LOCAL & NATIONAL NEWS

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TUESDAY 22 FEBRUARY

The Moselle Prefecture announced yesterday that a spill on the Moselle River at the weekend is “likely” to have come from the sewage system of the Cattenom nuclear power plant. Early assessments indicate the spill is “in all likelihood” the result of “hydrocarbons coming from the discharge station of the Cattenom power plant”. Hydrocarbons are organic chemical components that are the main component of fossil fuels such as petrol and oil. Firefighters, river police, and specialists from the Cattenom Nuclear Power Plant have been working to halt the spread of potential pollution on the Moselle River since Sunday. The Moselle Prefecture stated that no fish deaths had been observed and that the drinking water supply remained safe.

The latest figures from ADEM show that in January Luxembourg’s unemployment rate fell to its lowest level in 13 years, in a sign that the economy is recovering from the pandemic. ADEM said approximately 15,400 people were looking for employment in January, a drop of 22% in a year, adding that Luxembourg’s official unemployment rate stood at 4.9% a figure last seen in 2009. January is the third consecutive month that unemployment rates were recorded at below pre-pandemic levels. Figures show that over 4,000 new vacancies were posted last month, a rise of 46% from a year ago, and that more than 10,000 posts remained unfilled.

Luxembourg’s Ministry of the Interior announced yesterday the swearing-in of the new mayor and two new aldermen of the town of Kayl. In the presence of Luxembourg’s Minister of the Interior, Taina Bofferding, CSV politician Jean Weiler was sworn in as the new mayor and Romain Becker and José Goncalves were sworn in as aldermen for the municipality. The new appointments come after the previous coalition in power, made up of the Luxembourg Socialist Workers’ and the Greens, was ended through a vote of no confidence.

Campaigners from the Centre for Urban Justice have criticised the municipality of Luxembourg City for having hundreds of illegal zebra crossings in town and for not improving the situation. The ZUG was established last year and focuses on inner-city challenges relating to public infrastructure. Following the municipality’s denial that 425 pedestrian crossings had issues, the ZUG claims it will get access to the relevant documents through legal challenges to prove its case. Furthermore, the group is calling for official transparency to be increased and more data published.

 

MONDAY 21 FEBRUARY

First a coronavirus update for Luxembourg: The spread of the omicron variant seems to be getting less. During the last week, the number of new infections decreased by 53 percent.   According to the Ministry of Health’s latest report, 22 percent of the administered PCR-tests gave a positive result, with an effective reproduction rate of 0,59. 60 individuals are in hospital.

The storm fronts “Zeynep” and “Eunice” turned out less severe than expected in Luxembourg. Wind gusts of up to one-hundred-20 kilometres per hour had been predicted and the weather service Meteolux issued a red alert, estimating extreme danger. The Ministry of Interior recommended people to stay indoors, Luxair cancelled certain flights and the city of Luxembourg closed public parks. On Friday, the rescue service CGDIS reported 49 missions. No one was injured but several trees were damaged. The rescue services will stay on alert as new gusts are forecast and meteolux has issued an orange alert to warn of “violent winds” with a potential danger.  In many European countries, the storms of the last week disturbed traffic on roads, rail, on water and in the sky. In the Netherlands, Poland, Germany, Belgium and the United Kingdom at least 16 people died and more were injured. It was the fourth storm in a row.

Luxembourg’s socialist former Foreign Minister Jacques Poos died on Saturday at the age of eighty-six. Jacques Poos started his political career for the LSAP in 19-69 as a member of the municipal council in Esch. In 19-84, when the LSAP became a coalition partner of the CSV, Jacques Poos was appointed vice prime minister and foreign minister for the first time. He held this position in Jean-Claude Junckers government from 19-95 until 19-99. Poos then became a member of the European parliament and retired from politics in 2004. Foreign Minister Jean Asselborn said Poos was one of the most impressive Luxembourgish politicians of the last 50 years.

 

FRIDAY 18 FEBRUARY

First a coronavirus update for Luxembourg: The Ministry of Health reported 559 new resident cases, derived from 2,702 tests. There were 3 new deaths, with the death toll at 982. 63 individuals are in hospital, with 10 of those in intensive care. The effective reproduction rate is 0.60. To date, 354,855 people have received an additional booster dose.

The Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology said this week that the trace levels of Covid-19 in wastewater will be key to predicting if falling virus numbers are set to continue in the coming weeks. Covid levels present in wastewater are a key indicator of how common the virus is in Luxembourg. The Institute said that levels are still high but last week’s amounts showed the number of cases is falling, adding that the results of the next few weeks will be essential in confirming the downward trend.

Police yesterday appealed for any witnesses to come forward after a man was found by officers bleeding heavily from a stab wound on Rue Bender on Wednesday evening. Police received reports of the attack at around 9pm and emergency services located the victim on a public street. Initial reports suggest an argument had taken place between the victim and two other men, one of whom proceeded to physically attack him before fleeing before police arrived. The perpetrators have not yet been identified. Anyone with information should contact 244 40 1400 or email police.LUXEMBOURG@police.etat.lu.

A recent study by confused.com has shown that drivers in Luxembourg City have the fifth highest chance in Europe of experiencing a GPS signal drop and slow internet. The city’s navigation failure score of 82.77 out of 100 was assessed from the total number of GPS satellite failures, internet download speeds and internet latency between January and April 2021. Although Luxembourg City suffered just eleven GPS signal failures overall, it had the highest percentage of high internet latency which affects digital map applications. Drivers in Sofia, Bulgaria, are most likely to experience GPS signal loss and slow mobile internet, while Paris was the only European city with a perfect score.

The organisers of the Zeltik Festival announced this week that the event will go ahead on two separate dates this year. The organisers revealed the new structure on social media, explaining that they had been very busy juggling various tour cancellations, travel restrictions, availability, COVID-19 measures, and the public’s expectations. The Zeltik Festival is the only one in the Greater Region dedicated to Celtic music and will take place first on Saturday 12 March and then on Sunday 19 June 2022. The organisers added that they are also preparing a “Zeltik Prelude”. Further details and tickets can be found at zeltik.lu.

 

THURSDAY 17 FEBRUARY

First a coronavirus update for Luxembourg: The Ministry of Health reported 769 new resident cases, derived from 3,188 tests. There were no new deaths, with the death toll at 979. 57 individuals are in hospital, with 9 of those in intensive care. The effective reproduction rate is 0.70. To date, 354,340 people have received an additional booster dose.

Differdange is considering the use of security cameras at a city-centre park, but mayor Christiane Brassel-Rausch said using a private security firm to patrol the area is “out of the question”. The city council will discuss several measures in March, such as spending €200,000 on CCTV cameras and requesting a mobile police unit for the area. Safety at the city’s Parc Gerlache and the surrounding area has been an issue following an incident at the end of January in which police officers were surrounded by a group of drug users and reinforcements had to be called in. Differdange was assigned four additional police officers last year after authorities raised safety issues with Henri Kox .

Recent figures show that Luxembourg generates the EU’s second highest waste per person. In 2020, Luxembourg generated 790kg of municipal waste per person – an increase of 30% over three years. Only Denmark created more waste than Luxembourg, at 845kg per person. Municipal waste consists mostly of household waste, but also includes that generated by shops, offices, and public bodies. In 2020, Luxembourg recycled waste at an EU average of 151kg per person.

A small group of protesters gathered outside the Chinese embassy in Dommeldange this week hoping to deliver 1,300 letters collected by Amnesty International regarding the treatment of Chinese activist and blogger Zhang Zhan. In 2020 Zhang Zhan was arrested and sentenced to four years in prison for reporting on China’s Covid management on social media. When no embassy staff came out to meet them, the demonstrators folded the letters into paper planes and flew them through the gates of the embassy.

The Belgian town of Martelange will hold its carnival parade, due to take place on Sunday 6 March, in the Luxembourg town of Rambrouch where pandemic restrictions are not as strict. The communes of Martelange and Rambrouch are neighbours, separated by the N4. The mayor of Rambrouch, Antoine Rodesch, said he welcomed the Martelange carnival.

The Luxembourg-based non-profit organisation El Sistema Luxembourg  will this week send three young musicians, Fatima Calciolari ,Cassandra Desiles and Marco Monteiro to Paris to take part in the  “Démos Europe Orchestra” project at the Philharmonie de Paris. An intense week of rehearsals and a final concert is planned on February 26. Organisation President Patricia Abdelnour stated their aim is to bridge the gap that exists between Luxembourg’s vast music education institutions and minority groups. She added that they work closely with music schools who seek to increase the diversity in their student population, families who need logistical support and local grass-roots organisations that share the same goals.

 

WEDNESDAY 16 FEBRUARY

First a coronavirus update for Luxembourg: The Ministry of Health reported 549 new resident cases, derived from 2,351 tests. There were 3 new deaths, with the death toll at 979. 67 individuals are in hospital, with 11 of those in intensive care. The effective reproduction rate is 0.81. To date, 353,751 people have received an additional booster dose.

Two of the organisers of the recent anti-Covid measures demonstrations in Luxembourg City, made their first appearance in court yesterday morning. Jean-Marie Jacoby and Peter Freitag were in court accused of  not respecting sanitary measures and using equipment to amplify speech and play music in violation of the regulations of Luxembourg City. The defendants said that not wearing masks was exactly the message of the protests. They maintained that the measures violated their right to health  and accused the measures of being “an experiment on the population”. Jacoby and Freitag claimed the criminal justice system was not able to judge whether the covid measures were justified and legal and requested the intervention of the Constitutional Court in this case.

The Luxembourg Association for Occupational Health announced yesterday it is offering dedicated training to make sure the grand duchy has enough occupational physicians to meet future demand. As Luxembourg faces a severe shortage of healthcare staff, the need for more occupational physicians is one that the association is raising now, saying that 50 occupational physicians will be required in the next five just to provide the minimum service. The association is appealing for support from political decision-makers for a specialisation course in occupational medicine at the University of Luxembourg.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence François Bausch will participate in the meeting of NATO Defence Ministers, which will take place on 16 and 17 February 2022 at NATO Headquarters in Brussels. The meeting will be dominated by the Russian-Ukrainian crisis. The Defence ministers will also discuss NATO-EU relations.

The police announced yesterday that they had been contacted over 200 times in recent days by people who had received fraudulent e-mails. The scam e-mails claim to be contacting the individuals in connection with criminal investigations and purport to be from the director general of the Luxembourg police or from foreign police forces. The police advised people not to react to the content of the e-mail.

The Directorate of Immigration of the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs confirmed yesterday that Luxembourg received a total of 133 applications for international protection in January. This was a slight drop from the number of people applying for asylum in December of last year but almost double the figure recorded for January 2021. 41 applicants were granted refugee status in Luxembourg from the 115 asylum applications received. The largest number of applicants came from Syria , followed by Eritrea , Afghanistan  and Venezuela.

 

TUESDAY 15 FEBRUARY

First a coronavirus update for Luxembourg: The Ministry of Health reported 1,437 new resident cases, derived from 6,926 tests from Friday-Sunday. There were 7 new deaths, with the death toll at 976. 63 individuals are in hospital, with 12 of those in intensive care. The effective reproduction rate is 0.51. To date, 353,107 people have received an additional booster dose.

Data released by the non-governmental organisation Global Footprint Network showed that Luxembourg was the second country worldwide to reach its overshoot day yesterday. Overshoot day is the day on which people’s consumption of non-renewable resources exceeds what the earth can generate in that year. Qatar was the only other country to reach the threshold so early in the year – four days before Luxembourg. The NGO declared that if everyone consumed non-renewable resources like Luxembourg residents, it would need eight planet earths to keep up with their needs. The next countries due to pass their overshoot day are the US, Canada and the United Arab Emirates, on 13 March.

In her response to an enquiry from the Democratic Party, Minister for Home Affairs Taina Bofferding admitted that just 11 out of 102 municipalities submit data to the Ministry, meaning an overview of towns that award “solidarity support” is very limited. Besides standard government support, low-income families are eligible to receive financial aid from their respective municipalities but each town is free to control the process in terms of amounts and eligibility. The municipality of Differdange reacted yesterday by stating that the town has been regularly allocating and adjusting the solidarity support for low-income families. Secretary general Henri Krecké claimed that he was certain many other southern towns had been allocating solidarity support consistently for years.

The environmental non-profit organisation Mouvement Ecologique released a statement yesterday criticising the apparant vagueness of the City of Luxembourg’s proposed plans for the site of Villeroy & Boch. The organisation said the plans as presented lacked citizen participation, had insufficient connection to the surrounding districts, lacked public spaces and an attractive green area and was neglectful of cyclists and pedestrians. Mouvement Ecologique concluded that the present design was  extremely problematic and called on the City of Luxembourg, with the involvement of residents, to amend the partial development plan in order to “ensure future-oriented, contemporary urban development”.

The Ministry for Culture yesterday announced the launch of a new financial aid to support artists who want to record music. Artists of any genre can apply for the programme and official requests for applications will be issued twice a year. Luxembourgish artists and bands can apply, as well as foreign residents creating music within the Grand Duchy and Luxembourgish labels. The closing date for the first round of applications is 15 March.

 

MONDAY 14 FEBRUARY

First a coronavirus update for Luxembourg: The positive rate is decreasing. According to the ministry of health’s latest report, one in five tests turned out positive at the end of the week, with an effective reproduction rate of 0,61. The number of individuals in hospital remains stable. More than 350.000 people have received their third vaccine dose. The new covid-19 law was voted in by parliament on Friday afternoon removing the 11pm curfew for the hospitality sector.The 3G CovidCheck regime (recovered, vaccinated or tested negative) will come into force everywhere except in hospitals and retirement facilities. The CovidCheck regime will now become optional in the workplace.

The Saturday protests against the covid restrictions attract less and less participants. The police reported around 60 protestors who marched peacefully from the Glacis square towards Boulevard Schuman. Some of the protestors however repeated the chants of the week before including such lines as “Bettel will be hanged on the new Red Bridge because he is completely insane”. Prime Minister Xavier Bettel reacted in an 100komma7 interview last week: it was up to the public prosecutor’s office to decide whether the incidents would be followed up with legal action.

The mayor of Wiltz Fränk Arndt is subject to an investigation for illegal conflict of interest and corruption. The public prosecutor’s office in Diekirch announced the launch of the new investigation; in addition to the ongoing one on illegal dumping sites in the municipality of Wiltz. The first one suspects the mayor is involved in a potential corruption affair related to real estate transactions. The second investigation examines a potential violation of the Environmental Protection Law. The newspaper Luxemburger Wort reported on illegal renovation works on a chalet owned by the mayor. Last Wednesday, searches were carried out and prosecutors seized documents at the municipal administration and other buildings in the municipality.

Another judicial investigation was concluded last week. Two employees of the communal council of Hesperange and a third person have been charged with embezzlement of public money, the judiciary announced on Friday. The judges seized around 5 million euros in real estate and funds, which the three persons had allegedly fraudulently withdrawn from public money through fake companies and accounts for years. The investigation was launched in 2019, after the two municipal agents had been accused during a local council meeting. All three accused are now facing a trial in court.

 

FRIDAY 11 FEBRUARY

First a coronavirus update for Luxembourg: The Ministry of Health reported 1,050 new resident cases, derived from 4,280 tests. There were 2 new deaths, with the death toll at 968. 81 individuals are in hospital, with 9 of those in intensive care. The effective reproduction rate is 0.66. To date, 476,544 people have received their first vaccine dose, while 422,489 have received a second.

The Ministry of Health confirmed this week that a fourth covid vaccination booster will be offered to people who are deemed immunocompromised, and not all over-65s, as previously stated. Adults with a compromised immune system include those who have had an organ transplant or are on dialysis. Physicians or specialists will register the patient on myguichet.lu to verify their classification in the vulnerable category, who will then be contacted by the Vaccination Helpdesk to schedule an appointment. The ministry explained that the 4th vaccination dose will be given at least three months following the third jab and can be administered by attending physicians, or through a vaccination centre.

The new Covid-19 law was debated in the Parliamentary Health Commission yesterday where it was decided to incorporate all the proposals made by the Council of State to hopefully prevent opposition to the text. Provided that the law is passed and published by the Chamber of Deputies today, the 11pm curfew in the hospitality sector may be lifted as early as this evening. The Parliamentary Health Commission also specified that the 3G regime will become voluntary in both the private and public sector as suggested by the Council of State.

The transport ministry has said it is planning legislation on autonomous vehicles which could take effect after the signing of the Vienna Convention on Road Traffic in March 2022. The transport ministry is currently conducting a study to clarify how the implementation of such legislation can be carried out. Luxembourg’s road regulations were modified in September 2018 to prepare for automated driving and trials have been carried out with autonomous shuttles in industrial and urban areas. François Bausch confirmed that, under the new legislation, manufacturers would accept liability for accidents provided the automated driving system is on, which would limit the vehicle to a maximum speed of 60km/h.

The US Embassy this week confirmed that Thomas Barret had been appointed the US ambassador to Luxembourg. The official statement said Barret had previously served as the Mayor of Milwaukee from 2004-2021, making him the longest-serving mayor of one of the 50 largest cities in the United States.  Barret met with Grand Duke Henri yesterday and said he was looking forward to working together to advance the countries’ shared priorities on human rights and climate change and defending common values as NATO allies.

THURSDAY 10 FEBRUARY

First a coronavirus update for Luxembourg: The Ministry of Health reported 1,352 new resident cases, derived from 5,053 tests. There were no new deaths, with the death toll at 966. 80 individuals are in hospital, with 8 of those in intensive care. The effective reproduction rate is 0.88. To date, 476,439 people have received their first vaccine dose, while 422,025 have received a second.

Prime Minister Xavier Bettel commented yesterday about chants calling for him to be hanged at last week’s protest against Covid-19 measures. Speaking to Radio 100,7, the Prime Minister said videos of the chanting had been sent to the public prosecutor’s office and that it was now up to them to decide whether to take legal action following Saturday’s occurrences.

Education Minister Claude Meisch announced yesterday that the Gaston Thorn state-run international school will open in September across two sites, a primary school in the Cessange district and a secondary school at the Geesseknäppchen campus in Merl. Admissions for the new international school are set to open in March, with 300 places available across the first two years of primary and secondary school. Both schools will ultimately move to a campus in Limpertsberg and will follow the European curriculum with an English, French and German section. Pupils will also be able to learn Portuguese, Spanish and Italian.

A police press officer yesterday defended the recent purchase of 96 diesel vehicles for Luxembourg’s police, explaining they were an exception to the government’s shift to electric mobility because they did not meet law enforcement requirements. Speaking to Delano, the spokesman said the minister of internal security and the Luxembourg police fully supported the government’s plan for the electrification of the state transport system. However, electronic vehicles do not yet meet the requirements for the smooth running of the daily operations of the police and the 20 existing electric vehicles would primarily be used for administrative tasks and pre-planned itineraries.

The Action solidarité tiers monde charity this week accused Luxembourg’s financial sector of not showing enough commitment to human rights. In its new report, the ASTM, which advocates for developing countries, examined publicly available documents from institutions and associations and established that the financial sector appears reluctant to assume a clear position on human rights. The report also highlighted some examples showing a link between Luxembourg-based financial actors and human rights violations in China, Palestine, and Latin America. The charity demanded the creation of a law that will oblige businesses to verify whether their activities, services or products pose risks for human rights. Furthermore, they urge that if a violation is detected, the business should compensate the people affected.

 

WEDNESDAY 9 FEBRUARY

First a coronavirus update for Luxembourg: The Ministry of Health reported 1,112 new resident cases, derived from 3,798 tests. There were 2 new deaths, with the death toll at 966. 82 individuals are in hospital, with 10 of those in intensive care. The effective reproduction rate is 0.90. To date, 476,260 people have received their first vaccine dose, while 421,410 have received a second.

Police have confirmed that at around 9am yesterday morning a man was seen setting fire to himself near a bus stop at the Royal Hamilus centre. The man, thought to be in his 40s or 50s, is in critical condition. Eyewitnesses said the man was walking around, engulfed in flames, before collapsing in the bus lane where a bus driver helped extinguish the flames. The incident seems to be the result of an act of self-immolation, but a motive for the act remains unclear.

In response to a parliamentary question from the Democratic Party, Minister of Health Paulette Lenert declared that the Patient Advocacy Group had been asked to remove an online form which allows people to report side effects from the Covid-19 vaccination. Minister Lenert said the Group’s unilateral initiative had not been agreed upon by the National Health Directorate, and that there was no legal foundation for such a database. The Minister added that she had requested the Patient Advocacy Group redirect people using the form to the national system.

Luc Majerus, a member of the Green Party, this week declared he will join a new political party set up by Frank Engel, who quit as the president of the CSV when he became entangled in a fraud scandal last year. In a letter, Majerus wrote he had decided “not to renew his membership as The Greens, who are part of the ruling three-way coalition, had abandoned many of their principles through their participation in government”. Majerus joins Marc Ruppert and Gary Kneip from the Democratic Party. Frank Engel is expected to officially launch the new party on 21 February.

The Ministry of State announced that it had recently received another demand for a referendum over the constitutional reform and that Prime Minister Xavier Bettel has deemed it admissible. Municipalities will again have to organise lists for people to sign in support of a request for a referendum. To support the request, voters must attend their municipality of residence and register themselves on the lists. The request is successful if it collects at least 25,000 valid signatures within two months. If enough signatures are collected, the government will have six months to organise a referendum.

 

TUESDAY 8 FEBRUARY

First a coronavirus update for Luxembourg: The Ministry of Health reported 3,030 new resident cases, derived from 9,022 tests for Friday – Sunday. There were 6 new deaths, with the death toll at 9964. 83 individuals are in hospital, with 11 of those in intensive care. The effective reproduction rate is 0.74. To date, 476,167 people have received their first vaccine dose, while 421,008 have received a second.

Health minister Paulette Lenert said yesterday that the reduced covid measures announced last week won’t undercut the vaccine mandate that should be ready prior to the summer. Speaking to RTL, Minister Lenert clarified that while spring and summer may mean fewer admissions to hospitals it was vital as many of us as possible are vaccinated ahead of a potential surge in infections in autumn. The Minister explained that rather than the eradication of the virus, the focus of her strategy was lighter hospital loads, less severe symptoms, and fewer deaths. Under the new rules, the 11pm curfew imposed on restaurants and bars will be lifted, and CovidCheck will become optional in the workplace.

Minister of Immigration and Asylum Jean Asselborn yesterday presented an overview of the 1,473 refugees that Luxembourg accepted last year. At a press briefing, the Minister confirmed that 754 people were given refugee status, with a further 144 granted subsidiary protection, and that most of the refugees came from Afghanistan, Syria, and Eritrea. Over 75% of Afghans who sought protection in Luxembourg were accepted but Minister Asselborn clarified that not every Afghan citizen can routinely get refugee status in the Grand Duchy. He added that the Ministry is doing all it could to assist people to stay.

The organisers of the International Women’s Day demonstrations yesterday voiced their shock that their annual march will be limited between Glacis in Limpertsberg and Place de l’Europe in Kirchberg. They complained that they were being penalised for the prior troubles at anti-government demonstrations, calling it “scandalous” that they are lumped together with anti-vaxxers. Michelle Cloos from the OGBL union said the government cannot hide behind the Luxembourg City council in this “debate on principles and democratic rights”, and hoped that  Mayor Lydie Polfer would change her decision.

Friendship Luxembourg – a local non-profit organisation – has announced that a rural hospital in Bangladesh, funded by Luxembourgish donors, has been awarded the world’s “best new building” by the Royal Institute of British Architects. The construction of the Friendship Hospital Shyamnagar, located in the coastal region of Bangladesh, was mostly financed by Luxembourg’s development cooperation programme and the private donors of Friendship Luxembourg. Last July, the building had made it to the shortlist with sixteen other candidates from eleven different countries.

 

MONDAY 7 FEBRUARY

First a coronavirus update for Luxembourg: According to the ministry of health’s latest figures, around 2000 new infections were recorded per day at the end of the week, with one in three tests positive. The numbers of patients in the hospitals remained stable with 73 on Thursday. 475.834 people have received their first vaccine dose according to the latest report, while 1,237,787 doses have been administered in total. At a press conference on Friday, prime minister Xavier Bettel repeated his urge to get as many people vaccinated as fast as possible.

The government will ease the covid restrictions currently in place. Prime minister Xavier Bettel and minister of health Paulette Lenert confirmed the government council’s decision on Friday afternoon. The government is going to cancel the 11-pm-curfew for the Horesca sector and the 3G regime will replace 2G meaning that also people who are not vaccinated are allowed in cafés and restaurants with a negative test – provided by a certified test centre. There will be no restrictions for private gatherings anymore. The covidcheck at workplaces is no longer mandatory for private companies, the trade unions as well as the government though have decided to maintain it. Parliament is going to vote this Friday on the new measures.

Primary school classrooms in the city of Luxembourg will be equipped with air filters. According to the city’s school officer Colette Mart, 400 of these machines have been ordered, at a total cost of 400.000 Euros. Air filters reduce the amount of aerosols in the air, voices for more protection in schools have raised recently, since the majority of new covid-19-infections in the beginning of this year concern school children.

The Rating agencies S&P Global and DBRS Morningstar confirmed Luxembourg’s AAA credit rating, the highest possible rating, the ministry of finance reported Saturday. The rating certifies the country’s economic stability and resilience after the covid-19-crisis. Luxembourg’s GDP only decreased by 1.8 percent in comparison to the 6.5 percent average of the Eurozone. The minister Yuriko Backes commented, the government had put in place a forward-looking policy and supported the country’s economy without jeopardising the sustainability of public finances.

 

FRIDAY 4 FEBRUARY

First a coronavirus update for Luxembourg: The Ministry of Health reported 1,994 new resident cases, derived from 6,222 tests. There were no new deaths, with the death toll at 956. 82 individuals are in hospital, with 12 of those in intensive care. The effective reproduction rate is 0.87. To date, 475,631 people have received their first vaccine dose, while 419,420 have received a second.

At yesterday’s press briefing with the Ministry of Health it was revealed that 454 people had applied and been accepted as patients for the Long Covid pilot programme, with symptoms ranging from issues with smell and taste to long-term breathing difficulties. Regarding vaccine-related deaths, Dr Staub claimed there had been fewer than 10. Minister of Health Paulette Lenert said the covid situation is easing and would be considered when looking at current measures. Minister Lenert added that more will be advised at this afternoon’s press briefing after the government council meeting.

Luxembourg’s real estate lobby group – Chambre immobilière – yesterday attacked a reform that would see the government restrict brokerage fees to halt the increase in housing prices. The group accused the government of “populism” and blamed high property prices on failed policies. They labelled Minister for the Economy Franz Fayot’s proposals ” an affront against the real estate sector” adding there was no proof to the government’s claims that agent fees lead to higher property prices. Meanwhile, data from the economy ministry shows that nearly 400 new agencies opened in Luxembourg at the end of last year – a 33% rise compared to the previous year.

Following the EU Commission’s decision to classify nuclear and gas power as “green and sustainable”, Minister for Energy Claude Turmes yesterday accused the Commission of using legal methods to “smuggle in” nuclear energy despite amendments against it from the European Parliament. Minister Turmes added that the ruling hurts the Grand Duchy’s financial sector which plans to invest in greener energy sources. Furthermore, the Minister declared the decision a slap in the face of opponents to the Cattenom power plant which can now be subsidised with green funds. Luxembourg, with Austria, is now appealing the decision with the EU Court of Justice.

Sales of Luxembourg-produced alcohol returned to pre-pandemic levels in 2021 the Agriculture Ministry revealed this week. 3.2 million bottles of crémant were purchased last year and, including other local wines, the Grand Duchy consumed 5.7 million litres. Although figures dropped slightly, officials explained that the quality of wines consumed has increased. Despite the second-wettest summer on record, an influx of seasonal workers added to the good harvest in 2021, with rapid tests being handed out for the harvest, the Ministry reported.

 

THURSDAY 3 FEBRUARY

First a coronavirus update for Luxembourg: The Ministry of Health reported 2,548 new resident cases, derived from 6,806 tests. There were 3 new deaths, bringing the death toll to 956. 83 individuals are in hospital, with 13 of those in intensive care. The effective reproduction rate is 0.94. To date, 475,495 people have received their first vaccine dose, while 460,371 have received a second.

The government council yesterday raised the possibility of lifting the 11pm curfew in cafés and restaurants, and reducing restrictions in the sports and culture sectors, as part of the next Covid law. The next amendments will be presented at the council tomorrow, before going to a vote next week at the earliest. Because of the relatively stable situation in Luxembourg’s hospitals, all three coalition parties agreed yesterday that some Covid restrictions could be eased.

Minister of Health Paulette Lenert will hold a press briefing at 3pm today, where it is expected she will provide an assessment of the covid current situation and give details of government plans going forward.

The Health Ministry is organising a Facebook Live Q&A session this evening on the subject of COVID-19 vaccination in pregnant and breastfeeding women. For 60 minutes, Dr Thomas Dentzer from the Department of Health and Dr Pit Duschinger, President of the Luxembourg Society of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, will answer questions from spectators live, in English, French, German and Luxembourgish.

The Luxembourg Bankers’ Association and the Association of Insurance and Reinsurance Companies have agreed to strengthen their cooperation. This will apply to the areas of sustainable finance, labour law, taxation and financial education, among others. The two associations will remain independent.

Knuedler car park in Luxembourg City will be closed to the public again from 7th to 18th February inclusive. The temporary closure is the result of redevelopment work taking place in Place Guillaume II, particularly work linked to the sewage pipe networks located at the car park entrance.

Kinga Rose, a Hungary-born Luxembourg-based pianist and jazz singer, has set a date for the release of her debut album. “Vision” will be released on all the usual platforms on 25th February. The album features string and horn arrangements by some of Luxembourg’s most renowned musical arrangers, with the executive production of singer-songwriter and guitarist Lata Gouveia.

