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February 2012 – Issue 09 – 4€ – www.delano.lu

Building EuropE: Juliane KoKott gives an insider’s view of the Court of JustiCe

Understanding LUxemboUrg: Current affairs, business, lifestyle, Culture

01_cover.indd 1 24.01.2012 11:14:05 Uhr

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February 2012 - delano - 3

editorial

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impressumFebruary 2012 - Issue 09

Editor in chief: Duncan Roberts([email protected])Journalist: Aaron Grunwald([email protected])Contributors: Neel Chrillesen, Brian Power,Tonya StonemanPhotography: Charles Caratini,Luc Deflorenne, David Laurent/Wide, Olivier MinaireProofreading: Cathy Weber, Wendy Winn

publisher

Maison Moderne PublishingPhone: (+352) 29 66 18-1Offices: 10 rue des Gaulois, Luxembourg-BonnevoieWrite to: PO Box 728, L-2017 LuxembourgE-mail: [email protected]: www.maisonmoderne.lu

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Printed by Imprimerie CentraleDistribution by Valora Services LuxembourgISSN 2220-5535

Vigilance notVigilantismText: Duncan Roberts — Illustration: Quentin Vijoux

The brutal attack by a gang of youths ona train passenger just before Christmasmay well have merited little more than afew lines in the local media had thepolice and state prosecutor’s office notdecided to release CCTV footage of therobbery. The video has since been watchedover 10,000 times online and the ensu-ing furore has awoken a nation from itsslumber. Successive surveys listing Lux-embourg as the safest city in the worldhave led to complacency over personalsecurity, but the train attack--the latestin a series of violent muggings on trainsand city streets--may have unintention-ally led to everyone being a little morevigilant.That is not to say that Luxembourgdoesn’t deserve its accolades for safety.Violent incidents are still rare and theculture of drinking and fighting so glee-fully portrayed in documentaries andpolice “reality shows” in the UK, forexample, has never threatened to invadethe Grand Duchy.

The train incident also reignited the debateover data protection and the use of sur-veillance cameras in public spaces. TheGreen party warned that the unexpur-gated transmission of the video may wellhave implicated innocent bystanders, orthose even trying to assist the victim, asperpetrators of the crime in the eyes ofsome viewers. In the face of the emo-tional outcry over the violent footage thiswas a brave stance from the Greens, butit was met with criticism even from someof the party’s natural supporters.The dissemination of the video did helpapprehend four of the suspects (one hadbeen arrested shortly after the attack,)but it was unclear from the blurry blackand white footage of the precise role inthe incident of some of those captured oncamera. CCTV can help assist the author-ities in helping bringing criminals to jus-tice, but unless used prudently there is adanger it will be seen as just anothermedium for so-called infotainment orcould even encourage vigilantism.

programme highlights:

The impact of retail protection measures OTC derivatives reform UCITS and MiFiD implementation Developments in Fatca, EMIR and

the Savings Directive Information flow and operational issues

centre de conférences kirchberg,luxembourgmarch 13th & 14th, 2012

www.alfi.lucontact: [email protected]

Better regulationClearer informationMore protection

alfi spring conference


contents

24

SNAPSHOTSregulArS

622420

28 THE HUNT FOR TALENTNicolas Schmit on attractiveness

34 POSITIVE STEREOTYPESAlice Walpole on the UK’s EU veto

40 BRITISHWANTEDLuc Frieden on the UK’s EU veto

42 THINK LOCALDong Feiyu: the Chinese teacher from Inner Mongoliaexplains why the Grand Duchy is the place for herson, how she confronted her fear of French, andwhat amazed her about Luxembourg city hall.

66MYOTHER LIFEDavid John Pike: the opera singer and business con-sultant talks about how he has managed to build twocareers, how he strikes the balance between the two,and how he is preparing for his next big role.

lifeSTyleNETWORKINgThe Network

52 gOINg NATIVEThree festivals to see off winter

54HOTWHEELSSeven luxury sports cars to drive

56 KONRADOPENSEnglish stand-up comedy returns

62DISCOVERY ZONEFinding new films

50buSiNeSSWIDENINg gAP?Luxembourg’s coming labour shortage

30 ExPAT INSURANCEAre you really covered?

35 JUNCKER JOVIAL BUTWARYThe PM on the euro zone

36 gETTINg THEMESSAgENominees awaiting the word

38 FATCAAmericans not welcome anymore

CurreNT AffAirSEMPLOYEE INVOLVEMENTVolunteering through the workplace

10 TENWORTHY ORgANISATIONSGet involved & make a difference

12 UNIVERSITY CHALLENgEAlfred Funk on the Belval campus

16 ATLAS BOUNDLuxembourg teams tackle Morocco rally

20 TRAM TURMOILThe public transport debate rages on

6

44 COver STOryJULIANE KOKOTTBuilding EuropeJuliane Kokott, advocate general at the European Court of Justice, gives an inside viewof the institution and the key role it increasingly plays in making the EU a day-to-day reality.

Corporate and social responsibility

EMPLOYEEINVOLVEMENTMore and more Luxembourg companies are helping their staffvolunteer through the workplace. Is it time well spent?Text: Aaron Grunwald — Illustration: Charlotte Wood

current affairs

diane Wolter:

sometimes staff just needhelp getting started

Over the past decade, many companies’philanthropic activities have been sub-sumed under the “corporate and socialresponsibility” umbrella. Several Lux-embourg firms have already moved wellpast simply writing a cheque and thensending out a press release to publicisetheir donations. Today companies aregetting their employees involved--quiteliterally--and focused just as much onthe intangibles.Sometimes the hardest part of volun-teering is getting started. While manyemployees have “had it in mind for sometime to become active in a non-profit asso-ciation, maybe they didn’t know how to doit,” says Diane Wolter, philanthropyadvisor at the Banque de Luxembourg.That was one motivation behind thebank establishing its Hëllef Hëllefen,or Help to Help, programme in 2006.Simply put, “it is convenient to learnabout projects at your workplace. Then [anemployee might] think, ‘well, why not, Ican give part of my time to an association.Let’s do it! ’”Hëllef Hëllefen missions are all pro-posed by employees, who must person-ally be involved with the organisationto be supported and serve as the project’s

internal advocate. Staff present theirarguments to a seven-member commit-tee of colleagues, drawn from acrossthe bank’s ranks, to win approval fortheir charity. In its five year history, theprogramme has supported more than20 NGOs in Luxembourg and theGreater Region, and doled out morethan 76,000 euro in financial support(although each organisation can receivea maximum of 5,000 euro annually).In fact, the money does not really evencome from the bank’s coffers: it israised partially from the fees employ-ees pay to park in company garages,and from all the advertising sold in itsin-house magazine which is sent toprivate banking clients. In addition tomoney, Hëllef Hëllefen has donatedthe bank’s reusable computers and fur-niture, collected clothes and toys fromemployees, and hosted public events inits boulevard Royal auditorium.But perhaps the most importantaspect is that the project organiser“can use our internal communicationchannels.” For example, if the organi-sation needs volunteers for a specialevent, they can put out the call on thebank’s intranet site. This makes it

easy for fellow staffers to donate theirtime.

FRAMEWORK

“There are a lot of people who want to getinvolved, but didn’t take the steps,”explains Paul Wilwertz, public rela-tions manager at the bank. If you say,“‘We need ten guys Saturday morningfrom eight to 12 to do this,’ we will findthem. We will find more than ten. Becausewe have given them the opportunity, wehave given them the framework. Thenpeople engage.”In 2008, one of the bank’s employeeswho is actively involved in Stëmm vunder Strooss, a group that helps thehomeless, was looking for extra handsfor the NGO’s annual Christmas din-ner for 300 people. Indeed, he foundten colleagues to help, a number whichgrew to 18 last year.Luxembourg’s steel giant also centres ahuge amount of its philanthropic effortsaround helping employees find ways tovolunteer. The ArcelorMittal Founda-tion was created with the 2007 merger,“because neither of the companies had afoundation,” says its managing director,Felicidad Cristobal. Since then it has

DavidLaurent/W

ide


ArcelorMittalFoundation

current affairs

Hard at Work:

ArcelorMittal Luxembourg employeeAdina Sinea building houses in Haitiwith Habitat for Humanity

sponsored more than 500 projects peryear, with more than 700,000 employ-ees donating about 30,000 workinghours annually, Cristobal calculates.Last year, for example, a dozen Arcelor-Mittal employees joined a Habitat forHumanity initiative organised by formerUS president Jimmy Carter which built100 houses in Haiti in just one week.

DOLPHIN THERAPY

The company is currently ramping up itsyear-old “Solidarity Holidays” scheme,in which ArcelorMittal employees inany country will be able to participate ina project in another part of the world,such as building schools in Liberia orassisting doctors at a mobile healthcamp in Senegal. All travel expenses arecovered by the company, so “employeesonly need to give their time.”So far, about 65 percent of ArcelorMit-tal staff who participate in the pro-gramme are white collar employees and35 percent are blue collar. “Our objectiveis to have the opposite,” says Cristobal. Inaddition to the mixing of employeesfrom different roles and departments,“if not for this project, some people from the

developing world would never be able to”visit another region or participate in sucha volunteering activity.“We try to involve our people as much aspossible” in the firm’s community invest-ment programme, says Guy Loesch,partner at the law office of Linklatersin Luxembourg. For example, employ-ees travelled to Benin to volunteer ateducational centres run by AfriqueDécide, which helps physically disabledchildren. The Linklaters staff helpedwith recreational activities and gaveFrench lessons. “That was an absolutegreat experience” for the employees whoparticipated, Loesch states.The firm also supports Le rêve le petitprince, a group that provides dolphintherapy to seriously ill and develop-mentally disabled children at a centrein Turkey. “Of course it’s quite costly, andwe’ve been supporting the association bymaking donations, which is absolutelyvital.” But a few months ago, companypersonnel for the first time accompa-nied a small group of children fromLuxembourg during their one weekstay. Loesch says the firm is consider-ing if they can send staff on future trips.

Closer to home, Linklaters staff canpropose engaging in volunteer activitywith an organisation in Luxembourg orthe Greater Region with which they areinvolved. If approved, the f irm grantsemployees one paid working day peryear. Loesch also would ideally like tohave clients participate in volunteeractivities alongside employees, but Lin-klaters is still developing the idea.The Banque de Luxembourg remainsquite active in traditional philanthropicactivity and has no plans to abandon itslong history of financial support. It alsodonates hundreds of staff working hoursto worthy causes each year, secondingstaff to work onsite at association offices,for example.Yet helping employees volunteer theirtime “corresponds to the values shared bypeople within the bank,” reckons Wolter,and has a “social team building” bene-fit.Morever, Wilwertz says: “if we want toget people interested in what the bank isdoing, we also have to have an interest inwhat [its] people are doing.”For 10 ways to get involed outside of the work-place, see article on pages 10-11.

8 - delano - February 2012


current affairs

Get involved

TEN VOLUNTEEROPPORTUNITIESDelano presents ten worthyorganisations where Luxembourg’sinternational residents can helpmake a difference.

An umbrella group, CLAE fosters a multicul-tural approach to immigration and integra-tion. For more than 20 years it has hosted theFestival des migrations--to be held March 16-18 at Luxexpo--which celebrates citizenship.It needs more than 300 volunteers to make theshow a success. The festival includes severalexpos “to savour the large cooking traditionsof Luxembourg and also in the numerous book-stands of the Salon du livre et des cultures,which display the literatures of Luxembourg,”says Anita Helpiquet.www.clae.lu

Kick Cancer Into Touch, which spun out of theRugby Club of Luxembourg, supports theKinner Kanner Kranks, a centre for terminallyill children and their families, and Omega 90, acancer hospice in Hamm. While the children’sclinic always needs volunteers to help withactivities, “you shouldn’t always rely on otherpeople to set up fundraising events,” stressesJoe Lister. For example, volunteer Tony Sav-age cycled 500 kilometers from London toParis last summer, raising€16,500 (photo).Follow on Facebook

CLAE

Many in the Grand Duchy’s international com-munity would like to get involved in volunteerwork outside of work, but sometimes face thequestions of language or need a better of idea ofwhere to start. Delano has ten English-friendlyideas.All of the groups profiled welcome the generalpublic to participate and volunteer in its activities,so we are not including groups restricted to aparticular profession. Our criteria also requiredthe associations to have a physical presence here inLuxembourg, however they could be active bothwithin the Grand Duchy and internationally.To maintain a more cosmopolitan and cross-bor-der appeal, we excluded groups focused on a sin-gle foreign nation. Likewise we selected organi-sations focused on causes with wider interest,attempting to avoid overly political or religiousagendas.In addition to the ten associations profiled here,many worthy causes are listed on Luxembourg’svolunteer portal, www.benevolat.public.lu, whichis published in French. AG

KICK CANCERINTO TOUCh

1

Fairtrade Lëtzebuerg promotes sustainableand fairly traded goods. That means, forexample, chocolate or coffee makers in thedeveloping world receive a greater cut ofthe profits for their products sold here in theGrand Duchy. In addition to English languagewriters, the group needs event organisers.“We need the help of motivated people to in-form” the public about the fair-trade concept,explains Alice Zehner. Volunteers can also takepart in lighter hearted PR vehicles, such as itsFairtrade Banana Day (photo).www.transfair.lu

FAIRTRAdELëTzEbUERg

2

4

Supported by the government, the Fondationde Luxembourg allows aspiring philanthro-pists to quickly and easily establish and runtheir own personal foundation without neces-sarily having to create their own stand-aloneoffice and infrastructure. “The foundation helpsdonors in finding and setting up of projects tosupport, and it accompanies the donors in themonitoring of these projects,” says Tonika Hird-man (photo). The idea is to make private phil-anthropic activity more attractive by removingmany of the administrative hassles.www.fdlux.lu

FONdATION dELUxEmbOURg

3


current affairs

natur&ëmwelt restores land in natural reser-ves. The group’s “Fit by Nature” volunteer pro-gramme combines protecting the environmentwith keeping in shape. It can be hard physicalwork--ranging from clearing out alien speciesto planting native trees--but participants cantake pride in seeing their job bear fruit. Proj-ects typically last three to four hours and takeplace during the weekend. “This programmeis open to everyone, including families, and nospecial background is needed,” says MireilleMolitor.www.naturemwelt.lu

