, it’ll take you two or three years to get results, although they wind up being the same.”

And now that John picks up his own socks, what has Kristina picked up from him? “I’m fun”, John laughs. “And I’m flexible, like all Irish people have had to be. Even though I have what you’d call a high-pressured job [at the Hypo Pfandbrief Bank International], I’m relaxed.

Irish people have the ability not to take things too seriously.” (Freud reputedly said that the only people impervious to psychoanalysis were the Irish--they take it all in stride.)

Influencing each other John admits that Kristina was already fun when they met, but adds that now she’s even more fun. And she’s learned to allow him “das irische Viertelstunde”. He’s not always on-the-dot as she would be, but he arrives within 15 minutes of when

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he’s expected--the Irish quarter hour.

“Kristina definitely keeps things running smoothly,” he says, especially with everything that concerns the kids. Asked who wears the lederhosen in the family, John laughs. “Kristina thinks she does.”

It’s probably best not to translate that into Klartext.

Being of different nationalities literally added spice to Sandrine Mayer’s and Deborah Lehnen’s relationship. Sandrine’s the manager of Urban, The Lab and Mamma Mia pizzeria, and Deborah is a professional singer. “I’m not sure if my being French and her being Mauritian and Luxembourgish influences our way of life”, Sandrine says, “but it has an impact on how we cook. The spices we use in the kitchen differ depending on who cooks. It’s always a surprise. And we learn new things too. Deborah always made fun of me every time I topped my rice with Gruyère and Emmental, but she’s actually learned to like it herself.”

Sometimes, the phrases they use to spice up their conversations are just as surprising. “Deborah has an excellent command of the French language and she knows many French expressions… but they never seem to come out at the right time!” says Sandrine.

And sometimes, it seems like they come out in the wrong way too. Deborah kept saying “Je vais faire un petit sommeil” when she wanted to say she was going to take a nap and Sandrine kept correcting her, “it’s somme, not sommeil”. They found out recently that Deborah was saying it correctly all along--in Creole.

“Having different nationalities is a plus for both of us,” says Sandrine. “We never met any difficulties due to our nationalities; our culture and backgrounds just happen to get along very, very well,” which is fortunately the same case for all the couples we spoke to.

In Klartext: Take that, proofreader!

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your

garden

custom-made.

Garden design, creation, renovation and maintenance.

Our landscaping specialists transform green spaces into beautiful gardens.

T (+352) 26 12 99 -

www.vereal.lu

landscape architects - qualified gardeners - joiners - bricklayers - technicians

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Garden and landscape designing

From ideas to reality Gardens are like supermodels: what you see in the magazines doesn’t always look good in real life. Fortunately though, solutions exist to help create your dream garden.

Text by Neel Chrillesen Photography by Luc Deflorenne

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he media influences garden landscaping in the same way that it shapes fashion”, says Philippe Loschetter, who runs a family business of landscape architects and gardeners in Luxembourg, after having studied and worked many years in the UK. “People look at the photos of the newest trends and want the same thing to appear just as good in their garden.

Our job is to explain that what you see in the magazines isn’t always compatible with reality--and then find a solution that still makes the client happy!”

When planning a garden, it’s easy to forget that the space you have, the type of soil, the overall climate but also the small spots with sun or in the shade all count, and that sometimes the type of flowers or trees you were hoping to plant just won’t thrive in your garden.

In Luxembourg, adapting to the different types of soil is essential--not something you necessarily think about. “In Bridel, for example, the soil is sandy and dry.

Two towns down, in Bertrange, it’s heavy and wet. You can’t plant the same things.” The many slopes here are also a challenge for landscaping experts.

“And most of the property developers don’t seem to think about the garden when they build new houses which only makes things worse. Drainage of ground water is often one of the problems we have to deal with and it limits the range of plants we can choose from.”

