Foreign relations of Luxembourg

Luxembourg has long been a prominent supporter of European political and economic integration. In efforts foreshadowing European integration, Luxembourg and Belgium in 1921 formed the Belgium-Luxembourg Economic Union (BLEU) to create an inter-exchangeable currency and a common customs regime. Luxembourg is a member of the Benelux Economic Union and was one of the founding members of the United Nations and the European Economic Community (now the European Union). It also participates in the Schengen Group (named after the Luxembourg village where the agreements were signed), whose goal is the free movement of citizens among member states. At the same time, the majority of Luxembourgers have consistently believed that European unity makes sense only in the context of a dynamic transatlantic relationship, and thus have traditionally pursued a pro-NATO, pro-US foreign policy.

Luxembourg is the site of the European Court of Justice, the European Court of Auditors, the Statistical Office of the European Communities (Eurostat) and other vital EU organs. The Secretariat of the European Parliament is located in Luxembourg, but the Parliament usually meets in nearby Strasbourg.

Luxembourg maintains embassies in the following countries

Austria, Belgium, China, the Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, India, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Russia, South Korea, Spain, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United States.

Luxembourg intends to open embassies in the following countries

Turkey and the United Arab Emirates^[1]

The following countries maintain embassies in Luxembourg

Austria, Belgium, Canada, China, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United States.

Relations by country

Australia

Australia is represented in Luxembourg through its embassy in Brussels (Belgium). Luxembourg is represented in Australia through the embassy of the Netherlands in Canberra and through an honorary consulate in East Lindfield.

Canada

• Canada is represented in Luxembourg through its embassy in Brussels (Belgium).^[2]
• Luxembourg is represented in Canada through its embassy in Washington, D.C. (USA), and 4 honorary consulates (in Calgary, Montreal, Toronto, and Vancouver).^[3]
• Both countries are full members of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, of NATO and of La Francophonie

Czech Republic

• The Czech Republic has an embassy in Luxembourg City.^[4]
• Luxembourg has an embassy in Prague.^[5]
• Both countries are full members of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, of the European Union and of NATO.
• Both countries shared a common fate in the 14th century when John the Blind of Luxembourg married Eliška Přemyslovna sister of the deceased King Wenceslaus III of Bohemia and became king of Bohemia.

Denmark

• Denmark has an embassy in the city of Luxembourg.^[6]
• Luxembourg has an embassy in Copenhagen.
• Both countries are full members of the Council of Europe, the European Union, and NATO.

Estonia

Luxembourg recognised Estonia on February 22, 1923 and re-recognised Estonia on August 27, 1991.^[7] Both countries re-established diplomatic relations on August 29, 1991.^[7] Estonia is represented in Luxembourg through its embassy in Brussels (Belgium) and an honorary consulate in Luxembourg.^[7] Luxembourg is represented in Estonia through its embassy in Prague (Czech Republic).^[7]

In 1937, a prominent Estonian political leader Artur Sirk, while a fugitive in Luxembourg was found dead, having apparently committed suicide by jumping out a second-story window. Although the Luxembourg Gendarmerie report assumed suicide, because of inconsistencies in the report, the Estonian chargé d'affaires in Paris, Rudolph Mollerson was sent to investigate.^[8] Estonian historians including Pusta^[9] and Tomingas^[10] have argued that the death was an act of defenestration by agents of the first President of Estonia, Konstantin Päts.

As of December 31, 2007, foreign investments made in Estonia originating from Luxembourg totaled 225 million EUR accounting for 2% of the total volume of foreign direct investments. There are about 300 Estonians living in Luxembourg.^[7] An Estonian cultural association was founded in 1998.^[11] The Estonian President Arnold Rüütel's state visit to Luxembourg was in May 2003,^[7][12] prime minister Andrus Ansip's in 2006. The Luxembourg Prime Minister Jean-Claude Juncker visited Estonia in 1999 and 2007.