The Luxembourg Red Cross’s InternationalSection is made up of volunteers that supportall of the wider organisation’s mission. “It wascreated some time ago to meet the expectationsof expatriates that want to volunteer for a goodcause,” says Tanja Kinnen. They are looking forhelp with writing, translation and graphicdesign, as well as with organising publicevents, such as the annual Afterwork swim-ming challenge (photo), “which raises fundsto support struggling families in Luxembourg.”[email protected]

NATUR&ëmwELT REd CROSSINTERNATIONAL

SECTION

5

Supported by the foreign ministry, the UnityFoundation supports community school andyouth empowerment programmes in devel-oping countries. “As the name of our NGOsuggests--Unity--we are interested in creatinga community of interest here in Luxembourgwhich unites people fromvariousbackgrounds,”explains Thomas Hueck. It needs volunteers totranslate project status reports from Englishinto French. The foundation is also looking forvolunteers from the international communityto organise fundraising events.www.unityfoundation.lu

UNITy FOUNdATION

10

Special Olympics Luxembourg is a sportsfederation for people with intellectual dis-abilities. Known for its international meetingsof Olympic-type competitions, the group runsyear-round sports programmes across theGrand Duchy. It needs coaches and assistantcoaches, for a variety of sports, who can par-ticipate in weekly sessions. “We also need vol-unteers for our sports events during the year,”says Marc Feltgen, citing roles from timekeep-ers and event secretaries, to catering andorganising medal awards.www.specialolympics.lu

SPECIAL OLymPICSLUxEmbOURg

7

The national animal shelter in Gasperich hasbeen helping cats and dogs for more than 100years, and is set to move into an expandedfacility later this year. While caring for theanimals inside the shelter requires specialtraining, anyone 18 and up can help make adog’s day. Volunteers are needed Mondaythrough Friday from 2 to 5 p.m. to take one ofthe canine residents out for a walk. The groupis really looking for “people who are used tolarge dogs, because we don’t have many smallones,” says Monique Jentges.www.deierenasyl.lu

TIERASyL

9

6

Telstar is Luxembourg’s international (and Eng-lish speaking) scout group, with more than130 young members between the ages ofsix and 18. “We operate on the basis of ‘manyhands make light work’ and want to extend ourteam to ensure that no one is overloaded. Wecan make use of any time that people feel theycan offer,” says Chris Garratt. The group pro-vides leader training and can reimburse outof pocket expenses. It is not necessary to vol-unteer each week and Telstar also needs helpwith administrative tasks.www.telstar.lu

TELSTAR

8

current affairs


DATE LINEGood SerViceAn international studyby Presence Mystery

Shopping Best Practices causedhuge debate when its “under-cover shoppers” ranked theavenue de la Liberté as theshopping street with the sec-ond best service in the world.

4•jan

road deathS upPreliminary figuresreleased by Statec

indicate there were some 36road fatalities in Luxembourgin 2011--up from 32 in 2010.However, the goal of reducing2001 road death figures by halfhas still been achieved.

Stadium cutSA meeting betweenproperty developer

Flavio Becca and the ministersof small- andmedium-size busi-ness and sport resulted in anagreement to reduce theamountof retail space at the plannednew national football stadiumin Livange.

2•jan

3•jan

January 2012

used to: “My first week here was a bitsurprising. It’s always astonishing to seethat the same things can be managed dif-ferently from what you’re used to. Not worse,not better, just differently. And they use somany acronyms here! Some sentences mightjust as well be in Chinese. It’s normal foreveryone else, but it’s a whole new experi-ence for me!”Funk, a father of two--his wife andsons aged 10 and 13 will be joininghim in September--studied law but isalso passionate about political science,history and philosophy. Before his postat Hohenheim, he was what he calls “asort of lawyer / legal counsellor” for a uni-versity in Paderborn, then director ofthe small and relatively new Fachhoch-schule Westküste. Indeed, Funk saysthat since arriving in Luxembourg hehas noticed some parallels with the

Despite only taking over from EricTschirhart in mid January, the newchief operating officer at the Universityof Luxembourg already looks verymuch at home in his new office. Freshlyarrived from Hohenheim University, inGermany, where he held the same posi-tion, 47 year-old Alfred Funk is ada-mant that he will take his time beforeimposing any new standards. “Changeis essential and even more so for a univer-sity like Luxembourg’s which is in themidst of growing,” he says. “There will ofcourse be adjustments but not until I’velistened to what people have to say andobserved how things function. Anythingelse would be bad management. You don’tgo about making changes just for the valueof doing it.”He admits that the Luxembourg wayof working will also take some getting

Higher education

universiTYchallengeThe new chief operating officer at the University of Luxembourg,Alfred Funk, says great opportunities lie ahead for the young institution.Text: Neel Chrillesen with Duncan Roberts — Photo: Olivier Minaire

current affairs

February 2012 delano - 13

Sitcom SucceSSA survey by TNS Ilresrevealed that 33% of

all Luxembourgers regularlywatched local language sitcomWeemseesdet on RTL. The DealProductions show was espe-cially popular among youngaudiences.

15•jan

Steel Site hackThe Belgian branch ofhacker group Anony-

mous hijacked the website ofthe world’s largest steel group,ArcelorMittal. The group hadwarned of the attack, saying itwas a protest against the closureof its mill in Cockerill, Belgium.

VelodromeplanSSports minister Ro-

main Schneider unveiled plansto build the long mooted ve-lodrome indoor cycling arenaand training centre in Mondorf-les-Bains, the home town of procycling brothers Fränk and AndySchleck.

6•jan

10•jan

5•jan

GrandDukeJean,whoreignedfrom 1964 to 2000, turned 91.

The pioneeringspiriT is sTillpercepTible”Alfred Funk

Westküste institution--“the pioneeringspirit is still perceptible: a great deal is stillin the planning stage. And the pride ofpeople in ‘their’ university.”With his solid background in financeand HR management, it would seemnatural if Funk addresses these areasfirst. “I still have a lot of things to evalu-ate before taking any steps. It does how-ever occur to me that the university hasgrown in the last year but that the admin-istration has not grown in the same way.This could be an issue in the future andsomething we should work on developing.As for the financial management, I believeit is solid. However, we need to get somegraphs up to show how the growth is tak-ing place and analyse the different sources

of money and the different costs so we canadopt a strategy which conforms to that ofthe University.”

Moving souTh

One of the biggest projects Funk willhave to deal with is the relocation ofLuxembourg University to Esch-Bel-val. The first phase of the project,budgeted at 600 million euro andinvolving around 20 new buildings, willhouse the University of Luxembourg aswell as the Cité des Sciences off-uni-versity research facilities and a start-upcentre. Ultimately it will be home toaround 7,000 students and 3,000teaching staff and researchers. Movingthe entire university, currently spread

out across numerous sites, is expectedto start in 2014 with only the Facultyof Law, Economics and Finance remain-ing, partially, in the capital.“I’ve experienced this before so I knowabout all the pitfalls. It’s a big idea tomove a whole university but it’s also agreat opportunity.” Funk also views theBelval project as a way to implementwhat he calls “a green university” fromscrap. “When I worked in Stuttgart we hadgreat success marrying economy and ecol-ogy and I plan to do the same in Luxem-bourg. I’m not talking only about greenpower supplies. A green university is awhole, a complete spirit of ecology. TheBelval project is a big chance for applyingthat from the start.”

greaTer region neTwork

Another important project Funk seesevolving is that of the University ofthe Greater Region, a cross-borderassociation involving the universitiesof Saarland, Liège, Luxembourg, Metz,Nancy, Kaiserslautern and Trier. Itallows students to follow study pro-grammes and courses at partner uni-versities and promotes a large rangeof cross-border activities and network-ing of researchers, for example. Whilethe structure of the University of theGreater Region has been workingsince 2011 as a “project”, hope is that itwill become a permanent entity in2013.Funk hopes the University of theGreater Region will also facilitate con-tacts between institutions in the bor-dering countries for his administration.“In Germany, there are different working

Courgrand-ducale

current affairs


current affairs

Thefirststoneswerelaidatthenew ISL Lower School building.

the future Belval site: an opportunity to develop a complete spirit of ecology

groups within which the administrativedirectors of each university can help eachother and exchange ideas. The problemwith a small country like Luxembourg isthat there are no other similar institutionsyou can work with, which is why thecross-border project is so important on alllevels.” The new chief operating officer

of Luxembourg University will haveno language problems. His wife beingFrench, Alfred Funk speaks the lan-guage of Molière fluently as well asEnglish and his native German. Healso, of course, intends to take up Lux-embourgish very quickly. “Multilin-gualism is ostensibly 'only' a tool,” he said

in an interview published on the Uni-versity’s website. “But switching betweenlanguages stimulates the intellect, becausethere are cultures, mentalities and identi-ties behind languages, and I presume thatmultilingual people are rather inclined tounderstand and adopt different posi-tions.”

Stolen dataThe Piratenpartei re-vealedthat theprivate

data of some 50,000 patientshad been accessed by someonewho easily stole the passwordof a doctor at the Centre medicosportif. The party said it wantedto highlight poor security in thestate data bank.

What criSiS?Some 24,000 visitorsattended the annual

Vakanz fair, according to figuresreleased by Luxexpo. That is1,000more visitors than in 2011.RTL reported that exhibitorssaid they had not noticed anynegative effect of the crisis.

19•jan

23•jan

royal internCrown Prince Guillau-me began a three-

week “internship” at the Eu-ropean Commission and theembassy of Luxembourg in Brus-sels. Coincidentally, Stéphanie deLannoy, who is reportedly Guil-laume’s girlfriend, lives in theBelgian capital.

16•jan

17•jan

LefondsB

elval

current affairs

nathalie Doyen anD Julie Kohlmann: tough training near Bridel

No GPS, no mobile phones and no othermodern technology; just a 4x4, a mapand a compass to traverse the Moroccandesert. That is the idea behind the22-year old Rallye Aïcha des Gazelles, awomen’s only event that will take placefrom March 17 to 31 and raises moneyfor charity. The Grand Duchy’s DesertImpulse team--comprised of NathalieDoyen and Julie Kohlmann--is prepar-ing to make its debut run.Twenty-seven year old Kohlmann racedin last year’s rally, admitting “it was quitedifficult for me, because I had no experience.”Nevertheless she knew immediately thatshe wanted to return in 2012. She beganto look for a new teammate after her rac-ing partner became pregnant last year.It will be Doyen’s first rally, although shehas long been interested in the sport andnever found the opportunity to race her-self. Now that her two children are a bitolder, with support of her “super” husbandand her mother, she decided to take theleap. “You never know what can happenfrom one day to another, so you have to takeadvantage of each day. I’m 44, and I thought,4x4, four-wheel drive, so ‘ let’s go’.”She and Kohlmann both work in thebusiness aviation sector and had metprofessionally quite some time ago. Butit was not until last May at an industryevent in Geneva that a mutual contactsuggested they team up for the rally.They clicked and then got Arnold KontzLand Rover Luxembourg on board astheir main sponsor.Kohlmann enthuses about the supportand training given by Kontz, saying

“they are as motivated as we are! ” Doyennotes the company ordered and fullykitted out a brand new Defender forthe rally (a training model is picturedabove).While some teams in the rally have onepilot and one navigator, the two DesertImpulse women will share duties. “Whenyou are [both] navigating and driving, youcan understand what the other thinking,”explains Kohlmann. “Communication isthe most important thing.”“You have so many opportunities to disa-gree,” adds Doyen. “So it’s good when youknow how difficult it is to pass a dune,how difficult it is to fix a point in the land-scape and you lose the point you fixed.”

Desert Impulse is not the only teamrepresenting Luxembourg. Les Gazellesd’Ailleurs--made up of Sonia Gomesand Sylvie Heiderscheid and primarilybacked by their employer KBL PrivateBankers--will also be in the rally. Gomessays driving through the desert is “com-pletely different” than on the street. Trai-ning is “like you’re doing your driver licenseagain.”The racers are mainly motivated by be-ing able to have a great experience andhelp raise funds for the children’s char-ity Cœur de Gazelles. “We are not goingto win or to come in first,” says Gomes.“For us, the important thing is to go thereand participate.”

Sport

ATLAS BOUNDTwo teams will represent Luxembourg in a women-only rallyacross Morocco.Text: Aaron Grunwald – Photo: Charles Caratini

16 - Delano - February 2012

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current affairs

Blitz

yVes mersch: Luxembourg needsmore frank talk

While the total number of jobs is thehighest ever seen in Luxembourg, thefigure has not kept up with brisk pop-ulation growth, Yves Mersh has said.In fact, “we’ve seen negative job creationover the last months.”Mersch--who has been head of theBanque centrale du Luxembourg and amember of the European Central Bank’sgoverning council since 1998--spokeduring a British Chamber of Commercefor Luxembourg sustaining members’reception in December, which was hostedat the official residence of the UK’sambassador to the Grand Duchy, AliceWalpole.Traditionally Luxembourg had accu-mulated significant budget surpluses whichallowed the country to take a long-termview towards fiscal policy, Merschexplained. With the financial crisis “thesebuffers have been eaten up. Now we’re indeficit. There are no buffers left and nomeasures on the expenditures side. There’sno real downsizing of how the central gov-ernment conducts its business.”Mersch lamented that the government’sfrequently announced timelines for

revamping the pension and wagessystems continually slip past theirintended deadlines. Politicians’ fail-ure to embrace reform will only exac-erbate the Grand Duchy’s f inancialsituation, he reckons. “It’s better tostart to adjust early with smaller meas-ures than have to take harsh measureslater.”“The pension system surplus will disap-pear rapidly in the coming years,” thegovernor added. The central bankexpects economic growth of three per-cent “but that’s 50 percent less than thegrowth we had during the last 20 years.”Mersh said that the Grand Duchy’ssocial system requires GDP growth ofat least four percent to avoid fallinginto deficit.Mersh also took on the automaticindexation of wages with inf lation,which many have said is distorted byenergy costs. “Our salaries are still grow-ing faster than our productivity. Employ-ers need to make it clear that this is notcompatible with reality. We will need tohave more frank discussion than we’reused to having.” AG

Reform

MERSCH BLASTSGOVERNMENTThe outspoken governor of Luxembourg’s central bank hascriticised the lack of economic reform in the Grand Duchy.

it's been a Good

or badmonth For:

ICE WINE CONNOISSEURS

Fans of the sweet wine made fromRiesling grapes that have beenpicked at temperatures below -7oCwill be delighted to hear that theharvest finally took place on January18--the mild winter had threatenedthe 2011 vintage.