 

WEDNESDAY 2 FEBRUARY

First a coronavirus update for Luxembourg: The Ministry of Health reported 1,453 new resident cases, derived from 4,327 tests. There was 1 new death, with the death toll standing at 953. 81 individuals are in hospital, with 9 of those in intensive care. The effective reproduction rate is 0.95. To date, 475,326 people have received their first vaccine dose, while 418,291 have received a second.

Prime Minister Xavier Bettel gave up his postgraduate degree yesterday, months after an investigation found that he had plagiarised most of the work. In October the newspaper story, published by the Reporter, found that just two pages – the introduction and conclusion – out of 56 in Bettel’s degree did not contain any plagiarised passages. Bettel’s popularity dropped in a survey of Luxembourgish voters following the scandal. In a statement, Bettel apologised for what had happened and explained that he had asked for the work to be rescinded to remove any doubts about the merits of the DEA and to avoid a loss of confidence in the academic work. In a separate statement the Université de Lorraine said that Bettel’s work contained passages that “could be considered a form of plagiarism” due to inaccurate references.

A survey released this week by the European Investment Bank shows that just over half of Luxembourg’s car owners plan to buy an electric vehicle when they next purchase a car. This figure is far below the EU average of 67% and puts Luxembourg second to last in terms of intentions to purchase electric or hybrid vehicles. Luxembourg has the lowest fuel taxes and the highest number of cars per person in the EU, as well as the highest level of carbon emissions compared to the size of its population. The Grand Duchy has vowed to cut emissions by 55% over the next decade, but has faced criticism from climate activists for showing no evidence of being able to meet that commitment. Plans to levy higher taxes on company cars will be introduced next year which will reward drivers for producing a smaller carbon footprint.

A member of the board of directors in the Real Estate Chamber yesterday criticised measures proposed by Minister of the Economy Franz Fayot at the weekend. Manuel Rizzo referred to comments made by the Minister during his recent interview with RTL in which he  revealed plans to reduce sales commissions for real estate agencies via a Grand Ducal Regulation to reduce prices in the housing market. Further amendments are planned to reduce deposits from three to two months of rent for rented properties. Rizzo denied that real estate agencies are to blame for increased prices on the housing market, adding that sales commissions rarely exceeded 2% and instead pointed to the high prices of building lands and higher construction material costs.

On Sunday at around 7.30 in the evening, a group of 10 to 15 young men attacked three men on rue Michel Rodange in Differdange. Police report that the group attacked and beat the three men. The victims had to be taken to the hospital for treatment. The perpetrators were able to flee the scene without detection.

Den Atelier have booked the much-hyped supergroup The Smile fronted by Radiohead’s Thom Yorke. Following sold out live shows in London, The Smile will be on tour this spring and summer and will arrive at Luxembourg’s Neimënster on 27 June. The band has received much media coverage and recently released a new single, The Smoke. Tickets for the Neimënster show go on general sale this Friday at 11am via the den Atelier website and The Waste headquarters site. Subscribers to the Smile mailing list will receive a link to access a pre-sale at 11am today.

 

TUESDAY 1 FEBRUARY

First a coronavirus update for Luxembourg: The Ministry of Health reported 4,550 new resident cases, derived from 11,874 tests for Friday, Saturday and Sunday. There were 4 new deaths, with the death toll standing at 952. 79 individuals are in hospital, with 8 of those in intensive care. The effective reproduction rate is 0.88. To date, 475,202 people have received their first vaccine dose, while 417,931 have received a second.

Education Minister Claude Meisch said yesterday that approximately 10% of primary and secondary school teachers were unable to teach at present due to Covid-19. In an interview with RTL, Minister  Meisch stated that some 300 substitute teachers were hired last year to replace staff off sick with Covid but that was before the more transmissible Omicron strain hit at the end of 2021.

Minister for Family Affairs and Integration, Corinne Cahen, told the Chamber yesterday that abuse and misconduct within nursing homes cannot occur in the Grand Duchy thanks to strict regulation. Minister Cahen was responding to a request from the CSV party, following allegations of serious misconduct in several nursing homes operated by the French care provider Orpéa Group who plan to open homes in Luxembourg. The Minister reassured MPs that the State Council is currently amending a draft for even stricter regulations and, if Orpéa received permission for a nursing home in Luxembourg, they would have to comply with the country’s laws.

The Pirate Party yesterday filed a request to the President of the Chamber of Deputies for a joint session between the economy and housing commissions. In their request, the party referred to comments made by Minister of the Economy Franz Fayot during his recent interview with RTL in which he  revealed plans to reduce sales commissions for real estate agencies via a Grand Ducal Regulation to reduce prices in the housing market. In their request, the Pirate Party stressed they had already suggested a near identical proposal earlier in January, and wanted to stop the government from proceeding without discussing it with elected officials first.

STATEC – the government statistics service of Luxembourg – reported this week that there was no increase in bankruptcies in 2021 compared to 2020 or to the pre-Covid period in Luxembourg. Bankruptcies dropped by nearly 40% in the accommodation and catering sector, which received support from Covid aid. The institute reported that liquidations did increase, but did not seem to be linked to the covid crisis. Loss of jobs caused by bankruptcies in 2021, however, increased by over 50% compared to 2020 with the impact most felt in non-financial service activities, construction and trade.

 

MONDAY 31 JANUARY

First a coronavirus update for Luxembourg: In the past ten days, Luxembourg experienced a record with covid-19-infections, counting more than 3.000 new infections per day. According to the Ministry of health, more than one in three tests were positive on Thursday. The number of individuals in hospitals remains stable with 71 at the end of the week with ten of those in intensive care.

The situation in the schools is critical as the number of covid-19-infections increases among teachers. 12 percent of the teachers in primary schools are on sick leave or quarantined, a spokesperson for the ministry of Health reported to Tageblatt. The president of the teacher’s union Julie Barthel said, the Lycée du Nord in Wiltz reported more than twice as many absences as usual in January. The Ministry od Health had put in place substitute teachers but many of them were unqualified and regular lessons could not be guaranteed. The lack of private tutoring due to the absences would foster inequalities among the students. Barthel is also concerned about the high numbers of students who consult the schools’ psychological services.

A Covid-19-cluster in the Southern main hospital network CHEM urged the responsibles to ban visitors from their hospitals in Esch-sur-Alzette, Niederkorn and Dudelange. Since Saturday, visitors are no longer allowed, this is to protect the staff as well as the patients. Exceptions will be allowed for the fathers of newborn infants or two people visiting pediatric patients. In a statement, the medical centre said: The cluster had caused an unprecedented increase in Covid-19 cases among healthcare and medical staff, forcing them to significantly reorganize teams to compensate for people absent from their workplace.

In an RTL interview on Saturday, Minister of the Economy Franz Fayot said he wanted to reduce the commission on sales for real estate agencies, and that he was preparing a grand-ducal regulation. He explained the prices for flats have doubled during the past ten years – partly due to the sales commissions. The current rate is three percent, but agencies may calculate higher fees. Since 2004, real estate agencies are free to fix their rates without capping. Fayot added, the government suspects they simply pass on that charge to the buyer by raising property prices.

 

FRIDAY 28 JANUARY

First a coronavirus update for Luxembourg: The Ministry of Health reported 3,029 new resident cases, derived from 7,698 tests. There have been 1 new death, with the death toll standing at 947. 70 individuals are in hospital, with 13 of those in intensive care. The effective reproduction rate is 1.12. To date, 474,452 people have received their first vaccine dose, while 416,761 have received a second.

Yesterday Minister of Foreign and European Affairs, Jean Asselborn, received Teresa Ribeiro, Media Freedom Representative for the OSCE, for an interview, followed by a working lunch. This is Ms Ribeiro’s first visit to Luxembourg since taking office as OSCE Media Freedom Representative in December 2020. The discussion with Minister Asselborn was dominated by news about media freedom in OSCE countries and the protection of journalists.

The Patients’ Representatives Association announced yesterday that it would be collecting vaccine side effects reports and forward the data to the Ministry of Health. In partnership with scientists, the organisation has created an online form for users to report any Covid-19 vaccination side effects including symptoms, duration, and severity. The online form can be completed in either German, Luxembourgish, English or French. More information can be found at aracityradio.com.

Luxembourg’s Medical College repeated its call this week for a widespread, unrestricted vaccine mandate in Luxembourg. The statement questioned an occupational and age-related mandate from a scientific and social point of view, as well as expressing worries over the risk of possible social division.

Minister of Housing, Henri Kox, this week presented key elements of the reform of the 1979 law relating to housing assistance. Two bills will replace the current law. The first presents a clear framework for the financing of affordable housing and support for its inhabitants. The second bill will expand and simplify the individual support for housing, rental and private market ownership. Lack of affordable housing in Luxembourg has been identified as one of this government’s biggest failures. Minister Kox said the aim was to boost the creation of affordable housing, and called the reform “a cornerstone of the housing strategy which is the realisation of the right to housing”.

The first gathering of the Citizens’ Climate Council, first announced by Prime Minister Xavier Betel during his State of the Nation speech last autumn, is set to take place this weekend. The council is comprised of 100 people, selected from over 1,100 volunteers, who over the coming six months will attempt to find answers regarding Luxembourg’s climate policy and its future proposals. The launch of the Citizens’ Climate Council will be at 2pm on Saturday and will be broadcast live online. The conclusions reached by the council will then be presented to parliament in a report for a later debate.

 

THURSDAY 27 JANUARY

First a coronavirus update for Luxembourg: The Ministry of Health reported 3,073 new resident cases, derived from 7,894 tests. There have been 1 new death, with the death toll standing at 946. 70 individuals are in hospital, with 12 of those in intensive care. The effective reproduction rate is 1.08. To date, 474,272 people have received their first vaccine dose, while 416,236 have received a second

Responding to a parliamentary question yesterday, Health Minister Paulette Lenert confirmed that more than 6.5 thousand people have caught covid a second time. When two positive PCR tests are recorded 90 days or further apart then it is counted as a second infection. Minister Lenert verified that second infection numbers have increased recently, confirming that the Omicron variant infects those who have previously recovered from an infection.

The Federation of Construction Companies warned yesterday that a shortage of landfill sites in Luxembourg could force building firms to halt projects. There are eight landfill sites in Luxembourg, but it is estimated that 15 are needed to deal with the backlog of construction debris. Around 30,000 tonnes of debris are collected every day but existing sites can only cope with 20,000 tonnes. The Federation clarified that the first construction sites will soon have to close and the employees there will have to be sent on short-time work.

The Luxembourg Consumer Protection Association yesterday called for a limit on energy prices and financial aid for low-income households. In its press release, the ULC explained that recent price increases of petrol, diesel, and gas represented “a major problem” for disadvantaged households. The association called for short-term financial aid for the many families who have recently received a large annual bill for 2021. ULC states that the government should consider capping energy prices or introducing a minimum unit price for gas during the winter months.

Luxembourg’s statistics bureau Statec claimed this week that the effects of the Omicron covid variant on the economy will be felt through inflation and recruitment difficulties. In its latest report on the state of Luxembourg’s economy, Statec explained that although the health impact of omicron seems to be limited, current supply chain difficulties and pressure on prices could pose a threat to economic activity in 2022 if the variant were to last. The bureau’s report declared that disruptions linked to the health crisis were hampering the recovery in supply creating an excess demand for goods, and raising input prices and transport costs.

 

WEDNESDAY 26 JANUARY

First a coronavirus update for Luxembourg: The Ministry of Health reported 1,714 new resident cases, derived from 4,789 tests. There have been no new deaths, with the death toll standing at 945. 70 individuals are in hospital, with 11 in intensive care. The effective reproduction rate is 0.98. To date, 473,933 people have received their first vaccine dose, while 456,988 have been fully vaccinated.

ASTI, a non-profit supporting migrant workers in Luxembourg, has unveiled its new management team. Evandro Cimetta will succeed Laura Zuccoli, who stepped down after twelve years as President of ASTI. The team is composed of volunteers and employees working under the motto of “living, working and making decisions together”.

Microcredit institution microlux announced the launch of a new interest-free loan, in partnership with the Banque de Luxembourg and impact investment fund Funds For Good. The so-called “honour loans” are zero-interest, unsecured loans with a grace period of up to 24 months. These are granted in addition to a usual microcredit and are aimed at helping to finance business creators with quasi equity. The initiative has an initial budget of more than €100,000.

The Luxembourg Institute for Science and Technology signed a 5-year sustainability partnership with wood panel manufacturer Kronospan, which has a site in Sanem. One of the foreseen projects will see LIST monitor and analyse how Kronospan can improve its decarbonisation strategy. The agreement also foresees work on the sustainability assessment of the manufacturer’s products and industrial value chain.

The Ministry of Labour and nyuko asbl have launched a new call for projects with social and societal impact as part of the IMPULS 2022 programme. This edition once again features an acceleration phase and a tailor-made support phase for future social entrepreneurs. The programme starts at the beginning of March. To register, visit www.impuls.lu. 

 

TUESDAY 25 JANUARY

First a coronavirus update for Luxembourg: The Ministry of Health reported 5,497 new resident cases for Friday, Saturday and Sunday, derived from 14,338 tests. There have been two new deaths, with the death toll standing at 945. 71 individuals are in hospital, with 12 of those in intensive care. The effective reproduction rate is 1.25. To date, 473,723 people have received their first vaccine dose, while 456,567 are fully vaccinated.

The Christian Social People’s Party focused on the recent protests in the capital at their press conference yesterday morning. The CSV demanded the introduction of a demonstration law to regulate illegal and violent demonstrations while respecting people’s freedom of opinion, stressing that violence and chaos should not be tolerated. The party welcomed last week’s announcement by Minister of Justice Sam Tanson of a series of new measures with increased sentences for civil disorder and making spitting on officers a punishable offence. CSV members similarly advised that the government should have the right to ban some protests under certain conditions and confirmed their previous call for authorities to have the right to banish people from public spaces, as well as introduce the use of bodycams.

Speaking in an interview with local media, Health minister Paulette Lenert stated she is now totally in favour of compulsory vaccination but does not regret not having introduced it sooner. Minister Lenert added that she believes it was fair to attempt to convince the population before enforcing vaccination. Infectious disease expert Gérard Schockmel had previously criticised Lenert for ignoring the recommendations of experts in favour of compulsory vaccination. Ms Lenert declared she was in favour of introducing compulsory vaccination for those over 50 as soon as possible but stressed the need to wait until the bill was ready before assessing the need for such a measure, as vaccination rates might increase in the interim. The assessment is expected to be ready by mid-February.

According to a Eurostat report released this week, Luxembourg included nearly 12% of green energies into its annual consumption – exceeding the country’s renewable energy objective in 2020. The Grand Duchy was one of 30 European countries that surpassed their given objectives. Foremost countries in terms of green energy use were Sweden, Finland, and Latvia, while France was the only country that failed to reach its goal. Luxembourg plans to achieve a mix of 25% renewable energies by 2030, before becoming carbon neutral by 2050.

The Ministry for Mobility and Public Works announced yesterday that transportation between the Park and Ride at Roussy-le-Village in France and Kirchberg will be made free of charge as part of a pilot project. The pilot project will come into effect on 31 January and is initially planned for a period of six months to assess its usefulness and impact. This new Park and Ride facility has 253 parking spaces.

 

MONDAY 24 JANUARY

First a coronavirus update for Luxembourg: After having seen the highest positive rate on record since the start of the pandemic, the number of new cases decreased a little around the end of the week. The Ministry of Health reported 2.838 new resident cases on Friday, derived from 7.728 tests. With 70 individuals in hospital and 14 of those in intensive care, the situation in the hospitals remains stable despite the spreading of the omicron variant in Luxembourg and the neighbouring countries. After the introduction of the 3G-rules at workplaces, long queues resumed at the vaccination centres – as more people decided to get the first vaccination. The ministry’s latest report states that 473.103 people have received their first vaccine dose.

 Once again, protesters assembled in the city of Luxembourg on Saturday to demonstrate against the government’s covid-measures. According to the police, around 200 people gathered at the Glacis square at 2.30 pm and moved towards the Place de l’Europe. A second group of around 50 people assembled at the roundabout Robert Schuman near the Place de Théâtre. Both protests had been declared and authorized beforehand. The police temporarily closed some roads for traffic. But in general, the protests have been peaceful and without any notable incident, the police stated in their press release. The weekend before, a non-authorised protest had resulted in violence and several arrests.

Energy supplier Enovos issued a warning for phishing-attempts on Saturday. According to their press release, several people had received e-mails allegedly coming from Enovos. The messages claim that the addressee had mistakenly paid a bill twice and asked to receive the reimbursement by following a weblink provided in the e-mail. In this way, the defrauders try to get personal information. Enovos clarified that the e-mail was not coming from them and warned their customers not to click on any link in the e-mail, nor respond or give any personal information. The company emphasized that the phishing-e-mail was not relying on any customers’ data stating that no third party had access to the clients’ personal information.

 The government’s council adopted the national Strategic plan on the future EU’s common agricultural policy on Friday. New agriculture minister Claude Haagen stressed two priorities: fair wages for farmers – and to make the industry more ecological and sustainable. Luxembourg will invest more than 470 million in agricultural subsidies over the next five years.

In November, the EU ended years of negotiations on the reform of the Common Agricultural Policy setting the guidelines for the period 2023 – 2025. Each member state had then to elaborate a national strategy on how to implement the new agricultural measures. In line with the EU-directive, the Luxembourgish agricultural ministry announced an investment of 25 percent of the budget for environmental protection. This amount has been criticized by the greens as not being in line with the European Green Deal and not sufficient. Luxembourg’s Strategy Plan now has to be approved by the European Commission. The EU invests one third of its total budget in the common agricultural policy.

 

FRIDAY 21 JANUARY

First a coronavirus update for Luxembourg: The Ministry of Health reported 3,064 new resident cases, derived from 9,373 tests. There have been no new deaths, with the death toll standing at 941. 74 individuals are in hospital, with 15 of those in intensive care. The effective reproduction rate is 1.18. To date, 472,731 people have received their first vaccine dose, while 413,904 have received a second.

Official data released this week shows that the city of Luxembourg continued to entice new people in 2021, particularly foreigners, with 70% of its inhabitants, comprising 167 different nationalities, coming  from abroad. By the end of 2021, the capital had a population of just under 130,000 people – a 6% increase from the previous year and 40% more than in 2010. Most foreigners in the city are Europeans.

The latest edition of the Luxembourg Index of Well-Being, published by the STATEC, indicates that well-being in Luxembourg continued to be stable in 2020, although some areas suffered. Speaking to RTL, STATEC’s director explained there had been a decline in physical security at a household level, as well as social ties, and a drop in the criteria of education and competence. It was also noted that immigration had slowed too, meaning fewer highly-skilled workers had come to Luxembourg. Housing and household costs remained an issue but these were offset by a better balance between professional life and private life thanks to teleworking.

Figures released yesterday by the National Employment Agency show that the number of unemployed jobseekers in Luxembourg remained at pre-pandemic levels for the second consecutive month in December. Unemployment figures have gradually decreased since December 2020 and in December approximately 16,400 people – or 5.2% – were registered with ADEM – a 18% decrease compared with December 2020. The agency added that the number of jobseekers who have been unemployed for over a year dropped but long-term unemployed still make up the majority.

Jessie Thill (TILL) was sworn in as the new MP for the Greens in the Chamber of Deputies on Wednesday becoming, at just 25 the youngest MP to ever be appointed to the Chamber. Thill succeeded Carlo Back, and in her first address to the Chamber, Thill stated her wish to focus on housing, climate protection, and gender equality. The MP said she intended to work towards a more inclusive society and to discuss the real-life experiences of young women with topics like miscarriages, abortions, sexual education, and menstruation no longer be out of bounds.

 

THURSDAY 20 JANUARY

First a coronavirus update for Luxembourg: The Ministry of Health reported 2,551 new resident cases, derived from 6,941 tests. There has been 1 new death, with the death toll standing at 941. 72 individuals are in hospital, with 15 of those in intensive care. The effective reproduction rate is 0.96. To date, 472,430 people have received their first vaccine dose, while 413,404 have received a second.

Following a heated debate in parliament yesterday, the government announced that it would back a limited mandate for the over-50s and healthcare staff as proposed last week by a panel of independent experts, but said it would leave the next steps to parliament. The parliamentary session came on the same day that Luxembourg recorded its highest ever number of daily infections since the start of the pandemic.

Following recent demonstrations, in which protestors clashed with police officers on several occasions, Minister of Justice Sam Tanson yesterday announced three changes to the criminal code. Spitting at a police officer, something that occurred numerous times during recent protests, will be made a punishable offence. Ms Tanson further announced that resisting or rebelling against police officers would now carry a potential maximum penalty of three years. The third change would see an expansion of ‘investigations under pseudonym’, where investigators using fictitious names carry out investigations in the digital realm. Minister Tanson explained that currently this type of investigation is lawful only in cases of terrorism and national security.

Minister of Justice Sam Tanson also presented a new draft bill yesterday that modifies the criminal code on sexual violence. The definitions of sexual abuse and rape will be defined more precisely strengthening the rights of the victims. The draft bill clarifies that people are entitled to withdraw their consent at any time of the act. The new definitions apply not only to physical violence, but also to acts committed via the internet.

The Court of Appeal in Nancy yesterday granted the extradition of Frank Schneider, former head of operations of the Luxembourg State Intelligence, to the United States for his suspected involvement in a huge cryptocurrency fraud called ‘OneCoin’. Schneider’s lawyer said that they will appeal the decision, while the public prosecutor commented that “his possible extradition should still take some time”.

Yesterday, a Diekirch court ruled that a police officer who shot a man armed with a knife, who later died, had acted in self defence and all charges against the police officer were dropped. The court upheld the officer’s account of self-defence and confirmed the officer’s reaction was proportionate to the danger posed by the victim. Last July, the victim stole a car at knifepoint and was chased by the police. He was stopped in Ettelbruck, where he attempted to attack the officers who stopped him. It was at this point that the police officer shot the attacker.

 

WEDNESDAY 19 JANUARY 

First a coronavirus update for Luxembourg: The Ministry of Health reported 1,324 new resident cases, derived from 3,704 tests. There have been 2 new deaths, bringing the death toll to 940. 76 individuals are in hospital, with 19 in intensive care. The effective reproduction rate is 1.05. To date, 471,942 people have received their first vaccine dose, while 454,023 have been fully vaccinated.

The Ministry of Labour clarified that employers need only check their employees’ 3G CovidCheck certificates once per day. This means that employees are required to present a valid COVID-19 vaccination, recovery or negative test certificate only upon their arrival at the workplace each day. 

According to the Justice Ministry, 6,801 people acquired Luxembourgish nationality in 2021. This figure includes those who became Luxembourgers through the option, reclamation or naturalisation procedures. It represents a 27.5% decrease compared to 2020, which the ministry attributed in part to COVID-19-related travel restrictions, which prevented some applicants abroad from travelling to Luxembourg to sign their declaration in person. 

Dan Biancalana was nominated as the interim president of the Luxembourg Socialist Workers’ Party. He is set to replace outgoing party leader Yves Cruchten who is assuming a new position in parliament. 

The administrative board of the Centre Hospitalier du Nord confirmed that Dr Paul Wirtgen will take over as its new general director. Dr Wirtgen also serves as medical director at present. He will take over from Professor Dr Hans-Joachim Schubert who is set to retire in the near future.

Petrol prices are set to increase by €0.022 per litre today. The Energy Ministry confirmed that the price of Super 95 Oct. petrol will rise to €1.497 per litre, including VAT.

 

TUESDAY 18 JANUARY

First a coronavirus update for Luxembourg: The Ministry of Health reported 546 new resident cases, derived from 1.651 tests. There have been 4 new deaths, with the death toll standing at 938. 72 individuals are in hospital, with 20 of those in intensive care. The effective reproduction rate is 1.02. To date, 471.615 people have received their first vaccine dose, while 453.429 have been fully vaccinated.

In a move to help accelerate traffic between the cities of Luxembourg and Thionville in France, the National Roads Administration yesterday announced that work on expanding the Dudelange A3 motorway to three lanes will start today. Preparatory work will commence on the stretch of motorway between the Gasperich intersection and the Aire de Berchem, and is expected to last one month. Work will then move along the motorway towards the capital. Although trees will be cut down as part of the work, the Administration said they would be replaced elsewhere and spaces would be created for wildlife along with a  bridge for animals to cross the motorway.

A nurse working at the Covid test centre at the Picken Doheem centre in Ettelbruck was physically assaulted and left injured yesterday. Speaking to RTL, BioneXt’s communication manager, explained that tensions have increased in the long queues to get tested, and that a female patient punched a nurse in the arm when told the centre was going to close and that she would have to go to Leudelange. The patient then chased the nurse into an examination room and continued to shout at the nurse. The incident was reported to police. BioneXt LAB said they condemned violence against their employees, adding that the only way out of this crisis is in solidarity and by respecting one another.

Yesterday, environment minister Carole Dieschburg announced that a new draft law for financing the SuperDeckskescht – the company responsible for disposal of toxic waste in Luxembourg – had been deposed in parliament. Last week, parliament’s research service declared that a law governing the SDK initiative – under which Luxembourg paid Oeko-Service Luxembourg (OSL) close to €10 million a year until 2028 – did not meet the strict rules needed for a project of this size and duration. Minister Dieschbourg had sought to create a legal basis for the controversial contract four years after the government awarded it.

 

MONDAY 17 JANUARY

First a coronavirus update for Luxembourg: The Ministry of Health reported 2,103 new resident cases, derived from 6.370 tests. There have been 3 new deaths, with the death toll standing at 934. 63 individuals are in hospital, with 18 of those in intensive care. The effective reproduction rate is 1.10. To date, 470,430 people have received their first vaccine dose, while 451,905 have been fully vaccinated.

Since Saturday, all companies and institutions are obliged to enforce  covidcheck with their employees according to the 3G-rules. Everyone has to present either the certificate of vaccination, the certificate of recovery or a negative test result certified by an official test centre. Five new test centres have been installed in military tents in Esch/Alzette, Howald, Fridhaff, Kirchberg and Junglinster. People who got their first vaccine dose recently, receive 20 codes by the government for tests. Those who cannot be vaccinated for medical reasons, are entitled to unlimited free test codes.

On Friday, a panel of medical experts gave the Green Light for a mandatory vaccination. The five doctors, who specialise in contagious diseases, had been engaged by the government to scientifically evaluate compulsory vaccination. They recommend mandatory vaccination for people over 50 and health care workers. The debate in Parliament is set for this week.

Demonstrations against the covid measures continued in the city of Luxembourg on Saturday. The protest was not officially registered and not allowed by the police. Around 350 people met at 2.30 pm at Place de la Gare and moved towards the city centre. The police blocked several streets to avoid protesters spreading in the city centre. A second demonstration with 20 participants took place at the Glacis Square. The police arrested 30 people, 16 of whom face a trial in court.

On Friday, around 300 participants assembled for the eighth silent “Marche blanche” in Kirchberg. For the first time, a counter-movement had been organised. Their signs said: “Don’t leave the streets to the Covidiots”.

RTL News reports that a collective of lawyers are reported to be ready to launch legal actions against CovidCheck from 15 January. The ASTREE collective was formed in opposition to the Covid and CovidCheck laws and is made up of lawyers from Luxembourg and the Grand Est region in France. Spokesperson for the collective, Anthony Winkel, fears that the non-vaccinated could be discriminated against and need someone to defend them. Winkel’s alternative to vaccination is to make the tests more affordable and accessible.  The lawyer says he is ready to meet with the government to discuss compulsory vaccination, which he believes runs counter to several standards. Many believe that the covid check at work that is now in effect until the end of February will be extended. The collective is asking whether current law conflicts with the Constitution and the various European standards.

 

FRIDAY 14 JANUARY

First a coronavirus update for Luxembourg: The Ministry of Health reported 2,312 new resident cases, derived from 7,408 tests. There has been 1 new death, with the death toll standing at 931. 69 individuals are in hospital, with 20 of those in intensive care. The effective reproduction rate is 0.96. To date, 469,586 people have received their first vaccine dose, while 451,155 are fully vaccinated.

Figures released by the Health Ministry this week show that the number of people testing positive for Covid-19 almost doubled for the second consecutive week. The number of PCR administered in the week from January 3 to January 9 rose by a third but  the number of infections detected rose by 89%, with 10,680 cases reported in the first week of 2022. The Ministry report revealed that more than 42,000 vaccination doses were administered last week, which was the highest weekly amount for nearly six months, with 81% of people aged now vaccinated.

Former Democratic Party politician Gary Kneip announced yesterday that he will join Frank Engel and Marc Ruppert in founding a new political party. Kneip had previously been president of the national economic and social council and has held several other positions. Writing on Facebook, Kneip said he had departed from the Democratic Party at the end of last year and declared that the new party would be different from existing political parties, more democratic, more digital, and with a strong commitment to solidarity in society and civic engagement.

The citizen group #NousCitoyens yesterday urged prospective protesters to ditch plans to hold a demonstration outside the Robert Schuman hospital in Kirchberg next week. In an open letter, the group explained that one group of protesters against the government’s current COVID-19 measures are attempting to organise a demonstration against nurses next week. #NousCitoyens called on the protest organisers to cancel the demonstration and abandon all similar initiatives because hospitals must remain free of political, partisan or any other kind of dispute.

British Airways announced yesterday that it will launch four new routes out of London-City airport, including one to/from Luxembourg from 27 March 2022. The flight will be operated “up to seven times a week” and flight time will last between 70-90 minutes. It is assumed that British Airways will use a turbo-prop aircraft because of restrictions at the London-City runway.

 

THURSDAY 13 JANUARY

First a coronavirus update for Luxembourg: The Ministry of Health reported 1,924 new resident cases, derived from 6,609 tests. There have been no new deaths, with the death toll standing at 930. 65 individuals are in hospital, with 19 of those in intensive care. The effective reproduction rate is 1.07. To date, 468.920 people have received their first vaccine dose, while 450,399 are fully vaccinated.