• Trade agreement between Estonia and Belgium and Luxembourg (1935)^[13]
• Agreement on Road Transport between Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands (came into force 1.12.94)^[14]
• Agreement Between Estonia and the Belgo-Luxembourg Economic Union on the Reciprocal Promotion and Protection of Investments (came into force 23.09.99)^[15]
• Agreement Between Estonia and the States of Benelux on Readmission of Persons (came into force 1.02.05)
• Agreement on the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Income and Capital Tax evasion (signed 23.05.2006)^[16][17]

Finland

• Luxembourg recognised Finland's independence on October 25, 1921.
• Luxembourg is represented in Finland through its embassy in Copenhagen.^[18]
• Finland has an embassy and an honorary consulate general in Luxembourg.^[19]
• Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland about relations with Luxembourg

France

• Luxembourg was besieged by Louis XIV of France in 1684 and was annexed by Revolutionary France to be part of the Forêts département during the War of the First Coalition in 1795 until Napoleon's defeat in 1815.
• France has an embassy in Luxembourg.^[20]
• Luxembourg has an embassy in Paris, a consulate general in Strasbourg, and consulates in Bordeaux, Lille, Longwy, Lyon, Marseille, and Metz.^[21]
• Both countries are full members of the Council of Europe, European Union, NATO, the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe.

Greece

• Greece has an embassy in Luxembourg.
• Luxembourg has an embassy in Athens and 3 honorary consulates in Athens, Patras and Thessaloniki.
• Both countries are full members of NATO and of the European Union.
• Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs about relations with Luxembourg
• Luxembourg’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs about relations with Greece (in French only)

Hungary

• Hungary has an embassy in Luxembourg City.
• Luxembourg is represented in Hungary through its embassy in Vienna (Austria).
• Both countries are full members of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, of the European Union and of NATO.

Ireland

• Ireland has an embassy in Luxembourg City.^[22]
• Luxembourg has an honorary consulate in Dublin.
• Both countries are full members of the Council of Europe, of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development and of the European Union.

Israel

In November 1947, Luxembourg voted in favor of the partition plan to create a Jewish state. Israel and Luxembourg established full diplomatic relations in 1949. Due to Luxembourg's small size, the Israeli embassy is located in Brussels and Luxembourg is represented politically by the Dutch embassy and economically by the Belgian embassy.

Italy

• Italy has an embassy in Luxembourg City.^[23]
• Luxembourg has an embassy in Rome and 9 honorary consulates (in Florence, Genoa, Milan, Naples, Palermo, Perugia, Riccione, Turin, and Venice).^[24]
• Both countries are full members of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, of the European Union and of NATO.
• There are around 19,000 people of Italian descent living in Luxembourg.

South Korea

• Luxembourg`s forty four soldiers has participated in the Korean war with UN forces in 1950 against North Korea and China.
• Luxembourg and South Korea established diplomatic relations on 16 March 1962.
• Both countries have a shipping agreement in 1987 and an air agreement in 2003.
• Bilateral Trade in 2014.
  • Exports $572,000,000 (Ships, Chemical Products, Plastic goods).
  • Imports $39,000,000 (Measuring instrument, Non-woven fabric, Valve).
• Bilateral investments in 2014.
  • South Korea's investment in Luxembourg was $2,824,000,000.
  • Luxembourg's investment in South Korea was $4,047,000,000.
• High-level Exchanges.
  • 1983 April Chairperson of the Advisory Council on State Affairs Choi Kyu-hah.
  • 1996 October the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Gong Roh-myong.
• From Luxembourg to the South Korea.
  • 1997 September Grand Duke Henri and Minister of Economic Affairs Robert Goebbels.
  • 2000 October Prime Minister Jean-Claude Juncker and the Minister of Foreign Affairs Lydie Polfer. (To attend the third ASEM meeting).
  • 2001 March Hereditary Grand Duke Guillaume.
  • 2004 March Minister of Economy Grethen. (Economic Mission).
  • 2006 October Minister of Finance and Budget Frieden and Prince Guillaume of Luxembourg.
  • 2011 April Ministry of Foreign Affairs Jean Asselborn.
  • 2011 May Hereditary Grand Duke Guillaume and Minister of Economy Jeannot Krecke.^[25]

Kosovo

Luxembourg recognized the independence of Kosovo on 21 February 2008.^[26] Luxembourg has promised to give Kosovo €30 million over the next five years. Luxembourg said that the money was mainly for focus on professional training for Pristina and Mitrovica North authorities.