EUROVISION FANSRTL confirmed that it has no plansfor Luxembourg to return to the Euro-vision Song Contest. Luxembourgcompeted in every Eurovisionbetween its launch in 1956 and 1993,winning five times (with singers fromFrance and Greece) and hosting onfour occasions, but its last entrywas in 1993. RTL withdrew fromthe contest citing that it could notafford to enter and would definitelynot be able to host the competitionif Luxembourg won. With five wins,Luxembourg ties for second placeamong the all-time winners withthe UK and France and behind recordwinner Ireland, which has claimedthe prize on seven occasions.

WOMEN UNDER 25Young women who have a birthcontrol prescription for the pill arebeing refunded up to 80% of thecost by the national health insurance.Older women can apply under thePlanning Familial, but other formsof birth control do not fall underthe new scheme.

SMALL BUSINESSESA record number of 930 bankruptcieswere recorded in 2011, and byJanuary 18 a further 29 companieshad gone under according to thebarreau.lu website.

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current affairs

re-imagined city: the place de Paris could look like this if the tram is ever built

Following a statement by finance minis-ter Luc Frieden about the future of thetram project, major Xavier Bettel anddeputy mayor François Bausch say theyare exasperated by what they see asthe inconsistent stance of the govern-ment. Speaking at January’s monthlyCity Breakfast briefing for the press,Bettel said that he had been surprisedby Frieden’s statement that there wascurrently no budget to build the tram.Because, says Bettel, just two weekspreviously he and Bausch had met withminister for sustainable developmentand infrastructure Claude Wiseler todiscuss the finer details of the project.Indeed, back in March 2009, when thedesigns by London firm LifschutzDavidson Sandilands for the urbanarchitecture of the tram network wereunveiled, then transport minister LucienLux said the government was deter-mined to realise the project. “Let therebe no doubt that the tram is coming,” hesaid. Now Frieden has indicated thatthe tram is not a priority in currentspending plans and could remain onthe backburner until 2020.François Bausch, who is in charge ofmobility policy in the city administra-tion, said that there were not manyalternative solutions to the city’s trans-port problems other than the tram. Andeasing traffic flow in the city is essen-tial if Luxembourg wants to remaincompetitive. Bausch even cited futureminister for the economy, EtienneSchneider, who has said that improving

infrastructure would play an importantrole in the future economic develop-ment of Luxembourg.Indeed, Bausch pointed out that othercities in the Greater Region, notablyMetz, were proceeding with innovativetransport concepts while the Luxem-bourg government was dragging itsfeet. “If we don’t invest in infrastructurenow, there will be plenty of other thingswe can’t afford in the next few years.Because if we neglect infrastructure it isclear that we will have hardly any eco-nomic growth, or we will even see nega-tive growth.” But Bausch was alsodamning of the speed at which plansto build a Velodrome in Mondorf-les-Bains seem to have progressed com-

pared to the years it has taken the tramproject to even get to this stage.The Ville de Luxembourg has agreedto contribute one third of the budgetrequired to construct the tram system,which would connect new peripheralrailway stations and Park & Ride facil-ities with the city centre, Kirchbergand Findel airport. “This is not just acity project, but a joint project with thestate,” said Bettel. “Statements like thatmade by Mr. Frieden only give ammuni-tion to opponents of the project.” He haswritten a letter to prime ministerJean-Claude Juncker to ask for a meet-ing with him, Frieden and Wiseler.“We can’t build the tram alone, so weneed to know where we stand.”

Transport

tram project

in turmoilThe much-vaunted tram project has been the subject of much polemic over the years.Recent statements by Luc Frieden and Xavier Bettel have reignited the debate.Text: Duncan Robert — Photo: Lifschutz Davidson Sandilands


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current affairs

There is little question that appearingon reality show Germany’s Next TopModel opened doors for Florence Lode-vic. Nevertheless, the 22 year-old Capel-len native remains firmly grounded.She took her first steps of what has sinceturned into a career in the fashion indus-try when she won a modelling competi-tion in Belgium at the age of 17. “But Iwas studying at the same time. Now, sincethe show, I’ve been modelling in Milan. In2012 I would quite like to go to Paris andsee how I do there.” It doesn’t necessarilyrepresent the fulfilment of a lifelongambition. Florence wasn’t actively inter-ested in modelling from a young age.But, following encouragement from oth-ers, bolstered by the fact that she “wasalways very thin and tall,” she felt com-pelled to give it a go. She then appliedfor GNTM and admits that she got fur-ther in the show than she expected.What was the experience like? “Before,I didn’t have expectations. Then, when youare there it’s like a different world. Everyday you do something different, but reallycrazy things like photo shoots hanging fromthe outside of a helicopter. We were livingin a villa and treated exceptionally.” Thetravelling aspect opened her eyes. “Wewere in Las Vegas, we were in Brazil. Wewere based in Los Angeles. That was thebest part of the show. It goes far beyondmodelling. But at the end I was reallyhappy to go home, though I was sad toleave people behind that I had shared threeintense months with. And it took me along time to see the episode where theykicked me out!”Indeed, the learning experience wasmore about life than modelling. “It’s a

show,” Florence remarks. “Things aren’talways what they seemed. People want tosee you crying more than the actual model-ling aspect. At the same time it gave memore confidence. At the beginning I stayedmore in the background. I didn’t want toshow too much of myself. I was not a goodone for acting.” Did she take any badmemories from the show? “Well I didone shoot in massive high heels and I hadto jump while an explosion happened behindme in a forest setting. It required loads oftakes because I couldn’t concentrate on myexpression. Then the photographers just makeyou feel worse. In the end we got some-

thing good out of it, but they didn’t showthat on TV: just the part where they mademe annoyed. That’s what I don’t like aboutthe show.”As for the immediate future, she willcontinue to work in Milan. “My agencywants me to and the fashion week is on atthe end of February. I don’t just want tostay in Milan though: as I said I’d like togo to Paris, for the experience and to seeif I can make it there.” After all, if shecan make it there, she can make it any-where and this determined youngwoman will undoubtedly give it herbest shot.

Modelling

a fairytale experienceFashion model Florence Lodevic was thrust into the spotlight when she featured inthe Heidi Klum hosted Germany’s Next Top Model in 2011. Now she lives and works in Milan.Text: Brian Power — Photo: Yileste

florence lodevic:

remaining firmly groundedas she pursues a modelingcareer


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Workforce renewal

WIDENINGGAP?With changing demographics, Luxembourgfaces new challenges in the war for talent.Text: Aaron Grunwald — Photos: Luc Deflorenne

michel lanneRs:

Luxembourg dependson the Greater Region

“Demography will be trouble for Europe,”intones Pierre Bley, head of the Luxem-bourg employers group UEL. He pointsout that the population is expected toshrink by 50 million people by 2050.With massive retirements in store, par-ticularly in the financial industry, thepotential economic impact is enormous.With half of those working in theGrand Duchy being cross-border com-muters, not to mention its internationalresidents, Bley states: “one could say thatLuxembourg already faces the problem ofnot having the necessary workforce.”“We are no longer living in a small coun-try,” says Michel Lanners, chief coun-sellor at the education and vocationaltraining ministry. “We are living in amuch broader community.” He not onlymeans that in a globalised world, Europeis home to “only” 300 million of theEarth’s seven billion inhabitants, butalso that the Grand Duchy is highlyintertwined with the Greater Region.The global economic crisis has broughta false sense of security that the com-ing talent shortage can be managed.“We are not experiencing any problems nowbecause we have the benefit of a very dull

labour market,” says Vinciane Istace,human capital partner at PwC Luxem-bourg. “But this is the tree hiding the for-est.” She points out that the nextimmediate generation to enter theworkforce, those aged 15 to 24, repre-sents only about 12 percent of the popu-lation--compared with about 14 percentfor those aged 25 to 34 and 16 percentaged 35 to 44.The shrinking population will take itstoll across economic sectors, reckonsIstace. “There are already jobs ‘missing.’ Wecan’t produce enough engineers, enough ITpeople. It’s the capacity rather than thenature of the job. It’s a question of volume.”The financial services sector will startto see a problem in five or six yearstime, when many of today’s managersbeing to retire or relocate in earnest,estimates Anita De Viell, director atfast, the recruitment and training firm.Much of the fund industry’s entry-levelwork has been off-shored from Luxem-bourg to, for example, Singapore andIndia. That means the next generationof experienced staff is not located here.“How do we fill the gap of this centre ofexcellence in the middle when there’s not

aniTa de Viell:

the financial sector willsee problems starting in

about five years

enough people coming up through the lowerranks? ” she asks. “One could think thatpeople could come to Luxembourg [fromSingapore and India] but then you’ve gotthe work permit issues because they’renon-EU.”

EDUCATION

Bley believes the educational systemneeds to be shaken up, a topic that hasbeen much discussed over the past dec-ade. “Everybody knows that we have tochange.” Pointing to Luxembourg’s his-torically poor showing in PISA exams,the international rankings run by therich world club OECD, he says: “we haveto adapt our system to the multiculturalbackground which we have here. I wouldexpect more constructive input from theteaching community. For the moment Ijust see that community is going to be verydestructive and is only looking after itsspecial status.”“The PISA scores are not very good, butthey are not catastrophic,” retorts Lan-ners. He also thinks the test resultsobscure Luxembourg’s true skill level.While the OECD and EU are encour-aging increased instruction of foreign

Business


Business

people due to [higher] wages, the fiscal sit-uation and the low contributions to socialsecurity.” If wages do not continue tooutpace those in Belgium, France andGermany, and if commute times con-tinue to increase, “at a certain point I’mnot sure these people will still be willing tocome to work here.”“We can become a centre of unique knowl-edge and expertise whatever the field,”affirms Istace. Yet she too finds faultwith the Grand Duchy’s current path.“We are marketing Luxembourg as aplace for doing business. But we shouldsimilarly market Luxembourg as the placefor building a unique career. There’s aninternational marketing duty to focus notonly the business aspects but also on thepeople aspects.”“The problem is that Luxembourg is acountry that sticks to extremely strong tra-ditions,” concludes Lanners. He saysthe oft-quoted saying, “we want to staywhat we are,” is taken out of context.The expression refers to the past threatof the Grand Duchy disappearing fromthe map. “I think the situation right nowis a completely different one. We have toface a world which is evolving.”

languages, “the strong point of Luxem-bourg, the huge multilingual competencewhich is one of the best in Europe, is notmeasured by PISA and is not taken intoaccount in any way.”Nevertheless, he agrees with the senti-ment that some students should be ableto focus on fewer languages in order tocomplete their studies. Lanners notesthat twenty years ago 68 percent of stu-dents spoke Luxembourgish at home,while today the same percentage ofpupils speak a different language. Thecurrent set-up “doesn’t work. You have tohave a bigger diversity of school offers oryou have to give greater flexibility.” Theeducation ministry has been workingon reforms which aim to give moreresponsibility to local schools, increasetransparency for parents, and “introducefeedback instruments” for all stakehold-ers. Despite the continual press reportson union strife, Lanners believes min-istry officials and teachers are “sitting onthe same side of the fence” together whenit comes to preparing young people forthe future (see “The schools challenge” inDelano’s May 2011 edition for more oneducational reform).

De Viell thinks the University ofLuxembourg will start to have a posi-tive impact soon, since fewer studentswill settle abroad permanently. “Hav-ing the university here is already a step tokeeping young people in Luxembourg, togetting them into the workforce at anearlier stage.” She also has seen anincrease over the last ten years in thenumber of expats staying in the coun-try when they retire. De Viell saysthose who plan to stay in Luxembourgare likely to work in the Grand Duchylonger due to incentives in the pensionsystem.

WAGE GAP

Nevertheless, a bigger threat lurksnearby. The problems of a shrinkingpopulation may be compounded byfewer cross-border commuters beingavailable, according to Bley. The popu-lace throughout the Greater Regionwill age, so “the demand for workforcewill increase in the surrounding countries,and that will certainly have an impact onwages,” he says.“That’s a point we must face. NowadaysLuxembourg is still attractive for these

Vinciane isTace:

the economic crisis is givingemployers a false sense of security


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snaPsHots

Paul Schonenberg and Lynette Stoltzfus

David Wallace and Darren Robinson

From left: Danielle Verbrugghen, Nathalie Delebois,Marielle Vanwaarbeek, Françoise de Jongh

Stéphane Compain and Selvaraj Alagumalai

From left: Nicolas Schmit,Dr. Gudrun Ziegler, Marion Guth

Robert A. Mandell

“The word for today andtomorrow is innovation,and that means talent,”Nicolas Schmit said

Just before Christmas employment min-ister Nicolas Schmit addressed the Amer-ican Chamber of Commerce on thechallenge Luxembourg faces in attract-ing talent from abroad.Schmit cited a recent article in TheEconomist that highlighted the increas-ing global competition in the search fortalent. “Those who are skilled and qualifieddetermine the evolution of our economies,”the minister said.It is a subject that has been addressedthroughout Luxembourg’s history, Schmitsaid. From the technology used to developthe steel industry to the new mediaskills from abroad that helped establishSES, Luxembourg has always had torely on foreign talent and investment.But in the light of increased competi-tion, Luxembourg is facing a stiff chal-lenge. Schmit said that Luxembourghas to re-imagine its economy becauseit is small and open, and requires newinvestors and activities. He underlinedthe government’s desire to develop thebiotech industry and the success inattracting e-commerce.“The word for today and tomorrow is inno-vation, and that means talent.” The min-ister said that foreign talent can play amajor role in achieving this. DR

International recruitment

THE HUNT FOR TALENTPhotos: Charles Caratini

Business

RECORD TEXTSMore than 10.5 mil-lion SMS texts were

senttoring-intheNewYear.Mid-night messages on LuxGSM’snetworkwere up 12.5% over lastyear, while Tango saw 13.2%more texts and Orange saw a30% rise. None of the carriersreported delivery delays.

FUEL RISEThe price at the pumpclimbed two and a

half cents per litre, to €1.314for regular unleaded fuel and€1.337 for Super 98. Diesel re-mained €1.199 per litre. Maxi-mum fuel rates are set by thegovernment, but there are nominimum price requirements.

January 2012

DATE LINE

definitely a good idea to get one. An indi-vidual complementary pension plan canalso be interesting if you plan on staying inLuxembourg, because you can deduct up to3,200 euro in taxes every year.”