A draft law, presented yesterday, aims to create a whistle-blower office, and offer wider protection for employees who expose wrongdoing or illegal behaviour as part of an EU-wide directive. The EU directive covers only specific areas of EU law, but Luxembourg has decided to extend its scope across all national law and, although not required, create a whistle-blower office under the authority of the justice ministry Justice minister Sam Tamson explained that a whistleblower would be able to bypass internal reporting and go straight to an external authority but stressed there was a list of information that cannot be disclosed such as doctor/patient confidentiality. The draft law will need to be discussed in a parliamentary committee before being voted on in the plenary, and will not replace existing obligations to report suspicious activities.

In a press release, the Independent Luxembourg Trade Union Confederation claimed that the recent surge in Omicron variant cases had led to a higher demand than ever before on private laboratories.The OGBL further noted that extremely long queues at testing centres were causing stress among the staff as employees were exposed to aggression from the public and that overtime was now regularly expected to cope with the extremely high work rates.The Union commented that private laboratories had become “a real hub of social dumping” and hoped to continue to raise awareness of the “inequalities and poor working conditions that employees of private laboratories face on a daily basis”

Following the announcement on Tuesday that Frank Colabianchi would step down as Mayor of Bertrange, a press release yesterday confirmed that first alderwoman Monique Smit-Thijs will take over the succession on 1st March. Colabianchi, who gave personal reasons for his resignation, has led Bertrange since 2009 and is also an MP for the Democratic Party. He will remain as a councillor as well as MP for the Centre. Mrs Smit-Thijs, also from the Democratic Party, still needs to be sworn in by the Minister for the Interior and has also been in the council since 2009.

Tributes flooded in yesterday for cartoonist and Déi Lénk politician Guy W. Stoos who died aged 71 on Tuesday evening. As well as being a clever caricaturist and politically active on the left, Stoos co-founded the satirical weekly newspaper De Neie Feierkrop, (DE NIGH FIRE-KROP) and was a councillor in the City of Luxembourg from 2003 to 2006, and campaigned for foreigner’s rights with Asti. He was a candidate for  Déi Lénk in the centre constituency at the 2013 national parliament elections.Minister of culture, Sam Tanson praised Stoos’ uncompromising political commitment, while former Déi Lénk MP David Wagner said that Stoos drew for those who did not have a voice and that his humour and gentleness could hardly be surpassed.

WEDNESDAY 12 JANUARY

First a coronavirus update for Luxembourg: The Ministry of Health reported 961 new resident cases, derived from 3,850 tests. There have been no new deaths, with the death toll standing at 930. 65 individuals are in hospital, with 18 in intensive care. The effective reproduction rate is 1.24. To date, 468,109 people have received their first vaccine dose, while 449,693 have been fully vaccinated.

MPs approved changes to the Covid Law on Tuesday afternoon. The measures passed with a narrow majority of 31 out of 60 votes – the government parties voted in favour whilst the opposition voted against the changes. Under the new rules, which come into force today, vaccination certificates for a first vaccination schedule are valid for 9 months. People who were fully vaccinated or recovered within the last six months, as well as those with a booster dose, are exempt from having to perform a rapid test under the 2G+ CovidCheck regime. The new rules will apply until the end of February.

The Education Ministry announced new rules aimed at curbing the spread of the Omicron virus variant. Pupils who are neither vaccinated nor recovered will be required to quarantine for 7 days as long as they take a PCR or rapid antigen test on the 6th day after contact with an infected individual. Infected students who are vaccinated will need to isolate for 6 days and take two rapid tests on the 5th and 6th days. Unvaccinated infected students will need to isolate for 10 days. The new rules also foresee the possibility of switching to distance learning in case of increased infections.

Transport Minister François Bausch presented draft regulations for company car benefit schemes aimed at incentivising the use of zero or low CO2 emission vehicles. The new benefits calculation rate will apply from 2023. This rate will start at 0.5% for cars with low electrical energy consumption and is increased by 0.2% for most car categories with emissions exceeding 80g per km. The maximum rate of 1.8% will apply to company cars with emissions above 130g per km.

Legal experts advised MPs that an 11-year-old contract between the state and the SuperDrecksKëscht recycling centre lacks a solid legal basis. The experts maintained that a special law concerning multiannual expenses should have been drafted since the agreement has generated a total cost of more than €40 million. Next week, Environment Minister Carole Dieschbourg will meet with MPs to discuss the issue further.

The number of bankruptcies declared in 2021 remained stable over one year. According to Creditreform, 1,199 Luxembourg companies closed their doors last year – the same number as in 2020. The services sector accounted for 836 bankruptcies, whilst the hospitality industry saw 116 closures. Companies in the trade sector accounted for 244 bankruptcies.

 

 

WEDNESDAY 5 JANUARY

First a coronavirus update for Luxembourg: The Ministry of Health reported 877 new resident cases, derived from 3,553 tests. There has been 1 new death, bringing the death toll to 918. 69 individuals are in hospital, with 20 in intensive care. The effective reproduction rate is 1.10. To date, 464,165 people have received their first vaccine dose, while 444,896 have been fully vaccinated.

Grand Duke Henri has tested positive for COVID-19. The Grand Ducal Palace announced yesterday that the Grand Duke was self-isolating after a rapid antigen test came back positive. A PCR test confirmed this result. The head of state is displaying mild symptoms and will continue to perform his duties remotely. Such tasks include today’s swearing-in of new government ministers Claude Haagen, Georges Engel and Yuriko Backes which the Grand Duke will carry out via video conference.

According to Luxembourg’s central bank and Statec, the country’s balance of payments showed a surplus of over €1.6 billion at the end of the first three quarters of 2021. The goods surplus reached more than €1.1 billion, with exports up 9% and imports up 12% during the quarters in question. The balance of international trade in services rose by 10% during this same period.

The COPAS organisation grouping together retirement and nursing homes argued in favour of a generalised rather than a sectoral vaccine mandate. The organisation warned that imposing a vaccine mandate on specific sectors such as healthcare could lead to stigmatisation. Instead, COPAS argued that a generalised vaccine mandate would better protect vulnerable people whilst avoiding further division in society.

Sunflower Montessori announced plans to open a new creche in Belval. The creche will open its doors in May, with 60 places available for children up to 4 years of age. This will be the seventh childcare facility run by Sunflower Montessori in Luxembourg. The institution specialises in a method of education based on self-directed activity and hands-on learning.

 

TUESDAY 4 JANUARY

First a coronavirus update for Luxembourg: The Ministry of Health has reported 1,592 new resident cases for Friday, Saturday and Sunday, derived from 6,586 tests. There were 2 new deaths over the weekend, bringing the death toll to 917. 68 individuals are in hospital, with 21 of those in intensive care. The effective reproduction rate is 1.32. To date, 464,003 people have received their first vaccine dose, while 444,414 people have been fully vaccinated.

Taina Bofferding, Minister of the Interior and of Equality between Women and Men, has tested positive for COVID-19 following regular self-testing. Whilst the result still needs to be confirmed by a PCR test, the fully vaccinated minister is currently self-isolating and will continue to work from home. She shows no symptoms.

The wait time for COVID-19 booster shots has been reduced from six to four months after a second dose of Moderna, BioNTech-Pfizer or mix & match vaccines.

A new pop-up vaccination centre is also opening at Luxembourg’s central station in an effort to encourage people to get their boosters. This centre will open its doors on Thursday. No appointment is needed.

Luxembourg’s water agency has warned of heavy rain and potential flooding across the country. Downpours were expected yesterday evening, with crisis units on standby for a 48-hour period. Flooding could impact the Alzette and Sûre rivers.
Meteolux has also put in place a yellow weather warning for heavy rain until this afternoon. 30 to 45 litres of rain per square metre are expected in some places.

Luxair witnessed a busy holiday season with more than 55,000 people travelling with the national airline over the past two weeks. Gran Canaria was among the most popular destinations for Luxembourgish passengers.

 

MONDAY 3 JANUARY

First a coronavirus update for Luxembourg: The Ministry of Health reported 1,280 new resident cases derived from 4,497 tests over the last 48 hours. There have been 3 new deaths, bringing the death toll to 915. 67 individuals are in hospital, with 21 in intensive care. The effective reproduction rate is 1.53. To date, 463,638 people have received their first vaccine dose, while 444,085 people have been fully vaccinated.

From today, the Victor Hugo vaccination centre in Limpertsberg is relocating temporarily to Luxexpo The Box in Kirchberg. The move comes in response to technical problems at the Victor Hugo centre. Anyone with an appointment at this centre should show up at the same date and time at Luxexpo.

The Health Ministry announced changes to its contact tracing system in response to rising COVID-19 cases. These changes, introduced at the weekend, are designed to increase the responsiveness of the health authorities in contact tracing.
The ministry also recalled that anyone testing positive for coronavirus should self-isolate as well as make a list of, and inform, the people with whom they have been in close contact in the past two days. Those who have been declared (or declared themselves) a close contact of an infected individual will now no longer be contacted by the contact tracing team.

According to a report by the national meteorological service AgriMeteo, 2021 was marked by below-average temperatures and extreme weather. With an average temperature of 9.3 °C, last year was colder than the average of the reference period from 1991 to 2020, during which a temperature of 9.9 °C was recorded. A slight rainfall deficit was recorded in the north, whilst the rest of the country saw rainfall exceed multi-year standards. July saw precipitation reach record levels, which resulted in severe flooding.

The annual winter sales kick off in Luxembourg today. In “normal” times, these sales start between Christmas and New Year’s Day. This year, the CLC trade confederation, together with retail representatives, has decided to start the sales later, partly to give staff a break over the holidays. The sales will end on 29th January. The aim is to clear stocks ahead of the new spring-summer collections.

 

FRIDAY 24 DECEMBER

First a coronavirus update for Luxembourg: The Ministry of Health reported 582 new resident cases, derived from 5,151 tests. There has been 1 new death, bringing the death toll to 907. 69 individuals are in hospital, with 19 in intensive care. The effective reproduction rate is 0.93. To date, 459,894 people have received their first vaccine dose, while 441,277 have been fully vaccinated.

All children aged 5-11 are now eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine. Children in this age group can get the jab voluntarily in the Victor Hugo, Belval and Ettelbruck vaccination centres. They cannot get vaccinated in pop-up vaccination centres and must be accompanied by a legal representative. Some paediatricians can also administer the vaccine. Children will receive a reduced dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. To make an appointment, visit www.impfen.lu.

The syndicate of Luxembourg pharmacists announced that on-duty pharmacies will not be carrying out certified rapid antigen tests during the Christmas holidays. Due to huge demand and limited capacity, pharmacies which are on duty will not carry out rapid test certification from 24th to 26th December inclusive, on New Year’s Eve or on New Year’s Day. A list of pharmacies which carry out such tests during their opening hours is available at: www.pharmacie.lu.

The government is adapting its financial aid schemes for businesses impacted by the new COVID-19 measures. The amount of recovery aid per self-employed or employee is being increased from €1,000 to €1,250 per month, with the total amount per company capped at €2.3 million instead of €1.8 million. Similarly, the percentage of operating costs considered for the aid scheme to support uncovered costs will rise from 75% to 100%. These adjustments are valid for the months of December, January and February. The changes still require approval from the Chamber of Deputies and the European Commission.

Lawyer André Lutgen has been found not guilty of intimidating investigating judge Felipe Rodrigues. However, the court found him guilty of contempt of court and fined him €2,000. He is also required to pay a symbolic €1 to Mr Rodrigues. Mr Lutgen’s lawyers intend to appeal the ruling.

In a phone conversation with Vladimir Putin, Prime Minister Xavier Bettel expressed his concerns over Russian military activity near Ukraine. Mr Bettel urged the Russian President to defuse tensions along the border. The two leaders also discussed current and future bilateral cooperation, as well as EU-Russian relations.

 

THURSDAY 23 DECEMBER

First a coronavirus update for Luxembourg: The Ministry of Health reported 600 new resident cases, derived from 5,533 tests. There have been 2 new deaths, bringing the death toll to 906. 72 individuals are in hospital, with 19 in intensive care. The effective reproduction rate is 1.03. To date, 459,379 people have received their first vaccine dose, while 440,854 have been fully vaccinated.

Prime Minister Xavier Bettel and Health Minister Paulette Lenert announced new covid restrictions set to come into force on Christmas Day. The measures are aimed at curbing the spread of the Omicron COVID-19 variant. Bars, restaurants and nightclubs will have to shut their doors at 11pm. Customers who have not received their booster dose will have to take a rapid test on the spot. The 2G CovidCheck system will apply to gatherings of more than ten people and 2G+ for groups of 20 or more. Events with over 100 people can only take place with prior authorisation of the Ministry of Health. A mask mandate will be reintroduced in schools, and all children over 5 will be allowed to get vaccinated. People are also encouraged to exert caution and self test before meeting with friends and family. MPs are set to vote on the revised COVID law on Friday, with changes coming into effect on Saturday until 28th February 2022.

In an RTL interview, the secretary general of the Horesca Federation criticised the government’s last-minute plans to re-impose a curfew in the hospitality sector. François Koepp questioned the usefulness of this measure, saying that a midnight curfew would have been “more logical”. However, the federation welcomed the adaptation of financial support from the state in response to the new measures.

Opposition parties also slammed the government’s decision to announce new measures so soon after the latest COVID law was adopted. CSV MP Claude Wiseler warned that this short-term decision could result in “bad legislative work”.

Rising energy prices look set to also impact charging stations. According to Eurostat, a family with one child in Luxembourg spends roughly 3% of their budget on petrol. Recharging electric vehicles is expected to get more expensive in the future, as well. The price until recently was 20 cents per kilowatt hour (kWh) but from 1 January 2022, the price will increase to 35 cents for ‘Chargy’  or nearly 50 cents for ‘SuperChargy’ respectively. Despite the rise in cost, people are still better off using electricity compared to petrol, according to electricity trader ‘Electris’.

 

WEDNESDAY 22 DECEMBER

First a coronavirus update for Luxembourg: The Ministry of Health reported 229 new resident cases, derived from 3,196 tests. There has been 1 new death, bringing the death toll to 904. 70 individuals are in hospital, with 19 in intensive care. The effective reproduction rate is 1.03. To date, 458,575 people have received their first vaccine dose, while 440,325 have been fully vaccinated.

Prime Minister Xavier Bettel and Health Minister Paulette Lenert are holding a press briefing this morning. They are expected to give an update on the current COVID-19 situation at the national level, possibly announcing additional measures.

The Foreign Ministry announced that Luxembourg now recognises vaccination certificates issued from five additional non-EU countries. Third country nationals with proof that they have been fully vaccinated in Brazil, Canada, India, Japan or South Africa are authorised to travel to the Grand Duchy, including for non-essential reasons, provided that the vaccine administered is accepted by Luxembourg. The accepted vaccines are BioNTech-Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson, as well as others deemed “bio-similar” to these four vaccines.

The Economic Committee approved short-time work requests for 11,500 employees for the month of January. At its December meeting, the committee granted 674 such requests from companies, most of which were related to economic issues linked to COVID-19. 54 came from the manufacturing sector, 11 came from companies having suffered damage in the July floods and one was related to economic dependence.

The Agriculture Ministry has filed an official complaint against three local environmental groups over a publicity stunt made at the start of this month. Greenpeace Luxembourg, Mouvement écologique and natur&ëmwelt had tried to get the ministry’s attention by publishing an open letter that featured a fictional “ministry of sustainable agriculture”. The real ministry initially accused the groups of promoting fake news and has now filed complaints with the state prosecutor’s office over their use of its logo.

Voters across the country failed to register the required number of signatures at local communes to force a public referendum on proposed changes to the Luxembourgish constitution. This marks a significant blow for campaigners in their efforts to force the poll. Voters had one month to register their support but the petition fell short of the 25,000 signatures needed to push forward with the issue.

 

TUESDAY 21 DECEMBER

First a coronavirus update for Luxembourg: The Ministry of Health has reported 921 new resident cases for Friday, Saturday and Sunday, derived from 11,860 tests. There were 5 new deaths over the weekend, bringing the death toll to 903. 71 individuals are in hospital, with 18 of those in intensive care. The effective reproduction rate is 1.00. To date, 457,987 people have received their first vaccine dose, while 439,914 have received a second.

The Ministry of State and Ministry of Health announced plans to temporarily reopen the Luxexpo The Box COVID-19 vaccination centre next month. The centre will be open for an initial period from 10th to 15th January 2022 which may be extended depending on vaccine deliveries. Only booster jabs will be administered here with vaccination by appointment only. To book an appointment, visit guichet.lu.

In response to a parliamentary question from the Christian Social People’s Party,  Health Minister Paulette Lenert confirmed that an employee of the National Health Directorate attempted to get a colleague to certify a fake PCR test result. The Lëtzebuerger Land first reported the incident about a month ago. Minister Lenert assured that procedures have since been “tightened”.

The ADEM unemployment agency and STATEC national statistics institute reported that the unemployment rate has dropped below pre-pandemic levels. The rate stood at 5.3% at the end of November 2021. There were 15,232 resident jobseekers registered with ADEM, which represents 2,927 fewer people than in November 2020. Despite falling by 12.4% over one year, the long-term unemployed still represented more than half of resident jobseekers.

Over 1,850 students received their diplomas during the recent graduation ceremonies at the University of Luxembourg. This included around 640 Bachelor and 600 Master students, as well as more than 150 PhD students. An additional 470 students obtained certificates for vocational or lifelong learning courses, while 30 students graduated from the university’s Competence Centre.

 

MONDAY 20 DECEMBER

First a coronavirus update for Luxembourg: The Ministry of Health reported 349 new resident cases derived from 4,732 tests over the last 48 hours. There has been 1 new death, bringing the death toll to 898. 81 individuals are in hospital, with 22 in intensive care. The effective reproduction rate is 1.06. To date, 456,581 people have received their first vaccine dose, while 438,905 people have been fully vaccinated.

On Friday, Luxembourg reached the milestone of having administered one million vaccine doses since the start of its vaccination campaign.

Last week, 102 homeless people were vaccinated against coronavirus as part of a special campaign organised by the Ministries of Health and of Family, Integration and the Greater Region. Mobile vaccination teams carried out the action in collaboration with various actors in the field. Nine people also got their flu jab.

Around 500 people participated in COVID-19 protests in Luxembourg City on Saturday afternoon. Unlike the week before, these demonstrations were mainly peaceful, although the Luxembourg Police said they arrested half a dozen people throughout the day.

Ahead of Saturday’s protests and following last week’s unrest, the public prosecutor issued search warrants for residencies in the east of the country. Police had identified an individual present at the violent demonstrations suspected of having thrown fireworks at police officers. During a search on Saturday morning, police found explosives, weapons and munitions at a home in Grevenmacher. The 30-year-old man was brought before magistrates that same afternoon.

The Luxembourg Future Fund announced a €10 million investment in Canadian space company NorthStar Earth & Space which is setting up its European headquarters in the Grand Duchy. This investment, which forms part of a larger €40 million co-investment, will be provided through the national space programme LuxImpulse. It is aimed at supporting sustainable space activities. In addition to its planned headquarters, NorthStar will set up a centre of excellence in Luxembourg.

The United States Senate unanimously confirmed Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett as the next US Ambassador to Luxembourg. Mr Barrett had been nominated to the post by President Joe Biden in August. He will succeed Randy Evans who was appointed by former President Donald Trump and left office in January 2021.

 

FRIDAY 17 DECEMBER

First a coronavirus update for Luxembourg: The Ministry of Health reported 537 new resident cases, derived from 5,509 tests. There has been 1 new death, with the death toll standing at 897. 79 individuals are in hospital, with 24 in intensive care. The effective reproduction rate is 1.03. To date, 455,951 people have received their first vaccine dose, while 438,429 have been fully vaccinated.

Parliamentarians yesterday voted on new CovidCheck restrictions for leisure activities and the workplace. There will be an exemption for people who cannot get vaccinated for medical reasons. They must however show a medical certificate and provide a valid test certificate or do a self-test on site.

Under the latest law, restaurants, bars, cinemas and other public venues are only accessible with a vaccination or recovery certificate. A test certificate is no longer applicable. This will take effect as of today.

From the 15 January, a 3G CovidCheck will be mandatory in the workplace. That means vaccinated, recovered or tested. Businesses will be given powers to carry out identity checks.

With the new law, the validity of PCR is reduced to 48 hours, and certified antigen tests are reduced to 24 hours.

Hospitals will only be accessible with a 3G CovidCheck certificate, except in case of emergency. People seeking treatment can also take a rapid antigen test on site.

Furthermore, pharmacists will be able to administer coronavirus vaccinations.

All passengers arriving by plane will be required to fill out a contact tracing form.

Passengers aged over twelve years still have to show proof of vaccination, proof of recovery within the last six months, a negative PCR test, or a certified rapid test. Sanitary restrictions remain for some countries.

For gatherings: groups of up to ten people can meet without specific restrictions. Groups of more than ten people are subject to the new rules. 3G rules will apply to groups aged 12 to 19, and 3G to groups of adults. For groups of 11 to 50 people, distancing and masks can replace CovidCheck. 51 to 200 people can gather without CovidCheck if seated and masked. Gatherings between 201 and 2,000 people can meet with 2G covid check. Any event with over 2,000 people must be registered with health authorities.

Finance minister Pierre Gramegna told parliament yesterday that the European Commission had closed an investigation into the LuxLetters allegations. In July, journalists disclosed that multinational companies in Luxembourg were using a tax loophole to underpay contributions and sidestep EU transparency rules.

Following last week’s acquittal of former CSV president Frank Engel and 6 other party members in the CSV-Frëndeskrees case, prosecutors announced they accepted the first instance judgement and would not appeal.

Two Luxembourgish Islamic State supporters were sentenced yesterday to a combined total of more than five years in prison for spreading ISIS propaganda, in the first trial of its kind in the Grand Duchy. The defendants, from the Kirchberg area, were charged with downloading, translating and distributing thousands of online messages in support of the Islamic State terror group. Both will have to take part in a de-radicalisation programme as part of their probation.

 

THURSDAY 16 DECEMBER

First a coronavirus update for Luxembourg: The Ministry of Health reported 711 new resident cases, derived from 5,920 tests. There have been no new deaths, with the death toll standing at 896. 82 individuals are in hospital, with 26 in intensive care. The effective reproduction rate is 0.99. To date, 455,271 people have received their first vaccine dose, while 437,963 have been fully vaccinated.

The national crisis unit has triggered phase 3 in Luxembourg hospitals, meaning certain non-urgent operations will have to be postponed. The move comes amid a rising number of COVID-19 patients being treated in normal and intensive care units. The Ministry of Health assured that all urgent and serious operations will go ahead as planned.

On Thursday, MPs are set to vote on the new COVID-19 law imposing stricter rules on the unvaccinated. If approved, the law will oblige unvaccinated employees to get tested daily for COVID-19 in order to enter their workplace from mid-January. Close to 6,000 people got their first jab last week, ahead of the new measures. This marks the highest number of first doses in nearly half a year. At present, 68% of Luxembourg’s population is fully vaccinated.

In his final budget speech as Finance Minister, Pierre Gramegna presented a positive vision for public finances. He announced that the government has spent €390 million on health measures since the pandemic began, spending around €13 million on more than 1.2 million vaccine doses to date. Minister Gramegna said Luxembourg has generally weathered the crisis well, with GDP falling by just 1.8% last year compared to the European average of 6.5%. In response to global changes and the need to invest, he recommended that European countries focus on “a magic triangle”, representing the green and climate transition, the digital transition and a sustainable and green financial sector.

Following similar agreements with Belgium and Germany, Luxembourg has extended its teleworking agreement with France until the end of March 2022. The agreement provides that working days during which French residents employed in Luxembourg work from home due to the pandemic are not taken into account in the calculation of taxable days in the Grand Duchy. The agreement will automatically renew for an additional three months after the new expiry date unless terminated at least one week before.

Respect.lu announced the winners of its Respect Song Contest. The six jury members chose three winning songs out of more than 15 applications. 1st prize went to Joe Weber, aka Lionheart, for his “Respekt Song”. In joint 2nd place were Abby Scheidweiler, Julie Darne-Scheidweiler, Arsène Salvestrin and Dan Theisen with “Meet me if you dare” and LTPES Band with “We’re all the same”. These songs will be recorded and a music video shot with young filmmaker Lukas Grevis at the start of the new year.

 

WEDNESDAY 15 DECEMBER

First a coronavirus update for Luxembourg: The Ministry of Health reported 209 new resident cases, derived from 2,873 tests. There has been 1 new death, bringing the death toll to 896. 87 individuals are in hospital, with 26 in intensive care. The effective reproduction rate is 0.96. To date, 454,605 people have received their first vaccine dose, while 437,351 have been fully vaccinated.

There have been reports of several employees telling their employers that they will go off on sick leave once the CovidCheck system becomes compulsory in the workplace from mid-January. According to the Federation of Skilled Trades and Crafts, if these employees are granted a six-week sick leave to get around the obligation of daily tests, companies will face huge organisational issues. The federation urged the government and the CNS to take strict measures to prevent people from abusing the sick leave system.

Luxembourg energy provider Eida has stopped providing electricity after its Dutch supplier Anode declared bankruptcy. Anode announced its plans to file for bankruptcy and reportedly halted its electricity delivery to Luxembourg without warning. Eida said it had not been able to find an alternative supplier. Luxembourg’s state-owned Enovos has stepped in to supply Eida clients with electricity. Around 1,600 households and 1,200 companies could be affected in the Grand Duchy.

Luxembourg received 110 applications for international protection last month. Most applicants came from Syria, Venezuela and Eritrea. A total of 1,110 applications have been submitted so far this year, with a further 150 or so expected to be filed this month. Between January and November, the authorities took 1,330 decisions, recognising the status of refugee in around half of these cases.

A recent Eurostat publication revealed that Luxembourg has the lowest environmental tax share in Europe. Despite the government repeatedly emphasising its ambitions in this field, the Grand Duchy still has a long way to go. In 2020, green taxes contributed to just 3.5% of the country’s tax revenue, well below the European average of 5.4%. This may improve following the introduction of the CO2 tax which came into force in January 2021 and which is set to increase next year.

 

TUESDAY 14 DECEMBER

First a coronavirus update for Luxembourg: The Ministry of Health has reported 871 new resident cases for Friday, Saturday and Sunday, derived from 10,852 tests. There were 5 new deaths over the weekend, bringing the death toll to 895. 87 individuals are in hospital, with 25 of those in intensive care. The effective reproduction rate is 0.97. To date, 454,019 people have received their first vaccine dose, while 436,811 have received a second.

Health Minister Paulette Lenert confirmed Luxembourg’s first Omicron case at a press conference. The origins of this particular case are not yet known, according to Health Director Dr Jean-Claude Schmit. The woman in question had not left the country and had received two doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, although she had not yet received a booster jab. Contact tracing is underway. Minister Lenert also confirmed that the vaccine rollout for children aged 5-11 will start shortly, with bookings opening today via MyGuichet.lu or through GPs.

The President of Ghana, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo visited Luxembourg on Monday. He was joined by Ghana’s Transport and Finance Ministers, who signed bilateral agreements with their respective Luxembourg counterparts. The first was an air services agreement providing maximum mutual traffic rights, whilst the second related to the elimination of double taxation.
In addition to meeting with Prime Minister Xavier Bettel and the Grand Duke, Ghana’s President visited the EIB headquarters in Kirchberg where he welcomed a new €82.5 million Team Europe loan aimed at supporting his country’s national COVID-19 response plan.

The CFL has launched a new nationwide railway timetable. During the launch, the national railway company officially opened two new platforms at the Gare central station. The new pedestrian bridge in the direction of Bonnevoie is now also fully accessible.

Luxembourg is set to make it easier for third national spouses to get a work permit. The plans form part of efforts to boost the national economy and talent pool. The government announced the proposed scheme during a tripartite meeting with social partners. Details are yet to be unveiled although Labour Minister Dan Kersch confirmed that the labour law would need to be changed accordingly.

Registrations are now open for the second edition of the Cancer Foundation’s “Sober Buddy Challenge”. Similar to Dry January, this challenge encourages participants to give up alcohol, mainly for health reasons, for one month, from 1st to 31st January 2022. The challenge can be completed alone or with a “buddy”. To register, visit sober-buddy.lu.

 

MONDAY 13 DECEMBER

First a coronavirus update for Luxembourg: The Ministry of Health reported 369 new resident cases derived from 4,625 tests over the last 48 hours. There has been 1 new death, bringing the death toll to 890. 80 individuals are in hospital, with 23 in intensive care. The effective reproduction rate is 0.97. To date, 452,387 people have received their first vaccine dose, while 435,661 people have been fully vaccinated.

Police arrested more than 20 people during COVID-19 protests in Luxembourg City on Saturday. Luxembourg police officers, who were backed by reinforcements from Belgium, used water cannons on the demonstrators and made several arrests as violence broke out for the second consecutive weekend. The Christmas markets in Place d’Armes and Place de la Constitution were temporarily closed during the demonstrations. Sunday’s protests against the government measures proved less eventful. Police officers were well prepared in advance and participants included several families and children. No police intervention was necessary.

In line with the recommendations of the Superior Council for Infectious Diseases, Luxembourg is offering vulnerable children aged 5-11 and those residing with a vulnerable individual the opportunity to get vaccinated against coronavirus from Tuesday. The recommended schedule consists of two doses spaced four weeks apart. The prescribed dose is one-third of that recommended for adults, although children who will turn 12 before the second dose can receive the same vaccine dose as adults.

A man suspected of sending death threats to Prime Minister Xavier Bettel and Health Minister Paulette Lenert has been arrested. Following the introduction of stricter coronavirus measures, several public figures received threatening letters. One of the suspects is a 37-year-old man, who appeared on Friday before the investigating judge, was charged and taken to Schrassig prison to await further judicial action.