“Over the last 20 years, a lot has changed. Gardens are much smaller now. There’s more activity, taking place in less space. At the same time, people want privacy from the neighbours more

than ever. We’re planting much fewer big trees because of space issues, but have many more plants that can serve as a barrier from the outside world.”

Other than examining the space, soil and microclimate, Loschetter also takes into consideration the people who will be using the garden before suggesting solutions. Some are interested in spending time looking after it while others seek to have the easiest-to-tend one. “The good thing is that you can always change a garden, it can evolve with its tenants and their needs.”

Clearly not the greatest fan of the current “simple, structured and with a minimum of plants Asiatic-inspired without the values” trend, Loschetter, who became a garden landscaper and architect for “philosophical reasons”, admits to having a “modest approach” to gardening. “If I were to describe my perfect garden, for me personally, it would be one open to the surrounding landscape, one that changes with every season. I love to play with contrasts, colour combinations, fragrances… A garden should always be alive, with plants flowering in every season, but it should also be kept simple. You can’t just step in and change everything just because you want to put your name on some great creation. Nature teaches us the opposite: you observe, you analyse and then you work with what you have; with nature, never against it.” www.loschetter.lu

Philippe Loschetter Remember the space that you have

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Jardirêve

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Gardening exhibition If you’re looking for inspiration, information or want to keep up with the latest trends, you’ll find it at Jardirêve. Not only in the form of seeds and bulbs, plants, flowers, bushes and trees--you’ll also find furniture, tools, pots, greenhouses, nurseries, fountains, pools and model gardens.

Jardirêve, March 8-10, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., LuxExpo, Luxembourg-Kirchberg www.jardireve.com

News B

Green Fingers Club

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Fiona Hampton

Green Fingers Club

Fiona Hampton of your space--all whilst taking into consideration the time you want to spend gardening and what budget you have.”

Hampton admits that trends also play a role in what people want in their gardens. Among growing demands are, for example, wild flower meadows, instead of bedding flowers: “Like what Nigel Dunnett introduced in the London Olympic Park Gardens.”

“This is not only because the naturalistic plantings look nice, there’s also something to do with the need to do something for the planet, to protect biodiversity.” Imitating natural meadows attracts wildlife and this has many positive effects. “I have customers asking which plants are the best to attract pollinating insects like bees and butterflies that are declining.”

“Ecological gardening is taking off in several countries and it’s sure to grow here too. Recently there have been courses in permaculture in Luxembourg and it was a great success.”

Hampton herself is working on her own “forest garden” and has recently begun investigating “unusual vegetables”. www.fionahampton.com

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CELL

Having recently finished remodelling the grounds of a castle just across the border in Germany, you’d think British garden designer Fiona Hampton would now have a preference for big projects. But no. “I have a wide range of customers who wish for very different things in very different locations and sizes.

Whether it’s a small back yard or a large area, rebuilding an existing garden or implanting one from scrap, I always find the challenge exciting!” Since she moved to Luxembourg six years ago, she has been confronted with many types of challenges, often linked to the diversity of the soil and the many slopes in the landscape. The fact that people of so many different nationalities often want to “recreate a little bit of home in the garden” is also something she finds interesting.

“You have to make people’s expectations and the garden’s reality meet. Sometimes, people will have a vision of what they’d like but when they see it on a sketch, they discover it doesn’t work. Garden designers give you ideas you hadn’t thought of; they’ll know exactly what kind of plants will be good in your area’s soil and climate and how you can make the best

Going permaculture Permaculture is more than just a trend.

People interested in sustainability and all things green should definitely get in touch with the Centre for Ecological Learning Luxembourg. The non-profit organisation is also actively involved in community gardening projects. www.cell.lu

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Luxembourg’s English speaking gardening club--Greenfingers--meets up once a month to visit gardens in or near Luxembourg or listen to talks on interesting gardening related subjects.