PENSION PLANS

The Luxembourg state pension is usuallysupplemented by a complementary pen-sion scheme through your company. Butregardless of when you came here, whenyou retire and where, will it be enough tocover your needs and can you rely on itfor your financial planning? “The answeris no,” says Michael Doyle from Spec-trum IFA. “While some countries haverobust state pension schemes, many struggleto fund current, or to provide for their future,liabilities. So assume ‘YOYO’ (you’re on yourown): cover your retirement income needs

The insurance market in Luxembourgis a flourishing one in part due to theflexibility with which products aremodified to meet cross border require-ments. As a resident however onceyou’ve signed the required car andhouse insurance and you understandthat these contracts will be always betacitly renewed (something that sur-prises some), what else should you worryabout?“It all depends on your needs and on howlong you plan to stay in Luxembourg,” saysMarc Lamby from InterassurancesPauly & Lamby, Foyer. “If you work here,you’re protected by the national social secu-rity system, but this will not cover all yourhealth expenses. Some companies provide agroup complementary health plan for theiremployees. But if this is not the case, it’s

from your own personal savings and if thestate pension comes up trumps, that’s a wel-come bonus!” Doyle says. “Everyone’s situ-ation is different and one should always seekindependent financial advice before makingany long term financial commitments. Thereis a range of financial and insurance vehiclesavailable to help fill these shortfalls, such asinsurance wrappers, for example, which offeryou low cost access to a wide range of fundswhilst also being very tax efficient.”If you have a UK-based pension schemeand are living outside Britain, you havethe possibility of transferring your frozenpensions offshore. “This can be done withinthe Qualifying Recognised Overseas PensionSchemes. These can be very useful for inter-national estate planning. Pension transfersof this type are, however, not right for every-one and once again, a thorough examination

Personal finance

As an expat, you may think that once you’ve figured out the intricacies ofthe local insurance system, you’re good. But even in Luxembourg, consideringextra coverage and verifying the products you possess can be a good idea.Text: Neel Chrillesen — Photos: David Laurent/Wide

1•jan

3•jan

Consumer inflation in Decem-ber (STATEC).

4•jan

3.2%


Business

26•dec

2•jan

10•jan

NEW RATINGSThe ratings agencyMicroRate and trade

body LuxFLAG launched Lumi-nis, a database of 80 microfi-nance investment funds. Theweb-based service lets fundmanagers “evaluate the socialand financial performance of mi-crofinance investment funds.”

CRISIS WARNINGLuc Frieden said hecould not rule out

future bank rescues, such asLuxembourg’s action with Bel-giumand France to bailout Dexia.“Governments may have to actagain” as the “crisis of confidence”in Europe has not passed, thefinance minister noted.

ACCOUNT CLOSEDAnonymous Belgium’schannel on YouTube

was blocked following its hijack-ing of ArcelorMittal’s website,which was promoted on thevideo sharing service. “All videosuploaded to YouTubemust complywith our community guidelines,” aspokeswoman said.

SURPRISE MOVELuxembourger Jean-Marc Gales said he

would leave his post as thenumber two of French carmakerPSA Peugeot Citroën to lead anindustry group in Brussels. Ana-lysts said the company repeat-edly failed to meet sales targetsduring his 3-year run.

michael doyle:

assume “you’re on your own” for retirement

Jan hudson:

Americans need to be careful about buyinglife insurance

of the benefits and costs is required beforemaking a decision.” Luxembourg alsooffers several regulated pension fundsthat could be of use to expats, such asthe SEPCAV, the société d’épargne-pension à capital variable, which issimilar to a SICAV investment fund.

HealtH insurance

The national social security plus a localcomplementary health scheme keeps youwell covered in Luxembourg. But forcountry-hopping expats, internationalprivate medical insurance (PMI) may bea better choice. No need to worry aboutoverburdened--or inexistent--healthcaresystems if you suddenly find yourselftransferred to another country, and noneed to worry about paperwork for eachnational social security system. The PMI

and international interests, more than95 percent of premium income is derivedfrom the cross-border business.

life insurance

There are of course many reasons fortaking some sort of life insurance at dif-ferent stages of your life, be it to protectyour family or to secure a credit (mostbanks here will require a life insurancepolicy before providing a mortgage).There are also tax reasons. Life insur-ance premiums are tax deductible underLuxembourg’s tax code, “which meansyou can deduct 672 euro per year for eachmember of your household,” indicatesLamby. Tax regulations also allowdeductions on other insurance productslike car insurance, complementary pen-sion, health and civil liability, he says.

is not a like a typical “top up” plan, buttakes care of everything from A to Z.“It’s a question of how many risks you areprepared to take,” says Martin von Kiærfrom Globality DKV. “The big advantageof an international PMI is that you are fullycovered no matter where you are in the worldand where you move to, on a 24/7 basis. Yousimply take your health insurance with you.There are no surprises or need to do extracheck-ups and you get advice whenever andwherever you need it.” Like many Luxem-bourg complementary health schemes,PMI will also cover costs of alternativetreatments.Luxembourg has quite a reputation inthe life insurance field, especially out-side its borders: close to 60 companiesare active in the market and althoughmost of them conduct both domestic

4•jan

9•jan

13•jan

11•jan


Business

UNSCATHEDEurope’s Luxembourg-based bailout fund

floated €1.5 billion in 6 monthbonds--receiving €4 billion inbids--despite being downgrad-ed by ratings agency S&P theday before. The Japanese gov-ernment alone bought €120million of the EFSF’s notes.

securities, time deposits, commodityfutures, options, shares in a mutualfund, foreign whole of life insurancepolicies, foreign pensions, annuities,foreign money market funds, and invest-ment accounts containing foreign mutualfunds.Jan Hudson’s advice: “If you’re an Amer-ican expat and you already have a non-USlife insurawnce policy, you might be able toprocess [an exchange] from the non-USpolicy to a US life policy with the help of acompetent US insurance broker.”

While this is interesting for most people,“American expats should definitely stay awayfrom insurance policies with cash value fromnon US carriers,” says Jan Hudson fromAEIB. Why? Because of the recentlypassed Foreign Account Tax ComplianceAct Report. “Every US tax payer mustcomplete and file a [financial report] annu-ally assuming the aggregate value of theirforeign financial accounts totals $10,000 atany point during the tax calendar year.”“Ninety-nice percent of non-US cash valuelife insurance and annuities do not meet

the IRS” definition for non-taxableinsurance and could be taxed at thesame rates as investment funds, heexplains. If US tax payers do not declaresuch policies in their fiscal filings, theycould be subject to increased tax ratesand even penalties: up to 85 percent,Hudson warns.To clear up any potential misconcep-tions, this blanket amount of $10,000applies to the aggregate value of all for-eign financial accounts owned by thatperson, including savings, checking,

maRc lamBy:many insurance policies are tax deductable

17•jan

16•jan

S&P reaffirmed its 2nd highestrating on BCEE.

23•jan

NEW CEOSwiss Re appointedMichelLies,a57year-

old Luxembourger, as its newchief executive. Lies was pro-moted from within the company,where hehas held various execu-tive positions in a career span-ning more than three decades.

19•jan

46Fewer Luxembourg money

market funds in 2011 (ECB).

AA+


Overall, people are worried about their financial future.

Even Generation Y (less than 30 years old) is worried. What is in

the mind of these young people?

Swiss Life Survey

Trust in the future in Luxembourg

As an employer,what can you do?

Pension plan,risk coverage…

they are a bit confused!

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Over 1600 people in Luxembourg shared their thoughts and concerns on retirement and risk protection for

their family and themselves with Swiss Life. Equipped with a better understanding of their opinions, we will

continue to provide best-in-class solutions and services for your business in 2012.

www.swisslife.lu


snaPsHots

Martial de Calbiac

Francis Pedrini

Joelle Niclou and Christopher Clarke

Tom Loesch and Jean Kerschen

Freddy and Anne-Marie Bracke

From left: Jason Boyes, Patrick Browne,Ros Browne, Francis Hoogewerf

Alice Walpole, SophieKerschen, Robert Deed

More than 170 people gathered for theBritish Chamber of Commerce’s annualChristmas lunch. British ambassadorAlice Walpole’s speech was much antici-pated, and despite wanting to keep seri-ous matters for a less festive occasion,she addressed December’s British EU vetowithout further ado (also see page 40).“For many commentators it was a ‘typicalBritish’ move,” said the ambassador. “Wemust combat that kind of preconception.Yes, the British are perfectly happy to standup and say what we mean, but when wedecide on something in Brussels or Lux-embourg, we go home and implement it.It is essential we make clear to everyonethat we remain totally engaged in the EUand loyal to our commitments.”According to Walpole, the way the Brit-ish are perceived by others is, however,also something that can be used positi-vely. “The British are viewed as beingfair-minded,pragmatic,visionary, engaged.We are traders, explorers and adventurers.My job here is to reinforce these positivestereotypes in the same way you all are,showing Britain as its best and highlight-ing our dedication and collaboration withinthe EU as well as outside.” NC

British keynote

POSITIVE STEREOTYPESPhotos: Luc Deflorenne

Business

Amidst the rounds of new year’s recep-tions held by cabinet ministers for col-leagues and associates that hosted bythe ministry of state and its communi-cations service receives the most atten-tion. Hardly surprising as the guestsare journalists and representatives ofLuxembourg’s media businesses.The reception--this year held in theMusée National d’Histoire et d’Art--is achance for the president of the presscouncil to gently prod the governmenton its failure to create a legal frameworkthat would allow journalists access toinformation at various public administra-tions. But outgoing president Josy Lorent(photo, left) also praised the work ofjournalists all around the world andrevealed that presently Luxembourg ishome to some 493 accredited journalists.Jean-Claude Juncker generally plies jour-nalists at the event with his trademarkdry wit and did not disappoint this year.He, too, said he respected the qualityand quantity of the work carried out bylocal journalists, most of whom have tocover a variety of subjects.But he warned against respect and evenfriendliness leading to “buddiness” andstated that even if he did have friendlyrelations with some local journalists,that did not mean he called them up tocomplain if they had written some-thing with which he disagreed, a refer-ence to the recentcontroversy surroundingGerman president Christian Wulff andthe Bild newspaper.The prime minister bemoaned thespeed of modern news reporting, say-

ing that modern technology had ledto superficiality in many media.“News is often reported prematurely, itis not properly researched and can changethree or four times a day.” In the olddays, much of the news reportedtoday would not even have made itinto the papers or on to radio broad-casts, Juncker ventured.He also warned that by the end of 2012many observers will probably be look-ing back on 2011 as a relatively goodyear. “Europe and especially the euro zoneis on the verge of a recession, and nobodyknows how deep it will be,” Juncker said.However, he said he was not a fan ofthose commentators who hide theirignorance about the economic situationby predicting total catastrophe.

He also reminded his audience that thefailure, for the second successive year, ofthe tripartite meeting between govern-ment, employers and unions did notmean the collapse of the Luxembourgsocial model. “In 1982 and 1983, underthe presidency of prime minister PierreWerner, the tripartite also failed to findagreement and the subsequent modulation ofthe index was greeted with a general strike.”Juncker stated that in contrast to JosyLorent, who is stepping down as presi-dent of the press council, he would behere to address the reception next year,a clear indication that he has no plansto seek the permanent presidency ofthe Eurogroup when his mandate aspart-time chairman ends in June thisyear.

Media

Juncker Jovial but waryThe prime minister’s annual address to journalists at the start of the new year was packedwith his trademark humour, but he warned that 2012 would be a tough year.Text: Duncan Roberts – Photo: Charles Caratini

Jean-claude Juncker: 2011 may be a good year in hindsight


BusinessDavidLaurent/W

ide(archives)

Grand Prix paperJam – RHDeveloping

team potential

Entries are being sought for thesecond edition of the Grand PrixpaperJam – RH, which culminatesin a gala awards night on June 27.The Grand Prix process aims toidentify, promote and reward bestpractices in human resources inLuxembourg, explains Thierry vanIngelgom, HR director of MaisonModerne, publisher of both Delanoand paperJam. However the evalua-tion process focuses directly on dis-creet projects, not on the people orbusiness involved, he says. Indeed, itis a unique opportunity to showcaseHR teams, both within a companyand external suppliers, and highlighttheir involvement in the implementa-tion of overall company strategy.“Smart companies are those that, atthe right time, best develop the fullpotential of their teams, taking theright steps -- whether traditional ororiginal,” van Ingelgom says. The juryof 20 will be comprised of represen-tatives from private business, train-ing institutes and higher educationand the government. Applications,in French or English, for the GrandPrix paperJam - RH 2012 must bereceived before February 27.www.grandprix.paperjam.lu

Olivier

Minaire(archives)

Some 50 projects made it to the “shortlist” selected by the Grand Prix paperJam– Communication, Marketing, Designjury in December. They range fromclassic poster designs to street market-ing campaigns, from corporate and citybranding to the creation of the Discov-ery Zone film festival and the bookcelebrating 15 years of den Atelier.A total of 128 projects were submitted forthe prize, compared to 107 for the 2010edition. As Vincent Ruck of paperJamBusiness Club writes, “The uncertaintyand turbulence of the current economic climate has apparently not discouraged companies and agencies from investing incommunication.” But Ruck is adamant thatthe competition is not about finding thebest agency or the most beautiful adver-tising campaign, or even which client isthe shrewdest. “It is a question of finding,picking out and advancing intelligent, wellprepared, well conceived and effective projects.” It is the actual working process,the quality of collaboration between cli-

ent and agency, the relevance of the finalproject and how it resolved communica-tions issues that count.The jury, presided by consultant BozTemple-Morris, is comprised of Jean-Claude Bintz (Lakehouse), PatrickErnzer (Chambre de Commerce), Ben-jamin Garrigues (Culturepub.fr), ÉricHieronimus (INDR), Pascale Kauffman(Ville de Luxembourg), Bart Lombaerts(Media Marketing), Isabel Roig (BCDBarcelona Design Centre) and RaoulThill (independent consultant). It nowhas the task of selecting the final tenprojects that will be rewarded duringthe awards ceremony at the Rockhal onFebruary 15.The RTL Media Awards, meanwhile,are voted for by the public in three cat-egories for best radio, best cinema/TVand best internet advertisement. Theevent is open to the public--tickets canbe purchased online via the Grand PrixpaperJam website. DRwww.grandprix.paperjam.lu

Trophies: the winners will take awaythese awards on February 15

Grand Prix paperJam – Communication, Marketing, Design

GettinGthe messaGeTension is mounting as the third awards night for the Grand PrixpaperJam – Communication, Marketing, Design nears.This year's event is a joint ceremony with the RTL Media Awards.