UNICEF Luxembourg has called for donations to support Syrian children in need this winter. The organisation is asking members of the public to donate money rather than clothes, explaining that this is a more efficient manner of getting people what they actually need. In addition to winter clothes, the donations will go towards investing in education in Syria. To support this cause, visit Unicef.lu. At the national level, the UN agency, which celebrates its 75th anniversary this year, announced plans to publish a second, more comprehensive study in 2022 of how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected young people in Luxembourg.

 

FRIDAY 10 DECEMBER

First a coronavirus update for Luxembourg: The Ministry of Health reported 486 new resident cases, derived from 6,569 tests. There have been no new deaths, with the death toll standing at 889. 76 individuals are in hospital, with 21 in intensive care. The effective reproduction rate is 1.07. To date, 451,606 people have received their first vaccine dose, while 435,132 have been fully vaccinated.

At a press conference yesterday, Interior Security Minister Henri Kox and Luxembourg City Mayor Lydie Polfer confirmed that future COVID-19 protests can go ahead as long as participants stay within a restricted zone. The move follows last Saturday’s violent protests, which the authorities argued could not happen again. The protest zone will stretch from Glacis car park along the Grand Duchess Charlotte Bridge to Place de l’Europe in Kirchberg. Local police forces will be strengthened by police from outside Luxembourg for this weekend’s planned demonstrations.

Education Minister Claude Meisch confirmed yesterday that there were currently no plans to extend the Christmas holidays or switch back to homeschooling despite rising coronavirus cases in schools. That being said, he added that nothing can be ruled out at this point. Mr Meisch also announced that the free meals in the Maison-Relais and  school canteens that were originally planned to start in January, will not be available until the new school year starts in September next year. The government is planning free meals in school canteens in primary schools, as well as  for low- and middle-income families in high schools.

Former CSV president Frank Engel and 6 other party members have been acquitted of fraud and forgery charges in a case related to an allegedly fake salaried party job. The case focused on allegations that the CSV Frëndeskrees non-profit group had paid Mr Engel €40,000 per year to recruit people. The 7 party members were acquitted of all charges at Thursday’s hearing.

Luxembourg’s economy is expected to grow by 7% this year, according to STATEC’s latest forecast. In 2022, the economy should grow by 3.5%. The statistics office noted that financial services continue to benefit from a strong stock market performance, but warned that the pandemic could still have an impact on the Grand Duchy’s economic performance.

Tickets are now on sale for “Our Planet Live in Concert” which is taking place for the first time at d’Coque in Kirchberg on 8th October 2022. The award-winning Netflix documentary, narrated on screen by David Attenborough, will be reinterpreted as a live experience and highlights from the series will be combined with an orchestra ensemble. More information and tickets are available on the d’Coque website.

 

THURSDAY 9 DECEMBER

First a coronavirus update for Luxembourg: The Ministry of Health reported 666 new resident cases, derived from 5,432 tests. There has been 1 new death, bringing the death toll to 889. 72 individuals are in hospital, with 21 in intensive care. The effective reproduction rate is 1.04. To date, 450,904 people have received their first vaccine dose, while 434,615 have been fully vaccinated.

Prime Minister Xavier Bettel announced yesterday that a delivery of 100,000 doses of the Moderna covid vaccine had arrived in Luxembourg. Mr Bettel also confirmed that the Air Rescue vaccination centre at Findel airport will open on Friday and that appointments could be booked via impfen.lu. In addition to the three vaccination centres and doctors’ offices, people can also get vaccinated at one of the pop-up vaccination sites that have been opened for vaccination week, which will run until 12 December.

In response to a parliamentary question from the Pirate Party, Health Minister Paulette Lenert this week confirmed that over 13,000 doses of unused AstraZeneca vaccines were destroyed after they passed their 30 November expiration date. Minister Lenert however did not provide an explanation for why the unused vaccines were not donated to another country before their expiration to avoid wastage. She further stated that Luxembourg had not received any shipments of the AstraZeneca vaccine since mid-September. It is thought that the AstraZeneca vaccine fell out of favour in Luxembourg after reports last year linking the vaccine to deaths from blood clots.

The prison administration yesterday confirmed that the COVID-19 health restrictions currently in effect at Schrassig prison will be extended until further notice in response to the persistent rise in positive cases at the Luxembourg Penitentiary Centre. The administration said that they hoped to obtain an accurate overview of the infections through large-scale PCR testing and that a mobile health team had visited the prison and tested around 200 detainees and around 90 members of staff. The outcome of the PCR tests will determine what measures the prison administration takes next.

Amnesty International Luxembourg announced yesterday that, due to security concerns for the coming weekend, it would be replacing its traditional torchlight march with decentralized action. The organisation instead requested people stand in front of their doors with a lit candle at 6pm tomorrow – International Human Rights Day –and to take a picture of themselves to show their attachment to fundamental rights and freedoms. Photos can be uploaded directly on social networks by tagging Amnesty International Luxembourg. Supporters can also participate in the Write for Rights campaign by organizing a letter writing evening. An action kit with all the necessary material can be ordered free of charge at activisme@amnesty.lu. People can also send tweets or sign a petition at: https: //write4rights.amnesty .read/

Further details can be found at https://www.amnesty.lu/

 

WEDNESDAY 8 DECEMBER

First a coronavirus update for Luxembourg: The Ministry of Health reported 199 new resident cases, derived from 3,024 tests. There have been 3 new deaths, bringing the death toll to 888. 72 individuals are in hospital, with 23 in intensive care. The effective reproduction rate is 1.04. To date, 450,033 people have received their first vaccine dose, while 433,880 have been fully vaccinated.

In his speech at the Chamber of Deputies yesterday, Prime Minister Xavier Bettel declared that democracy would not be brought to its knees by a violent group, and pledged to crack down on violent protests. Mr Bettel announced various measures in response to Saturday’s protests against COVID-19 restrictions in Luxembourg City. In the coming days, a route and perimeter will be set up for future demonstrations in the capital. Protestors must respect this perimeter or risk breaking the law. Police presence will be strengthened and officers will carry out identity checks.

Ketterthill laboratoires publicly condemned aggression towards their employees by patients coming in for PCR tests. Such behaviour is becoming increasingly common, with one employee even physically attacked recently, according to the laboratory. Psychological support services have been set up for staff should they request them.

Luxembourg and Germany have extended their teleworking agreement for cross-border workers until the end of March 2022. This agreement provides that working days carried out at home due to COVID-19 measures count as working days spent in the contracting state. It mainly affects the 50,000 or so German residents who work in Luxembourg.

Three Luxembourg-based tech solution providers were included in the 2022 RegTech100 list. Luxhub, governance.com and ScoreChain all made the selection, which recognises tech companies for their innovative solutions in compliance, data protection, risk management and the fight against financial crimes. This year, analysts and industry experts voted from a list of around 1,200 companies produced by RegTech Analyst.

 

TUESDAY 7 DECEMBER

First a coronavirus update for Luxembourg: The Ministry of Health has reported 935 new resident cases for Friday, Saturday and Sunday, derived from 10,822 tests. There were 5 new deaths over the weekend, with the death toll standing at 885. 70 individuals are in hospital, with 22 of those in intensive care. The effective reproduction rate is 1.02. To date, 449,348 people have received their first vaccine dose, while 433,307 have received a second.

COVID-19 vaccination week kicked off on Monday. From 6th to 12th December, several pop-up vaccination stations across the country will offer first, second and booster vaccine doses. An information day is planned for this Saturday at Cercle Cité. The full programme is available on www.impfen.lu. The aim is to encourage more people to get vaccinated.
This initiative is accompanied by a nationwide self-test week and intensive testing in primary schools and competence centres. The government is sending out letters in the post for members of the public to collect five free antigen self-tests from pharmacies.

The ALJP journalists union condemned the actions of ADR MP Roy Reding after he leaked the phone number of a Tageblatt journalist. As part of his research, the journalist in question had joined a Telegram group for people who are not vaccinated against COVID-19. He contacted Mr Reding who confirmed he was a member of the group, but the latter went on to post the journalist’s message and contact details in the group chat. The ALJP criticised the move, calling it an “attempt to intimidate the journalist”, who has since received several messages from members of the anti-vaccination group.

According to Eurostat, Luxembourg witnessed the smallest drop in air passenger transport in the EU last year. On average, EU countries observed a fall of 73%. Whilst the pandemic and related restrictions strongly impacted the whole aviation industry, Luxembourg saw the lowest drop in the number of air passengers, which was down 67%. That being said, Luxembourg Airport had 1.4 million passengers in 2020, its lowest figure since 2003.

Defence Minister François Bausch presented the results of the first assessment of greenhouse gas emissions caused by Luxembourg’s defence activity. Despite a foreseen increase of 25% in military installations, emissions are expected to fall by 78%. Minister Bausch said this would be made possible through renovations using the best technology available in insulation and energy efficiency.

 

MONDAY 6 DECEMBER

First a coronavirus update for Luxembourg: The Ministry of Health reported 438 new resident cases derived from 5,009 tests over the last 48 hours. There has been 1 new death, bringing the death toll to 880. 66 individuals are in hospital, with 17 in intensive care. The effective reproduction rate is 1.13. To date, 448,022 people have received their first vaccine dose, while 432,001 people have been fully vaccinated.

The COVID-19 vaccination centre in the Luxembourg Air Rescue hangar in Findel is set to reopen temporarily. The centre will be reserved for appointment-only booster doses and is reopening in response to a large vaccine delivery expected this week. Further details to follow.

Around 2,000 people gathered in Luxembourg City on Saturday to protest coronavirus measures. Things turned violent, with tensions breaking out between police and the protesters at the Christmas market in Place de la Constitution. Protestors also gathered outside the homes of PM Xavier Bettle and Family and Integration Minister Corinne Cahen. Police temporarily evacuated Minister Cahen and her family from their home. At a press conference on Sunday, Internal Security Minister Henri Kox condemned the violence. He stressed that: “A boundary was overstepped that we cannot tolerate”. Several other politicians issued statements condemning the protests. According to Mr Kox, an investigation is ongoing.

The Democratic Party announced that Yuriko Backes will replace Pierre Gramegna as Luxembourg’s Finance Minister. Ms Backes will be the first woman in Luxembourgish history to assume this position. She currently serves as Marshal of the Grand Ducal Court and previously headed the Representation of the European Commission in Luxembourg. Mr Gramegna’s resignation was announced last Tuesday.

Luxembourg City won the 2022 Access City Award for becoming more accessible to persons with disabilities. Organised by the European Commission and the European Disability Forum, this award aims to raise awareness of disability and promote accessibility initiatives in European cities with more than 50,000 inhabitants. Luxembourg’s capital was chosen from among 40 applicant cities, with the jury saying the city has made accessibility a priority.

 

FRIDAY 3 DECEMBER

First a coronavirus update for Luxembourg: The Ministry of Health reported 570 new resident cases, derived from 5,750 tests. There have been 3 new deaths, bringing the death toll to 879. 63 individuals are in hospital, with 12 in intensive care. The effective reproduction rate is 1.05. To date, 447,319 people have received their first vaccine dose, while 431,308 have been fully vaccinated.

Minister Sam Tanson has tested positive for COVID-19. The Ministries of Culture and Justice announced the news on Thursday. Minister Tanson, who is fully vaccinated, had already been in self-isolation after a family member contracted the virus and will carry out her duties remotely. She is reportedly showing mild symptoms.

The Superior Council of Infectious Diseases has recommended that only vulnerable children aged 5-12 and those living with a vulnerable person be offered the COVID-19 vaccine. The vaccine could be available as early as 13th December for children falling into these groups. The council said it did not consider offering the jab to all children as an urgent matter at this time.

The Agriculture Ministry has accused three environmental groups of spreading fake news. Greenpeace Luxembourg, Mouvement écologique and natur&ëmwelt issued an open letter featuring a fictional “ministry of sustainable agriculture”. According to the groups, the campaign was aimed at getting the Agriculture Ministry’s attention after previous calls for change had been ignored. Minister Romain Schneider criticised the move, describing the campaign as “fake news”.

According to the latest AgriMeteo weather bulletin, Autumn 2021 was slightly too cold and too dry, although mild weather in September benefited the grape harvest. Looking at the period between 1st September and 30th November, the report noted that autumn was colder and drier than in previous years, particularly in October, which saw the arrival of Storm Aurore, and November, which saw a cold snap towards the end resulting in the first snowfall in the Oesling region.

 

THURSDAY 2 DECEMBER

First a coronavirus update for Luxembourg: The Ministry of Health reported 585 new resident cases derived from 5,762 tests. There have been 1 new death, bringing the death toll to 876. 64 individuals are in hospital, with 13 of those in intensive care. The effective reproduction rate is 1.05. To date, 446,581 people have received their first vaccine dose, while 390,403 have received their second.

As talks between trade unions, employers, and the government about the introduction of the 3G CovidCheck system within the workplace continue, the President of the OGBL union said yesterday that questions remained about who would pay for rapid tests as authorities were now putting pressure on low-income employees. Nora Back confirmed that trade unions will continue to demand that no one is fired because of the CovidCheck system. Another point of dispute is data protection, with one proposal being that an employer may ask if an employee is vaccinated and workers who voluntarily share that information would then be exempt from the CovidCheck every day.

The Association of Doctors and Dentists yesterday urged that people requesting an appointment for a booster shot with a GP do so only if they received their final dose a minimum of six months ago, or four months for the AstraZeneca vaccine. The Association stressed that, while an invitation code is not required to book an appointment for a booster shot, people who arrive at surgeries ahead of time added needless work for GPs and their staff, and delayed the vaccinations of those most at risk.

The Association of Doctors and Dentists also criticised Luxembourg’s healthcare digital record-keeping system yesterday, calling it cumbersome and inconvenient and claiming it makes administrative tasks and treating patients more difficult than needed. The Association said that only patients have access to their medical records, prescriptions and notes, making it difficult for medical professionals to compile an overall view of a patient’s health. The AMMD also pointed to the fact that certain health documents such as prescriptions cannot be signed online, and questioned whether the commercial contracts to provide the technology behind the system were awarded fairly.

Kultur | lx, an initiative launched by the ministry of culture in June 2020, announced the laureates of its  Global Project Grant 2022 yesterday. In the Pop/rock/electro/hip-hop category, rock band Francis of Delirium, a Luxembourg-based rock band headed by singer-songwriter Jana Bahrich were awarded a grant meant to stimulate the career of nominees through marketing, promotion and distribution. ARA’s own Jana Bahrich said the grant would give her the opportunity to take Francis of Delirium’s music around the world, playing as many shows to as many people as they possibly can! Other winners included Claire Parsons’s for the jazz/world category and Francesco Tristano in the classical/contemporary category.

 

WEDNESDAY 1 DECEMBER

First a coronavirus update for Luxembourg: The Ministry of Health reported 171 new resident cases, derived from 2,924 tests. There has been one new death, bringing the death toll to 875. 64 individuals are in hospital, with 12 in intensive care. The effective reproduction rate is 1.07. To date, 446,102 people have received their first vaccine dose, while 429,705 have been fully vaccinated.

The Ministry of Health announced that COVID-19 booster jabs are now available by appointment only. Appointments for a booster vaccine dose can be made at one of the three vaccine centres in Limpertsberg, Belval and Ettelbruck, although people are advised to wait for their invite from the ministry before booking a slot. 

Luxembourg’s government is getting quite the shake-up in the coming weeks. Finance Minister Pierre Gramegna is set to resign from his post for personal reasons. The Democratic Party announced the news on Tuesday and said it will convene as soon as possible to appoint a successor.
The Luxembourg Socialist Workers’ Party confirmed yesterday that two other ministers, Dan Kersch and Romain Schneider, are stepping down, as well. Current Health Minister Paulette Lenert will replace Dan Kersch as Deputy Prime Minister next month. LSAP parliamentary group president Georges Engel will take over from Mr Kersch as Minister of Labour and Sport, whilst MP and Diekirch Mayor Claude Haagen will replace Romain Schneider as Minister of Agriculture and Social Security.

A new poll by TNS Ilres suggests that the coalition government would lose its majority if Luxembourg voted in an election this Sunday. The DP-LSAP-Greens coalition currently holds 31 out of 60 seats in parliament. But if voters went to the polls this weekend, it would win just 29 seats, with the DP incurring the heaviest losses, according to the survey.

Luxembourg’s fund industry reported growth of more than 22% over the last 12 months. Assets under management in the industry reached €5.7 trillion at the end of October, up 2.09% over one month and up 22.33% compared to October 2020.

 

TUESDAY 30 NOVEMBER

First a coronavirus update for Luxembourg: The Ministry of Health has reported 902 new resident cases for Friday, Saturday and Sunday, derived from 9,918 tests. There were 8 new deaths over the weekend, with the death toll standing at 874. 60 individuals are in hospital, with 10 of those in intensive care. The effective reproduction rate is 1.16. To date, 445,860 people have received their first vaccine dose, while 389,480 have received a second.

Prime Minister Xavier Bettel and Minister of Health Paulette Lenert yesterday announced that they would not enact a semi-lockdown or reduce opening hours, but would pursue a firmer regime for leisure activities and at the workplace. Starting next week, the 2G regime will become standard, meaning that only vaccinated or covid recovered people can attend leisure activities, including dining out, cinema, sports and the Christmas market. Non-vaccinated people will be prohibited from these activities. The 3G regime, which covers those who are vaccinated, recovered or tested with a rapid antigen test, will be compulsory within the workplace from January giving people time to get  vaccinated. Identity checks will be carried out by establishments  to prevent people using false documents or another person’s QR code. Test validity times will be reduced with PCR tests down to 48 hours and antigen to 24 hours. Regarding booster shots, Mr Bettel said those who had received a double AstraZeneca vaccine can already get a booster after four months without having  to wait for an invitation from the health service. He added that those vaccinated with the Johnson & Johnson vaccine are already able to book a booster jab.

According to local media reports, deputy prime minister Dan Kersch and minister Romain Schneider – both from the Luxembourg Socialist Workers’ Party – could step down from their cabinet positions within weeks. Both ministers had previously announced they would not stand in the country’s next general election in 2023. It is thought that Kersch’s replacement will be Georges Engel, head of the LSAP parliamentary party, and that current Health Minister Paulette Lenert might take over as deputy prime minister. Minister Schneider is expected to be replaced by Claude Haagen, the current mayor of Diekirch. Further details are anticipated later today following a meeting of the LSAP.

The Minister of Foreign and European Affairs, Jean Asselborn spoke yesterday about his  participation in the recent 6th Union for the Mediterranean Regional Forum, held in Barcelona. In an interview with Deutschlandfunk, Minister Asselborn judged the crisis meeting unsatisfactory, explaining that there was still no united European approach to the problem of migration. The Minister added that the situation was made more difficult because most migrants avoid legal procedures in France when heading to the UK. He dismissed the Forum’s idea of setting up an offshore asylum on remote UK territory in the Atlantic Ocean, and finished by stating that Europol should investigate the English Channel issue and the  human traffickers who appear to be professionally organised with an extensive network.

 

MONDAY 29 NOVEMBER

First a coronavirus update for Luxembourg: The Ministry of Health reported 335 new resident cases derived from 4,399 tests over the last 48 hours. There have been 2 new deaths, bringing the death toll to 866. 53 individuals are in hospital, with 10 in intensive care. The effective reproduction rate is 1.18. To date, 445,230 people have received their first vaccine dose, while 428,134 people have been fully vaccinated.

Prime Minister Xavier Bettel and Health Minister Paulette Lenert are holding a press conference today at 5pm. It is expected that the ministers will announce new coronavirus measures amid rising cases.

New measures have already been announced for schools, with rapid tests now being carried out three times instead of twice per week. If a positive case is confirmed in a class, tests will take place daily and masks will be mandatory for one week. If three pupils test positive, the class is automatically put into quarantine.

Luxembourg also introduced new travel restrictions on arrivals from South Africa in light of the newly discovered Omicron coronavirus variant. Anyone arriving in the Grand Duchy from South Africa, Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia or Zimbabwe in the past 14 days has to go into quarantine for 7 days. A PCR test will be carried out upon arrival, followed by a 2nd test on the 6th day of quarantine.

In other COVID-19 news, the validity of PCR tests is set to be reduced from 72 to 48 hours and that of rapid antigen tests will be decreased from 48 to 24 hours. The government is set to submit the changes for parliamentary approval this week.

On Sunday, opponents of the coronavirus measures took to the streets again as part of the sixth so-called “White March”. Several hundred participants marched from Kirchberg to Luxembourg City centre to protest the restrictions.

The economic committee granted requests for short-time work for over 10,000 people for the month of December. These requests relate to the pandemic, the July floods and supply chain shortages.

Superjhemp retörns took home the Prize for Best Luxembourgish Feature Film at this year’s Luxembourg Film Prize (Lëtzebuerger Filmpräis) awards ceremony. Wolfwalkers, a co-production between Luxembourg, Ireland and France, won the Luxembourg Critics’ Prize, awarded by the Luxembourg Association of the Cinematographic Press. Other winners at this 9th edition included the hit series Capitani and the Romanian-Luxembourg documentary Collective.

 

FRIDAY 26 NOVEMBER

First a coronavirus update for Luxembourg: The Ministry of Health reported 556 new resident cases, derived from 4,780 tests. There have been no new deaths, with the death toll standing at 862. 48 individuals are in hospital, with 11 in intensive care. The effective reproduction rate is 1.11. To date, 444,472 people have received their first vaccine dose, while 426,659 have been fully vaccinated.

Figures from the latest coronavirus weekly review issued by the Health Directorate show that approximately 77% of the population aged twelve or older are fully vaccinated. The seven-day incidence rate for vaccinated people was 217.71 while it was more than double for unvaccinated people at 450.92. The largest increase in the seven-day incidence rate, 61%, was recorded in the under 14 age group. Schools in Dudelange, Rambrouch, and Sanem had to quarantine classes because of infection chains last week.

At the trial of lawyer André Lutgen, who is accused of exerting pressure on a magistrate and directing the latter’s independent judgement in a different case, the public prosecutor’s office yesterday recommended a fine of €2,000. The prosecution alleged that Lutgen acted with full intent, as demonstrated by the emails between the defendant and the judge in question. Lutgen’s lawyer argued against prosecuting a lawyer, claiming it could be seen as intimidation, especially if the defendant is acquitted.

Responding to a parliamentary question, economy minister Franz Fayot, small and medium enterprises minister Lex Delles and justice minister Sam Tanson revealed that there are now 2,416 businesses in the real estate sector operating in Luxembourg. This means that the number of businesses in this sector, including real estate agencies, property development and property management, have more than doubled in recent years. This was put down to prices climbing steeply every year in Luxembourg’s housing market with a 16.7% increase recorded between 2019 and 2020. According to figures recently published by the European Central Bank, Luxembourg recorded the second highest price increase in Europe in the second quarter of 2021.

The charity organisation, Catch a Smile – which offers help to refugees through relief convoys to countries where help is needed most, has started an appeal for donations for mens winter clothing such as hats, scarves, gloves, coats and shoes as well as bags or phones. Donations can be taken to the Fondouq Hall in Dudelange on 4 December or at drop-off points in Diekirch or Dudelange. Further information can be requested by email from info@catchasmile.org.

 

THURSDAY 25 NOVEMBER

First a coronavirus update for Luxembourg: The Ministry of Health reported 556 new resident cases, derived from 4,780 tests. There have been no new deaths, with the death toll standing at 862. 48 individuals are in hospital, with 11 in intensive care. The effective reproduction rate is 1.11. To date, 444,472 people have received their first vaccine dose, while 426,659 have been fully vaccinated.

Following the “Egypt Papers” revelations from news site Disclose earlier this week, foreign minister Jean Asselborn said the government was unaware of the involvement of a Luxembourg-based aviation company in crimes committed against Libyan civilians. The Egypt Papers claim that France began a secret mission on the Egyptian-Libyan border in 2016 to assist Egypt in fighting alleged terrorist groups but that the information provided was instead used to execute civilians suspected of smuggling. CAE – a Luxembourg-based aviation company – supplied a lightweight surveillance plane for the French missions as well as pilots and analysts, who had previously served in the French army. Minister Asselborn added that the state had no responsibility for the actions of CAE on foreign territory, and that France must investigate the misuse of the intelligence to harm civilians.

Parliament agreed this week that among the many updates planned for Luxembourg’s constitution are the right to start a family and children’s rights which will be added to the list of civil liberties. A draft document claimed that the state would ensure that each child benefits from the necessary protections, measures and care needed for their wellbeing and development. The update of civil liberties also includes a commitment to combat climate change, animal rights and academic freedom and access to culture. Parliament’s agreement should ensure that the changes are approved when they come to a vote in the Chamber of Deputies where they need a two-thirds majority to pass.

The State Council this week has criticised the government’s plan, announced in October’s state of the nation address, to provide free meals to children whose parents earn less than four times the minimum wage and who spend their lunch hour at maisons relais. The Council questioned the parents’ earnings threshold of nearly 9,000 Euros, arguing that this figure did not signify “precarity and social exclusion”, and complained about the overall vagueness of the plan. The State Council also pointed out that families where children went home to eat or had other arrangements would be disadvantaged. They proposed removing the plan from the current budget amendments and writing a separate bill specifically concerning  the subsidisation of maisons relais meals.

Healthcare staff are planning to stage a minute’s silence today to demonstrate their opposition to the anti-vaccine movement and to help promote awareness on the dangers of a coronavirus infection. A statement released by the group stressed that the new wave of infection is real, the virus too, and that hospitals are filling up with patients infected with the virus. They added that after nearly two years, healthcare staff were at their physical and mental limits and urged the public to get vaccinated and wear a mask, before thanking those who had been vaccinated.

 

WEDNESDAY 24 NOVEMBER

First a coronavirus update for Luxembourg: The Ministry of Health reported 159 new resident cases, derived from 2,913 tests. There have been no new deaths, with the death toll standing at 862. 49 individuals are in hospital, with 13 in intensive care. The effective reproduction rate is 1.15. To date, 444,017 people have received their first vaccine dose, while 425,854 have been fully vaccinated.

In response to a parliamentary question, Health Minister Paulette Lenert confirmed that nearly twice as many people got jabbed against COVID-19 in the month after Luxembourg introduced stricter measures compared to the four weeks before that. Between mid-September and mid-November, almost 29,000 first vaccine doses were administered, of which around 64% were carried out after mid-October when the government announced the new CovidCheck rules. 

The Prison Administration announced that the COVID-19-related sanitary measures in Schrassig Prison have been extended by two weeks, until 7th December inclusive. The measures were introduced following the detection of new coronavirus infections in the prison in early November. Currently, there are 23 infected inmates and 60 others are in quarantine. Visits are still allowed, with a maximum of two visitors per inmate, behind plexiglass.

The average speed camera in the Markusberg tunnel on the A13 will go live on 1st December. This follows a test phase which began on 20th September. This is the second such camera in Luxembourg, after the installation of the one on the N11 which was put into place in June last year. These cameras calculate the average speed of vehicles over the entire length of the tunnel, where the speed limit is generally 90 km per hour.

Former Prime Minister and European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker has been appointed the new president of the governing board of the Academy of European Law. He succeeds fellow former Luxembourg Prime Minister Jacques Santer, who held the role for 21 years. The ERA serves as a practice and debate centre for legal practitioners to raise awareness for deeper understanding of European law.

Minister Paulette Lenert announced that Luxembourg is running low on medical cannabis. The shortage comes as the country’s only supplier struggles to meet demand, and poses a risk for patients who depend on medicinal cannabis.
On the other hand, Canadian company Tilray confirmed in a press release that it has been chosen by the Luxembourg government to supply approximately 30kg of medicinal cannabis.

 

TUESDAY 23 NOVEMBER

First a coronavirus update for Luxembourg: The Ministry of Health has reported 677 new resident cases for Friday, Saturday and Sunday, derived from 8,124 tests. There were no new deaths over the weekend, with the death toll standing at 862. 46 individuals are in hospital, with 10 in intensive care. The effective reproduction rate is 1.19. To date, 443,667 people have received their first vaccine dose, while 425,158 have been fully vaccinated.

The unemployment rate dropped to 5.4% last month, according to the ADEM employment agency. The number of resident jobseekers available for work at the end of October stood at 15,417; over one year, this represents a decrease of 2,554 people, or 14.7%. Compared to the previous month, there were 224 fewer available resident jobseekers at the end of October. The unemployment rate has now returned to the level recorded between October 2019 and February 2020.

Luxembourg is launching a fully digital procedure for personal income tax declarations from February 2022. The Minister for Digitalisation Marc Hansen and Finance Minister Pierre Gramegna presented this new 100% online procedure on Monday. The digital declaration is aimed at simplifying and speeding up the process both for taxpayers (both resident and non-resident) and the relevant tax authorities. A new assistant on MyGuichet.lu will also be introduced in February to facilitate the procedure.

Laboratory tests confirmed that the fox that recently bit three individuals in Kehlen did not suffer from rabies or distemper. The Nature & Forest Agency said it captured and shot the fox responsible, but its lab test results came back negative for rabies and distemper. The agency assumes the bite incidents occurred because humans had been regularly feeding the wild animal, which in turn likely demanded food using aggressive tactics. It would be a mistake, however, to paint all foxes with the same brush, added the agency.

European HIV Testing Week kicked off in Luxembourg on Monday. This year’s slogan is “Test-Treat-Prevent”. Members of the public are invited to get tested for free and anonymously at the HIV Berodung (HIV counselling) service of the Luxembourg Red Cross Mondays and Wednesdays from 5pm to 7pm or at the LGBTIQ + Cigale centre Thursdays from 12.30pm to 2.30pm. This week, Bionext and Ketterthill laboratories are also offering free screenings. More information is available on the Red Cross webpage: www.dimps.lu.

 

MONDAY 22 NOVEMBER

First a coronavirus update for Luxembourg: The Ministry of Health reported 300 new resident cases derived from 3,979 tests over the last 48 hours. There have been no new deaths, with the death toll standing at 862. 51 individuals are in hospital, with 9 in intensive care. The effective reproduction rate is 1.14. To date, 442,747 people have received their first vaccine dose, while 423,883 people have been fully vaccinated.