Lithuania

• Formal relations started on 1992-03-23.
• Luxembourg did not recognise the annexation of the Baltic States by the USSR in 1940-1991 either de iure or de facto.
• Lithuania is represented in Luxembourg through its embassy in Brussels (Belgium) and through an honorary consulate in Luxembourg City.^[27]
• Luxembourg is represented in Lithuania through its embassy in Warsaw (Poland) and through an honorary consulate in Vilnius.
• Both countries are full members of NATO and of the European Union.
• Lithuanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs: list of bilateral treaties with Luxembourg

Malta

• Malta is represented in Luxembourg through its embassy in Brussels (Belgium) and through an honorary consulate in Luxembourg City.

Romania

Both countries established diplomatic relations on December 10, 1910. Since August 19, 1991, Romania has an embassy in Luxembourg City.^[28] Luxembourg is represented in Romania through its embassy in Athens (Greece) and two honorary consulates (in Bucharest and Sibiu).

Russia

Luxembourg has an embassy in Moscow and an honorary consulate in Saint Petersburg. Russia has an embassy in the city of Luxembourg.

Both countries are full members of the Council of Europe, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, and the United Nations.

In the history of bilateral relations, the first Russian president to come on an official visit to Luxembourg was Vladimir Putin on 24 May 2007. As bilateral trade had more than tripled from USD 66.6 million in 2003 to USD 228.3 million in 2006, time had come to strengthen the ties between the two countries, energy and finance being the key areas of cooperation between Russia and Luxembourg.

Turkey

Luxembourg is represented in Turkey through its embassy in Ankara, which was opened in 1987.^[29]

There are 500 ethnic Turk's living in Luxembourg, 200 of whom have dual citizenship. The trade volume between the two States had reached $217 million in 2011.^[29]

Luxembourg strongly supports Turkey's candidacy as a full European Union member.^[30][31]

Ukraine

• Luxembourg is represented in Ukraine through its embassy in Prague (Czech Republic) and through an honorary consulate in Kiev.
• Ukraine is represented in Luxembourg through its embassy in Brussels (Belgium) and through an honorary consulate in Luxembourg City.^[32]

United States

Embassy of Luxembourg in Washington, D.C.

The United States, fighting on the Allied side, contributed to Luxembourg's liberation in World War I and World War II. More than 5,000 American soldiers, including U.S. Army General George S. Patton, are buried at the Luxembourg American Cemetery and Memorial near the capital of Luxembourg City, and there are monuments in many towns to American liberators. The strong U.S.-Luxembourg relationship is expressed both bilaterally and through common membership in NATO, the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE).

Vietnam

Both countries signed diplomatic relations in 1973. Luxembourg's representation in Vietnam is through its embassy in Beijing, China.^[33] Vietnam is represented through its embassy in Brussels, Belgium.^[34]

Relations by organisation

United Nations

See also

• List of diplomatic missions in Luxembourg
• List of diplomatic missions of Luxembourg