Thierry van ingelgom:understanding that HR is involved rightacross the business


Business

Several American participants at theDemocrats Abroad Luxembourg's monthly gettogether said they had hadtheir applications to open new bankaccounts refusedor had already beengiven notice that their existing accountswould be closedby financial institutions operating in Luxembourg.These personal and professional challenges are part of the fallout from anew set of US financial rules calledFATCA, due to go into effect in 2013.The taxavoidance regime requirespotentially every bank and investmentfund in the world to file reports on theirclients to American tax authorities.“FATCA causes different emotions inpeople when they hear the word,” RogerBehrend, DAL's chair said as he openedthe conference.The group’s guest was JeanJacquesRommes, CEO of the Luxembourgbankers association, the ABBL, whodetailed some other prospective implications of FATCA on American, as wellas for European, citizens and banks.Initial guidance from the Internal Revenue Service indicate that any bankwith any connection with the USwhich in today’s global financial worldmeans the vast majority of all banks onthe planetwill need to screen all clients to determine if they are potentialUS taxpayers, explained Rommes. Infact, there is a “reverse burden of proof ”for all clients to demonstrate they arenot US tax persons, he said.Implementing FATCA is expected tocost between $30 and 80 million for an

Jean-Jacques Rommes: American clients will be pariahs

average sized bank and $150 millionfor an average crossborder bank, according to the ABBL.Banks and investment funds that donot sufficiently comply with FATCAwill be subject to a 30 percent withholding tax on all US income. The taxwill be applied to all of the banks’ orfunds’ customers, regardless of theirnationality.Thus some financial institutions arereducing their exposure to US customersin effect making Americans“pariahs”to reduce their “compliancerisk,” and because “having US clientswill be a pain in the neck,” Rommesexplained.In addition to dumping American customers, Rommes reckoned many inter

national financial institutions will slowlybut surely reduce their investments inand may even divest fromUS securities and business, due to the administrative burdens and legal uncertainties.“The US economy will suffer” as a result.The ABBL chief stated that complyingwith the US law will force banks toviolate EU and national data privacylaws. In addition, the rules violatenational sovereignty, as the IRS woulddirectly regulate, for example, a Luxembourg bank without any involvement ofthe Grand Duchy’s government.Rommes was invited to speak by Democrats Abroad Luxembourg after hisarticle, “Is FATCA anti-American?”appeared in the ABBL’s publicationLuxembourg Banking Quarterly.

FATCA

US clientS not welcomeAmerican residents in Luxembourg are already suffering from new US banking regulations andthe situation will only get worse, a meeting of Democrats Abroad Luxembourg heard in December.Text: Aaron Grunwald — Photo: Charles Caratini


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Catherina Biver

Charles Muller asking aboutthe proposed Tobin Tax

Luc Frieden said Europe is better offwhen all 27 members act together

Luxembourg’s financeminister Luc Frieden

and Britain’s ambassadorAlice Walpole

Europe needs the UK but not a TobinTax, the finance minister told a BritishChamber of Commerce event in January.With the British ambassador in theaudience, Luc Frieden expressed disap-pointment over the recent UK veto oftighter EU budget controls (also seepage 34). The finance minister said hewas “sad” that Britain was the sole dis-senter at last December’s meeting ofEU leaders. Ultimately, Luxembourg--and in his view, several other memberstates--could support many Britishdemands, but UK prime minister DavidCameron did not effectively communi-cate Britain’s point of view and perhapsgave an ill-timed presentation of his case.“Sometimes the British are a little late, sothere’s always hope” that the UK willjoin with the other 26 members at theeuro zone table. “Europe would be welladvised if we stuck together and movedahead with all 27.” Frieden later said,“We need Britain and Britain needs us.”He also came down against the so-calledTobin Tax, which would be a smalllevy on all financial transactions. “ClearlyI consider such a tax to be risky if all themajor financial centres in the world do notapply it in the same manner.” AG

Euro crisis

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AG: What language do you speakwith your husband?DF: English.AG: With your son?DF: Chinese. And between father andson, Dutch.AG: Does your son speak English?DF: He understands and speaks a littlebit because he hears it every day. Rightnow in school he speaks Luxembourg-ish. Then Chinese, Dutch and English.And German next year, because he willbe six. That’s one thing about the multi-lingual surroundings. It’s wonderful.Children can adapt much more thanadults. They won’t mix it up in theirminds. They know at school, Luxem-bourgish, with mama, Chinese, withdad, OK, Dutch. That makes it so easy.I’m really jealous!AG: What has been your experiencewith the Luxembourg authorities?DF: The government, actually, they dida really good thing. I had just movedhere and I had no idea about things. Iwent to the [Luxembourg] city halland they gave us all of the information.They even gave me a contact person toask about children and schools. Theygave me a contact person! That reallyamazed me.AG: What advice would you give new-comers?DF: If you don’t speak French, you haveto learn a little bit, at least for daily com-munication.

A native of Hohhot, the capital of InnerMongolia in China, Dong Feiyu workedin Beijing before pursuing graduate stud-ies in educational science in Holland andBelgium. She met her husband Martijnin the Netherlands, and they movedwhen he was transferred to Luxembourgin 2008. Today she teaches Chinese.

AG: What did you know about Lux-embourg when you and your husbandwere considering moving here?DF: I had heard that it’s the paradise forchildren. I thought that would be nice,since we just had had a child, so I said,‘yes, let’s move to Luxembourg!’AG: What surprised you after mov-ing here?DF: I was scared of French! I thought,oh my gosh, I don’t understand! InChina, I learned English. Mandarin ismy mother tongue, of course, and thenmy third language in university wasRussian.Then I went to Holland. I understandDutch, but can’t really speak it well,because my courses were in English. Icould use English to communicate andI never had a problem doing anythingin Holland.Then we moved to Luxembourg. AndI have realised, oh no; French! You haveto speak French!I tried to learn French and it’s so diffi-cult. Maybe because for adults it’s moredifficult to learn a language. So I don’t

have ‘the sense’ of it, you know. Now,more or less, I understand a little bit. Butto have conversation? Ummm, no.AG: Has that been a problem for you?DF: It depends. If I go to offices orgovernment bureaus, it’s fine, it’s noproblem. But if I go to the supermarket,sometimes I want to ask, ‘what’s this,what are the ingredients?’ and I haveproblems. Not everybody in basic dailylife can speak English. But I think theyunderstand. Like me, I understand, butto speak?I already got over this so-called scaredthing. I think now it’s fine, I got usedto things.AG: How did you end up teachingChinese?DF: I went to the Chinese embassyactually. They told me that there is aChinese school in Luxembourg City,and said from what you learned, youcan teach Chinese!AG: Who are your students?DF: The students are from about sixyears old to 15 or 16.Mainly the young ‘kiddos’ come fromChinese families. Their grandparentsor parents moved from China to Lux-embourg. That’s about 90 percent ofthem. For the rest, some of them theyhave mixed parents, and some of themare just European or western children.The parents would like to give one extraskill for their children later on in thisworld. It will be nice for their future.

Chinese

THEY GAVE ME ACONTACT PERSON!”Four years after moving to Luxembourg, Dong Feiyugives her insight into living and working in the Grand Duchy.Interview: Aaron Grunwald — Photo: David Laurent/Wide

dong Feiyu:

not scared of French anymore

42 - delano - February 201242 - delano - February 2012

thinK local: DONG FEIYU

“

Business


The next edition of Delano will feature events taking placefrom March 13 through May 15. We invite you to submitan event by sending an email no later than February 20to [email protected].

ALFIwww.alfi.lu

13-14•mar

SPRING CONFERENCEOne of the world’s premier as-set management confabs coversregulation and other key industry

issues. More in Delano’sMarch edition.

Conference Centre, Luxembourg-Kirchberg,all day event

AMCHAMwww.amcham.lu

6•Feb

ABAL LUNCHEONPatrizia Luchetta, life sciences di-rector at the economy and tradeministry, speaks about the virtu-

ous cycle connecting research, healthcare andeconomic development.

Alvisse Parc Hotel, Luxembourg-Dommeldange,12:00

16•mar

WOMEN’S DAYThe American Chamber wel-comes Viviane Reding, vicepresident of the European Com-

mission and European justice commissioner,for an evening networking cocktail.

Venue to be announced, 18:30

BrItIsH CHAMBerwww.bcc.lu

MAKING WAVESMaritme lawyer André Harpesdiscusses the Grand Duchy’s ship-ping sector, including the legal

niche of Luxembourg-flagged mega yachts.

NH Hotel, near Findel Airport, 12:00

BrItIsH CArswww.bscoc.org

COOL WHEELSLuxembourg’s only British carclub meets the first Friday of themonth to cover everything “fromMini to Aston Martin,” both clas-

sic and modern. Non-members welcome.

Conterstuff, Contern, 20:00

INterNAtIONswww.internations.org/luxembourg-expats

23•Feb

MEET EXPATSLearnmore about the expat socialnetworking group’s monthly get-togethers on the Delano website:

delano.lu/news/internations-fetes-turks

Sins City, Luxembourg-Clausen, 18:30-23:59

8•mar

INT’L GET-TOGETHERA free welcome drink will be of-fered to all registered attendees,so be sure to sign up in advance

on the club’s website.

Venue to be announced, 18:30-23:59

IsACAwww.isaca.lu

8•Feb

INFO SECURITY DAYOne of Luxembourg’s main com-puter security groups hosts itssecond edition of the technical

and networking conference. Cetrel’s ManuelFischer is keynote speaker.

Abbaye de Neumünster, Luxembourg-Grund,09:00-18:30

LUXeMBOUrG eXPAtMeetUP

www.meetup.com/expat-200

BUERGBRENNENJoin expats in celebrating thebonfire festival (see page 52)in the Petrusse Valley. The pre-

lude to spring features a torchlight proces-sion, food stands and mulled wine.

Meeting at Place de la Constitution, 18:30

club.paperjam.lu

BLUE OCEAN STRATEGYMarc Sniukas hosts the “BlueOcean Game” and the Blue OceanStrategy, which helps incum-

bent organisations innovate and renew theirbusiness models.

Abbaye de Neumünster, Luxembourg-Grund,08:30-13:00

tHeNetWOrKwww.the-network.lu

BE AWAREFrédéric Girard of the CRP HenriTudor talks about personal andprofessional information security.

More about The Network on page 50.

Sofitel, Luxembourg-Kirchberg, 19:30

PrIvAte BANKerwww.privatebanker.lu

27•mar

THIRD EDITIONThe event offers masterclasspresentations, panel discussionsand networking for high-level

decision makers in the private banking world.

Chamber of Commerce, Luxembourg-Kirchberg,all day event

teDXwww.ted.com/tedx/groups/3368

THEME: FAILURE?TEDxLuxembourgCity is an inde-pendently organised programmeproduced in the spirit of the TED

conference’s mission of “ideas worth spreading.”

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

WOMeN LeADerswww.women-leaders.eu

INSPIRING WOMENThe “InspiringWomanof theYear”and “Top Company for GenderEquity” awards will be presented

as part of International Women’s Day.

Cercle Munster Luxembourg, Luxembourg-Grund, 18:30

The events planner

ON THE HORIZONDelano presents a guide to the coming months’ business, social and informational eventsfor Luxembourg’s international community. Events are listed by organiser. Advance registrationor fees may be required, so consult the website indicated for full details. All events are heldin English unless otherwise noted.

7•Feb

21•mar

10•Feb

26•Feb

15•Feb

8•mar

2•mar

cover story

Juliane KoKott:No other international court has so much influence within states

When Juliane Kokott moved to Lux-embourg in 2003, “it was a little bit of ahomecoming,” since she grew up in a smalltown in nearby Saarland. Her careerhad taken her the length of Germanyvia Switzerland and both coasts of theUnited States, before becoming one ofonly eight advocates general at the Courtof Justice in Kirchberg. It is a lesserknown role, in an often misunderstoodinstitution. But both the position andthe court have immense and everincreasing influence over daily life inthe EU.The daughter and grand-daughter oflawyers, Kokott admits “it was a banaldecision” to enter the family trade. How-ever, “I always had an interest in differentcultures, and I thought with internationallaw and the European Union that I couldcombine this interest with real work.”She studied law at the Universities ofBonn and Geneva, American Univer-sity in Washington DC, and then Hei-delberg and Harvard Universities. Shewas a visiting professor at the Universityof California in Berkeley, before teach-ing at the Universities of Augsburg,

Heidelberg, Düsseldorf and St. Gallen,having also served as a judge at thearbitration court of the regional secu-rity organization OSCE and on theGerman federal government’s AdvisoryCouncil on Global Change.When Kokott was nominated as advo-cate general, she jumped at the chance.“I think practically every lawyer special-ised in European law would be happy towork here,” she says. “You have very goodworking conditions, very interesting cases,and also a lot of responsibility. I think it’sa big challenge--and a big chance--to con-tribute to the integration of European law;to building Europe.”The Court of Justice is actually one ofthe older European institutions, foun-ded in 1952. It has jurists from all EUmember states, all of whom are appointedby agreement of the 27 governments.“Our task is to assure the uniform applica-tion of European Union law in all 27 mem-ber states, working together with thenational courts.” That does not mean thatmost citizens and businesses will havetheir case heard in Kirchberg. Euro-pean law is typically built into national

law and applied by each member state’scourt system.Nevertheless, the court does rule directlyin some high profile matters, such asappeals against European Commissioncompetition fines, persons in the EUsuspected by the UN of supportingterrorism, and when Brussels lodges so-called “infringement procedures” againstmember states that the commission saysis not respecting European law.

LEGAL CULTURES

In the majority of cases, however, theEuropean court’s role is to give guid-ance to courts in a member state.“Because national courts work in differentcountries, against the background of dif-ferent legal cultures, and they work withdifferent linguistic versions of the lawswritten in Brussels, there is a risk thatthey could interpret it differently” than inanother EU country, Kokott explains.“If they are not sure how to interpret it,they can suspend their procedure and askus. We give them answers. On the basis ofthose answers, the national courts decidethe case.”