They also organise daytrips to green spots further away. This year there are plans to go to France, to the Jardin des Faïenciers and a rose garden. www.greenfingersclub.lu

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Chris Sullivan

Ai WeiWei Documentary screening

Expressions United Media

Animation

Discovery Zone

A festival for all The third edition of the Luxembourg City Film Festival promises a wealth of fascinating feature films, documentaries, film-making events and workshops and a programme aimed at youngsters.

Text by Ducan Roberts

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n only its second year, last year’s festival went some way to establishing Discovery Zone as an all-encompassing event. It was essential for Discovery Zone to reconnect with local audiences after the short-lived DirActor’s Festival, launched in 2007, which proved to be too exclusive and too francophone to attract the cosmopolitan nature of Luxembourg audiences.

Discovery Zone has managed to incorporate films for cinéphiles and for audiences with a broader taste into its selection of feature films, a slew of stunning documentaries, a range of films and activities for kids and young adults, a programme of workshops aimed at helping potential film-makers and scriptwriters to hone their craft and a number of what might be called sideshow events such as exhibitions and concerts.

This year the festival includes two competitions--the Grand Prix by Orange and the Prix de la Critique by BGL BNP Paribas.

“The Luxembourg window is twice as big as last year,” says Alexis Juncosa, head of programming at the festival. It includes

eight premieres of local films and a “long, long” night of short movies as well as fascinating documentaries such as Sweetheart Come in which local director Jacques Molitor examines sexuality in the Grand Duchy by portraying 11 people from vastly different backgrounds.

Documentaries will be big this year, says Juncosa. Among those scheduled for screening are Alison Klayman’s film Ai Weiwei: Never Sorry (photo) about the controversial Chinese artist; a stunningly stark film about life aboard a North Atlantic fishing vessel, Leviathan; and perhaps the most disturbing and unique documentary of the year, The Act of Killing about former Indonesian death squad commanders.

The festival takes place all over the capital city, at Utopolis, Utopia, the Cinémathèque and Cercle Cité (where the Discovery Zone HQ will be located in the Ratskeller).

The festival this year also strengthens its connection with art by collaborating with both Mudam and the Casino Luxembourg contemporary art forum.

From February 28 to March 8, www.discoveryzone.lu

Treats for kids and adults Children will have an opportunity to see the premiere of Pinocchio by Enzo d’Alo, made in association with Iris Productions. And another local treat is in store with a screening of Luxembourgmade animated short films. Animated feature Jean de la Lune based on the book Moon Man by Tomi Ungerer is also on the programme.

But perhaps the most unique animated film on show is Chris Sullivan’s Consuming Spirits (photo), which mixes animation techniques to great effect to tell the story of small town folk with what critic Boyd van Hoeij calls “roughedged, cantankerous charm.”

Tent show

Crazy Cinématographe A special cinema tent will be installed in the Capucins courtyard, just a few hundred metres from the Cinémathèque.

The tent will host screenings for kids of silent films, and especially the works of science fiction and fantasy pioneer Georges Méliès, who made the iconic Le Voyage dans la Lune in 1902.

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Cinereach

EMMANUELLE RIVA The Amour star celebrates her 86th birthday on Oscar Night

Critic’s choice

Luxembourg’s top 10

Wega Film

Luxembourg’s film critics chose Oscar nominee, Beasts of the Southern Wild as their top film in a poll. Another Oscar nominee, Amour, placed second.

Luxembourg noir thriller Doudege Wénkel placed 12th: 1. Beasts of the Southern Wild 2. Amour 3. À perdre la raison 4. De rouille et d’os 5. Take Shelter 6. Moonrise Kingdom 7. Argo 8. Skyfall 9. Oslo, August 31st 10. Holy Motors

Oscars

A fine vintage T

he year 2012 has produced a fine vintage--the list for best picture is certainly the most consistent since the Academy allowed 10, then nine, films to enter the final nomination stage and the inclusion of a foreign language film, Michael Haneke’s compelling Amour, is evidence that the triumph of The Artist (essentially a French film) was no fluke. Indeed, there is not a film among the 10 that does not merit a second watching.