At Friday’s press conference, Prime Minister Xavier Bettel and Health Minister Paulette Lenert provided an update of the national coronavirus situation. The ministers announced that everyone over the age of 18 will be invited to get a booster shot six months after vaccination with Pfizer-BioNTech or one month after vaccination with Johnson & Johnson. The first 40,000 invites are being posted out today.
They also confirmed a new vaccination centre, which opened on Saturday in Grand Rue in Luxembourg City. This centre, which is located at an existing certified rapid testing site, will remain open until the end of the year.
There are also plans for a so-called “vaccination week”, starting on 6th December, aimed at encouraging the unvaccinated to get the COVID-19 vaccine.

The Ministry of Family Affairs announced it is launching its “Winter Action” early this year due to cold weather conditions. A night shelter for homeless people will open in the emergency structure in Findel on Tuesday evening and will remain open until 31st March 2022. A day shelter is also set to open on Wednesday. Normally the winter action starts on 1st December.

The United Nations’ Orange Week kicked off with a solidarity march in Esch-sur-Alzette on Saturday. Organised in the Grand Duchy by the national council for women in Luxembourg, CNFL, and the local branch of Zonta International, the campaign aims to raise awareness about violence against women and girls. Orange Week will end on 10th December: International Human Rights Day. The programme is available on cnfl.lu.

The International Bazaar is returning this year after a pandemic-related pause in 2020. This annual event traditionally raises over €500,000 for charity. The bazaar opens this Friday evening at Luxexpo and runs until Sunday evening. The Grand Duchess is set to officially open the fair on Saturday. More than 40 stands are expected this year, with delicacies and treats from across the globe. The event will follow CovidCheck rules and advance booking is strongly advised.

Luxembourg City has transformed into a winter wonderland for the festive season. The Winterlights programme launched on Friday, with the highlight being the Christmas Markets which were cancelled last year. The markets are open to the public according to CovidCheck rules, with some activities accessible without CovidCheck, although masks must be worn.

 

FRIDAY 19 NOVEMBER

First a coronavirus update for Luxembourg: The Ministry of Health reported 299 new resident cases, derived from 4,278 tests. There have been 3 new deaths, with the death toll standing at 862. 48 individuals are in hospital, with 9 in intensive care. The effective reproduction rate is 1.14. To date, 442,310 people have received their first vaccine dose, while 423,279 people are now fully vaccinated.

The Ecological Movement and the Nature & Environment organisations are holding a press conference this morning at which they will present details of a lawsuit they are jointly lodging against the Luxembourg State with the European Commission for breach of EU law in the field of nature protection. The organisations claim there is insufficient consideration of nature conservation in the Luxembourg government’s agricultural policy.

Another press conference will be held at 3pm this afternoon at which Prime Minister, Xavier Bettel, and  Minister of Health, Paulette Lenert will provide the latest information about the coronavirus situation in Luxembourg, as well as updates about Government Council works.

A report published yesterday by the inspectorate general of social security has found that Covid-19 was the third biggest reason for Luxembourg workers being absent from work in 2020. Luxembourg workers missed 4.6% of working days on average in 2020, up from 3.9% the previous year – an increase of nearly almost 18% and costing the taxpayer €900 million. On average, workers were absent through sickness for 10 days, up two and a half days on the year before. Healthcare, administration, and transport workers were absent most often, while those in finance, research and media missed the fewest days mostly due to ability to work-from-home.

The Minister of Education, Claude Meisch, presented further details this week to the parliamentary commission on education about plans for free school meals. The minister claimed that approximately 80% of primary school pupils and 20% of secondary school pupils would benefit from free school meals under the plan, which would use two different calculation methods to determine eligibility. Meisch said he hoped the plan would be implemented as soon as 1 January 2022 and that the government had set aside a budget of 20 million euros to realise it.

The third installment of the Politmonitor poll has shown that Health Minister Paulette Lenert continues to be the most popular politician in Luxembourg, followed by Foreign Affairs Minister Jean Asselborn, and Prime Minister Xavier Bettel. Lenert’s 86% rating is down three percentage points compared to the same poll in June, while Asselborn dropped four points to 77%. Prime Minister Bettel saw the biggest drop of seven percent presumed to be related to the recent plagiarism scandal. Fourth place is shared by Romain Schneider of the LSAP, and Sven Clement of the Pirate Party, whose approval increased by three points compared to June. Surprisingly, politicians from the The Green Party were not represented in the top rankings.

 

THURSDAY 18 NOVEMBER

First a coronavirus update for Luxembourg: The Ministry of Health reported 491 new resident cases, derived from 4,613 tests. There have been no new deaths, with the death toll standing at 859. 45 individuals are in hospital, with 10 in intensive care. The effective reproduction rate is 0.95. To date, 441,894 people have received their first vaccine dose, while 422,053 have been fully vaccinated.

Further to a decision by the European Commission, Luxembourg will now recognise vaccine certificates from four additional countries. Fully vaccinated residents with certificates issued in New Zealand, Georgia, Moldova and Serbia can now enter Luxembourg, even on non-essential visits.

Greenpeace activists yesterday protested outside the offices of the European Investment Bank in Kirchberg, condemning the financial institution for greenwashing as it pushes to become the EU’s climate lender. The activists displayed a banner that changed the name of the bank to “European Greenwashing Bank”, contending that the bank conceals climate-damaging investments despite using green rhetoric. In a press release, Greenpeace yesterday alleged that the bank continues to finance climate-damaging activities such as fossil-gas projects. An EIB spokesperson meanwhile said the bank welcomed the peaceful nature of the demonstration by Greenpeace highlighting the importance of climate action. Two years ago, Luxembourg was one of six countries to abstain from a decision to halt the EIB from funding fossil fuel projects which gained enough votes to pass anyway forcing the bank to cease financing fossil fuel energy projects from December.

Responding to a parliamentary question, health minister Paulette Lenert revealed yesterday that almost one in ten children in Luxembourg are overweight but did not comment whether this was due to poor nutrition or lack of physical activities. An improvement had been recorded regarding extreme obesity in children since 2012 but the number of overweight children rose to more than 9%. Minister Lenert noted that a rise in the number of overweight children usually occurs in  the 4th cycle of primary school and again in the last years of secondary school with 10.84% being overweight and 7.8% obese. Ms Lenert downplayed any concerns saying the increase was slight thanks to recent action plans and awareness campaigns.

The minister for Mobility and Public Works, François Bausch, announced that 3,100 electric vehicles had been sold by September this year. In his response to a parliamentary question, Minister Bausch said that this was an increase of 900 on the amount of electric vehicles sold in 2020. Regarding government subsidies, Mr Bausch explained that not all purchasers apply for one from the government and therefore just 1,500 applications were made between May 2021 and March this year, with approximately 10.1 million Euros paid out.

A recent Politmonitor survey has shown that 54% of respondents believe a referendum should be held regarding the impending constitutional reform, despite a substantial majority claiming they were not well informed on the topic. Just 29% of those polled claimed to be well informed on the complex issues involved, while 3% said they were very well informed. 66% of Luxembourgers are strongly opposed to a government measure allowing foreigners to stand in local elections without having lived in the country for at least five years. 95% of those polled want further promotion around the production and consumption of regional produce, 86% want free educational support and 81% support free meals for primary school children from poorer families.

 

WEDNESDAY 17 NOVEMBER

First a coronavirus update for Luxembourg: The Ministry of Health reported 129 new resident cases, derived from 2,535 tests. There have been no new deaths, with the death toll standing at 859. 54 individuals are in hospital, with 12 in intensive care. The effective reproduction rate is 1.02. To date, 441,337 people have received their first vaccine dose, while 421,879 have been fully vaccinated.

The Luxembourg Socialist Workers’ Party has voted to share its party presidency between two people in future elections. The LSAP passed the reform almost unanimously during its extraordinary general meeting earlier this week. From next year, the party will be led by two presidents: a man and a woman. LSAP will vote for its new leaders during its next annual general meeting in early 2022. One of the candidates will be allowed to be in government.

Luxembourg climbed six places in this year’s eGovernment Benchmark, commissioned by the European Commission. The country now ranks 5th with a score of 84% in the general ranking for eGovernment. This improved position is largely attributed to the continued development of online public services available on the MyGuichet.lu and Guichet.lu platforms, which grew by 34% compared to the last reference period.  

According to the latest Politmonitor by TNS Ilres, housing continues to be the greatest concern among Luxembourg’s voters. 82% of those surveyed said affordable housing was their greatest worry, followed by traffic congestion and dwindling opportunities for future generations (both at 61%). The coronavirus pandemic and vaccination were also central topics, with 91% of respondents saying they were vaccinated. Among the unvaccinated, 36% felt the government was doing a bad job, whilst 81% of vaccinated respondents thought it was doing a good or very good job. 

Luxembourg’s Left party has deemed COP26 a failure. In a press release issued on Tuesday, the Left maintained that not enough money is going towards the countries most in need of covering the costs of a green transition and the consequences of climate change. The opposition party argued that the summit was further proof that “climate action has to come from below” and called for “more participation, […] urgency and […] seriousness in national and international climate policy”.

 

TUESDAY 16 NOVEMBER

First a coronavirus update for Luxembourg: The Ministry of Health has reported 490 new resident cases for Friday, Saturday and Sunday, derived from 6,078 tests. There were 4 new deaths over the weekend, bringing the death toll to 859. 57 individuals are in hospital, with 12 in intensive care. The effective reproduction rate is 1.02. To date, 440,833 people have received their first vaccine dose, while 421,036 have been fully vaccinated.

Luxembourg’s medical board is currently investigating two GPs who allegedly advised their patients not to get vaccinated against COVID-19. Patients reported the GPs in question for contradicting public health policy, particularly questioning the effectiveness of the vaccine and the wearing of masks. The investigations follow the suspension of another GP back in July; Benoît Ochs was suspended for one year over accusations that he treated patients with medications which had been proven to be ineffective against the virus, as well as questioning the vaccine and the safety of masks.

The Luxembourg consumers’ union has called for the temporary suspension of the CO2 tax on petrol and diesel amid rising fuel prices. The price of petroleum products has gone up by 31% since the start of the year, a situation which the ULC described as “unsustainable”. The union also lamented the government’s plans to increase the CO2 tax from 1st January 2022, requesting that it instead freezes the tax temporarily. The Automobile Club of Luxembourg took a similar stance recently, calling for a lower CO2 tax in light of surging fuel prices.

Correction from yesterday: The deadline to receive a government bonus for hybrid vehicles has been extended until the end of 2022, NOT the end of this year. Anyone having ordered a plug-in hybrid electric car or van before 30th September 2021 now has an additional year to apply for the bonus.

According to a recent Eurostat study, Luxembourg is one of the EU countries with the fewest daily smokers. The study revealed that 10.5% of the Grand Duchy’s population were smokers in 2019, well under the EU average of 18.4%. 11.7% of men are smokers and 9.3 % are women. Only Sweden and Finland had a lower percentage of smokers, with 6.4% and 9.9% respectively.

 

MONDAY 15 NOVEMBER

First a coronavirus update for Luxembourg: The Ministry of Health reported 179 new resident cases derived from 3,141 tests over the last 48 hours. There has been 1 new death, bringing the death toll to 855. 40 individuals are in hospital, with 13  in intensive care. The effective reproduction rate is 1.03. To date, 439,791 people have received their first vaccine dose, while 419,875 people have been fully vaccinated.

The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control has described the COVID-19 situation in Luxembourg as “of high concern” amid rising case numbers. Luxembourg joined 9 other EU member states in this category in the ECDC’s latest risk assessment. Another ten countries are deemed “of very high concern”.

The police reported a fatal traffic accident on Sunday morning. Two died and another two suffered serious injuries after two cars crashed on the N31 between Käerjeng and Pétange. The victims were a 22-year-old woman from France and a 40-year-old resident of Dudelange.

Luxembourg has climbed three places in the Climate Change Performance Index. Thanks to the national climate law, adopted this year, the country now ranks 18th out of 64. The group behind the ranking warned this is still not good enough, with Luxembourg scoring poorly in the areas of energy consumption, emissions and renewable energy.

Similarly, Luxembourg moved up 2 spots in this year’s European Digital Economy and Society Index. The country placed 8th out of 27 with a score of 59/100. The European Commission-led ranking examines the progress of EU countries in the areas of human capital, connectivity, digital technology integration and digital public services.

The deadline to receive a government bonus for hybrid vehicles has been extended until the end of the year. The Environment Ministry announced the extension of the deadline for first registration under the “Clever Fueren” financial aid scheme, attributing the decision to the global shortage of conductors which led to longer delivery times for new vehicles. The extension applies to plug-in hybrid electric cars and vans ordered before 30 September 2021.

 

FRIDAY 12 NOVEMBER

First a coronavirus update for Luxembourg: The Ministry of Health has reported 243 new resident cases, derived from 3,218 tests. There have been 2 new deaths, bringing the death toll to 854. 38 individuals are in hospital, with 15 in intensive care. The effective reproduction rate is 1.42. To date, 439,281 people have received their first vaccine dose, while 419,486 have been fully vaccinated.

Health Minister Paulette Lenert confirmed that Luxembourg is suspending the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine among people under the age of 30. The authorities are recommending that vaccination centres and GPs no longer administer said vaccine to under-30s, at least until further data becomes available. This advice reflects that of the German and French authorities and comes after studies found a lower number of heart inflammations in younger people vaccinated with BioNTech / Pfizer than those having received Moderna.

Luxembourg’s Environment Minister Carole Dieschbourg joined ministers from Germany, Austria, Portugal and Denmark at COP26 in presenting a declaration for a nuclear-free EU taxonomy. In a joint statement, the five member states urged that an EU taxonomy to label sustainable business activities should be nuclear-free. The move follows efforts by other countries, such as France and Finland, to have nuclear power labelled as green.

In its most recent quarterly update, the European Commission upgraded Luxembourg’s economic outlook from its summer estimate. The Commission had previously forecast that Luxembourg’s GDP would grow by 4.8% this year and 3.3% next year. It now expects growth of 5.8% for 2021 and 3.7% for 2022, before slowing down to 2.7% in 2023. Inflation is expected to slow from 3.2% this year to 2.2% in 2022 and 1.8% in 2023.

The Mayor of Luxembourg City Lydie Polfer confirmed that this year’s “Winterlights” festivities and Christmas markets in the capital will take place according to CovidCheck rules. Luxembourg City is launching its festive celebrations next week, with the Winterlights programme scheduled to run from 19th November until 2nd January. The city is set to be transformed into a winter wonderland, with decorations and lights, as well as various stalls and shops popping up. Ice sculptures are not permitted this year, in light of the tragic accident that occurred at the Christmas market in 2019.

 

THURSDAY 11 NOVEMBER

First a coronavirus update for Luxembourg: The Ministry of Health has reported 347 new resident cases, derived from 3,825 tests. There have been no new deaths, with the death toll standing at 852. 41 individuals are in hospital, with 15 in intensive care. The effective reproduction rate is 1.25. To date, 438,820 people have received their first vaccine dose, while 419,166 have been fully vaccinated.

Health Minister Paulette Lenert presented an overview of Luxembourg’s COVID-19 booster jab campaign. She confirmed that around 40% of those who received an invite have received an additional vaccine dose. Whilst the booster shot is currently offered only to people aged 65 and over and healthcare workers, the government is set to debate the possibility of extending this offer to the rest of the population. A decision is expected by the end of next week.

Luxembourg signed a new strategic partnership framework with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. The partnership agreement will see the Grand Duchy contribute €32 million to the UNHCR over a four-year period, from 2022-2025. Luxembourg’s Minister for Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Affairs, Franz Fayot, also announced additional immediate funding to support the UN agency’s efforts in Afghanistan, Iraq and South Sudan.

According to STATEC, 142 companies were declared bankrupt and 161 were liquidated in September and October this year. In September, courts declared 64 businesses bankrupt, down from 90 the previous year. In October, there were 78 bankruptcies, down from 153 in 2020. This marks a 4-year low.
Liquidations were higher in September, going from 23 in 2020 to 82 in 2021. There were 79 liquidations in October, down from 142 the year before. Holdings and retail businesses were most affected by both bankruptcies and liquidations.

The University of Luxembourg inaugurated a high-performance computer at its Belval campus on Wednesday. The AION supercomputer will enable research and innovation based on intensive computing and large-scale data analysis. Its launch ties in with the recently announced new European Master in High Performance Computing, which will start in September 2022.

 

WEDNESDAY 10 NOVEMBER

First a coronavirus update for Luxembourg: The Ministry of Health reported 185 new resident cases, derived from 2,640 tests. There has been 1 new death, bringing the death toll to 852. 43 individuals are in hospital, with 14 in intensive care. The effective reproduction rate is 1.09. To date, 438,098 people have received their first vaccine dose, while 418,624 have been fully vaccinated.

Luxembourg is now offering booster shots to people aged 65 and over, as well as healthcare professionals and medical and dental assistants. The move follows the recommendations of the Superior Council for Infectious Diseases and aims to maintain a high level of vaccine protection against infection, serious illness or death resulting from coronavirus. Only mRNA vaccines will be used for these booster doses, which will be administered at least 6 months after a complete primary vaccination.

The United States has added Luxembourg to its list of “very high risk” travel destinations amid a surge in coronavirus cases in Europe. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended avoiding travel to the Grand Duchy unless necessary and those wishing to travel should be fully vaccinated. The news came shortly after Luxembourg reopened its borders to vaccinated visitors from the US.

Luxembourg City emerged as the country’s most expensive municipality in 2021. According to the National Housing Observatory, the average price per square metre for existing flats reached over €10,700 at the end of June, whilst that of flats under construction exceeded €12,000. Bertrange overtook the capital as the most expensive municipality last year – a title Luxembourg City has now reclaimed.

Two Luxembourgish co-productions have been nominated for the European Film Awards 2021. Where is Anne Frank and Wolfwalkers feature among this year’s nominations in the “European Animated Feature Film” category. Members of the European Film Academy will now vote for the winners, who will be presented at an award ceremony in Berlin next month.

 

TUESDAY 9 NOVEMBER

First a coronavirus update for Luxembourg: The Ministry of Health has reported 41 new resident cases, derived from 624 tests. There have been 2 new deaths, with the death toll standing at 851. 49 individuals are in hospital, with 12 in intensive care. The effective reproduction rate is 1.11. To date, 437,591 people have received their first vaccine dose, while 418,437 have been fully vaccinated.

Yesterday saw the start of the mandatory national census, which collects financial and housing data from residents of Luxembourg to allow authorities to set future funding for schools, hospitals and retirement homes, and also sets the number of representatives per council. Every household must submit a form – which is available in Luxembourgish, German, French, English and Portuguese – either electronically between 8 and 28 November or in paper form from 22 November until 5 December. All answers will be treated confidentially said STATEC, who are in charge of conducting the census, and refusing to complete it  or knowingly providing false information will result in a fine of up to €2,500.

The prison administration said yesterday that 100 prisoners at the Shrassig prison had been quarantined as a precaution after eight inmates recently tested positive for coronavirus. The administration further stated that it would increase sanitary measures at the penitentiary as well as further restricting internal movement. In addition, it was announced that all activities involving external personnel have been suspended. A maximum of two visitors will still be permitted per inmate but visits will have to be conducted with a plexiglass barrier between inmates and their guests.

An external investigation by the police inspectorate has recommended that a police officer be suspended for assaulting and seriously injuring a young man in a fight during the national day celebrations in June. Police had been called to a disturbance caused by a group of men behind the grand ducal palace in the early hours but videos posted to social media showed the officer attacking a man with a baton, causing him to be hospitalised with serious facial injuries. The inspectorate recommended that Internal Security Minister Henri Kox suspend the officer, but Kox has not yet done so. A separate investigation is also underway against the group of men for rebellion.

Non-profit association Centre for Urban Justice yesterday declared that one third of the 1,787 pedestrian crossings in Luxembourg city are non-compliant with Luxembourg’s highway code. This follows a crowd-sourced project, called “Safe Crossing”, carried out by the association between June and August in which 20 volunteers using a custom-made application on their phone were asked to assess whether there were parking spots within 5 metres of pedestrian crossings – a violation of the highway code. The association concedes that no assurances can be made about the data as it has been crowd-sourced but said the results are highly indicative of a general lack of safety for vulnerable road users in Luxembourg-City and in specific pedestrians.

 

MONDAY 8 NOVEMBER

First a coronavirus update for Luxembourg: On Friday, the Ministry of Health reported 219 new resident cases derived from 3,133 tests. No new deaths were reported, with the death toll standing at 849. 41 individuals were in hospital, with 13 of those in intensive care. The effective reproduction rate was 1.06. As of Friday, 436,367 people had received their first vaccine dose, while 417,584 people were fully vaccinated.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has announced that as of Sunday, travellers with a covid vaccination certificate issued by the USA may re-enter Luxembourg. In addition to the USA, the Ministry said more countries will also be recognised in the future.

A group of demonstrators assembled outside the British embassy on Saturday to demand the release of Wikileaks founder, Julian Assange, from a London prison where he has spent the last two years awaiting extradition to the US. The group claimed that conditions in Belmarsh prison are poor, and that Assange has lost a lot of weight, while officials say his state of health is unstable amid accusations of psychological torture. US authorities want Assange for espionage, relating to him distributing military footage from US operations in Iraq where American soldiers used deadly force on unarmed civilians. The protestors described Assange as an investigative journalist and said the case had serious implications on journalism in general.

A large spillage from the local biogas plant was reported yesterday morning in Hovelange. In the early hours, the biomass spill flowed downhill entering the Hovelange creek before flowing into the Attert river. Firefighters, Water Management Administration members and the police were called to the scene. An  investigation has been launched into the matter to determine the cause of the spillage.

A controversial plan to ban property sharing in Esch-sur-Alzette has been overturned following opposition from Interior Minister Taina Bofferding and activists. Esch mayor, Georges Mischo, had previously explained that the plan, banning house or flat sharing unless residents were from the same family or in a relationship, would prevent property owners from renting out individual rooms to make more money, and stop ordinary families being priced out of the market. Mischo said last week that the plan had been struck after the interior ministry intervened claiming that the city’s general development plan should not be a tool to regulate co-living.

Following accusations of plagiarism last month against Prime Minister Xavier Bettel, the University of Nancy has said it could take until the end of this year or early next year for results of the investigation which won’t start until mid-November. The university has appointed three experts to investigate the matter and establish the academic worth of Mr Bettel’s 1999 postgraduate degree, 96% of which is claimed to have been copied without proper referencing. Last week Professor David Howarth of the University of Luxembourg said that the prime minister should resign over the scandal, saying Bettel wanted the academic credibility but was not willing to undertake the necessary work to merit it.

 

FRIDAY 5  NOVEMBER

First a coronavirus update for Luxembourg: The Ministry of Health has reported 432 new resident cases, derived from 4,569 tests. There has been 1 new death, with the death toll standing at 849. 43 individuals are in hospital, with 13 in intensive care. The effective reproduction rate is  0.68. To date, 435,658 people have received their first vaccine dose, while 417,325 have been fully vaccinated.

This week’s Health Directorate covid review shows that 76.5% of the Luxembourg population above the age of twelve are now fully vaccinated. Of the 24 people that were hospitalised with Covid-19 last week, 18 were not vaccinated, and the average age of patients has increased to 59. The review pointed out that although hospitalisations are increasing, the rate is much lower than during the same period last year.

The Ministry of Health said yesterday that people getting a booster jab for the Johnson & Johnson vaccine would receive a new certificate but that the CovidCheck regime would continue to recognise certificates issued to people who have just a single dose. The booster jab remains an additional option to help improve the effectiveness of the vaccination and will be valid abroad after a two-week period.

Yesterday marked Unesco’s “International day against violence and bullying at school” and saw the launch of a social media campaign inviting users to replace their profile pictures with the campaign motto “Bullying affects us all”. A study from the Health Behaviour in School-age Children organisation found that 8.5% of Luxembourg pupils had been victims of online cyberbullying, while 16.6% of pupils had suffered bullying in person. Minister of Education Claude Meisch warned that the digital age has intensified and aided bullying in multiple forms and added that it was important for schools to deploy multiple resources to address the issue, to evaluate perpetrators and offer a safe space for victims to come forward.

A survey conducted by the Central Bank of Luxembourg in October shows that residents believe the country’s economic situation has generally improved while at an individual level, participants viewed their personal situations negatively, and thought any change in the coming year was doubtful. According to the survey, Luxembourg consumers voiced concern about making large purchases in such economically uncertain times and pointed to the continuing problem of the Luxembourg housing market where recent price increases have made access to housing even more unlikely.

Researchers from the Luxembourg Institute of Socio-Economic Research are asking cyclists to assist in measuring air pollution levels in the country, by attaching sensors to their bikes for seven days, which will analyse air quality. Luxembourg has one of the highest car ownership rates in the EU and approximately two-thirds of the country’s greenhouse emissions are from transport. The new project by the institute needs cyclists who are available to take part in the study in November and they may be invited for virtual interviews.

 

THURSDAY 4  NOVEMBER

First a coronavirus update for Luxembourg: The Ministry of Health has reported 97 new resident cases, derived from 2,255 tests. There have been no new deaths, with the death toll standing at 848. 38 individuals are in hospital, with 13 in intensive care. The effective reproduction rate is  0.85. 434,930 people have received their first vaccine dose, while 417,075 have been fully vaccinated.

The Kirchberg hospital yesterday confirmed it was involved in a labour law procedure with a member of staff, following a report by RTL that a healthcare worker was sacked for refusing to comply with the CovidCheck system, which has been in place at the hospital since June. A spokesman for the Hôpitaux Robert Schuman group said that in a process of protecting their patients, employees, and doctors they could not allow someone who doesn’t do the Check to enter the hospital. Luxembourg’s latest Covid rules allow employers to check if staff are protected against the virus and can withhold salaries, turn staff away or dismiss them if they refuse to comply but many companies say they are hesitant to enforce the checks, claiming they are unsure of the legal ramifications.

Following last week’s criticism by the Luxembourg Refugee Council, which claimed that 61% of asylum seekers from Afghanistan were refused, and alleged the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ decision-making process for international protection had been “completely suspended”, Minister Jean Asselborn yesterday rejected the accusations. In a published statement, the Ministry explained that in the interest of the applicants who are at risk of being rejected, reliable information regarding the situation on the ground was being sought, adding that this policy was approved by Luxembourg’s judicial authorities.

A recent Eurostat report claims that Luxembourg is one of the top five waste generating countries, producing more than 3 times as much as any other EU country, while other sources state only a quarter of Luxembourg’s waste is sent to landfills and that the country is performing below average on affordable, clean energy and climate action. The Mouvement Ecologique and Oekozenter Pafendall this week launched a project, called “Reuse-Repair-Share”, which promotes sustainable consumption to protect resources and aims to create new business models that drastically reduce energy and resources consumption. The organisations demanded the country’s waste management laws be updated with stricter rules and higher targets, and the introduction of school programmes to provide information on the repair-reuse possibilities. They also called for public authorities to legislate for the repairability of objects, banning  digital obsolescence and providing reduced VAT for repair services.

Replying to a parliamentary question from the Alternative Democratic Reform Party, Minister of Agriculture Romain Schneider confirmed that Luxembourg had requested support for the country’s pig farmers from the European Commission. However, apart from the support provided due to the coronavirus crisis, Schneider said no other aid was envisaged for the time being, but that from 2023 support would be offered to local businesses to assist the move to a more sustainable and animal-friendly production.

 

WEDNESDAY 3 NOVEMBER

First a coronavirus update for Luxembourg: The Ministry of Health has reported 409 new resident cases, derived from 7,326 tests since Friday’s update. There have been 5 new deaths, bringing the death toll to 848. 39 individuals are in hospital, with 12 in intensive care. The effective reproduction rate is 1.05. 433,961 people have received their first vaccine dose, while 422,990 have been fully vaccinated.

Prime Minister Xavier Bettel addressed fellow world leaders at the COP26 climate summit in Glasgow on Tuesday. He praised United States President Joe Biden’s decision to rejoin the Paris Agreement, and urged decision-makers to match their citizens’ ambitions when implementing collective climate action. Mr Bettel presented some of Luxembourg’s measures in this area, including the decision to increase its greenhouse gas reduction target to 55% in order to reach climate neutrality by 2050. He addressed free public transport and renewable energy production, as well as reiterating Luxembourg’s reluctance towards nuclear power. He added that the country plans to increase its contribution to international development aid by 50% next year.

On the sidelines of the climate summit, the Prime Minister confirmed the foreseen launch of a citizens’ climate council next year. The news had been first announced during Mr Bettel’s state of the nation speech last month. The initiative will bring together 100 “ordinary” Luxembourg residents to share their ideas about climate action. A concept is in the works on how to choose these 100 individuals, with the council set to launch at the start of 2022.

Luxembourg City’s municipal council will not be extending its contract with a private security company – at least for the time being. Last year, the council signed a contract with G4S to provide security services in the Gare and Bonnevoie districts. The move attracted criticism, particularly in September when a security guard’s dog attacked and injured one individual. This contract is set to end on 15th November. The opposition parties welcomed the decision not to renew said contract. A meeting with residents is being scheduled to discuss how to proceed.

Luxembourg’s first telecoms price comparison website launched on Tuesday. Founded by Oleksandr Petrykov, LetzCompare.lu is designed as a tool to help consumers make informed choices by presenting unbiased information about telecoms prices and service offerings.

 

TUESDAY 2 NOVEMBER

First a coronavirus update for Luxembourg: Due to the holiday, the Ministry of Health did not publish figures yesterday. On Friday, the ministry reported 182 new resident cases, derived from 4,013 tests. There were no new deaths, with the death toll standing at 843. 33 individuals were in hospital, with eleven in intensive care. The effective reproduction rate was 1.06. As of Friday, 432,539 people had received their first vaccine dose, while 420,403 had been fully vaccinated.