Juliane Kokott

BUILDINGEUROPE”An advocate general at the European Court of Justice givesan inside view of the institution and the key role it increasinglyplays in making the EU a day-to-day reality.Text: Aaron Grunwald — Photos: David Laurent/Wide

“


cover story

Proceedings: Juliane Kokott readingan opinion into the record

yOU mUSTBE SELf-DISCIPLINED”Juliane Kokott

Over the past year, the court has ruledthat forcing airline pilots to retire at 60is age discrimination, and that EU lawallows the use of foreign satellite TVdecoders, in a blow to broadcasters thathave national monopolies of televisedsporting events, such as English Pre-mier League matches. The court hassaid that a Dutch national who lives inSpain, but works on a gas drilling plat-form located outside the Netherlands’territorial waters yet on its continentalshelf, is still covered by the Dutchsocial security system.One of its most visible recent rulingswas the case brought by several US air-lines challenging the EU’s aviationemissions trading scheme, which thecompanies unsuccessfully argued shouldnot be applied to non-EU airspace.Kokott is an expert on climate changelaw, but like all of the court’s jurists, shecannot publicly go into much detail onspecific cases, both to maintain judicialimpartiality and avoid mixed messagesbeing sent to national court systems.

At the same time, she suggestsmedia’s coverage of the aviationruling was overblown. “This casehas gotten a lot of attention, but I thinkthat the legal questions are not really so dif-ficult. It has got all this attention becauseit’s politically interesting and it has eco-nomic consequences. It’s politically contro-versial, that’s the reason more than anyreally difficult and interesting legal issues.”She also reckons that “the main problemin climate change is that politicians shouldfind a solution that gets countries like theUS and China on board. The main prob-lems must be addressed politically” ratherthan in the courts.

ADVOCATE GENERAL

When the court’s judges announced theaviation emissions ruling in December,they had agreed with Kokott, who wasthe advocate general that published asimilar opinion on the case three monthsprior. In fact, the court follows theadvocate general’s opinion in morethan 80 percent of cases, she says. Yet

the court’s “double control” approachoften confuses.The role of the advocates general “ismodelled on the French rapporteur public,or public reporters, and I think this describesour role quite well. We make independentproposals to the court, and those proposalsare public” to give “transparency into howdecisions are made” in Luxembourg.“The court is in many cases, not technicallyspeaking, the first and last instance,” wherea matter is heard, she explains. When anational court asks it “how to interpretEU law or whether some directive is void,there is no appeal. Those judgements haveeffects in 27 different legal cultures, so it’sbetter to really think about them. So the cases

language: Vassilios Skouris,president of the court, listens to

interpretation of one the23 official tongues used

advocates general: lesserunderstood but important part of thecourt’s “double control” approach Union

Olivier

Minaire

Olivier

Minaire

CourtofJustice

oftheE

uropeanUnion


cover story

are examined from scratch two times: onetime by the advocate general, and one timeby the judges.”Even though judges sit in chambers inthree, five or 13 jurists, there is still onereporting judge who writes the prelim-inary and then ultimately the final rul-ing. Since the reporting judge and theadvocate general are never from thesame country, the “case is really exam-ined from the perspective of two legal cul-tures.” When the opinions of the advocategeneral and reporting judge do diverge,“there’s a broader basis, I think, to find adecision” among the full panel of judges.A good jurist at the court needs “to beopen towards different legal cultures, tohandle arguments which are made againstthe background of other legal cultures” andto be open to “different approaches, basedon other legal traditions.”There is one judge per member state,23 official languages, and needless tosay the court functions on the back ofa small army of translators and inter-preters. While “you absolutely must speak

French if you work here,” it gets morecomplex from there.Jurists receive documents in the ori-ginal language--be it Finnish or Span-ish--plus the French version. All courttranslators are trained lawyers. ButKokott admits it is fair to wonder aboutthe “completeness and the quality of trans-lations.” She says translations are usu-ally very professional, but “there are alwaysmore member states and less money.” Some-times lengthy filings are summarized,with only the summary translated, andannexes are usually not translated. “Thiscan create uneasy feelings, if you have thefeeling there might be more” to under-stand.Jurists can always ask for annexes to betranslated, but “if it’s a language you donot understand, like Hungarian, then well,what pieces should you have translated? ”Just like at the United Nations, pro-ceedings are simultaneously interpre-ted into the languages of all participants.“It’s more difficult to have a really livelyaudience if you always have to think about

the interpreters,” who are not lawyersbut studied professional interpretation.“There are questions and answers anddiscussions, but if it’s a language none ofthe judges really speak, then it’s more dif-ficult,” she says. “Many judges speak a cou-ple of languages, so they often can discussthe case with the parties in their originallanguage.” But if it’s a foreign languagejudges don’t speak, “then everything goesslower.”

GROWING STATURE

The US ambassador to Luxembourghas called the Court of Justice one ofthe most critical parts of Europeanpolicy today. Off the record, many courtstaffers admit it continues to gain inimportance as Brussels issues ever moredirectives and as treaties spend moretime percolating across the union.“Of course it becomes ever more important,”Kokott reckons. “At the beginning it wasmore on the economic mark. There aremany, many--sometimes politically contro-versial--issues which the court has to decide

eu-wide:

judges come from all27 member states


Soon after she joined the court eightyears ago, Kokott became pregnant withher youngest child and her oldest wasabout to enter high school, “so it was dif-ficult” for her and her husband to decidewhat to do. They decided that the kidswould stay in Germany during theschool term. She shuttles back and forthon weekends and the children stay inLuxembourg during holidays.Her husband is a commercial lawyer inprivate practice in Germany, “so one ofus would have to commute anyway.” Likemany international residents, she alsodid not realise that she would end upstaying in Luxembourg for so long.She currently is in the middle of her sec-ond six-year mandate, which runs until2015. As for a third mandate, she saysthat she has no definite fixed plans. “Ofcourse, I like my position here very much, butit’s difficult to predict. It’s not my decision.”Interviews with the court’s president and one of itslong-serving judges can be found on Delano.lu

cover story

now, like age discrimination, the fightagainst terrorism, or criminal law, familyissues, guardianship of parents and so forth.”In Kokott’s view, the court is also vital“because there’s no real EU executive. Thelaw is implemented by the authorities ofthe member states.” So, European inte-gration is really happening through theadministration of justice. During itsgenesis, “the court developed the approachthat individuals can rely on those supra-national norms before their national courts.Direct applicability of union law and thepriority of union law: the court has devel-oped this, and these are really cornerstonesof integration.”She also stresses the court has a spe-cial responsibility as “there’s no otherinternational treaty or internationalcourt that has so much influence on the lifeof citizens within the states. This is reallyunique.”Kokott continues to find it amusingthat some people think she works in

Brussels and that “the court is constantlymixed up with the Court of Human Rightsin Strasbourg [which covers 47 countries],even by lawyers and even in legal news-papers.”At the same time, she believes “the grow-ing influence of human rights in our juris-prudence” will make up a more importantarea of the court’s future docket. “In thebeginning, it was economic law, technicallaw. More and more it’s all law, and withregards to human rights the question ishow much are national constitutionalcourts responsible for the protection ofhuman rights, and to what extent Lux-embourg is also responsible for the protec-tion of human rights of EU citizens.”Kokott is the mother of six and seemsto have a found the delicate balancebetween work and family life. “Of courseyou must organise yourself! And you mustbe self-disciplined.” But a few momentslater she adds: “I don’t have much freetime, not at all.”

growth: the court’s Kirchbergcomplex saw an impressive expansion

during the late 1990s

The Court of Justice was foundedin 1952, making it one of the olderEuropean institutions

Olivier

Minaire


Selling British, Irish and American products

Visit our Tea Room, serving English breakfast,British dish of the day, scones & cakes.Shop including food, greeting cards, books,magazines, weekend papers, gifts, teapots,games and more.

1c, route d’Arlon L-8310 Capellen |Tel. 352 26 31 08 56 | E-mail: [email protected]


networKing

cindi wilson: The Network meetings are addictive

The Network

NO BARRIERSTO ENTRYFor more than 20 years the group has helped professional women exchangeand engage with each other, across career stages and sectors.

RegUlaRmeetingSCommittee

President: Cindi WilsonVice President: Hana KuhnNewsletter: Geeta RajaramanMembership Secretary:Mariska Nijhuis L’AminTreasurer: Ioanna KonstantinidiMedia/PR: Catherine Moisy

Web Coordinator:Geeta RajaramanGeneral Secretary:Martine Balland

pRaCtiCal inFo

The Network [email protected]

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ork.luwww.the-network.lu


NETWORKING

The Network meets the third or fourthWednesday of the month at the Sofitelin Kirchberg (seewww.delano.lu/news/beyond-banks-and-castles). Doors openat 7:30p.m. After the more formal por-tion of the programme, “we adjourn tothe lounge for networking,” says CindiWilson.

Wilson. Subjects covered last year includedstarting a business, working with differ-ent cultures, and leadership mentoring.In 2012 the group will hear about Mas-termind Groups, information security atwork and at home and women in scienceand technology careers. Each regularmeeting also includes an informationexchange, where participants can describeopen job postings at their company orwhat type of position they are looking for.A few months ago, a member--who joinedthe group after being a guest speaker--“expressed her desire to join a particularorganisation,” says Wilson. A fellow par-ticipant helped make the right introduc-tions. “Two months later she was in the job.”The group also organises several specialevents throughout the year. The upcom-ing line-up includes “speed network-ing” in March and September, a golfseminar in June, a tour of the EuropeanInvestment Bank, also in June, andsummer drinks in July and August;“because there are still people here!” exclaimsWilson. The group’s annual charity din-ner and silent auction is held in Decem-ber (see box above).While the official focus of The Networkis on careers and personal development,“the social aspect just becomes part of it,because people find the meetings are veryfriendly, supportive, engaging. Typically,once people have been to one meeting, theywant to come back for more.” AG

The Network’s annual charity dinner and silent auction is heldshortly before Christmas. The proceeds are then supplementedby “top-up” donations, Cindi Wilson explains. The most recentevent and follow-up pledges raised more than 3,000 euro forLittle Plus (www.littleplus.org), which “helps to provide educationto women in underdeveloped countries.”

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A couple of decades ago, business net-working was still a clubby--and prima-rily a male--affair in the Grand Duchy.Thus, in 1991, The Network was born.“It was the idea of three women whodecided that they needed a forum for wom-en’s professional networking in Luxembourgmodelled after the American businessmen’sassociation, which their husbands hadbelonged to,” recounts Cindi Wilson,president of The Network.“What distinguishes us is the fact that we’reopen to all women, in all career levels,”explains Wilson, a management consult-ant who moved to Luxembourg in 1995after working in Michigan’s automotivesector. “We don’t specifically target corpo-rate executives or women who’ve startedtheir own business. We have been open toall women who want to advance theircareer and network with other women.”While a large number of its membersare indeed executives and entrepre-neurs, “it’s just that we’re open to every-one at every level of their career,” Wilson

stresses. “There are really no barriers toentry. I think that the annual fees to joinThe Network are very inexpensive com-pared to most social groups or professionalnetworking organisations: only 35 euro peryear. So, for any woman, with any careerobjective, it’s affordable.”In contrast with many female-orientedbusiness groups, English is the linguafranca of The Network meetings. “So ifpeople are new to Luxembourg and arenot yet fluent in French, they can still par-ticipate in our organisation.”Francophones are not at all excluded,however. In fact, France is the secondlargest country of origin, after the US,among the 26 nationalities represented.British, Dutch, Germans, Luxembourg-ers and Belgians are other notable blocsamong the group’s more than 100active members. Many are new to theGrand Duchy, looking to change careerpaths, or are rejoining the workforceafter full-time motherhood.While more than 40 percent work infinancial services, Wilson says mem-bers are active across a variety of sec-tors, including the arts, manufacturingand professional services, and eveninclude a bed & breakfast owner.One evening each month, the groupgathers at the Sofitel in Kirchberg tohear an invited speaker. “Our presentationsare typically around some topic of careeradvancement or personal development,” says

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Luxembourg is...

““

BUSINESS

JCI LUXEMBOURGFor members aged 18 to 40 JCI provides a chance todevelop leadership and entrepreneurial skills and tobuild an intercultural business network.www.jci.lu

SOCIAL

ROSE OF TRALEESends a girl to enter the qualifying heat of the an-nual Rose of Tralee festival. A Rose Ball to selectthe winning girl is being held on March 10.www.rose.lu

CLUB LIFEHighlights from the directoryof local associations found onDelano.lu

POSTLAFThe annual Postlaf kicks off the road run-ning season in Luxembourg. Now in its 16th

year, the 10km run starts and ends in Gas-perich at the headquarters of the P&T’sDivision des Télécommunications. Onlineregistration is now open and usually is at adiscounted price until a week before the race.The event also includes two short distancekids’ races. Participants receive a “ChampionChip” timer and the organisers also providea warm up, food and drink and entertain-ment en route.March 11, Luxembourg-Gasperich, www.postlaf.lu

BUERGSONNDEGA tradition that represents the banishing ofwinter, the victory of the sun over darkness,Buergsonndeg takes place on the first Sundayin Lent and involves the lighting of a huge firein villages and neighbourhoods.The bonfire iscalled built in the shape of a cross or somesort of other icon and is called the Buerg--from the Latin comburere, meaning to burn.Enthusiasts from local associations such asScout troops or the volunteer fire brigadeorganise the collection of combustible mate-rial for the fire which is set alight followinga torch-light parade through the local streets.The festivities include the ubiquitous grillwith sausages and pork chops as well as adrinks stand selling champagne, beer and evenGlühwein if the weather is cold enough.Sunday February 26, across the Grand Duchy

Local events

THREE CELEBRATIONSTHREE CELEBRATIONSTO SEE OFF WINTERTO SEE OFF WINTER

AN OPEN-MINDED COUNTRY WITH UNEXHAUSTEDAN OPEN-MINDED COUNTRY WITH UNEXHAUSTEDPOTENTIAL TO BE UNLOCKED. THEREFOREPOTENTIAL TO BE UNLOCKED. THEREFOREEVERYONE’S COMMITMENT AND TALENT ISEVERYONE’S COMMITMENT AND TALENT ISNEEDED. LET THE JOURNEY BEGIN!”NEEDED. LET THE JOURNEY BEGIN!”Jeannot kreckÉ: former economy minister