On the other hand, the omission of The Master and Moonrise Kingdom from the Best Picture list means it is far from perfect.

The smart money is on a race between Lincoln and Argo for the ultimate prize, though the Academy has a way of springing surprises on occasion and it does tend to have a fondness for “foreign” films--three of the past four winners, Slumdog Millionaire, The King’s Speech and the aforementioned The Artist, all have “foreign” credentials. But it is difficult to see

Working Title Films

Now that all the films (save Les Misérables--see adjacent box) nominated for the Best Picture category by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences have been released in Luxembourg, local audiences will have a clear idea of their favourites for Oscar Night.

Les Misérables

Academy voters going for the claustrophobic and intimate Amour when they have the grand historical scope of Lincoln as an alternative, nor to pick the rough-edged, independent, alternative lifestyle Beasts of the Southern Wild over the smooth and patriotic Argo. Then again, Les Misérables does seem to tick all the right boxes--cinematic splendour with a social conscience. Unfortunately, Tarantino’s Django Unchained may be just too bloody for many voters’ taste even though it, like Lincoln, tackles the issue of slavery and the voters went to ballot just weeks after the inauguration of Barack Obama. Life of Pi may well garner Ang Lee a Best Director prize, and Silver Linings Playbook and Zero Dark Thirty look set to pick up some acting gongs. One thing is sure, it will be nice to see a wide range of films collecting prizes rather than one film dominate proceedings on February 24.

It looks like being an intriguing night for those that care about such things.

Sing freedom!

Tom Hooper’s screen adaptation of the hugely popular musical based on Victor Hugo’s classic novel features an all-star cast of Hugh Jackman, Anne Hathaway, Russell Crowe and Amanda Seyfried. All manage to sing their parts well--the songs were recorded live to add authenticity--and the story has enough drama, and light relief in the shape of Sacha Baron Cohen and Helena Bonham Carter, to enthral audiences of all ages. Add some majestic scenery and brilliant costumes and Les Misérables will sweep a host of awards.

Released February 13

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From a one-off appearance by one of the most deliberately enigmatic bands in the world to three CD launch shows by local musicians and classical music and dance performances by internationally acclaimed artists, the coming month has something for everyone.

Text by Duncan Roberts

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Keith Klenowski

18 live shows Colin Stetson

Horn player Colin Stetson is a truly unique artist. He is also in demand, having been called upon to play with the likes of Feist, LCD Soundsystem and Angelique Kidjo. Steston’s own music, is, says David Stubbs in The Quietus, “at once unnervingly exploratory and highly accessible.”

March 12, Exit07 (CarréRotondes), Luxembourg-Hollerich, www.rotondes.lu

Daisy Komen

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Nederlands Dans Theatre 2 The dance troupe’s younger ensemble performs three pieces in a show designed to serve as a launch pad. The pieces include Passe-Partout by resident choreographers Paul Lightfoot and Sol León, Ji í Kylián’s award-winning Gods and Dogs, and a new work by Johan Inger entitled I new then that uses the music of Van Morrison.

February 27 & 28, Grand Théâtre, Luxembourg-Limpertsberg, www.theatres.lu 04

Sating the appetite

Portishead

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Following his apparently controversial performance with his band Beak at Exit07 last November, Geoff Barrow returns with the ever enigmatic Portishead. The Luxembourg show is something of a one-off for the band--its only other concert announced in March is in Switzerland--and has attracted plenty of international attention. The band has undertaken mini tours of Europe over the last two summers and has also announced festival dates for June 2013, but this is a chance to see the trio of Barrows, Beth Gibbons and Adrian Utley in a smaller venue. The concert will mark almost five years since the release of

Portishead’s third album in April 2008, and that followed a ten-year gap from its second, eponymously titled album.