The new COVID law came into force on Monday. Thousands of people gathered in Luxembourg City on Friday evening to protest the new rules, which permit companies to implement the CovidCheck system at work. According to this system, employees would need to prove that they are vaccinated, have recently tested negative or have recovered from coronavirus. Over 3,500 people dressed in white walked in silence from the Philharmonie to city hall in this fourth so-called “white march”.

Daniel Frères has resigned as leader of the Pirate Party after being handed a suspended prison sentence and a €2,000 fine. The Remich councilman was prosecuted for acts allegedly committed in his role as president of the animal welfare organisation “Give Us A Voice”. Mr Frères reportedly pressured a woman to give her injured dog to the organisation through false pretenses. He is also said to have lied to an investigating police officer. Despite his intention to appeal the verdict, Mr Frères offered to resign from the Pirate Party’s leadership at the weekend, and the party accepted his resignation.

Luxembourg has finally re-opened its borders to fully vaccinated arrivals from the United Kingdom. Travellers from the UK had not been allowed to visit the Grand Duchy for non-essential reasons since the Brexit withdrawal agreement came into effect on 1st January 2021. The move to drop this travel ban follows the European Commission’s decision to recognise the UK’s vaccine pass as equivalent to those used in EU countries. Plans to approve vaccine certificates issued by the United States are also in the works.

 

FRIDAY 29 OCTOBER

First a coronavirus update for Luxembourg: The Ministry of Health reported 138 new resident cases, derived from 3,291 tests. There have been no new deaths, with the death toll standing at 843. 36 individuals are in hospital, with 10 of those in intensive care. The effective reproduction rate is 1.08. To date, 431,739 people have received their first vaccine dose, while 415,745 people have been fully vaccinated.

Following allegations of plagiarism against Prime Minister Xavier Bettel, the University of Lorraine issued a statement yesterday claiming they would investigate the alleged “lack of scientific integrity” and that any potential sanctions would depend on their findings.

Luxembourgish politicians meanwhile mostly agreed that a presumption of innocence should be assumed until the University of Lorraine has declared the outcome of it’s investigation. Some said that Bettel’s thesis had little connection to his current appointment and made no impact upon his current mandate, making it difficult to judge, and would remain behind him even if the degree was annulled. The Pirate Party however claimed that the Prime Minister’s dishonesty is a slap in the face for anyone who graduated with their own work, adding that Bettel’s lack of interest for details reflected his current work methods. MPs from the Democratic Party refrained from commenting on the allegations against their colleague.

Following a parliamentary enquiry from the Left party, Prime Minister Xavier Bettel said that Luxembourg’s homeland intelligence agency, the SREL, does have the option to utilise surveillance tools, but only under strict conditions and in accordance with the law. The question was prompted by comments made by Mr Bettel  in an interview which suggested the Luxembourg government had purchased the controversial espionage software Pegasus. In his reply, Mr Bettel said his remarks had been made generally regarding such software and did not confirm a purchase, adding that the SREL should be equipped with the tools required to accomplish its missions.

A  Eurostat study on children at risk of poverty or social exclusion in the EU, published yesterday, revealed that Luxembourg ranked 19th out of 24, with one fifth of its overall population at risk. Data showed that the risk increased to 24.2% both for the country and Europe when children under 18 were included, and that Luxembourg children were more than three times more likely to experience poverty than people over the age of 65. Eurostat’s findings indicate that one in four children in Luxembourg do not have access to new clothes or shoes, the internet, or have regular leisure activities. The report also found that women in Luxembourg had a greater risk of poverty than men.

A scheme to provide access to basic health care for “particularly vulnerable” people was presented this week by Minister for Social Security Romain Schneider and Minister for Health Paulette Lenert. Minister Schneider explained that the scheme was for the 1,000 people or so who have no source of income and who are not eligible for any social welfare office, adding that support would be granted after three months to avoid abuse of health insurance benefits. Minister Lenert said there should be no stigmatisation of vulnerable people and that the scheme, which will start in 2022, will be entirely financed by the state, with a budget of €2.7m. Voluntary membership to the scheme will be paid for by the State, costing €120 per month per family. Associations that have an agreement with the Ministry of Health will also receive extra financial and human resources.

 

THURSDAY 28 OCTOBER

First a coronavirus update for Luxembourg: The Ministry of Health reported 239 new resident cases, derived from 3,745 tests. There has been 1 new death, with the death toll standing at 843. 37 individuals are in hospital, with 9 of those in intensive care. The effective reproduction rate is 1.15. To date, 430,968 people have received their first vaccine dose, while 415,448 people have been fully vaccinated.

At a press briefing yesterday, Minister of Health Paulette Lenert and Head of the Health Directorate Dr. Jean-Claude Schmit warned that Luxembourg is experiencing a fourth covid pandemic wave, following a seasonal rise in infections. Minister Lenert stated that the seven-day incidence rate for the unvaccinated population was 2.5 times higher than those vaccinated at 241 per 100,000, and that 83% of hospitalised patients are not vaccinated. Even though vaccination rates are increasing and 75% of people over the age of 12 have received at least one shot, Ms Lenert said she anticipated 10% of the population never being convinced to get vaccinated.

Prime Minister Xavier Bettel has been accused of plagiarism over the content of his postgraduate degree in public law and political science at the University of Nancy in 1999. Luxembourg media outlet, Reporter.lu, claims that as much as 96% of Mr. Bettel’s work contains “copy & pasted” paragraphs without citing any sources and further asserts that the document has been studied in depth by independent researchers, who confirm “an acute suspicion of plagiarism”. A professor who supervised the work, while not ruling out the possibility of plagiarism, stressed that ethical standards and methods of detection were different then. Prime Minister Bettel said yesterday that he had written the work with a clear conscience but that from today’s point of view he perhaps should have done it differently.

According to a Eurostat report published this week, Luxembourg’s fuel prices  have increased more than any other European country in the last year. In September, Luxembourg saw a 31% rise in prices over the last 12 months, beating Romania and Slovenia at 29% over the same period. Eurostat pointed to unstable fuel prices in Europe over the last 20 years as inflation rates have fluctuated between -20% and +20% – a trend that has become more prominent in the last 12 months.

Luxembourg’s first floating solar farm was inaugurated yesterday on a former cooling basin for an old steel site in Differdange. The 6,700 solar panels take up 25,000 square meters of the basin and are expected to produce enough power to cover the energy needs of approximately 800 households of four people per year. The solar farm, created by ArcelorMittal, in partnership with Enovos, aims to further Luxembourg’s self-sufficiency and was started in 2019 following a request for such projects by the government.

 

WEDNESDAY 27 OCTOBER

First a coronavirus update for Luxembourg: The Ministry of Health reported 161 new resident cases, derived from 2,690 tests. There have been no new deaths, with the death toll standing at 842. 30 individuals are in hospital, with 9 of those in intensive care. The effective reproduction rate is 1.08. To date, 430,124 people have received their first vaccine dose, while 414,992 people have been fully vaccinated.

Luxembourg signed two space-related agreements yesterday, one with Italy and another with France. The agreements took place within the framework of an economic mission to Dubai, led by Economy Minister Franz Fayot. The Luxembourg Space Agency signed memoranda of understanding with its Italian and French counterparts aimed at strengthening bilateral cooperation in the field of space.

Also during this Dubai visit, the Luxembourg-based European Space Resources Innovation Centre launched the world’s first startup support programme dedicated to space resources. The ESRIC Startup Support Programme is aimed at supporting the needs of early-stage ventures or startups before, during and after incubation. A first call for applications is expected next month, and startups from across the world can apply.

Foreign Minister Jean Asselborn issued a statement in which he condemned Israel’s settlement policy in the occupied Palestinian territories. Mr Asselborn called on the Israeli government to abandon plans to build more residences for Jewish settlers in the Occupied West Bank, reiterating the European Union’s stance that such settlements are illegal under international law. The remarks came after Israel announced plans to build more than 1,300 new settlement homes in the occupied territories.

A local hero helped rescue a motorist who fell in the Moselle on Monday. Alain Biver is a former firefighter who currently works on the Sankta Maria II ferry on the Luxembourg-German border. Earlier this week, Mr Biver saw a vehicle fall into the river after failing to get onto the Oberbillig ferry. The electric car reportedly broke through a barrier before ending up in the Moselle. After 5 minutes, Mr Biver and the rest of the rescue team managed to get the uninjured motorist back on board.

 

TUESDAY 26 OCTOBER

First a coronavirus update for Luxembourg: The Ministry of Health reported 359 new resident cases for Friday, Saturday and Sunday, derived from 5,895 tests. There were no new deaths over the weekend, with the death toll standing at 842. 27 individuals are in hospital, with 8 in intensive care. The effective reproduction rate is 1.18. To date, 429,345 people have received their first vaccine dose, while 375,940 have received their second.

Economy Minister Franz Fayot announced plans for a campus for the space sector in Luxembourg. The minister made the announcement as part of an economic mission to the Expo 2020 Dubai. The objective of the new campus is to establish a site that brings together all important actors from the national space sector. The Luxembourg Space Agency and the European Space Resources Innovation Centre will be set up at the new site. The location has not yet been disclosed.

Education Minister Claude Meisch kicked off this year’s Student Fair on Monday. 217 stands are taking part in this hybrid event, which is aimed at secondary school students as well as interested members of the public. The 2021 edition is taking place online via the digital platform www.studentefoire.lu from 25th to 29th October, followed by a face-to-face “meeting day” at the University of Luxembourg in Belval on 30th October.

The 2020 film “Io Sto Bene” has been selected to represent Luxembourg at next year’s Oscars. The comedy-drama, directed by Luxembourgish filmmaker Donato Rotunno, tells the story of an older Italian man who has spent his life away from his home country, and who crosses paths with a young Italian artist trying to make it abroad. The national Oscars selection committee praised the film for its artistic quality and its treatment of the important subject of immigration. Nominations for Best International Feature Film will be announced in February.

Deutsche Bahn announced plans to develop the railway connection between Trier and Luxembourg. The German railway company is set to invest around €60 million in the railway line west of Trier. Two lines will be operated on the new and improved tracks: the existing RB83 connecting Wittlich to Luxembourg via Trier, and the new RB84 connecting Trier to Konz.]

Luxembourg City has been shortlisted for the EU Access City Award 2022. Luxembourg will compete with five other European cities for this award, which recognises a city’s efforts to become more accessible to people with disabilities. The winners will be announced on 3rd December, with a special focus this year on cities’ efforts to improve accessibility at train stations, as part of the European Year of Rail.

 

MONDAY 25 OCTOBER

First a coronavirus update for Luxembourg: The Ministry of Health reported 141 new resident cases derived from 2,752 tests over the last 48 hours. There have been no new deaths, with the death toll standing at 842. 17 individuals are in hospital, with 5 of those in intensive care. The effective reproduction rate is 1.06. To date, 427,924 people have received their first vaccine dose, while 414,121 people have been fully vaccinated.

Construction works are starting today on the tram line connecting the Kirchberg district and Findel airport. Luxtram managing director André von der Marck told RTL that the team aimed to reach findel by the start of 2024. The clearing works along the A1 around Kirchberg commence today. These include the removal of trees from a 3.2 hectare area along the motorway. To compensate for this loss of nature, new trees will be planted in the Junglinster, Lorentzweiler and Niederanven communes.

Luxembourgish satellite company SES sent its largest and most advanced satellite ever into space on Sunday.  The SES-17 blasted off from its launch pad in French Guiana aboard an Ariane 5 rocket. Take off followed a last-minute one-day delay due to extra ground checks. The satellite now has several months to find its permanent slot hovering 36,000 km above the American continents providing fast Wi-Fi connections for planes while in flight..

The government confirmed plans to legalise the domestic production and consumption of cannabis in Luxembourg. Consumption will remain prohibited in public spaces, although fines for the possession of up to 3 grams in public will be reduced to a maximum of €500. Cannabis seeds will be available to purchase in shops and online. The Chamber of Deputies still needs to vote on the legislation.

 

FRIDAY 22 OCTOBER 

First a coronavirus update for Luxembourg: The Ministry of Health reported 131 new resident cases, derived from 2,600 tests. There have been no new deaths, with the death toll standing at 842. 21 individuals are in hospital, with 5 of those in intensive care. The effective reproduction rate is 1.17. To date, 427,328 people have received their first vaccine dose, while 413,637 people have been fully vaccinated.

The Ministries of Health and Social Security launched the new CNS mobile application. The app launch forms part of the process of digitising health insurance and medical bills in Luxembourg. The CNS app will be available to download in the coming days.
The next steps of this process are set for 2022, when the deployment of digitalisation among doctors is planned, and 2023, with the long-awaited launch of the immediate direct payment system for medical bills.

The CumEx tax fraud scheme cost Luxembourg €2.2 billion over the past 20 years, according to a group of investigative journalists. The group behind the investigation said taxpayers from 12 countries had lost €150 billion through the share deals – three times the amount first estimated in 2018. Original estimates put Luxembourg’s tax losses at around €10 million.

A large-scale demonstration is taking place in Kirchberg today. Around 2,000 people are expected to gather outside the European Court of Justice this morning to protest against the forced closure of the Turów coal mine on the Czech-Poland border. Protesters will then move on to the Czech Embassy. The police announced that several roads would be closed to traffic to allow for the demonstration. Officers will be present to ensure public order throughout the event.

The University of Luxembourg is preparing a full return to in-person teaching from 8th November. The health authorities approved the university’s special protocol allowing the resumption of on-campus teaching. The CovidCheck system will not apply. Masks remain mandatory, except for fully vaccinated professors, and both students and staff are advised to use self-tests twice per week. Test kits will be distributed at the university’s reception desks.

 

THURSDAY 21 OCTOBER 

First a coronavirus update for Luxembourg: The Ministry of Health reported 246 new resident cases, derived from 3,286 tests. There have been 2 new deaths, bringing the death toll to 842. 23 individuals are in hospital, with 7 of those in intensive care. The effective reproduction rate is 1.06. To date, 426,349 people have received their first vaccine dose, while 413,233 people have been fully vaccinated.

The Health Ministry and the Foreign Ministry confirmed that restrictions on air travel to Luxembourg will remain in place until 18th December. Such measures were set to apply until 18th October but have now been extended by 2 months. This means that travellers arriving in Luxembourg by plane are still required to present either a complete COVID-19 vaccination certificate, a recovery certificate or a negative test result carried out less than 72 hours before their flight. Certified rapid tests performed less than 48 hours before the flight are also valid.

Unemployment dropped to near pre-pandemic levels in September. According to the ADEM employment agency and STATEC, Luxembourg’s unemployment rate now stands at 5.5%. More than 15,500 people registered with Adem last month, a decrease of almost 13% compared to September 2020.
Job vacancies reported to the employment agency were up 38% over one year.
Nevertheless, over half of job seekers have been looking for work for over a year, which indicates unprecedented levels of long-term unemployment.

The Automobile Club of Luxembourg said it had recorded 33% more calls for assistance over the summer compared to the same period the year before. The July floods particularly contributed to this increase in interventions. The ACL operations centre in Bertrange almost reached maximum capacity, with close to 46,000 calls registered between July and September. During this period, the club sent out its breakdown lorries around 12,000 times in Luxembourg, up 12% over one year.

Police reported that a pedestrian was fatally injured in a road accident on Wednesday. The 59-year-old woman from Bertrange was hit by a lorry while crossing the road. The victim passed away at the scene. An investigation has been launched into the circumstances surrounding the accident.

A grenade from World War II was found during construction work in Bettel in north-eastern Luxembourg yesterday. The army’s bomb squad was sent in to carry out a controlled explosion of the shell in a field. Police reminded the public not to touch any ammunition found in this way. Instead, they should call the emergency number 113 immediately and, if possible, stay at the scene until the police or military experts arrive. 

 

WEDNESDAY 20 OCTOBER

First a coronavirus update for Luxembourg: The Ministry of Health reported 103 new resident cases, derived from 2,195 tests. There has been 1 new death, bringing the death toll to 840. 22 individuals are in hospital, with 7 of those in intensive care. The effective reproduction rate is 1.10. To date, 425,627 people have received their first vaccine dose, while 412,695 people have been fully vaccinated.

A retirement home in Belvaux is currently experiencing a cluster of people infected with COVID-19. According to the ministry of family, the ministry of health and CIPA, which runs “Résidence op der Waassertrap”, 18 individuals, including 14 residents and 4 staff, are currently positive for coronavirus. 13 residents are fully vaccinated, the majority of whom have no symptoms, whilst one resident is currently hospitalised. Three of the four staff who tested positive are not vaccinated. The retirement home has implemented all measures recommended by the health inspectorate.

The European Commission “rang the bell” at Luxembourg’s Stock Exchange on Tuesday to mark the listing of the first NextGenerationEU green bond. The €12 billion bond is the largest green bond issued to date; it was eleven times oversubscribed, with books exceeding €135 billion. The 15-year bond is governed by Luxembourg law and is displayed on the Luxembourg Green Exchange.

Germany’s Frankfurt Hahn Airport has filed for bankruptcy. Despite posting growth in its freight business recently, passenger numbers continued to decline at the regional airport, which was once popular with passengers from Luxembourg and the Greater Region for its budget flights.

 

TUESDAY 19 OCTOBER

First a coronavirus update for Luxembourg: The Ministry of Health reported 262 new resident cases for Friday, Saturday and Sunday, derived from 5,770 tests. There were no new deaths over the weekend, with the death toll standing at 839. 18 individuals are in hospital, with 7 in intensive care. The effective reproduction rate is 1.12. To date, 424,692 people have received their first vaccine dose, while 412,411 people have been fully vaccinated.

Luxembourg lawmakers passed the new COVID-19 law yesterday. The governing coalition parties, DP, LSAP and the Greens, voted in favour, with the opposition parties voting against. The controversial bill provides for the introduction of the CovidCheck system in the workplace. CovidCheck will not apply to schools. The law entered into force at midnight and remains in place until 18th December.
In addition, self-administered rapid tests will be replaced by PCR or certified rapid tests for entry to hospitality and event venues from 1st November.
During Monday’s session, several people gathered in front of the Chamber of Deputies to protest the new rules.

The Health Ministry announced that people who have received the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine against COVID-19 will be invited for a booster jab. The move follows a recommendation made by the Superior Council for Infectious Diseases. Individuals who received their J&J jab at least 4 weeks ago will receive their invitations for a second shot starting from the end of this week.

Luxembourg held onto its tier 1 ranking in the latest Trafficking in Persons Report. The annual assessment by the United States Department of State indicated that, despite the pandemic, the Grand Duchy managed to strengthen the effectiveness of its procedures and measures aimed at combating human trafficking. This top ranking shows that the government made efforts to meet the minimum standards. However, the number of convictions dropped last year and, according to the report, courts continued to issue lenient sentences, creating potential safety issues for victims.

Prime Minister Xavier Bettel met with German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Berlin on Monday. As well as discussing European and international current affairs, Mr Bettel thanked Ms Merkel for her role in European integration and in German-Luxembourg relations over the past 16 years. He also presented the German Chancellor with the Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. 

 

MONDAY 18 OCTOBER

First a coronavirus update for Luxembourg: The Ministry of Health reported 91 new resident cases derived from 2,552 tests over the last 48 hours. There has been one new death, bringing the death toll to 839. 19 individuals are in hospital, with 3 of those in intensive care. The effective reproduction rate is 1.01. To date, 423,343 people have received their first vaccine dose, while 411,402 people have been fully vaccinated.

Negotiations between trade unions and the government over the introduction of the CovidCheck system in the workplace hit a stalemate. The last-minute meeting saw representatives of the OGBL, LCGB and CGFP unions walk out after they and government representatives failed to reach an agreement over the proposed measures. The Prime Minister was not present, despite the unions’ request for an emergency meeting with him. Today, the unions will discuss the next steps to be taken, whilst the Chamber of Deputies is set to vote the controversial bill into law. The new COVID-19 law will remain in force until 18th December.

Trade unions were not the only ones to voice their concerns over the new measures: more than 3,000 people gathered in front of the Philharmonie on Friday evening to protest against the stricter coronavirus policies. This third so-called “white march” saw participation more than double since the previous such protest. Most participants were maskless, despite masks being compulsory at demonstrations of more than 300 people.
Speaking to RTL about the protest, Deputy Prime Minister François Bausch said: “I understand their concerns, but I don’t agree with them”.

A man has been arrested after taking his wife and children hostage and threatening police officers. The incident took place at the man’s home in the Gare district of Luxembourg City. The man reportedly kicked officers and threatened to kill them. He was subsequently arrested and is set to be presented to an investigating judge. 

Amazon has appealed a record €746 million fine for violating EU data protection rules imposed by national privacy watchdog CNPD in July. The appeal was filed at the Luxembourg administrative tribunal last week and concerns Amazon’s collection and use of individuals’ personal data, which allegedly breached the GDPR introduced by the European Union in 2018.

 

 

WEDNESDAY 11 AUGUST

First a coronavirus update for Luxembourg: The Ministry of Health reported 42 new resident cases derived from 4,306 tests. There have been no additional deaths, with the death toll standing at 825. 15 individuals are in hospital, with 6 in intensive care. The effective reproduction rate is 0.98. To date, 397,601 people have received their first vaccine dose, while 371,611 people have been fully vaccinated. Health Minister Paulette Lenert is scheduled to host a press conference this morning, however no new restrictions are expected at this time.

Consumption of coal by EU member states has decreased by 35% in 2020 compared to 2018. Luxembourg however, saw an increase in coal consumption due to industrial demand and according to statistics burnt 2.6% more coal last year than in 2018. The European Union used a third less fuel compared to Luxembourg. Burning coal is the leading contributor to human induced climate change and according to a recent report published by Eurostat, statistics show that the steel industry in the Grand Duchy accounted for almost all the increase in hard coal usage between 2018 and 2020.

A person was assaulted near the Pont Grande-Duchesse Charlotte tram stop at around 1 o’clock early Tuesday morning. The victim had serious injuries from knife cuts and was then admitted to Kirchberg hospital. Police were notified of the incident and a special police unit was dispatched and were able to track down and arrest a suspect on Tuesday morning in Strassen. The man was to stand in front of a judge Tuesday afternoon.

Meteorologist for the Ministry of Agriculture, Viticulture and Rural Development Andrew Ferrone revealed in an interview with RTL that Luxembourg is likely to experience more heavy rains and flooding in the foreseeable future. The expert stated that by 2030, temperatures are set to increase by 1.5 degrees celsius and that with every degree, humidity increases by 7% causing heavy rainfalls and flooding to be much more frequent. Ferrone also claimed however that it is not too late for damage control and that it can be achieved through decreasing carbon dioxide emissions across the board of industrial sectors.

The Luxembourg Regulatory Institute (ILR) has reported an increase in the number of disputes between customers and suppliers. Last year, 134 mediation demand queries were made in total, compared to the 80 demands that have been made this year alone. The ILR has been offering this service since 2011, however has seen a major increase in recent years. They claim that most issues arose from the communications sector, but that complaints from the postal service are on the incline.

The annual meteor showers are expected to light up the sky between the 10th and 15th of August. Every year, pieces of the Swift-Tuttle comet cross the earth’s orbit and when it reacts with the molecules in the atmosphere, it produces light. It is speculated that the night of the 12th and 13th of August between 3 and 4 AM will be the prime time to spot the shooting stars. On average, around 110 shooting stars can be spotted per hour. Due to the health restrictions however the Association of Amateur Astronomers in Luxembourg are unable to host their annual star watching party.

 

TUESDAY 10 AUGUST

First a coronavirus update for Luxembourg: The Ministry of Health reported 133 new resident cases derived from 13,602 tests for Friday, Saturday and Sunday. There has been 1 additional death, with the death toll standing at 825. 21 individuals are in hospital, with 7 in intensive care. The effective reproduction rate is 0.96. To date, 397,143 people have received their first vaccine dose, while 369,201 people have been fully vaccinated.

The Minister of Health, Paulette Lenert, will hold a press briefing at 09:30 tomorrow morning which will centre around the current Covid-19 situation in Luxembourg. Minister Lenert is expected to speak about the vaccination campaign and number of new infections. At present, it does not look like any major changes to covid restrictions will be announced.

Greenpeace said yesterday that Luxembourg must do more to fight climate change as the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change published a report that said the human influence on the climate system is undisputed. Frank Thinnes, of Greenpeace Luxembourg said the recent floods, which caused an estimated €120m in damage, must be a wake-up call for society. Greenpeace also called for Luxembourg’s financial centre to align it’s activities with the Paris Agreement. Luxembourg’s climate targets aim to reduce emissions by 55% by 2030 and be climate neutral by mid-century. The Paris Equity Check recently concluded that under those targets, the Earth would warm by 3.8°C by the year 2100 – almost double the 2°C limit pledged in the Paris Agreement.

The Luxembourg Bankers Association issued a press release yesterday warning of a marked increase in phishing attacks in Luxembourg. These attacks are mainly by telephone, but also by email, whereby the attacker attempts to get online banking access or credit card details from the victim. The press release urges the public to remember the basics of cybersecurity, such as: Never give remote access to your device unless it is to someone you trust and know. Keep your antivirus and operating system software updated. And, be especially careful if an email requests sensitive information (like your password) from you as a bank will only communicate with you securely through your online bank account

Luxembourg’s financial watchdog, the CSSF, recently published its 2020 annual report in which it said that household debt continued to rise in Luxembourg due to soaring housing prices, and that on average around 39% of annual disposable income is dedicated to debt repayment. Recent studies have shown that Luxembourg’s housing crisis is caused by empty properties and vacant land. A study published last month by The Luxembourg Institute of Socio-Economic Research showed that property owners and developers are retaining land to manipulate the market.

A report published yesterday by Eurostat reveals that men with children are more likely to be employed than women with children, and also men without kids. The figures showed that 90% of men aged 25 to 54 with children were employed in 2020, while only 72.2% of women in the same age bracket with children had a job. For women without children the employment rate was slightly higher at 76.8%,  while men without children were less likely to be employed at 80.9%. The Eurostat report does not indicate if the covid-19 pandemic can be linked to the gender disparity. But some have blamed the pandemic for taking women out of the workforce to focus on childcare and homeschooling duties during lockdowns.

 

MONDAY 9 AUGUST

First a coronavirus update for Luxembourg: On Friday, the Ministry of Health reported 50 new resident cases derived from 5,475 tests. There have been no additional deaths, with the death toll standing at 824. 17 individuals are in hospital, with 5 in intensive care. The effective reproduction rate is 0.86. To date, 395,857 people have received their first vaccine dose, while 363,603 people are now fully vaccinated.

The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) released data indicating that 72% of Luxembourgers have been vaccinated with 60.3% fully vaccinated. According to the report 50% of 18 to 24-years-old are still unvaccinated.  In the 25 to 49 age group and the 50-59 age group, 66% are fully vaccinated while  74.5% of 60 to 69-years-olds are fully vaccinated. For the over 70s – those fully vaccinated stands at  84%. Statistics are available at  vaccinetracker.ecdc.europa.eu.

The Central bank of Luxembourg has announced a readjustment to interest rates on real estate loans for people seeking to finance housing within the Grand Duchy. According to data sets analysed by the Central bank, variable interest rates in June saw a decrease of about four points compared to May and now stands at 1.29%. However, fixed interest rates have experienced an increase in the same time period and now stands at 1.36%.

The Grand Ducal Fire and Rescue Corps were called out over 50 times as a result of heavy rainfall which affected several parts of Luxembourg on Saturday. Most of the operations were linked to flooded basements and garages. There was a collision between two vehicles in Bascharage, where one person was injured. Two fires were also reported during the night. A balcony was in flames in Esch-sur-Alzette and a car caught on fire in Senningen. In both cases no one was injured.

Christian Democrat lawmakers Laurent Mosar and Marc Spautz questioned the government over reports about  increased anti-semitic behaviour in Luxembourg. According to information released by the charity Research and Information on Anti-Semitism in Luxembourg (RIAL), anti-Semitic incidents have increased by 28% to 64 cases between 2019 and 2020. According to ministers from several departments, the real number of offences and attacks on Jews in Luxembourg is unknown as anti-Semitic incidents are not reported by law enforcement authorities. In April, due to an increase in anti-Semitic attacks in neighbouring countries such as France and Germany, the Luxembourgish government was prompted to increase security outside a synagogue located in Esch-sur-Alzette.

 

FRIDAY 6 AUGUST

First a coronavirus update for Luxembourg: Yesterday, the Ministry of Health reported 68 new resident cases derived from 5,396 tests. There have been no additional deaths, with the death toll standing at 824. 20 individuals are in hospital, with 5 in intensive care. The effective reproduction rate is 0.85. To date, 395,352 people have received their first vaccine dose, while 360,883 people are now fully vaccinated.

The Chamber of Deputies confirmed in a statement yesterday that the names and places of residence of more than 24,000 public petition signatories were mistakenly published and visible between June and August 2021 on the Chamber’s main website without the user’s consent. The Secretary General of the Chamber of Deputies clarified that this was not a data leak nor a “malicious action” and added  the data was not accessible on the new petitiounen.lu site – the main tool for public petitions. The error was corrected on 2 August, and a detailed analysis of the problem is currently underway.

The Christian Social People’s Party filed an urgent parliamentary question to the Minister of Police following the fatal shooting on Saturday of a knife-wielding car thief in Ettelbruck. The party was seeking information on the man who was shot, and what initial conclusions had been reached. Minister for Internal Security, Henri Kox, explained the legal framework that regulates the use of firearms, and outlined the training provided to officers. In an interview with RTL this week, the president of the police union said the basic training and the half-day training per year per police officer was not sufficient. When asked if he wished to respond to the negative comments on social networks about the police officer, Minister Kox declined, adding that the investigation was still ongoing.