CARNIVAL PARADESThe carnival period in Luxembourg stretchesover several weeks and takes in paradesthrough the streets in town such as Diekirch,Schifflange, Esch and Petange as well as hugecostume balls. Other traditions include theStréimännchen celebration in Remich, whichinvolves the setting alight of a straw maneffigy which is then thrown off the bridgeinto the Moselle and usually signals the endof carnival.Of course, the biggest and best carnivalparades in Europe take place in Mainz andCologne. Both cities are just a two-hour driveand stage famous Rosenmontag parades onFebruary 20.February 19 (Diekirch), February 22 (Remich)

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MUSIC

LUXEMBOURG PIPE BANDCurrently has around 13 playing members. Its rep-ertoire includes typical Highland tunes, as well astraditional bagpipe music.www.pipeband.lu

SOCIAL

SOUTH AFRICA CLUBGathers South African expats to participate inbraais, craft fairs, an annual bazaar, parties andconcerts.www.saclubluxembourg.blogspot.com

SOCIAL

FINNISH-LUX SOCIETYBrings together Finns living in Luxembourg andpeople who are interested in Finland by hostingevents, sport activities, language courses etc.www.finlux.org

THE KNOWLEDGEHOW TO...CONSULT DELANO’SJOB DOCTOR

Delano’s website is launching a newservice for its readers--each Tuesdayour Job Doctor will answer questionssubmitted via email about any aspectof finding work or career development.1 Write a question about findingwork--anything from how to writea CV to what sort of training youshould be looking for.2 Word the question in such away that it is pertinent to as broadan audience as possible.3 Submit the question via email [email protected], using the heading“Job Doctor”by Wednesday morningfor the following Tuesday’s Job Doctorsession.4 The Delano editorial team willselect the best questions and for-ward them to the Job Doctor.5 Your mail will be treated confi-dentially--the Job Doctor will not beinformed of your name, nor will itbe published anywhere by Delano.6 Consult the Delano website tosee if the answer to your question isposted online the following Tuesday.www.delano.lu

JAMES HORMELThe former ambassador to Luxembourg has just publishedhis autobiography, Fit To Serve. The title of the memoirreflects the 18 months or so during which Bill Clinton’snomination of Hormel to be ambassador to Luxembourgwas blocked repeatedly by the senate committee and Hormelwas subject to vigorous and vicious anti-homosexual cam-paigning by Republicans and lobby groups. Clinton eventu-ally resorted to making Hormel a recess appointment and heserved as ambassador in the Grand Duchy between 1999and 2001--there were no objections from Luxembourg tohis appointment. The book is co-authored by Erin Martin.www.jameschormel.com

ANNE HOFFMANNThe new managing director of the Luxem-bourg National Tourist Office (ONT) hasbeen appointed to develop its corporatestrategy. Hofmann previously worked in themarketing departments for Fujitsu, AmericanPower Conversion and Schneider Electric.The managing director position is a newlycreated post and sees the ONT’s long-timedirector, Robert Philippart, take on the roleof tourism ambassador.www.ont.lu

MARIE-CLAUDE BEAUDThe former director of the of MUDAM--the Musée d’ArtModerne Grand-Duc Jean to give it its correct name--wasawarded the title of commandeur de l’ordre grand-ducal de lacouronne de chêne on January 12. Beaud was the first directorof the museum between 2000 and 2008, and oversaw its con-troversial development including the enforced change of plansfor the building designed by renowned architect IM Pei andits grand opening in July 2006. The honour bestowed onBeaud was also reward for her dynamism and efforts in pro-moting contemporary creativity in Luxembourg. A formerdirector of the American Center in Paris, Beaud is currentlythe director of the Nouveau Musée National de Monaco.

People in the news

THE CRUCIAL THREETHE CRUCIAL THREE

EtienneDelorme(archives)


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JAGUAR XF

FUEL SAVERThe luxurious Jaguar XF is the mostfuel-efficient model in the company’shistory, burning just 5.4 litres ofdiesel per 100km. Even the hybridLexus GS450h uses more fuel. Thisachievement is made possible by the2.2-litre engine and the new 8-speedZF automatic gearbox with start-stoptechnology.Jaguar Luxembourg,293, route d’Arlon, Luxembourg,www.jaguar-dealer.be

The light-weight and compact dimen-sions of this car don’t restrict comfortor cargo space. Its roomy interior offersplenty of headroom and the hatchmeasures 23.3 cubic feet with rearseats folded down (there is a pass-through for longer cargo). The newMini offers a huge array of a lacarte and package options. Specsinclude: 1.6 litre 4-cylinder, 121hpwith 6-speed manual or automatictransmission. Practical, yet styl-ish, the Mini Cooper S is fuelefficient, nimble and, as always,fun to drive.Arnold Kontz, 184, route de Thionville,Luxembourg, www.mini.lu

MINI COOPER S

PACKS A LOT OF PERSONALITY

The Evora S upgrades include a Pioneer navigation system, a premium sportinterior, and big changes under the hood. New engine mounts control the motor’smass better at low speed, a revised flywheel and clutch pack allow it to rev faster,and the exhaust valve comes with a silencer. The Evora S will go 0-95 km/h in4.6 seconds, with a top speed of 277 km/h. Specs include a 3.5-litre V6 that gen-erates 276 hp with a 6-speed manual gearbox, giving the Porsche 911 a run forthe money.Lotus Cars Luxembourg, 55-57, rue Basse, Schifflange, www.lotuscars.lu

LOTUS EVORA S

COMPETITIONFOR THEPORSCHE 911

Seven luxury sports cars to

DRIVE IN 2012


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AUDI R8 COUPE

ANY WAYYOU WANT ITYou can pretty much have yourAudi R8 Coupe any way you like,mixing and matching the Coupe andSpyder bodies with a V-8 or V-10 anda 6-speed manual or 6-speed paddle-shift R tronic gearbox.This two-seat supercar is availablein 4.2 Coupe, 4.2 Spyder, 5.2 Coupe,5.2 Spyder and GT 5.2 Coup trimlevels. The 4.2 comes with a 4.2 V8and the 5.2 with a V10 engine.Garage M. Losch Luxembourg,78-90, route de Thionville,Luxembourg, www.losch.lu

FERRARI 458 SPIDER

LOSES THETOP ANDGAINSMOMENTUMThe fifth generation of Ferrari’s mid-engine V-8 volume car, the 458 Spider,is about much more than notoriety andsex appeal. Like all Ferraris, it pushesdesign and engineering to extremes:it is graceful and aggressive, elegantand powerful, sophisticated and pri-mal.But this car is also convertible andcoupe. The retractable roof is a two-piece hardtop that rotates, rather thanfolds, into storage. Ferrari has beenworking on the novel flip-off top foryears and the end result is worth the

The French word “Virage” means “twist, bend, curve.” The Virage combinesgenuine sports car performance with luxury. The 6.0 litre V12 engine produces490hp and 420 lb/ft of torque, but is mated to a 6-speed Touchtronic automatictransmission. The result is a powerful car that will sprint from 0 to 95 km/h in4.6 seconds (max 299 km/h) with the ease and elegance of old world opulence.Interior leather hides by Bridge of Weir and state of the art technology make itauthentically Aston Martin.Aston Martin Luxembourg, 128, route de Thionville, Luxembourg, www.astonmartin.lu

ASTONMARTIN VIRAGE

TWISTAND SHOUT

INFINITI M35H

FAST AND FRUGAL

The Infiniti M35h is the fastest full-hybrid car on the market, havingraced through a quarter-mile run injust 13.9 seconds. That time putsM35h on par with the performanceof a 1982 Lamborghini.The M35h uses a 3.5 litre V-6 enginewith 302hp as well as an electricmotor rated for 67hp. The engine andmotor combine for a peak of 360hp.But you won’t pay extra for the speed.This car uses 8.8 litres of fuel per100km (highway), delivering V8 per-formance for a four-cylinder price.Infiniti Luxembourg,535, route de Thionville, Alzingen,www.infiniti.lu

wait. In a mere 14 seconds, the rooftucks vertically behind the seats leav-ing a small power-operated rear win-dow situated between two buttressesthat serve as integrated rollover protec-tion. The whole system is 25kg lighterthan its cloth counterpart.The 458 Spider specs are identical tothe Italia: a 4.5-liter V-8 generates562hp that travels through a 7-speeddual-clutch gearbox. The sprint to 100km/h can be done in less than 3.4 sec-onds with a top speed of 318 km/h.Francorchamps Motors, 14, rue d’Arlon, Windhof

TopSpeed

lifestyle

The return of English-language stand-up comedy to Luxembourg has beenlong overdue. Between 2005 and 2007fairly regular stand-up events organ-ised by the now defunct Lime-o-Luxwere held in Scott’s in the Grund.They attracted a host of up and com-ing comedians including the likes ofShazia Mirza and Patrick Monahanwho have since become regular mediafaces in the UK. But when one of theorganising team left Luxembourg, theevents dried up and were continuedonly sporadically.So, when Konrad’s owner, Ture Hed-berg, decided to use the downstairsspace of the café & bar to host liveentertainment, stand-up comedy seemedto fit the bill perfectly. After all, mostcomedians just require a small stageand a microphone to perform -- oh,and an eager audience. Ture knew hecould supply all three, and following ameeting with Lime-o-Lux’s VeroniqueFaber, he and Konrad live event organ-iser Jim Kent set the ball rolling.With national carrier Luxair flying thecomedians from London City to Lux-embourg and sponsorship from Green-field, Prisma and Fund Advisers, theevent has secured enough support to beable to keep ticket prices low and toensure it will be a regular monthly fea-ture on the Konrad schedule through-out 2012.The first comedian to appear at theKonrad Comedy Club was AndrewO’Neill, who played to a sell-out audi-

ence over two nights in early January.The organisers even had to turn awaypeople who had not booked in advance.O’Neill ’s surreal, cerebral and veryfunny shows received positive feedbackand a real buzz has been created aroundthe Comedy Club. O’Neill clearly alsoenjoyed playing to a multinational audi-ence. He felt the audience was “wasvery sharp and seemed very open and eagerto take part,” but was also pleased thathe could maybe break some taboos withsome of his material. “At home peoplewill either go for it or be offended. Here theywere going for it, but there was a palpablefrisson, which made me feel like a boldercomic than I probably am.”

Stand-up

KONRAD OPENSCOMEDY CLUBThe art of English language stand-up is alive and kicking in Luxembourg, with a regularcomedy club taking place once a month in Konrad’s basement performance space.

tom Deacon: off-the-wall edge

Next up is young English comedianTom Deacon over the weekend of Feb-ruary 17 and 18. Just turned 25, Dea-con has his own show on BBC Radio 1and has also twice appeared at thatmecca for stand-up, the EdinburghFringe.Comedy website Chortle says thatDeacon “presents his random thoughtswith the bemused and slightly confuseddemeanour of a manchild,” and that lastyear’s Can I Be Honest show was “enter-taining… with a nice off-the-wall edgeto it.” DRFebruary 17 & 18, Konrad café & bar,Luxembourg-Centre, www.konradcafe.com& Facebook page


www.theatres.lu / Adults 25 €, 20 €, 15 €, Students 8 € / Tickets: www.luxembourgticket.lu or call + 352 47 08 95 - 1

GRAND THÉÂTRE

SIDI LARBI CHERKAOUITEZUKA23 & 24 MARCH 2012 AT 8 PMChoreography: Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui / Music: Nitin SawhneyProduction: Sadler’s Wells, Bunkamura, EastmanCoproduction: Les Théâtres de la Ville de Luxembourg

Grand Théâtre / 1, Rond-point Schuman / L–2525 Luxembourg

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PETER HOOK AND THE LIGHT

LEGACY HONOURED

“Hooky” arrives in Luxembourg withThe Light to perform Joy Division’sUnknown Pleasures--a move that hasbeen met with mixed reception.There are those who say he has soldout and is embarrassing the legacyof Ian Curtis, while others havedefended his right to play the musicof a group that he founded. Eitherway, it is a chance to see anotherMancunian legend at den Atelier; andpromises to be better than Ian Brown.February 7, den Atelier, Luxembourg-Hollerich, www.atelier.lu

KURT VILE AND THE VIOLATORS

SWEET ANDTENDER SONGMANKurt Vile may not be a householdname, but he has been compared tothe great Leonard Cohen for his ten-der and evocative lyrics. He has alsobeen likened to artists as diverse asAnimal Collective, My Bloody Valen-tine, Bob Seger and Nick Drake. He isan unpretentious (apart from hisname) classic American singer-song-writer who delights in crafting beauti-ful pop songs as evidenced on hislatest album Smoke Rings For My Halo.February 24, Exit07, Luxembourg-Hollerich, www.rotondes.lu

The Luxembourg City Tourist Office’sannual Printemps Musical celebrates its30th anniversary this year with a pro-gramme of 13 concerts over six weeksthat reflects the traditional world andjazz feel of the festival. Although someartists will be familiar to regular festivalaudiences, the line-up also includes somefresh faces with a focus on piano andmusic from Cuba. The festival openswith a ciné-concert for kids in associa-tion with the Discovery Zone film festi-val (see page 62), then launches straightinto its piano theme with a concert at thePhilharmonie by Jason Moran (photo) in

homage to the great Thelonious Monk.The Spanish Harlem Orchestra returnsto Luxembourg for a gig at den Atelier,which also hosts concerts by Austrianvocal ensemble Bauchklang and Cubandance orchestra Los Van Van in the firstmonth of the festival. Over 100,000spectators have attended PrintempsMusical concerts over the last 30 years,and none more so than in the last twoyears--so clearly the programmers aredoing something right.March 4 to May 21, Philharmonie, den Atelier,Conservatoire, Abbaye Neumünster,www.printempsmusical.lu

PRINTEMPSMUSICAL

SPRING IN THEIR STEP

Seven live performances to watch

ON STAGE

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POWER TO HURT

FORCE OF WILLAustrian composer and sound/visual designer Christian Mair has written balladsand songs using Shakespeare texts to produce a programme labelled a “cinematic-musical-trip”. Singer-actor Raphael von Bargen performs the songs and video foot-age projected onto a screen adds a third dimension to the show, which exploresthe Bard’s work from his early love sonnets to the political monstrosities that peo-ple his plays and the cruel poetry of his later sonnets.March 7, Grand Théâtre, Luxembourg-Limpertsberg, www.theatres.lu