Rumours of a new album have been cited here and there, and Barrow even told Rolling Stone back in September 2011 that he would be starting work on writing in January last year. But when Barrow says “we’re only ever going to release something that we feel comfortable with”, then there is little point in fans holding their breath. In the meantime a live performance will have to sate the appetite.

March 10, Rockhal, Esch-Belval, www.atelier.lu

The Killers Brandon Flowers’ gang of Las Vegas showmen is touring in support of last autumn’s fourth album, Battle Born, which has divided fans over its big sound productions. It is a record that, says Mark Beaumont in the NME, recalls the mid-80s “lush AOR throb-rock of Peter Gabriel, U2 and Kate Bush.”

March 9, Rockhal, Esch-Belval, www.atelier.lu

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Anaïs Lorentz and Kae Shiraki Saxophonist Anaïs Lorentz is joined by pianist Kae Shiraki for a presentation of her debut album Run, Sing & Fly. The show also features contemporary dancer Emanuela Iacopini. The programme features works by Claude Debussy, Takashi Yoshimatsu (the Fuzzy Bird Sonata), Ryo Noda, Karen Tanaka and local jazz musician and composer Pascal Schumacher.

The show is part of the Piano Plus festival.

February 28, Abbaye de Neumünster, Luxembourg-Grund, www.ccrn.lu

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Jennifer Rawlings

Plankton Waves

Seams

Mother of five and stand-up comic Jennifer Rawlings has been traveling to war zones for over a decade to entertain the troops. Her show, I Only Smoke in War Zones, is a collection of true stories from the battlefield, both at home and abroad. It has been called “an amazing piece of work. Right from the heart” by playwright Alana Free. The show is part of the Abbaye de Neumünster’s Humour pour la Paix season.

March 9, Abbaye de Neumünster, Luxembourg-Grund, www.ccrn.lu

Enigmatic Luxembourg electronic duo Plankton Waves celebrates the release of a new EP at Exit07. Songs of Endings promises to be darker and more hypnotic than previous EP Unduriel. Helena Dyboek’s vocals, in German, on early release ‘Cloud Caravan’ contain a choral menace that emphasizes the gloomier atmosphere of the new tracks. The ticket price of just eight euro includes a limited edition CD version of the EP. February 22, Exit07, CarréRotondes, Luxembourg-Hollerich, www.rotondes.lu

Berlin based electronic twiddler James Welch is starting to build quite the reputation. Following debut track ‘Focus Energy’, he released a double EP--Tourist/Sleeper. The first was recorded over a summer in Berlin, while the second was made when he returned to his native Hampshire in England. Pitchfork was positive, saying that Welch showed potential in what is a “compelling, absorbing collection.”

February 15, Exit07, CarréRotondes, Luxembourg-Hollerich, www.rotondes.lu 10

09

Angus Stone The Australian singer-songwriter performs without sister Julia as he tours with his solo album Broken Brights.

The album has received mixed reviews, but it is packed with melodic and accessible songs. Andy Gill in The Independent even says Broken Brights “may be his masterpiece” and says the songs’ “arrangements glow with light.”

February 10, Rockhal, Esch-Belval, www.rockhal.lu 11

MØ

Playful trio

Kalima Vocalist Sascha Ley, pianist Laia Genc and soprano saxophone and bass clarinet player Anne Kaftan celebrate the release of their second album with a concert at Abbaye de Neumünster.

The trio has won plaudits and prizes-including the Audience Choice Award

at the prestigious Tremplin Jazz d’Avignon 2009--for its performances and first, eponymously titled, album.

New album Everything Within is, says Ley, “more complete” as the musicians have learned about each other and how they play together. But the three still share a love of what Ley calls “the playful and for exotic sounds, the imaginary folklore but also modern jazz.” The album was recorded in just three days at Bauer studios in Lud-

wigsburg and is released on German label Neuklang. It features nine compositions by Sascha Ley and Laia Genc, as well as Mongo Santamaría’s ‘Afro Blue’ and pieces by Charlie Mariano and Prabha Atre, all revisited and rearranged. Percussionist Ramesh Shotham accompanies the trio as a guest musician on two songs.