An incentive grant – called Re-stART – has been set up to help the many artists and creatives affected by last month’s flooding which damaged not only workplaces, but destroyed many works that were intended for future exhibitions or sales. In order to encourage artists to resume their creative work the incentive offers them special assistance, up to 25,000 euros per request. Requests can relate to restoration and repair of works, replacement of damaged equipment, funds for the creation of new works, and other activities. Further details can be found at www.oeuvre.lu/re-start

Luxembourg athlete Charles Grethen has qualified for the men’s athletics 1,500m finals at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. He finished in seventh place in the semi-finals yesterday with a time of 3 mins 32.86 seconds –  4 seconds better than the previous Luxembourg record. Grethen is one of twelve athletes representing Luxembourg at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games and advances to the finals which take place tomorrow.

 

THURSDAY 5 AUGUST

First a coronavirus update for Luxembourg: Yesterday, the Ministry of Health reported 101 new resident cases derived from 5,183 tests. There have been two additional deaths, with the death toll standing at 824. 26 individuals are in hospital, with 5 in intensive care. The effective reproduction rate is 0.83. To date, 394,669 people have received their first vaccine dose, while 355,891 people are now fully vaccinated.

The Transport Ministry announced yesterday that landing at Luxembourg’s airport is still safe, after an audit carried out by the Directorate of Civil Aviation in March revealed that  the navigation system that guides planes in adverse weather conditions has had technical problems since it was replaced in 2019. The audit report also showed that not enough checks had been carried out on the instrument landing system and downgraded the airport’s runway – authorising the system to guide planes to 60 metres above ground instead of guiding them to the runway. Minister for Mobility and Public Works, François Bausch said yesterday that the Air Navigation Administration had until 30 September to resolve the issues, which coincides with the end of ongoing runway repair works.

Deputy prime minister and labour minister Dan Kersch this week defended his proposed covid-19 tax, which would levy an extra 5–10% on companies that grew their profits in 2020, saying that it would prevent the financial burden of the pandemic from being passed to households. Kersch said that the proposed tax might look at the average profit of companies between 2015 to 2019 compared to that of 2020, and where profit growth exceeded 10%, an additional tax of 5–10% could be levied. Employers have strongly rejected the tax and it is also dividing the government coalition with the DP saying such a tax is simply not on the agenda and the Greens advocating taxing internet giants like Amazon more stringently as clear winners of the crisis.

Luxembourg’s official statistics bureau Statec said yesterday that prices overall fell by 0.4% in July compared to the previous month because of discounts offered by summer sales in shops. But, fuel prices increased for the third month in a row, according to Statec, and was the main cause of a small increase in inflation of 0.2% in Luxembourg prices in June. The increase in fuel prices could mean that inflation across the Grand Duchy rises to nearly 3% by the end of 2021, Statec warned in a separate press release yesterday 

Luxembourg’s General Directorate for Tourism this week announced the official acquisition of the historic ship “MS Princesse Marie Astrid”, the boat on which the Schengen Agreement was signed on 14 June 1985, from a Bavarian shipping company. The ship,  currently sailing under the name “MS Regensburg” as an excursion boat on the Danube, is expected to be given back its original name and will be refurbished. The boat will be docked in Schengen, near the European Museum but kept in seaworthy condition so that during special events, the ship will be able to travel across Europe.The completion of this project, the cost of which amounts to €5.81 million, is scheduled for 2025.

 

WEDNESDAY 4 AUGUST

First a coronavirus update for Luxembourg: Yesterday, the Ministry of Health reported 52 new resident cases derived from 6,368 tests. There have been no additional deaths, with the death toll standing at 822. 25 individuals are in hospital, with 7 in intensive care. The effective reproduction rate is 0.85. To date, 394,370 people have received their first vaccine dose, while 353,900 people are now fully vaccinated.

Luxembourg received its first payment of €12.1 million yesterday as part of the NextGenerationEU recovery plan. The Grand Duchy is eligible to receive a total of €93.4 million. These funds will be invested in the areas of social cohesion, digitalisation and the green transition, with 61% dedicated to climate action and 32% to digital investments.

The ACEL student association confirmed that the Luxembourg student loan and grant scheme has been extended to include a third “bonus” semester. University students were already eligible for financial aid for two bonus semesters. This has been extended further due to the pandemic.

Respect.lu announced a casting call for a web series on the subject of radicalisation. The non-profit is looking for people from all walks of life and speaking one of the many languages used in Luxembourgish society. Filming will take place in September under the direction of Lukas Grevis. The five resulting short films will identify the causes and consequences of extremism. To apply, send a video or picture and a description of yourself to inside.outsider.webseries@gmail.com.

Luxembourgish athlete Charles Grethen qualified for the men’s athletics 1,500m semi-finals at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. The 29-year-old finished 6th in his heat on Tuesday, in just over 3 minutes 41 seconds. The semi-finals are scheduled for tomorrow afternoon.

 

TUESDAY 3 AUGUST

First the coronavirus update for Luxembourg: The Ministry of Health reported 120 new resident cases, derived from 17,714 tests over the weekend. There had been no additional deaths, with the death toll standing at 822. 18 individuals are in standard hospital care, with 7 in intensive care. The effective reproduction rate is 0.81. 393,779 people have received their first vaccine dose, while 349,734 people are now fully vaccinated.

General practitioners in Luxembourg started administering Covid vaccines on Monday, as vaccination centres gradually close their doors. The four GP surgeries are located in Esch-sur-Alzette, Mersch, Redange and Strassen. The Health Ministry announced that more surgeries are expected to follow starting next week.

Aside from material damage, the recent floods also had repercussions on the soil in the most affected areas of the country. With the help of the overflowing water, toxic substances, like petrol, made their way to soil, potentially damaging soil. However, the Environmental Administration has now issued a press release stating that there is no reason for concern, as the pollutants were watered down to a significant degree. However they recommended not to consume any fresh produce from flooded gardens that were in direct contact with the flood water. Future harvests should remain unaffected by the natural disaster.

The government said on Friday that a strategy team within the economy ministry that launched in November last year, will absorb the so-called Rifkin plan into its activities. The Rifkin plan was presented in 2016 as part of Luxembourg’s third industrial revolution. At the time  priorities for policymakers were identified, including promoting circular economy principles, boosting e-mobility, advancing sustainable finance and investing in high-performance computing. The ministry published a review on Friday with 48 action points foreseen under the Rifkin initiative.

STATEC reported that Luxembourg’s employment rate did not suffer during the pandemic and saw a 2% increase in 2020, contrary to the trends in most EU countries. However, the report outlined that the national job market was already more dynamic than most of its EU counterparts before the pandemic began. The government also put fewer restrictions in place, thereby leaving more room for economic activities to continue. Additionally, the high rates of positions allowing remote work have helped maintain operations.

 

MONDAY 2 AUGUST

First a coronavirus update for Luxembourg: The Ministry of Health reported 54 new resident cases on Friday, derived from 9,128 tests. There have been no additional deaths, with the death toll standing at 822. 17 individuals were reported to be in standard hospital care, with 5 in intensive care. The effective reproduction rate was 0.84. 392,467 people have received their first vaccine dose, while 342,346 people are now fully vaccinated.

The government announced that travellers from the UK will no longer have to undergo a 7 day quarantine on their arrival in Luxembourg. The quarantine mandate has been in place since the 15th of July. Travellers from the UK will still have to show evidence of vaccination, recovery, or a negative Covid test to be allowed entry into the Grand Duchy. The negative test must be no older than 72 hours in the case of a PCR test, or 48 hours if an antigen test is taken.

A man was shot by police officers on Saturday after attacking them with a knife. The incident took place at 7pm in Ettelbruck. Prosecutors released a statement in which it was indicated that the incident came about after a car theft in Hosingen. The attacker threatened a driver with a knife and used the vehicle to escape. Police quickly picked up the pursuit after being alerted, and officers were able to stop the car in Ettelbruck. The man then began attacking a police officer with a knife, prompting another officer to shoot at the attacker. The man was seriously injured and later died of his injuries in hospital. An official investigation has been launched.

Part of the outer wall of Beaufort castle collapsed on Friday, however the reason for the rock fall remains unknown. The damaged area is approximately 15 metres long and 12 metres high and collapsed while visitors were inside the castle. Experts are on the premises to determine if any structural reinforcement is required. The castle, which is a listed national monument, will remain closed until further notice.

A 15 year old girl named Diana Borisova Coltuc has been declared missing. She was last seen on the 15th of July at around 7 pm in Junglinster. The 15-year old is about 1.65 metres tall, of slim, athletic build and has long black hair. She was last seen wearing black trousers with holes and a blue jumper. She is thought to be in Luxembourg City, Ettelbruck or in Pétange. Any useful information should be reported to the Grevenmacher police via 244-701-000 or police.museldall@police.etat.lu.

 

FRIDAY 30 JULY

First a coronavirus update for Luxembourg: Yesterday, the Ministry of Health reported 70 new resident cases derived from 7,191 tests. There have been no additional deaths, with the death toll standing at 822. 23 individuals are in hospital, with 3 in intensive care. The effective reproduction rate is 0.85. To date, 391,807 people have received their first vaccine dose, while 339,058 people are now fully vaccinated.

The Ministry of Health announced yesterday that PCR tests administered at Howald centre will be done via saliva samples starting on 9 August. To prevent faulty test results, people are advised not to smoke, eat, drink, chew gum, or brush their teeth 30 minutes before coming to the centre.

The government’s weekly covid review shows that 81.4% of the 566 people that tested positive for Covid-19 last week had not been vaccinated, while the remaining 18.6% were fully vaccinated. Figures show that new, as well as active, infections decreased for a third week in a row in Luxembourg. Fewer people had to self-isolate or enter quarantine last week, with most infections occurring in family circles, followed by holidays abroad and recreational activities No infection origin could be determined for 36.6% of cases.

Responding to a parliamentary question, health minister Paulette Lenert wrote that following a European Open Accelerated Procedure in April, a single offer  from a supplier of medical cannabis had been submitted and a budget subsequently drawn up. The minister continued that because there had been only one offer received, there would be no need to wait for the appeal period and orders could be placed immediately. Ms Lenert added that because cannabis is a narcotic, imports are subject to strict rules and can lead to longer delays, but that first deliveries are expected to reach the Grand Duchy by the end of September.

Responding to a parliamentary question, employment minister Dan Kersch revealed that the Luxembourgish language is required for approximately 35% of jobs advertised with ADEM. The minister added that other languages, especially French, were important to gain employment in the local labour market. Kersch said that ADEM had issued 7,000 language vouchers for Luxembourgish courses over the past three years. However, a  recent study by the University of Luxembourg found that French was the most-used language in the workplace and was required in 76% of public job postings, while Luxembourgish was required for around 68% of postings

A petition opposing the reform of teacher training has gathered enough signatures for a public debate in the chamber set to take place in Autumn. The petition, which gathered more than 4,150 signatures within a few hours of being posted online in June, opposes a draft reform of teacher training that would allow secondary school graduates with a diploma in social sciences to complete teacher training in only one year instead of three. Education Minister Claude Meisch reacted to the immediate success of the petition in June saying that Luxembourg’s growing need for educators meant they must dare to test the possibility of combining  the training of the social sciences section with that of teachers.

 

THURSDAY 29 JULY

First a coronavirus update for Luxembourg: Yesterday, the Ministry of Health reported 107 new resident cases derived from 6,149 tests. There have been no additional deaths, with the death toll standing at 822. 22 individuals are in hospital, with 3 in intensive care. The effective reproduction rate is 0.87. To date, 391,133 people have received their first vaccine dose, while 336,173 people are now fully vaccinated.

In a letter sent to the President of the Chamber of Deputies yesterday, MPs from all opposition parties demanded an independent external inquiry following the country-wide flooding earlier this month. The MPs want the inquiry to investigate the flow of information, when the weather information reached the government, and how it was then forwarded to the municipalities, the media, the population, and the emergency services. In addition, the inquiry should present a timeline of the emergency services’ actions and provide clear information on the failure of the “Gouvalert” warning system.

The Ministry of Health this week advised the public not to consume vegetables from gardens that were flooded earlier this month. Many private gardens were flooded with rainwater, streams and sewage that might have come from oil cisterns or septic tanks, and is potentially full of microorganisms and chemicals. The Ministry admitted it was difficult to assess the level of contamination of vegetables that survived the floods, and was advising against consuming or composting vegetables as a precautionary measure.

Leudelange-based laboratory, BioneXt, announced yesterday that it had sent a letter to the Ministry of Health confirming it will contact the European Commission’s competition authority because of “unfair competition” surrounding Luxembourg’s Large-Scale Testing Campaign. BioneXt allege that the government exclusively cooperates with Laboratoires Réunis for the large-scale testing, and did not issue a new call for tender for the recent third phase of the Large-Scale Testing Campaign. Earlier this week, Minister of Health Paulette Lenert explained that the Ministry saw no need for a new call for tender as the second phase was essentially extended. BioneXt argues that the third phase represents a reorientation of the campaign and accuses the Ministry of specifically tailoring the calls for tender to Laboratoires Réunis’ profile.

The traditional three-week August holiday for the construction sector begins tomorrow but some of Luxembourg’s builders will have to work throughout the holiday period to repair damage caused by recent flooding, the government announced yesterday. Luxembourg’s labour inspectorate, the ITM, said yesterday that the vast majority of the 223 requests for exemptions were granted meaning some employees will remain at work. The ITM warned that their inspectors, along with police and customs officers, would be carrying out checks during the holiday, and would halt any work which had not been authorised in advance.

Parliament’s petitions committee yesterday rejected a petition asking that parents receive benefits if they opt to stay at home to look after their children, after finding that 428 names had been entered more than once, causing the total to drop below the minimum of 4,500 signatures required. Parliament is required to discuss any petition with 4,500 signatures within 42 days, and some have made it into law. It is not known why the names appear more than once.

 

WEDNESDAY 28 JULY

First a coronavirus update for Luxembourg: Yesterday, the Ministry of Health reported 86 new resident cases derived from 6,060 tests. There have been no additional deaths, with the death toll standing at 822. 26 individuals are in hospital, with 3 in intensive care. The effective reproduction rate is 0.87. To date, 392,073 people have received their first vaccine dose, while 332,304 people are now fully vaccinated.

According to STATEC, four in five residents are willing to take the COVID-19 vaccine. In May and June, the national statistical institute carried out a survey with the OECD on individuals’ trust in others and in national institutions. Almost 82% of respondents said they were willing to get vaccinated, with nearly three-quarters having expressed strong trust in science. STATEC argued that herd immunity could be within reach if these positive attitudes materialise.

The Ministries of Health and of Family Affairs launched a new vaccination drive for healthcare workers who have not yet been vaccinated against COVID-19. Hospital staff have until Friday to get vaccinated with Johnson & Johnson by mobile vaccination teams. The teams will pass by the country’s four hospitals and eight specialised hospitals. From today until 10th August, care home professionals can get vaccinated with Pfizer / BioNTech near their workplace. No prior registration is needed.

In its 2020 annual report, Fondation Cancer warned of the impact of the pandemic on cancer patients, whose treatment has been made more difficult. The non-profit provided a record 1,845 counselling sessions and almost €462,000 in financial aid last year. Over €2.7 million went towards cancer research.

Three new digital skills training courses for adults will begin in September. The courses were developed as part of an agreement signed between the Ministry for Digitalisation and the non-profit ErwuesseBildung in February. Classes include two internet driving licence courses and a “Train the Trainers” course, and  will be taught in German, French, English and Portuguese.

 

TUESDAY 27 JULY

First the coronavirus update for Luxembourg: The Ministry of Health reported 139 new resident cases, derived from 16,652 tests over the weekend. There has been 1 additional death, bringing the death toll to 822. 24 individuals are in standard hospital care, with 2 in intensive care. The effective reproduction rate is 0.82. 391,172 people have received their first vaccine dose, while 326,694 people are now fully vaccinated.

The MeteoLux website was unavailable from last Friday until yesterday afternoon. According to a government statement, the problems were caused by server issues, which are run by an external company. Due to the issues, the warning system was not able to announce the thunderstorms over the weekend. MeteoLux therefore attempted to warn residents in emails that hail and wind gusts of up to 70 km/h were possible. There have been calls for the government to implement an improved phone notification system that would deliver up-to-date warnings to smartphones.

The Environment Ministry announced yesterday that Luxembourg will roll out €200 million over the next 4 years to finance projects around the world aimed at boosting climate action. Around €40 million will go towards initiatives such as the Green Climate Fund, while €25 million will go towards financing projects by NGO’s. 50% of the funding that NGO’s will receive will help projects in Africa, with 35% helping in Asia and 15% in Latin America. The projects that will be supported will focus on sustainable finance, biodiversity, climate migration and human rights.

The Confederation of Public Servants, or CGFP, issued a press release on Monday  criticising the government for its treatment of the union. Officials stated that the three-party coalition government is actively trying to discredit the union. Government ministers have repeatedly explained that no sectorial improvements can be made until the end of 2022, given the current salary agreement. However, the CGFP argues that while no financial measures can be taken, this does not mean that no agreements can be made whatsoever and have proposed the introduction of bonuses. The union also stated that when it comes to tax policies, government officials keep making contradictory statements. The union has demanded a new tri-par-tite meeting to address all of their concerns.

Luxair has revealed that passenger numbers dropped by 81% in the first half of 2021 compared to the same period in 2019, a period not affected by the pandemic. However, the airline also recorded 42% fewer passengers in the first 6 months of 2021 compared to 2020. Luxair Tours also took a hit with 45% fewer passenger numbers recorded in 2021 compared to 2019. Luxair has attributed this decline to low demand for business flights and connecting flights, as well as limited demand for leisure travel due to travel restrictions.

 

MONDAY 26 JULY

First a coronavirus update for Luxembourg: The Ministry of Health reported 103 new resident cases on Friday, derived from 7,194 tests. There have been no additional deaths, with the death toll standing at 821. 15 individuals were reported to be in standard hospital care, with 5 in intensive care. The effective reproduction rate was 0.92. 389,229 people have received their first vaccine dose, while 674,147 doses have been administered in total.

The National railway company, CFL, has announced that there will be no train connection between Luxembourg City and Thionville until at least Tuesday due to flooding in the Bettembourg area. CFL have organised replacement buses to connect the cities in both directions in the meantime. Substitute buses will also run between Hettange and Thionville as of today.

Authorities were alerted on Saturday after residents detected a rainbow shimmer on the water surface of the Alzette river, an indicator of pollution. The former Arcelor building was identified as the pollution source as a petrol tank in one of the basements was damaged during the floods a couple weeks ago and leaked into the water. The spill then made its way into the river via the sewage system. The Water Management Authority was informed and has already launched the necessary steps to resolve the issue. The police have issued a warning to people who have experienced similar damage in their basements to not clear polluted water into rivers. In case of pollution, residents should alert the Water Management Authority via telephone number 112.

According to Eurostat, the EU as a whole saw 12% fewer hours worked in 2020 compared to 2019, however in Luxembourg the trend was less dramatic. While Greece saw the biggest decrease with 19.7%, Luxembourg only saw a 4.1% decrease, placing itself second from the bottom alongside Denmark, also with 4.1%. The Netherlands saw the smallest reduction with 3.2%. The statistics agency found that the primary reason for the reductions was temporary lay-offs, which increased from 0.5 million in 2019 to 3.9 million in 2020. Eurostat also noted that the reduction can be explained by measures taken in response to Covid-19, with many workers being told to work fewer hours than usual.

The non-profit organisation, Ecological Movement (or Mouveco), announced their latest initiative on Friday, called veloskaart.lu. Anyone can use veloskaart.lu to report problematic or dangerous areas for cyclists on an interactive map until the 31st of October. People may also upload photos or videos and suggest potential solutions. After the 31st of October, the entries, including photos and videos, will be published anonymously in the form of a map. It will be forwarded to different municipalities and the Ministry of Mobility and will be available to the public from mid-November. The website is available in German, English and French.

 

FRIDAY 23 JULY

First a coronavirus update for Luxembourg: Yesterday, the Ministry of Health reported 94 new resident cases derived from 6,247 tests. There have been no additional deaths, with the death toll standing at 821. 17 individuals are in hospital, with 6 in intensive care. The effective reproduction rate is 0.94. To date, 388,566 people have received their first vaccine dose, while 313,511 people are now fully vaccinated.

CovidCheck.lu users can now use the app to check the validity of their EU Digital COVID Certificate abroad. Initially limited to Luxembourg, the app now also allows users to check if their certificate is valid in Germany, Ireland, Lithuania, the Netherlands and Spain, with more countries set to be added in future. Since its launch on 10th June, more than one million CovidCheck certificates have been issued by the Luxembourg authorities. These serve as proof of vaccination, a negative test result or recovery from COVID-19.

The National Roads Administration confirmed that it is still too early to determine the full extent of damage caused by the recent floods. A total of 180 road sections in Luxembourg were closed as a result of the flooding on 14th and 15th July. Most have since reopened to traffic. The administration is now in the process of checking the various bridges and embankments and repair work has begun, where possible.

Family Affairs Minister Corinne Cahen continues to face criticism from the Opposition over her handling of the pandemic in care homes. Pirate Party MPs Sven Clement and Marc Goergen have now publicly accused the minister of avoiding criticism by blocking certain politicians and journalists on social media.

Recent Eurostat figures show that more than half of men in Luxembourg and of all EU adults were considered overweight in 2019. 53% of adults living in the EU were considered to be overweight according to their BMI. Whilst Luxembourg had one of the lowest proportions of overweight adults overall, it also had the largest gap between men and women: 59% of men were considered overweight compared to 38% of women.

The Agriculture Ministry and Syvicol union are launching a new campaign to tackle food waste. The “Gielt Band” initiative will begin with the apple harvest in September and allows the public to pick fruit from trees marked with a yellow ribbon. The aim is to reduce the amount of fruit that goes to waste each year. A map of participating communes will be published on www.antigaspi.lu.

 

THURSDAY 22 JULY

First a coronavirus update for Luxembourg: Yesterday, the Ministry of Health reported 141 new resident cases derived from 6,240 tests. There have been no additional deaths, with the death toll standing at 821. 11 individuals are in standard hospital care, with 6 in intensive care. The effective reproduction rate is 0.92. To date, 387,932 people have received their first vaccine dose, while 309,600 people are now fully vaccinated.

The National Health Directorate announced yesterday that vaccination centres in Kirchberg, Mondorf, and Ettelbruck are scheduled to close on 14 August, with the centre at Luxembourg Airport closing one week later on 21 August. It is expected that GPs will start administering Covid-19 jabs from the week of 2 August.

The Minister of Foreign and European Affairs, Jean Asselborn, issued a press statement regarding Israeli activity in Luxembourg yesterday, confirming that the NSO group, based in Tel Aviv,is present in Luxembourg in nine entities. The statement said that Minister Asselborn would be sending letters to the heads of each entity to reinforce that Luxembourg applies to the letter all export control obligations and would not tolerate the operations of those that contribute to human rights violations in third countries from Luxembourg. To date, none of the known entities linked to the NSO group has requested an export license for cyber-surveillance products.

Horesca’s secretary general, François Koepp said yesterday that around 100 businesses had been affected by last week’s flooding and called for pragmatic solutions and access to immediate financial aid. Koepp said that he thought it might be best to distribute financial aid in advance, as many companies had already exhausted their cash reserves. Koepp observed that the floods were the latest problem to afflict the industry, following the Covid-19 pandemic, a late start to the season and a  lack of customers and said he worried for the future of many businesses.

The European Commission published its second EU-wide Report on the Rule of Law this week, including a chapter dedicated to Luxembourg. The report stated that Luxembourg’s justice system “continues to operate with a high level of perceived judicial independence”, with 77% of the population considering the level of independence of courts and judges to be “fairly or very good”. Regarding last year’s doubts about the media regulator (ALIA), the report said that Luxembourg had taken steps to alleviate concerns and increased its resources. But it noted that “concerns remain on shortcomings for access to official documents and for access to information for the press.” On the subject of corruption, the report pointed out that perception among experts and business executives is that the level of public sector corruption is low.

Responding to a parliamentary enquiry yesterday, Minister for Internal Security Henri Kox said that 4,600 drug offences were recorded in 2020 – almost 4 times as many as in 2012. Minister Kox denied that police officers had targeted prosecution of drug offences, saying it was an officer’s duty to investigate and report all criminal activities, regardless of the nature of the offence. The Minister  added that the number of patrolling officers in the Gare and Bonnevoie districts has currently been increased, but stressed that this did not represent a universal solution to the security issues.

Kinepolis announced yesterday that the CovidCheck will come into force from Wednesday July 28 in the three Luxembourg Kinepolis cinemas meaning customers will no longer have to wear face masks or observe the two meter interpersonal distance. To access the cinema, each customer aged 6 years and older must present a COVID check certificate, a valid negative COVID-19 test certificate, a certified PCR test or o Certified antigen test Certificate. Customers will be able to carry out a free self-diagnostic test on site of which there are a limited number available while stocks last.

 

WEDNESDAY 21 JULY

First a coronavirus update for Luxembourg: Yesterday, the Ministry of Health reported 89 new resident cases derived from 7,399 tests. There have been no additional deaths, with the death toll standing at 821. 13 individuals are in standard hospital care, with 6 in intensive care. The effective reproduction rate is 0.92. To date, 387,004 people have received their first vaccine dose, while 304,924 people are now fully vaccinated.

The Ministry of the Economy announced yesterday that it will allow businesses affected by last week’s floods to apply for a special partial unemployment scheme until 31 July inclusive. Businesses concerned are those who can no longer operate because of destruction or damage to equipment, stock, means of production and premises. During the scheme’s duration, the state will reimburse affected businesses 80% of the wages normally received by the employees but the compensation allowance must correspond to the minimum social wage for unskilled employees, and is limited to 250% of the minimum social wage. Companies using the scheme must undertake not to dismiss employees for economic reasons.

Foreign Minister Jean Asselborn said yesterday that Luxembourg must respond if links were established between the country and Israeli security company – NSO – whose “Pegasus” software has been used to spy on opposition politicians, journalists and public figures. Following the press reports, Amazon Web Services shut down infrastructure and accounts linked to NSO Group earlier this week, Amazon said in a statement. Asselborn claimed that NSO’s Luxembourg-based branches never applied for export licences and were only being used as “back offices”. He said that it is now up to Israel to launch a probe into the behaviour of the company. Amnesty International has also confirmed that the controversial software did not originate from the Grand Duchy.

According to figures released by Statec yesterday, the unemployment rate, adjusted for seasonal variations, now stands at 5.7%. The number of job seekers registered with ADEM was 16,402 as of 30 June 2021 – a drop of 938 people compared to the previous month. The number of job-seekers who claim full unemployment benefits fell by 18.2% over the last year to 8,368. Employers advertised for 3,961 vacant positions with ADEM during June 2021 – an increase of 31.6% compared to June 2020. At the end of June ADEM had 9,735 available positions in its files – a large increase of 47.8% since June 2020.

The Chamber of Commerce and the Chamber of Skilled Trades and Crafts issued a statement yesterday, proposing six measures to social security and labour law that would assist self-employed workers in coping with the consequences of the Covid-19 pandemic. The measures aim to improve the status of self-employed workers and remove the gap between self-employed workers and employees. Among the Chambers’ proposals are extending the “partial unemployment”, “weather-related unemployment” and “involuntary or temporary unemployment” benefits to the self-employed. They also want to make it easier for the self-employed to combine an early old-age pension with professional income, and  introduce a scheme for accidents at work and occupational diseases in order to cover the loss of income and output.

TUESDAY 20 JULY

First a coronavirus update for Luxembourg: On Monday The Ministry of Health reported 224 new resident cases, derived from 18,272  tests over the weekend. There had been 1 additional death, bringing the death toll to 821. 8 individuals were reported to be in standard hospital care, with 5 in intensive care. 385,713 people have received their first vaccine dose, while 299,764 have received their second dose.

The board of administration of the CNS announced yesterday that the CNS suffered a €12 million deficit in 2020. Despite €386 million in support from the government, the CNS still had to cover additional expenses, such as PCR tests. However, despite the decrease, the reserves of €959 million are still significantly above the minimum required by law.

In answering questions about the preparedness of Luxembourg for the torrential rain that caused the flooding last week, environment minister Carole Dieschbourg said on Monday that locals received several warnings throughout the previous days. The minister conceded however, people would have had to check the national flooding website or follow media weather reports to find out about the torrential rain and the flood alert. Residents in flood prone areas are used to checking updates, but the minister conceded that water reached areas that had never seen floods before, therefore were less likely to check. She stated that little could have been done to stop damage, but that local councils were ultimately responsible for possible evacuations. However, on a visit to Echternach, Prime Minister Xavier Bettel was told by visibly upset locals that they had not been warned.While there has been damage to property and land, no one was injured or killed in Luxembourg. A new Water Management Response plan is under review.

Meanwhile, Luxembourg Water Management Administration’s groundwater division has said that last week’s heavy rainfall did little to alleviate Luxembourg’s water shortage. Brigitte Lambert told the Luxembourg Times that “Water reserves are only replenished when the vegetation no longer grows and stops absorbing, from about mid-October to the end of April. ” Frequent mild showers, spread over time, or melting snow are more suited to replenish the drinking water reserves.

Luxembourg’s first red light traffic camera will be fully operational on the Place de l’Etoile starting Friday the 23rd of July. After nine months of testing, the test phase will come to an end. Aside from traffic light violations, the camera will also flash drivers driving above the 50 km/h speed limit. Two more cameras are expected to be installed on Route d’Esch and Rue de Hollerich.

 

MONDAY 19 JULY

First a coronavirus update for Luxembourg: The Ministry of Health reported 127 new resident cases on Friday, derived from 9,394 tests. There had been 1 additional death, bringing the death toll to 820. 6 individuals were reported to be in standard hospital care, with 5 in intensive care. The effective production rate was 0.89. 381,519 people have received their first vaccine dose, while 290,006 have received their second dose.

Germany’s most famous racing circuit, the Nürn-burg-ring, has been transformed into a temporary crisis centre for flood victims, with a Luxembourgish team on site. The circuit is now packed with aid and clothing for women, men and children. It is also being used as a base for lorries, ambulances, cranes, and vehicles that are transporting clean drinking water to affected areas. 10 ambulances and 22 volunteers from Luxembourg are there to help. At least 190 people have been killed by the devastating floods, with many more still missing.