LIVE CINEMA

CHAPLINSCOREEvery year at the beginning of Marchthe Cinémathèque invites composer andconductor Carl Davis to lead the OPL ina performance of one of his scores to aclassic silent film. This year the film isCharlie Chaplin’s romantic comedy CityLights, in which his Tramp characterfalls in love with a blind flower girl andbefriends a drunken millionaire beforeone of the most famous film endings ofthe era. A special Family Edition featur-ing three short films by Chaplin, HalRoach and Mark Sandrich is scheduledfor the Saturday afternoon.March 9 & 10, Philharmonie, Luxembourg-Kirchberg, www.philharmonie.lu

NOSTALGIA 77

COOL FOLKAcclaimed British producer BenedicLamdin comes to the Kulturfabrik onthe back of last year’s wonderful TheSleepwalking Society album, his fourthunder the Nostalgia 77 guise. Themusic he produces is a mesmerizingmélange of blues, soul and jazz. Alsoon the bill is beguiling Ninja Tuneartist Jono McCleerey, while localduo Monophonia, featuring ClaudineMuno and Chook, provides support.February 9, Kulturfabrik, Esch-Alzette,www.kulturfabrik.lu

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AymericGiraudel

PIANO PLUS…

EBONY AND IVORY…AND OTHERS

Jazz In Luxembourg (JAIL) is organ-ising a series of six concerts at theAbbaye de Neumünster featuringpianists from all over Europe per-forming in duet with other musiciansand singers, ranging from doublebass via cello and trumpet to saxo-phone and vibraphone. As well asthe international artists the concertsinclude young Luxembourg vocalistMarly Marques singing with pianistClaude Schaus and two stars of thelocal jazz scene, vibraphone playerPascal Schumacher and pianistFrancesco Tristano (photo), playingtogether.February 15 to March 2, Abbayede Neumünster, Luxembourg-Grund,www.ccrn.lu

AymericGiraudel

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three for one douBle-Bill: directors Tony Kingston and Tim Lonewith playwright Celeste Schuh-Koehler

Theatre goers are being treated to arare double bill in February, when theBGT English Theatre Company andNew World Theatre Club join forces atthe Tramsschapp in Limpertsberg.BGT, renowned for its recent produc-tions of Jane Eyre and Opera Comique,will perform the premier of a brandnew work by Luxembourg-based writerCeleste Schuh-Koehler.Class Act is described as “a light butsearching look at the question of where act-ing stops and reality begins.” Its protago-nist is a teenage girl determined to spendher summer holidays taking an actingclass despite the protestation of hermother, Ruth, whose own mother wasan actress and whose drinking andimmorality Ruth says ruined her life.Class Act is a comic but poignant piecein which the audience is confrontedwith questions about how much we areall acting, even in our private lives.Schuh-Koehler, who has had severalshort plays produced in Luxembourgand the United States, wrote Class Actespecially for BGT. Director and headof BGT Tony Kingston says he workedon a 10-minute play written by Schuh-Koehler in 2009 and asked her if shewas interested in writing anything lon-ger with BGT in mind. “She very quicklycame up with Class Act and I thought thewhole conceit of the piece was wonderful,”says Kingston.Director and writer subsequently helddiscussions which led to some re-writes.“I didn’t suggest specific changes, but talkedabout areas where I thought there could bechanges, either because of the practicality of

staging it or because I wasn’t sure what theintention exactly was. But the re-writesall came from her. The biggest change fromthe original text was the introduction ofthe grandmother figure, which has added alot of depth to the whole piece.”Following discussions with NWTC’schairman Steve Anderson, the twotheatre groups decided to stage ClassAct together with another one-act play.That one-act performance is, in fact,three short plays from All In The Tim-ing by award-winning American play-wright David Ives. They are directedby Tim Lone. In the mid-nineties Iveswas the most produced playwright afterShakespeare and All In The Timing isone of his most popular and successfulcollections of plays. All three pieces --

Sure Thing and Universal Language(both from the original collection ofsix plays) and English Made Simple --deal with people surmounting the obsta-cles of language to find romance. Writingin the New York Times in 1993, BenBrantley said there was “real heart beneathMr. Ives’s intellectual tomfoolery” and that“there is sustenance as well as pure enter-tainment here.”This is the first time the two English-language theatre groups have produceda show together, and the first time eitherhas played in the relatively new Tramss-chapp cultural, sports and events venue.Reservations can be made on tel. 356339or via email: [email protected] DRFebruary 8 – 11, Tramsschapp, Luxembourg-Limpertsberg, www.nwtc.lu, www.bgt.lu

Theatre

A UNIQUE DOUBLE-BILLFor the first time ever, Luxembourg's two main English language theatre companiesare teaming up to present a night of one-act plays.

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16 MARCH 2012Den AtelierConcert

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Discovery Zone proved to be a breathof fresh air last year. The festival cele-brated everything that was good aboutcinema--the joy of discovering newinternational talent in the guise ofdirectors or actors, of watching filmsthat have not yet made it on to theradar of all but the most avid film buff,of meeting industry professionals andtalking to creators about their art.It was especially pleasing to enjoy thenew concept after two years in whichthe very Francophone and elitist DirAc-tor’s Festival was the City of Luxem-bourg’s contribution to the local cinemascene. Discovery Zone was inclusive,welcoming audiences of all ages, screen-ing films from around the world andshowcasing young talent. It also madea real effort to connect with the localfilm industry--something neglected bythe DirActor’s Festival. Indeed, thefestival’s executive committee comprisesrepresentatives from all of the local filmindustry associations and institutions.The programmers are currently finetuning the final details of the schedule,but are determined to continue theirpolicy of selecting films that have gar-nered critical acclaim at preceding fes-tivals, such as Sundance, Toronto, Berlinand Cannes, but that have not yet beenshown in Luxembourg or the GreaterRegion. Over 50 films will be screenedduring the festival and considering lastyear’s programme ran from Iraniandivorce drama A Seperation (now up foran Oscar) to Takashi Miike’s samurai

epic 13 Warriors via surreal Hungarianfilm Bibliothèque Pascale and Norwegianhorror fantasy Troll Hunter, this year’schoice promises to have something foreveryone.Discovery Zone organisers Alexis Jun-cosa and Gladys Lazareff say they wantto make this year’s festival even moreinclusive. “We want to improve proximitywith the audience,” says Juncosa. To thisend, the festival will set up its headquar-ters in the Ratskeller of the Cercle Citéright in the centre of the city so that visi-tors can gather all the latest news andinformation and keep up to date withevents throughout the festival’s nine-dayrun. Emphasis is also placed on a pro-gramme of screenings, events and proj-

ects for youngsters aged between 6 and18. Highlights include another series ofspecial Crazy Cinématographe for kids,screenings and workshops with filmcritic Boyd van Hoeij and professionalf ilm-makers, and screenwriting andfilm-making competitions (deadlineFebruary 24). And a selection of filmsfor youngsters includes Danish comingof age comedy The Liverpool Goalie andan avant premier of Belgian film AllezEddy! But an undoubted highlight pro-gramme is a screening of Into Eternity,actor Michael Madsen’s shocking docu-mentary about stocking nuclear waste inFinland. It is a beautiful film that LouisGodfrey in Sight on Sound calls a “hushed,existential documentary.”

into eternitY: hushed, existential festival highlight

Discovery Zone

INTRODUCING NEW FILMTO LOCAL AUDIENCESLast year’s inaugural Discovery Zone film festival gave audiences a flavour for findingnew films and new aspects of cinema. This year’s festival continues to develop that concept.Text: Duncan Roberts — Photo: Magic Hour Films


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YOUNG ADULT

GROWINGPAINS

Four films to watch

ON SCREENHot on the heels of Alexander Payne’sbrilliantly observed The Descendants ;here comes another bitter-sweet comedydrama that is almost impossible topigeonhole. Young Adult may just be JasonReitman’s darkest film to date, and hasbeen garnering some rave reviews despiteonly modest box office receipts.Reitman has once again teamed up withwriter Diablo Cody, but Young Adulteschews the sentimental cuteness of theirprevious collaboration, Juno. Indeed,Young Adult is a defiantly un-pretty film,despite the presence of Charlize Theron.She plays a thoroughly unlikeable, freshlydivorced, thirty-something who returnsto her hometown to win back a formerboyfriend, played by Patrick Wilson.She doesn’t see any problem with thefact that he is married and has justbecome a father. Theron and co-starPatton Oswalt, as her reluctant ally, havewon acclaim and nominations for theirperformances.Released February 24

TINKER, TAILOR, SOLDIER, SPY

MOLE HUNTGary Oldman, John Hurt and ColinFirth lead a great cast in this bigscreen version of John Le Carré’sintelligent Cold War spy thriller,which was made into a memorableTV series by the BBC in the 1970s.Oldman takes on the Alec Guinnessrole as George Smiley, who comesout of retirement to find a mole inMI6. Directed by Tomas Alfredson(who made the original Let The RightOne In), the film has garnered 11BAFTA nominations.Released February 10

MANON A LEDGE

TREADCARE-FULLYAsgar Leth’s debut is a delight-fully implausible heist moviethat provides its audience withthrills, dramatic tension andcomedy. Avatar ’s Sam Wor-

thington is the titular character, a cop falsely accused of a crime and trying toprove his innocence. The great Ed Harris plays a sinister real estate tycoon, Eliz-abeth Banks is the police negotiator trying to talk Worthington down from theledge and Jamie Bell plays his brother.Released February 17

WARHORSE

EQUINE HERO

Already a popular stage play in theWest End, Michael Morpurgo’sWarHorse now gets the Steve Spielbergtreatment on the big screen. Thestory of a horse named Joey who issent to the Western front in WWI,the film is a gloriously photographedepic that portrays the horrors andwaste of war through the eyes ofthe noble animal. Peter Mullan,Emily Watson and David Thewlis star.Released February 17

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Carnival at Utopolis & Ciné UtopiaBring your friends & family and enjoy the Carnival Holidays with great movies:The Muppets, Fünf Freunde, Zarafa, Journey 2: The Mysterious Island…See them all and much more during the month of February.

Dont’t miss Kifika who will be handing out candies to the children.Fun is guaranteed with our face painting workshop.

For more information www.utopolis.lu

Special family price:6€/ family member* • Children (<12 years) 5,50€/ child

* At least 4 family members with a minimum of oneand a maximum of two adults can benefit from this price.

Coyote Café, Club 5, Subway, Meneghino, McDonald’s,Nemo’s, Tie Break Café, Q45, Paul Eischen

Programissubjecttochange

David John Pike

REPERTOIRE

David Pike’s repertoire is extensive,ranging from JS Bach to Wagner viaMozart, Puccini and Verdi. This yearhe is already booked to perform inhis native Canada--in Toronto (withthe Larkin Singers) and Kingston(taking on the role of Schaunard inLa Bohème)--and his adopted countryof residence Luxembourg, where hewill be appearing in Carmina Buranain June and July.www.davidjohnpike.com

Sometimes David Pike will hear a bitof harmony on the sound system in arestaurant or an elevator and the linesfrom Don Giovanni will flood his mind.Those simple notes are his cue and theyare ingrained in his memory like mathtables or nursery rhymes. Before he per-forms an opera, he will have rehearsed ithundreds of times until it is sealed inhis mind like cement.Singing is Pike’s first great love, but hecame to this vocation late in life andtook a circuitous route to get here. Hedid not start performing seriously untilafter he graduated university and movedfrom his native Canada to London.There, he worked as an accountant andbegan singing part-time at the Guild-hall School. In time, he found a voiceteacher and performed with renownedensembles and choirs.But, despite the praise and opportuni-ties that came his way, Pike couldn’tbring himself to let go of a steady jobin pursuit of the opera. “I didn’t havethe guts to go for it,” he recalls. Eightyears later, he moved to Luxembourgand began studying with Daniel LewisWilliams, one of the world’s most soughtafter interpreters of the German andItalian repertories. “He was the latestvoice in a line of them who told me, ‘youhave to do this,’” says Pike. “Based on hisadvice, I decided to set up my own com-pany.”

Pike created The Professionals Net-work, an independent managementconsultant company that would affordhim the flexibility necessary to becomea professional musician. When he isn’thelping clients manage risk, implementIT solutions, or develop new processes,he is rehearsing and performing. Hededicates his mornings, when his voiceis cold anyway, to business and reservesthe afternoons for singing.Pike made his debut in Henry Purcell’sThe Fairy Queen. Other notable rolesfollowed including Marcello in Pucci-ni ’s La Boheme, Curio in Handel ’sGiulio Ceasare, and the title role inMozart’s Don Giovanni. He has workedwith leading ensembles includingGlyndebourne Festival Opera, Acad-emy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields, andthe London Philharmonic.The investment required to performopera is considerable and, for Pike, theselection process is a business decision.Memorising music requires blood,sweat and tears, and right now he’slearning three different roles simulta-neously. “At the outset you think you’ llnever be able to do it,” he says. “Then youget closer to production and muscle mem-ory kicks in. The key to the whole thing isto be 120 percent prepared.” Pike’s musi-cal career is gaining traction, he hasheard his cue, and when the curtaingoes up, he will be ready.

Opera singer

METICULOUSPREPARATIONDavid John Pike strikes a successful balance betweenhis passion for opera and his work as a business consultant.Text: Tonya Stoneman — Photo: Sébastien Grébille

66 - Delano - February 201266 - Delano - February 2012

my other life: DAVID JOHN PIKE

(1) Juke Visia 1.6 (117 cv), toutes remises déduites, valable sur véhicule de stock commandé entre le 28 janvier et le 29 février 2012. (2) Offre de prêt à tempérament réservée aux particuliers, valable du 28/01/2012 au 29/02/2012 sur Juke. Taux débiteur fi xe 4,40 % et taux annuel effectif global 4,49 % pour une durée maximale de 47 mois sans acompte obligatoire. Exemple Juke Visia 1.6 (117 ch) BM : prix au comptant (toutes remises et primes déduites) : € 14.250 TVAC, acompte de € 4.230, 47 mensualités de € 119, dernière mensualité de € 5.819. Montant total dû : € 15.652. Prêteur : Nissan Finance Belgium s.a., rue Ravenstein 60 / 26, 1000 Bruxelles, Belgique. Annonceur : Nissan Belux, Bist 12, 2630 Aartselaar, Belgique.

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� 14.250(1)

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JUKE 129 - 176 G/KM 4,9 - 7,6 L/100 KM




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JUKE 129 - 176 G/KM 4,9 - 7,6 L/100 KM


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www.nissan-lentz.luBy LENTZ

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AUDIT - TAX - ADVISORY

Turning Complexity into Opportunity

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