Danish singer Karen Marie Ørsted has been mentioned in the same context as Grimes. She has so far released just two online singles, but as Paul Lester wrote in The Guardian “New band of the day” column, those two tracks “certainly go some way towards confirming the notion that the Scandinavians do intelligent, commercial pop as well as, if not better than, the Americans or the British these days.”

February 21, Rockhal, Esch-Belval, www.rockhal.lu

March 1, Abbaye de Neumünster, Luxembourg-Grund, www.ccrn.lu

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Blithe Spirit

Two Door Cinema Club

Following successful productions of Jane Eyre, Opera Comique and local writer Celeste Kohler’s Class Act, BGT English Theatre Company presents an adaptation of Sir Noël Coward’s Blithe Spirit.

The play is one of Coward’s best loved comedies and centres on a husband and wife and the ghost of the former’s dead first wife. The play will come to the Abbaye de Neumünster in May this year.

February 27 to March 2, Mierscher Kulturhaus, Mersch, www.kulturhaus.lu

The young indie dance hipsters deliver some infectious pop hooks on debut album Tourist History, most notably with songs ‘What You Know’ and ‘Something Good Can Work’. Last year’s follow-up, Beacon, delivered much of the same, the band clearly taking an “if it ain’t broke…” attitude to song writing and production.

But with catchy songs like ‘Sleep Alone’ few would begrudge them that decision.

February 28, Rockhal, Esch-Belval, www.rockhal.lu 17

Julien Becker

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Dating Borodine

Nina Attal

Marlene Soares

Just 20 years old, funk and soul singer and guitarist Nina Attal has been described as a “tornado of energy”.

She has been receiving rave reviews in her native France, where she is seen as a rising star. She sings in English on debut album Yellow 6/17 and clearly enjoys playing live.

March 6, opderschmelz, Dudelange, www.opderschmelz.lu

Petra Klackova

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Jakub HrUša Conductor Jakub Hruša follows the “dating” concert with another performance of Borodine’s Second Symphony (the Epic). The programme also includes Alexander Scriabin’s Reverie op. 24 and Dmitri Shostakovich’s First Violin Concerto, a work that has been described as “combining astonishing virtuosity and brilliance with dark and sinister drama.”

March 8, Philharmonie, Luxembourg-Kirchberg, www.philharmonie.lu

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Jean Muller Luxembourg pianist Jean Muller returns to the Philharmonie in the middle of a world tour that has taken in the prestigious Carnegie Hall in New York as well as dates in Minneapolis-St. Paul, Paris and London and continues on to Frankfurt, Berlin and Vienna. His Chopin recital features four Ballades, which, says Gramophone reviewer Bryce Morrison, he plays with “brilliant fury”. Also on the programme are several Mazurka, Waltzes and two Polonaise. Many of the works may seem overly familiar, but, as Morrison says, “Muller makes everything enthrallingly fresh and unfamiliar.”

Indeed, the Luxembourg pianist, who studied at the City Conservatoire before heading to Riga and then Brussels, Paris and Munich, is, says Morrison, “a pianist who can pin you back by the ears with heroic strength and propulsion but who is no less subtle and insinuating when Chopin is lost in reverie and introspection.”

February 25, Philharmonie, Luxembourg-Kirchberg, www.philharmonie.lu

Tom Leick and Nicole Max introduce the work of Russian romantic composer Alexandre Borodine in the latest “dating” series. The actors will specifically take a look at his Second Symphony, explain its cultural and historical context and examine how Borodine managed to create “a textbook example of Russian national music.” The symphony is then performed by the OPL conducted by Jakub Hruša.