A total of more than €140,000 was collected by the Luxembourg Red Cross and Caritas Luxembourg to help the Luxembourg victims of the floods.   However, Following the announcement of €50 million in aid from the Luxembourg Government, the organisations  have closed their appeals. All relevant information about claiming government aid can be found on Guichet.lu.  People who need assistance completing the form may contact the social helpline of the Red Cross (tel: 2755) or Caritas (tel: 402131-1). Meanwhile, The German Red Cross still has an ongoing appeal for donations. Information can be found at www.drk-bitburg-pruem.de or on aracityradio.com

Luxembourg’s national statistical office – STATEC – issued a report concluding that there was a slight decrease in bankruptcies in June 2021 with 136 companies declaring bankruptcy compared to May 2021 with 161 companies. However,  the number of companies declaring bankruptcy in June 2020 was substantially lower at 53. The companies that were the most affected by bankruptcies last month were holding companies and investment funds, as well as companies from the commerce, specialised, scientific and technical activities and construction sectors. The Luxembourg courts also stated that 98 firms were liquidated in the last month.

During a joint meeting of the Finance and Budget Committee and the Budget Execution Control Committee on Friday, it was reported that there is a €100 million (euro) surplus in State finances. Luxembourg’s Minister of Finance, Pierre Gramegna, noted that revenue collected by the State now stands at €11 billion – a 24.8% increase compared to the first half of 2020, a period heavily affected by the pandemic. A comparison with the same period in 2019, a period not affected by the pandemic, shows an increase of around 10% – or 5% on an annual basis, meaning Luxembourg has managed to resume the pace of pre-pandemic revenue growth. However, Gramegna emphasised that it is too early to draw conclusions for the year 2021 as a whole.

 

FRIDAY 16 JULY

First a coronavirus update for Luxembourg: Yesterday, the Ministry of Health reported 123 new resident cases derived from 8,725 tests. There have been no additional deaths, with the death toll standing at 819. 11 individuals are in hospital, with 4 in intensive care. The effective reproduction rate is 0.88. To date, 379,830 people have received their first vaccine dose, while 254,144 have received their second one.

Luxembourg suffered some of the worst and most widespread flooding in recent years after heavy rain caused rivers to burst their banks and ground water to swell. MeteoLux reported that 60 to 80 litres of rain per square metre had fallen on average throughout Wednesday and Thursday morning. Emergency services and police teams carried out more than 1,200 weather-related interventions across the country but no injuries related to the severe weather have been reported. The resulting material damage to property and infrastructure is significant.

Prime Minister Xavier Bettel has announced that the government had declared the flooding a natural disaster, thus unlocking financial aid of €50 million euros for private people, small businesses and the agricultural sector. Minister of the Interior Taina Bofferding announced that protecting citizens and preventing injuries and further damages would be priorities for the coming hours. Ms Bofferding confirmed that emergency services had received 6,300 phone calls, and conducted more than 1,200 operations. High commissioner for national protection Luc Feller said that the worst of the flooding should be over, and  emphasised that some of the water levels reached a peak not seen in a century.

Residents and tourists have been displaced by flooding across the country.

A joint decision was taken by the mayor of Echternach, police and the CGDIS yesterday morning to evacuate several parts of the city affected by flooding, many of which are without electricity. The plan is to evacuate people to Trifolion, from where they will meet with family or go to one of the 100 hotel rooms reserved by the municipality. It is estimated that those in the flooded areas  will be evacuated for up to two days or until the water recedes.

The municipal council of Vianden also announced that parts of the town would be evacuated following the severe flooding yesterday. The council advised affected residents to assemble at the Larei cultural centre, while authorities arranged emergency accommodation for those unable to return to their homes.

In a press release issued yesterday, the Luxembourg Insurance and Reinsurance Association said its “first provisional estimates” of the flood damage could reach an overall cost of €50m. The insurers body said that there is no fixed deadline for filing damage claims and recommended that insurance-holders take photos of the damage and contact their insurance company to verify the precise procedures to follow.

 

THURSDAY 15 JULY

First a coronavirus update for Luxembourg: Yesterday, the Ministry of Health reported 118 new resident cases derived from 6,300 tests. There have been no additional deaths, with the death toll standing at 819. 10 individuals are in hospital, with 3 in intensive care. The effective reproduction rate is 0.99. To date, 377,294 people have received their first vaccine dose, while 248,995 have received their second one.

Meteolux issued a red weather warning yesterday described as “extreme danger” for the entire country and heavy rain fell throughout the day causing widespread flooding, even in areas which usually don’t experience it. Shortly before 6 p.m, yesterday the CGDIS announced that its firefighters had been called out 100 times, In most cases, to homes where cellars were flooded. Several roads across the country have closed due to floods and fallen trees, and water levels in the Moselle river are expected to continue to rise until the weekend.

Following Tuesday’s rejected motion by CSV MP Michel Wolter calling for the resignation of Corinne Cahen the Family Minister and Health Minister hosted a joint press conference, where Ms Cahen insisted that all measures that had been taken were judicious and that the work was well done even if some things could have been done better. The minister said she found the opposition’s “purely political manoeuvring against her” regrettable.

STATEC reported yesterday that the cost of construction in Luxembourg increased by 4.3% – the fastest pace in almost three decades – between October 2020 and April 2021. The report showed that the price of wood had risen by 14% more in April than October, while roofing materials climbed 7%, and price increases for iron and various plastics all contributed to the sudden climb, Statec said. Transport Minister François Bausch and Economy Minister Franz Fayot claimed last month that a global supply shortage, due to high demand from the USA and China, was causing the cost of materials to soar.

The environmental organisation – Mouvement Ecologique – yesterday appealed the court’s ruling on the data centre planned at the Google site in Bissen. Judges had previously rejected complaints by the organisation about the lack of information regarding the data centre’s potential water consumption, ruling that the Google project was not yet complete and therefore potential issues could not yet be identified. The organisation claims the data centre’s water usage could represent 5-10% of Luxembourg’s total consumption – a claim that Google has not disputed. At a press conference, Mouvement Ecologique countered that once the project was complete, it would be too late and added that the judges had time to change the ruling.

The Luxembourg City municipal council confirmed yesterday that a “mini Schueberfouer” will take place at the Glacis car park as part of the “Fun um Glacis” project. Further to the numerous fairground stalls available around the city, 42 attractions will be installed at the car park in Limpertsberg including some of the world’s largest transportable roller coasters. The fair will open daily from 11am to 11pm starting on 21 August and running until 12 September 2021.

WEDNESDAY 14 JULY

First a coronavirus update for Luxembourg: Yesterday, the Ministry of Health reported 134 new resident cases derived from 7,196 tests. There have been no additional deaths, with the death toll standing at 819. 13 individuals are in hospital, with 2 in intensive care. The effective reproduction rate is 0.95. To date, 374,572 people have received their first vaccine dose, while 246,495 have received their second one.

Members of the Opposition have called on Family Affairs Minister Corinne Cahen to resign over her handling of the pandemic within care homes. CSV’s Michel Wolter proposed the motion demanding Ms Cahen’s resignation following yesterday’s presentation of the Waringo report into coronavirus clusters in care homes. Fellow CSV as well as ADR, the Left and Pirate Party MPs supported the motion, which argued that the Minister had failed to face her responsibilities. 

The pass rate for final-year exams in public secondary schools has dropped from 83% to 76% over one year. A total of 3,344 students sat their leaving exams this year. With a pass rate of 85%, the results of students in classical secondary education remained stable compared to previous years. However, the pass rate among general secondary school students fell from 77% in 2020 to 69% in 2021. Education Minister Claude Meisch attributed this downward trend partly to the challenging health context.

Following a call for projects by the EU last year, Luxembourg’s Digitalisation Ministry, Infrachain, the SnT at the University of Luxembourg and LIST have partnered to develop the EBSILUX blockchain project. The project is co-funded by the EU and integrates Luxembourg into the European Blockchain Services Infrastructure, or EBSI. This is expected to improve the internal market’s functions and support the competitiveness of the European economy.

The General Directorate for Tourism has launched a new mobile app: VisitLuxembourg. The app is designed as a “personal travel companion” for tourists and locals alike wishing to explore Luxembourg. It features six categories: culture, nature, gastronomy & nightlife, sport & activities, guided tours, and “Made in Luxembourg”. The VisitLuxembourg app can be downloaded for free from the App Store or Google Play Store and is currently available in German, French and English.

 

TUESDAY 13 JULY

First, the Coronavirus update for Luxembourg. The Ministry of Health reported 247 new resident cases yesterday, derived from 15,739 tests. There have been no additional deaths, with the death toll standing at 819. 12 individuals were reported to be in standard hospital care, with 2 in intensive care. The effective production rate is 0.93. 371,670 people have received their first vaccine dose, while 272,261 people have received their second dose. 

The results of an investigation released on Monday revealed that Luxembourg knew retirement home residents ran a high risk of dying from Covid but left decisions about safeguards in the hands of staff running the homes. Parliament ordered a study in April after Covid swept through the residences, killing at least two dozen residents at an elderly care home in Niederkorn. It was found that recommendations from the Family Affairs Ministry on how to protect residents were unclear. The Luxembourg Times revealed in February that nearly half of all Covid deaths last year comprised of elderly residents in nursing and care homes. Government data shows most of the care home deaths occurred during the second wave of infections in November, well after officials claimed more precautions were in place. 

A court case, which saw former Christian Democrat Party President – Frank Engel – charged with abuse of assets and fraud, has widened to further members of the largest opposition party. Members of Parliament for the party alerted the prosecutor’s office after finding out about an employment contract that paid Engel a salary for recruiting members for the CSV Frëndeskrees non-profit group. Spokesperson for the prosecution, Henri Eippers did not want to confirm names yet, however revealed that court hearings were planned between the 19th and 21st of October. RTL reported that 6 party members had been charged, including current vice president Elisabeth Margue, former vice president Stéphanie Weydert and former party secretary general Félix Eischen, who were allegedly aware of the contract.

A work accident that took place at a construction site on Rue de Neudorf, left a worker seriously injured. The worker suffered a 15 metre fall from a platform, which came loose due to unknown reasons. The man was treated at the scene before being taken to hospital. The prosecutor’s office and the Labour and Mines Inspectorate will open an investigation into the incident.

Four children were injured at a private party in Moutfort on Sunday after a sudden strong gust of wind hit a bouncy castle. Meteolux explained the sudden weather phenomenon as a dust devil. This is a short-lived whirl-wind which usually does not pose a threat to humans or infrastructure, however it can occasionally grow to be more powerful which becomes problematic when it cannot be predicted. The children were treated at the scene and later taken to the children’s hospital. It is believed that the bouncy castle was secured properly at the time of the incident.

 

MONDAY 12 JULY 

First, the Coronavirus update for Luxembourg. The Ministry of Health reported 131 new resident cases on Friday, derived from 7,071 tests. There had been no additional deaths, with the death toll standing at 819. 5 individuals were reported to be in hospital, with 1 in intensive care. The effective production rate was 1.54. 358,842 people have received their first vaccine dose, while 236,897 have received their second dose. 

A new report published by the Covid-19 task force warns that the increasingly transmissible Delta variant could see cases reach a daily average of more than 600 by September, according to modelling. Daily infections have jumped up in Luxembourg over the past week alone, averaging around 100 more cases per day than at the end of June. The total number of active infections has significantly increased to 1226 cases, compared to 351 cases last week. 

60 students from the University of Luxembourg had to vacate their halls of residence last week following the discovery of dangerous bacteria in the tap water, reported as Legionella. The bacteria can cause pneumonia, however the university said on Thursday that the concentration of bacteria in the water was not critical and that closure of the Limperstberg student accommodation is a precaution. It is thought that corrosive pipes in the old building may have caused the contamination. The students will relocate to hotels and other accommodation at the university’s expense and will receive a compensation of two-months rent. It is not clear when the student accommodation will reopen. Students first complained of possible contaminated water in October of 2019, however claim that the first water samples were only taken this summer. A university spokesperson denies the claims, saying that the University regularly tests the quality of the water.

The EU statistics agency revealed that housing prices across the whole European Union increased the most  since 2007at the beginning of this year, however Luxembourg is still at the top of the charts. Housing prices increased by an average of 6.1% across the EU compared to the beginning of 2020, with Luxembourg seeing the sharpest rise among the EU countries with a 17% increase from last year. Denmark saw the second highest increase at 15%, followed by Lithuania and the Czech Republic at 12%. Luxembourg’s neighbouring countries also saw a rise in housing prices, with Germany seeing a 9% annual increase, Belgium a 7% and France a 6% increase. 

In an interview with RTL on Saturday, Minister of the Interior Taina Bofferding responded to questions about new tax measures that could be introduced. One relates to a new property tax on vacant land and housing. A further tax relates to a proposal to pay off debt accumulated in the past year due to the coronavirus pandemic. Bofferding explained that when the crisis is over, companies that have taken advantage of the pandemic to boost their profits can contribute to the repayment by paying additional taxes.

 

FRIDAY 9 JULY

First a coronavirus update for Luxembourg: Yesterday, the Ministry of Health reported 131 new resident cases derived from 7,071 tests. There have been no additional deaths, with the death toll standing at 819. 5 individuals are in hospital, with 1 in intensive care. The effective reproduction rate is 1.54. To date, 358,842 people have received their first vaccine dose, while 236,897 have received their second one.

At yesterday’s press briefing, deputy prime minister and labour minister Dan Kersch and health minister Paulette Lenert announced that the new amendments to the covid law will not contain any new relaxations or restrictions and would remain in force until mid-September. However, some changes were announced including gatherings of more than ten people now being possible in a private setting under the cover of CovidCheck. Cross-vaccination will now be available, as people aged 50 and under who received AstraZeneca for their first dose will be able to choose Biontech/Pfizer or Moderna for their second dose, starting today. Family leave has been extended until 14 September, and children’s leisure and school activities will be allowed to take place during the summer without masks and without distancing. Finally, the ministers announced police crackdowns to enforce existing restrictions at leisure and nightlife locales, with an increase in fines to €6,000 for organisers who fail to comply with the law.

Prime minister Xavier Bettel left hospital yesterday after spending four days at the CHL. He had been admitted with breathing difficulties on Sunday after testing positive for covid-19. Bettel will resume his duties today, seeing out the end of his isolation period by teleworking. Bettel thanked the CHL staff for their professionalism, determination and enthusiasm. He also expressed gratitude for all of the front line health professionals who have been fighting the virus over the past year.

The ministry of health announced yesterday that, following its first session at the City Concorde shopping centre on Wednesday, the new  mobile unit of the large-scale testing operation will be at Auchan Kirchberg today. The ministry added that other stops in shopping centres were being planned, as well as other locations. The service is available, without an appointment, to residents and border residents, as long as they have a national registration number.

One man was arrested after an attempted bank robbery at the Savings Bank in Place de Metz at around 2 pm yesterday. The man threatened bank employees into handing over money before fleeing the building. Police launched an immediate manhunt and  located the alleged perpetrator several minutes later.

Following two years of construction work, the city market took place for the first time yesterday at Place de Paris. Stalls serving food and drink, clothing, accessories and other items were set up on each side of the tram rails, with stall owners saying the new location was well placed to welcome potential customers including local employees and from the nearby tram stop. Customers were pleased with the square’s regeneration and hoped that the variety of stalls would increase over time. As part of the “The City is Alive” summer programme, a carousel is to be installed at the Place de Paris.

THURSDAY 8 JULY – I’m SIMON CLARIDGE

First a coronavirus update for Luxembourg: Yesterday, the Ministry of Health reported 201 new resident cases derived from 7,049 tests. There has been 1 additional death, bringing the death toll to 819. 5 individuals are in hospital, with 1 in intensive care. The effective reproduction rate is 1.52. To date, 358,842 people have received their first vaccine dose, while 234,236 have received their second one.

The government’s weekly review of Covid-19 cases showed that for the week 28 June to 4 July, the number of people testing positive for COVID-19 increased from 107 to 787 cases – an increase of 635%. The effective reproduction rate also increased sharply from the previous week – rising from 0.86 to 2.08. However, this was also the fourth week in a row in which no new deaths related to COVID-19 were recorded. Regarding the distribution of covid variants it was found that the  Delta variant (Indian) now represents the majority of cases at 60.8%, and the Gamma (Brazillian) variant accounted for 24.1% of cases.

Replying to a parliamentary question from the CSV, Minister of Health Paulette Lenert and Minister of Internal Security Henri Kox reported that the sharp rise in the number of new coronavirus infections started in the five days following the National Day celebrations, and that infection clusters have been detected in three nightclubs in the city. The ministers added that the nightclubs in question had been reported to the police, with a request to carry out stricter controls. The ministers  announced that all people aged between 15 and 40 would be invited to be tested over the next two weeks through Luxembourg’s Large-Scale-Testing programme and that the results would inform the next draft bill for the extension of the Covid-19 law.

The Christian Social People’s Party have criticised the release of one of two culprits arrested in January for a fatal stabbing in Bonnevoie because he was no longer a minor. Minister of Justice Sam Tanson and Deputy State Prosecutor David Lentz explained  that the current wording of the law does not leave them with another option then to release a minor who turns 18 while in custody. Minister of Justice Sam Tanso announced that the “legal loophole” would be fixed in the context of youth protection reform, CSV MP Laurent Mosar stressed that this was insufficient and indicated he would submit a draft bill specific to this issue.

This week, the Minister for Cooperation Franz Fayot signed a new strategic partnership agreement with the director of UNAIDS. UNAIDS is a UN agency intent on the prevention of HIV and AIDS and providing support to those affected by the disease. The agency also fights against the stigmatisation of LGBTQ people and emphasizes access to health services. Last year Luxembourg contributed 4.2 million euros to the agency, and the new agreement will extend Luxembourgish cooperation until 2025.

According to a report published yesterday by Eurostat, Luxembourg has the EU’s lowest percentage of workers aged between 55 and 64. 44% of people in the age range, dubbed “Baby Boomers”, had a job last year, meaning that more than half are retiring before age 65 or were not previously working, Eurostat reported. Romania, Croatia and Greece were the only other EU countries with similar statistics.According to Eurostat almost 80% of people between 20 and 54 years old in Luxembourg are employed, above the 76% EU average.

 

WEDNESDAY 7 JULY

First a coronavirus update for Luxembourg: Yesterday, the Ministry of Health reported 118 new resident cases derived from 5,833 tests. There have been no additional deaths, with the death toll standing at 818. 5 individuals are in hospital, with 1 in intensive care. The effective reproduction rate is 1.70. To date, 354,951 people have received their first vaccine dose, while 230,601 have received their second one.

Luxembourg is set to make an initial donation of 350,000 vaccines to the COVAX facility. The Johnson & Johnson, AstraZeneca and mRNA vaccines will be distributed to the country’s cooperation partner countries.

The Economy Ministry and Luxinnovation have officially launched the new Startup Luxembourg platform. The platform aims to promote the Luxembourg startup ecosystem abroad, as well as facilitating networking at the national level. It also enables direct contact with incubators, startups and institutional players.

This week also saw the official launch of the Kultur | lx cultural institution. Created last July, Kultur | lx aims to support, promote and develop the Luxembourgish cultural scene. The institution forms part of the national cultural development plan and has already integrated existing initiatives such as music:LX and Reading Luxembourg. Its budget for 2021 amounts to just over €1.9 million.

Luxembourg’s three nature parks jointly launched a project aimed at raising awareness and implementing measures for insect protection. The project is funded by the Environment Ministry and brings together various sectors and members of Luxembourgish society. Activities for the public include a travelling exhibition and participation in the iNaturalist challenge, which runs until 3rd October and aims to document as many insects as possible.

The popular “Glacis um Kino” drive and walk-in cinema is returning to Limpertsberg this summer. From 21st July until 1st August, spectators can watch various films from the comfort of their car or a two- or four-seater sofa. The programme includes contemporary and family-friendly films, as well as classics such as Dirty Dancing, cult films like Pulp Fiction and even a Luxembourgish co-production: Wolfwalkers. Tickets are available on www.luxembourg-ticket.lu.

Vodafone, JP Morgan, PwC and HSBC have lined up to celebrate Luxembourg Pride Week and will light up Adolphe Bridge as well as other buildings. Listeners should keep an eye out..

 

TUESDAY 6 JULY

First a coronavirus update for Luxembourg: Yesterday the Ministry of Health reported 9 new resident cases derived from 342 tests. There have been no additional deaths, with the death toll standing at 818. 3 individuals are in hospital, with 1 in intensive care. The effective reproduction rate is 2.12. 350,904 people have received their first vaccine dose, while 226,809 have received a second one.

The Ministry of State confirmed that Prime Minister Xavier Bettel is in a ‘serious’ but stable condition after contracting Covid-19. He was initially admitted to the hospital on Sunday morning. The prime minister is still symptomatic and will remain under supervision for another two to four days .

The government’s new MyGuichet app was launched yesterday making documents accessible from mobile devices. This includes COVID related documents as well. Eventually, the app will also allow users to present official documents in a reliable manner. Parents will also have access to the documents of their underaged children.

According to a study by TNS Ilres the pandemic has encouraged people in Luxembourg to purchase more regional agricultural products. For a large majority of households, one of the main reasons for buying regional products was to support Luxembourg producers. 93% of households also considered Luxembourg agricultural products to be of good quality. However the study also revealed that 84% of households wish to receive more information on regional products.

Yesterday a train crashed into a car which was stuck at a railway crossing gate on rue de Mamer in Bertrange. The authorities issued a warning that drivers should avoid the area for the time being. At the time of the accident, 34 passengers were on the train. None of them suffered any injuries.

Yesterday the Christian Social People’s Party presented a proposal for faster construction of affordable housing. The opposition party demanded that further measures be added to the Housing Pact 2.0 and that private investors get a chance to contribute. The proposal also advocates for a country-wide tax on unused real-estate in order to combat market speculation.

Biometric data stored in identity cards could be amended if a new bill comes into force. Currently, the cards carry the holder’s photo and signature. If the legislation is passed two fingerprints will be added in accordance with European regulation. In addition to that the card-holder’s address would be removed from the card’s electronic chip. The bill will be put to vote in parliament this week.

 

MONDAY 5 JULY

First a coronavirus update for Luxembourg: On Friday the Ministry of Health reported 136 new resident cases derived from 6,120 tests. There have been no additional deaths, with the death toll standing at 818. 3 individuals are in hospital, with 1 in intensive care. The effective reproduction rate is 1.84. 343,732 people have received their first vaccine dose, while 216,876 have received a second one.

Luxembourg’s Ministry of Health announced that the sixth and final phase of the national COVID-19 vaccination campaign ended last week. As of right now anyone who has not yet made an appointment will be able to register on a new waiting list. This includes cross border workers as well. People can register for any of the following vaccines: Moderna, AstraZeneca, and Johnson & Johnson. The waiting lists will be open until the end of the month at www.impfen.lu.

Prime Minister Xavier Bettel was admitted to the hospital yesterday following his positive Covid test on 27 June. He is undergoing additional tests and analyses. Out of precaution Bettel will remain under observation for 24 hours.

The next municipal elections will take place on 11 June 2023. This was made official after a meeting by Minister of the Interior Taina Bofferding and Syvicol, the association of local communes. 2023 will be a key year with both local and national parliament elections taking place. Local elections are traditionally scheduled for October. But the date was changed so they don’t coincide with the general elections.

A collaborative media investigation by Le Monde and other European publications has targeted the practice of rulings in Luxembourg. The media outlets claim that the grand duchy is circumventing the problem of favourable tax rulings through tacit acquiescence. The Ministry of finance reacted immediately by saying that the allegations are false and unfounded.

According to a new law police video surveillance should only be used in areas where there is a risk of serious crime. The bill which was approved in parliament last week provides a clearer framework for the use of video surveillance. For example, images obtained by police through the Visupol network can be kept for a maximum of two months, except when required for investigations. 

The Luxexpo site in Kirchberg will be transformed into a congress and exhibition center. This is intended to make the grand duchy one of the top 50 business events locations worldwide. The site will be redeveloped in several stages to allow it to continue operating during the works. Public works minister François Bausch said the plan is to build in height in order to free up floor space. The government did not disclose a budget for the project or a more detailed timeline of the next steps.

FRIDAY 2 JULY

First a coronavirus update for Luxembourg: Yesterday, the Ministry of Health reported 108 new resident cases derived from 5,115 tests. There have been no additional deaths, with the death toll standing at 818. 4 individuals are in hospital, with 1 in intensive care. The effective reproduction rate is 1.49. To date, 341,043 people have received their first vaccine dose, while 210,682 have received their second one.

The Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs confirmed yesterday an extension of restrictions applicable for travel from the UK to Luxembourg until 15 July 2021 inclusive, due to  the increased circulation of more transmissible Delta variant. Anyone over the age of six who has stayed in the UK, regardless of the length of that stay, within the fourteen days before arriving in Luxembourg must undergo an immediate COVID-19 test, and must declare to the test laboratory that they stayed in the UK. COVID-19 tests will be performed, free of charge, for all arrivals at Luxembourg Airport. Arrivals from the UK must go into strict quarantine for seven days with the obligation to undergo a second test from the sixth day of quarantine. In the event of refusal to take a test, the quarantine period will be extended to a total of fourteen days.

The Ministry of Education has announced that free summer school classes will be available from the 30th of August to the 10th of September. Primary classes will be available for French, German and maths, while secondary pupils can receive extra support in German, English, French, maths, biology, natural sciences, chemistry, and physics. Last summer, 4,800 primary school pupils and 1,100 secondary school students participated in the classes.

STATEC published a list of the main employers in Luxembourg classified by size, yesterday which showed that The Post Group remains the largest employer in the grand duchy with 4,620 members of staff. In second place is the rail operator CFL, which grew its workforce by 70 people last year to around 4,580 employees. The first private employer on the list is supermarket chain Cactus which ranks third with a workforce of 4,460 people. The biggest change comes from Amazon, which moves up from 10th to 8th place.

A survey conducted for Luxemburger Wort and RTL, and published yesterday, revealed that The Greens would be the only coalition party to lose voters if a national election was held this month. Survey figures showed that The Greens would lose a seat, while the democratic party and the social democrats would gain one each. If the governing coalition decided to remain together, they would collectively gain one seat, allowing them to stay in government, while the opposition would lose one seat. Although nearly a quarter of those surveyed said they would vote for The Christian Social People’s Party, the highest recorded percentage of support, it represents a 4.3% drop compared to the 2018 election, and four fewer seats.

Minister of Labour and Employment Dan Kersch announced that 5 million rapid antigen tests have been distributed to employers during discussions with the OGBL and LCGB unions. Direct distribution of over 1.1 million tests was organised for companies with over 500 employees. 3.6 million tests were distributed to smaller businesses or individuals employing cleaners. The Minister thanked the 120 jobseekers who staffed the four test distribution centres and the municipalities which hosted them. Union representatives also praised the positive outcome of the campaign. The situation will be reassessed in September after the summer holidays.

 

THURSDAY 1 JULY

First a coronavirus update for Luxembourg: Yesterday, the Ministry of Health reported 92 new resident cases derived from 4,386 tests. There have been no additional deaths, with the death toll standing at 818. 6 individuals are in hospital, with 1 in intensive care. The effective reproduction rate is 1.21. To date, 338,821 people have received their first vaccine dose, while 203,972 have received their second one.

Video footage showing Prime Minister Xavier Bettel and Minister of Health Paulette Lenert wearing no masks and hugging and chatting at close proximity while at a private concert has caused some controversy on social media over the last few days. The Minister for Health responded by telling RTL that all those present at the event on Mother’s Day had undergone the  CovidCheck regime which allowed for events without masks or distancing. The Ministry of State further commented that the success of the vaccination campaign allowed for cultural events to once again take place with screening and CovidChecks, and that the Prime Minister supported any event within a regulated setting that  respected the measures and rules.”

Following estimates by the Council of the European Union that one in five children suffers sexual abuse during their upbringing, MP Nancy Arendt from the CSV Party yesterday brought the issue before the Chamber of Deputies.Arendt requested an in-depth analysis and figures on sexual abuse, the creation of an awareness campaign to better detect abuse, and an increase in the number of police officers trained to fight cybercrime.

This week, parliament voted down three opposition motions demanding better regulation of vacant housing units and building lands. The Left wanted the creation of a register for vacant dwellings showing for how long they have been empty.Government estimates show that approximately 6% of the national housing stock is currently empty. The Luxembourg Socialist Workers’ Party proposed imposing council tax on unused land and vacant houses and flats. The Christian Democrats called for all unoccupied housing owned by the state to be immediately put back on the market. Parliament also rejected the introduction of a national tax to combat speculation on unoccupied real estate and unused building land, which is seen as a problematic driver of house price increases.

The government announced yesterday that it will extend its guarantees for loans to companies for up to €2.5 billion until the end of year, in order  to assist the Luxembourg economy as the country begins to open up again. Through the scheme, launched in March 2020, the state gives loans to companies over a maximum six-year period, capped at €2.5 billion So far, Luxembourg firms have received loans amounting to €186.6 million, of which the state guarantees 85%. Throughout the worst period of the covid crisis in 2020, banks allowed companies to delay debt repayments of a value of €4.5 billion until the end of the year.

Luxembourg City mayor Lydie Polfer this week blocked one part of an exhibition about conspiracy theories related to the so-called “Bombers Affair” that shook the country between 1984 and 1986,  The director of Luxembourg’s City Museum told the press that the veto was due to a court case relating to the affair that was still ongoing. Between 1984 and 1986, a series of 18 bombings and other acts of sabotage were carried out across the country, including attacks on electricity pylons, the Headquarters of the Gendarmerie and the Palace of Justice, and at the airport. No-one has ever been caught or convicted for the attacks, which spawned a range of conspiracy theories on the motives and identities of the perpetrators, with the country’s security services and royal family among those being alleged as responsible .