References

1. "Déclaration sur la politique étrangère et européenne de Jean Asselborn à la Chambre des Députés, le mardi 16 novembre 2010". Retrieved 20 February 2015.
2. "Gouvernement du Canada - Government of Canada". Retrieved 20 February 2015.
3. Luxembourg embassy in Washington (also accredited to Canada)
4. "Czech embassy in Luxembourg City (in Czech and French only)". Retrieved 20 February 2015.
5. Jan Kuthan. "Levné dárky pro muže i pro ženy nejen k narozeninám". Retrieved 20 February 2015.
6. "Luxembourg". Retrieved 20 February 2015.
7. Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. "Estonia and Luxembourg".
8. The Radical Right in Interwar Estonia. Retrieved 20 February 2015.
9. K. Pusta, Saddiku Paevik, Gesilingen, 1964, vol. 1
10. W. Tomingas, Vaikiv Ajustu Eestis, New York, 1961
11. "Luksemburgi Eesti Selts".
12. "Visite d'Etat au Luxembourg de S.E.M. Arnold Rüütel, Président de la République d'Estonie".
13. "Convention pour favoriser les échanges et les règlements commerciaux entre l'Union économique belgo-luxembourgeoise et l'Estonie" (PDF).
14. "AGREEMENT ON ROAD TRANSPORT BETWEEN THE REPUBLIC OF ESTONIA, THE REPUBLIC OF LATVIA, THE REPUBLIC OF LITHUANIA, THE KINGDOM OF". Retrieved 20 February 2015.
15. Text of the Agreement Between Estonia and the Belgo-Luxembourg Economic Union on the Reciprocal Promotion and Protection of Investments.
16. "Convention de double imposition : Luxembourg-Estonie".
17. "Estonia, Luxembourg sign tax treaty". 2006-06-15.
18. "Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland: Countries and regions: Luxembourg". Retrieved 20 February 2015.
19. "Embassy of Finland, Luxembourg". Retrieved 20 February 2015.
20. "Embassy of France in Luxembourg Ville, Luxembourg". EmbassyPages.com. Retrieved 14 March 2015.
21. "Luxembourg - Embassies and Consulates". EmbassyPages.com. Retrieved 14 March 2015.
22. "Department of Foreign Affairs". Retrieved 20 February 2015.
23. Italian embassy in Luxembourg City (in French and Italian only)
24. "ambasciatalussemburgo.it". Retrieved 20 February 2015.
25. "Countries and Regions > Europe > List of the Countries". Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of Korea. Retrieved 2015-12-07.
26. "Le Luxembourg reconnaît formellement le Kosovo" (in French). Le Gouvernement du Grande-Duché de Luxembourg. 2008-02-21. Retrieved 2008-02-21.
27. Dizaino Kryptis. "Lietuvos Respublikos užsienio reikalų ministerija - Lietuvos Respublikos užsienio reikalų ministerija". Retrieved 20 February 2015.
28. "AMBASADA ROMÂNIEI în Marele Ducat al Luxemburgului". Retrieved 20 February 2015.
29. "Relations between Turkey and the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg". Republic of Turkey Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Retrieved 20 February 2015.
30. "Luxembourg's FM voices support for Turkey's EU membership". Retrieved 20 February 2015.
31. "Luxembourg FM says EU needs Turkey to become global actor". TodaysZaman. Retrieved 20 February 2015.
32. "Посольство України в Королівстві Бельгія та Великому Герцогстві Люксембург (за сумісництвом)". Retrieved 20 February 2015.
33. "Embassy Information", EmabssyInformation.com, retrieved 28 April 2009.
34. "List of Vietnamese Embassies and Consulates abroad", 48th International Mathematical Olympiad, retrieved 28 April 2009.

Further reading

• Fally, V. (1992). Le Grand-Duché de Luxembourg et la construction européenne. Luxembourg City.
• Fally, V. (1996). Le Luxembourg face à la construction européenne. Luxembourg City.
• Frentz, Jean-Marie (2010). "The Foreign Policy of Luxembourg". In Steinmetz, Robert; Wivel, Anders. Small States in Europe: Challenges and Opportunities. Ashgate. ISBN 978-0-7546-7782-6.
• Hey, Jeanne A. K. (2002). "Luxembourg's Foreign Policy: Does Small Size Help or Hinder?". Innovation: The European Journal of Social Science Research 15 (3): 211–225.
• Hey, Jeanne A. K., ed. (2003). Small States in World Politics: Explaining Foreign Policy Behavior. Lynne Rienner Publishers. ISBN 1-55587-920-9.
• Hoffmann, Serge (2002). "Les relations germano-luxembourgeoises durant les années 30" [Germano-Luxembourgish relations in the 1930s] (PDF). Ons Stad (in French) (71). Retrieved 21 January 2016.
• Huberty, Martine (May 2013). "Ein kleiner Fisch im großen Teich Luxemburger Verhandlungsstragien im Kontext der EU-Institutionen" [A small fish in a big pond: Luxembourgish negotiation strategies in the context of EU institutions] (PDF). forum (in German) (329): 21-23.
• Kayser, Steve (June 2006). "La neutralité du Luxembourg de 1918 à 1945" [Luxembourg's neutrality from 1918 to 1945] (PDF). forum (in French) (257): 36–39. Retrieved 21 January 2016.
• Wurth, Hubert (2006). "La politique étrangère du Luxembourg" [Luxembourg’s Foreign Policy]. Revue internationale et stratégique (in French) (61): 217–226. doi:10.3917/ris.061.0217.

External links

• Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Luxembourg
• Australia Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade about the relations with Luxembourg
• "Luxembourg and Europe, from the ECSC to the Treaty of Lisbon". Presidency of the Council of the European Union / Luxembourg 2015.