March 6, Philharmonie, Luxembourg-Kirchberg, www.philharmonie.lu 18

Amy Macdonald Massive in her native Scotland, Amy Macdonald is a sweet but rather run-of-the-mill singer-songwriter--the sort of artist that appeals across generations because she is nice and safe. Indeed, BBC reviewer Mike Diver says that after her last album, Macdonald is “just too plain to stand out in the contemporary pop landscape.”

February 27, Rockhal, Esch-Belval, www.rockhal.lu

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S e rv i c e pa rt N e r S

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Media awards NIGhT 2013 TV/Cinema | radio | internet | Presse | Presse B2B

20.02.2013 Rockhal ticKetS: www.mediaawards.lu

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LIFESTYLE

Happy Kids: Right under your nose Sometimes, finding things for your kids to do--or for you to do with them--is easier than you think. Text by Neel Chrillesen

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Inspirational resource

Luc Deflorenne

The Children’s Office

The 2013 activity calendar The Service national de la jeunesse has published its calendar for 2013, which includes group activities going on for youngsters during school holidays but also throughout the year in Luxembourg.

You can download the brochure on the SNJ’s website or browse through the agenda--and sign up for the activities-directly online at agenda.snj.lu.

Service national de la jeunesse, 138 boulevard de la Pétrusse, Luxembourg-Gare, email: info@snj.etat.lu, www.snj.public.lu

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Party in a Box

Neel Chrillesen

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Neel Chrillesen

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Service national de la jeunesse

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You have probably passed by it several times without even knowing it: the Children’s Office (Kanner- a Jugendbureau) is right on the place d’Armes in the city.

Next time, take a look inside--it’s worth the visit if you need inspiration or information about “anything” to do with children’s activities in Luxembourg. From single to recurring events, lessons and festivals, concerts and plays, childcare facilities, special services, playgrounds… you should be able to find answers to all of your requests here--and if not, you’ll be told exactly where to get it. It’s also possible to get rid of your grievances here. The office is open to hearing your suggestions and criticisms about everything on offer for children (or that you think should be). Open Monday to Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Kanner- a Jugendbureau, Cercle municipal, place d’Armes, Luxembourg-Centre, tel. 47 96 22 22, ka-ju-bu@vdl.lu

The bank museum

Boxes for easy parties

Hit the road

Is it possible that you live in Luxembourg but have never been to the Bank Museum? If so, time for a visit! There might only be a small sign indicating its presence (you have to go into the Spuerkeess building), but it’s actually rather big (650 m2) and interesting for children and adults alike. You’ll find everything from a strange piggy bank collection to a real vault and several interactive activities. Entrance is free. Open Monday to Friday, from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Musée de la Banque, Spuerkeess, 1 place de Metz, Luxembourg-Gare

Ever dreamt of getting your child’s birthday party delivered in a box?

Well, it can be that easy. You choose your theme (wizards & witches, princesses & knights, pirates, elves, etc.) and get everything you need delivered: costumes, invitations, games, tableware, gift bags… “It’s a very personal service,” assure Party in a Box ladies Elly and Alexandra. “We find it important that the games and crafts in the box are 100% suited for the birthday child and his or her guests.” www.partyinabox.lu

Yes, Luxembourg’s museums offer a lot of great activities for children but if you’re looking for a slightly bigger outing, go to Metz and the Centre Pompidou (it's just next to the train station). Workshops for all ages are organised regularly there. The museum itself is, of course, also worth visiting.

The current exhibitions include drawings on walls and a photo exhibition in the dark (visitors are given flashlights).

Centre Pompidou-Metz, 1 parvis des Droits-de-l’Homme, Metz, www.centrepompidou-metz.fr

february 2013

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KLIK-Kaart offers year-round creative activities!

The KLIK-Kaart by Casino Luxembourg – Forum d’art contemporain addresses children aged between 5 and 12 years old and is valid for one year. It allows children to take part in workshops organised on Saturdays and during school holidays, to meet artists, to get a gift for their birthday party at Casino and much more! The KLIK-Kaart costs 35 € a year.

Information and subscription: www.casino-luxembourg.lu, T (+352) 22 50 45

18 MARCH 2013 Atelier Concert

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Win rt ce c o nk e t s ! tic

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Send an email mentioning “den Atelier/PoliCA” to contest@delano.lu Deadline for entries is 04 MARCH 2013 Winners will be notified by email

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MY OTHER LIFE

Patrick Ernzer

You can make a movie

If you are determined and disciplined, it isn’t unrealistic to consider making your own movie. You’ll need some filmmaking software and camera equipment, a few devoted friends, and a really good story.

Buying equipment won’t make you a filmmaker. Most current releases are nothing more than adaptations of classics. The stories don’t change, but the storytelling does.

For a movie to be successful, it has to have one quality that can’t be bought with money--it must be original! www.cameraobskura.lu

Patrick Ernzer Cheap can be beautiful

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THE ZOMBIE FILM EXPERIMENT How an “ultra-low budget amateur trash comedy” film came to a theatre near you.

Text by Tonya Stoneman Photography by Olivier Minaire

E

ight years ago, Patrick Ernzer decided to produce, finance, market and distribute an independent film for theatrical release.

He had no filmmaking experience, but after a lifetime of curtailing his one true passion in the interest of more practical pursuits, he decided to go for it.

By day, Ernzer is director of communications at the Chamber of Commerce in Luxembourg. By night, he’s the guy who brings zombies back to life. “Making movies in a small town like this was not an option when I was a kid,” he says. “But in the mid-90s, there was a paradigm shift in the industry. Manufacturers started selling the first digital cameras. Computers became more potent-you actually had the capacity to shoot your own film. I no longer had an excuse for not doing what I wanted to do.”

He assembled a group of amateur filmmakers and presented them with a challenge: make an independent film, start to finish, in Luxembourg. He wrote the script with a friend and called it Zombie Film.

The majority of their 11,000 euro budget was spent on two decent cameras, which he now rents to fellow pioneer filmmakers. The rest of the money went into catering. “If people are working for free, you have to take care of them,” he says. To save money, shooting took place on a single location with a volunteer cast of six actors and the technical crew. They worked weekends until official filming began, then most of the people involved took three weeks off work to shoot the film. The finished product was a mediocre blood fest.

Ernzer didn’t have any grand illusions about what he’d produced: an amateur horror flick with a decidedly novice feel to it. But he wasn’t deterred either. “When people go to the cinema, they pay eight or nine euro and what they expect is to be entertained and to forget about the world,” he says. “It can be a very cheap movie as long as the entertainment is there.” Candid and honest about his abilities and what he was offering, he marketed the film as an “ultra-low budget amateur trash comedy.” But even the local film festival rejected it. His team was devastated. What could they do with a homemade zombie movie--bury it in the graveyard and never speak of it again?

Ever the resourceful optimist, Ernzer took a DVD of his film to Utopolis. The manager confirmed, “technically, it’s a catastrophe,” but saw enough potential in the project to offer two screenings: Halloween night at 10 p.m. and Saturday at midnight.

“I went to the theatre to see if somebody would buy a ticket,” he recalls. “It was listed there next to Wallace and Gromit, The Legend of Zorro, and Pride and Prejudice, but there was no number showing available tickets. I went to the cashier and she told me it had sold out that afternoon.” Ecstatic, he returned that weekend for the second sold out show. Utopolis extended the screenings for six consecutive weeks and Zombie Film was shown in seven regional cinemas.

Ernzer made all of his money back and proved his theory that there is a huge demand for local movies. He is currently working on a second film. It’s about a dark creature who is killing innocent students and two cops who are trying to unmask a murderer before he strikes again. It is set in Luxembourg.

He hopes it will be in a theatre near you next Halloween.

february 2013

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Illustrative Annual Report for SICAR

Luxembourg Generally Accepted Accounting Principles

w o n e bl a l i a Av kpmg.lu at

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