EMPG38 colloquium in Luxembourg

Grand Duché de Luxembourg

The recorded history of Luxembourg begins with the construction of a castle called "Lucilinburugh" (which means "small castle") by count Siegfried on some roman vestiges. Over the next centuries, a fortified town gradually developed around this castle.

Luxembourg history is dominated by foreign occupations. In 1354, the duke of Luxembourg received the more prestigious title of a grand duke. From 1437 on, Luxembourg was alternately controlled by the Habsburgs of Spain, by the Burgundians, by the Netherlands and by the Habsburgs of Austria.

The breakthrough for the creation of a state of Luxembourg came in 1815. At that time, The Congress of Vienna formed Luxembourg as a Grand- Duchy in personal union with the Netherlands. Luxembourg also became a member of the German Confederation, with a Confederate fortress manned by Prussian troops.

Over the next periods, Luxembourg became more and more independent and a national identity started to develop. The Belgian Revolution of 1830-1839 reduced Luxembourg's territory by more than half, as the predominantly francophone western part of the country was transferred to Belgium. Luxembourg's independence was reaffirmed in 1839 by the first Treaty of London.

From 1842 on, Luxembourg featured strong economic growth. Mining layers were discovered and new railway lines were constructed. Immigration was the consequence of the need for labour. The second treaty of London in 1867 finally granted eternal independence to the state of Luxembourg.

Luxembourg was invaded and occupied by Germany during the First World War, but was allowed to maintain its independence and political mechanisms. It was again subject to German occupation in the Second World War, and was formally annexed into the Third Reich in 1942, although it was invaded in May 1940. At that time, Luxembourg abandoned its policy of neutrality, when it joined the Allies in fighting Germany. Its government, exiled to London.

In 1944, Luxembourg created together with Belgium and the Netherlands the BENELUX union. It became a founding member of the United Nations in 1946, and of NATO in 1949. In 1957, Luxembourg became one of the six founding countries of the European Economic Community (later the European Union).

From the sixties on, the country continued its European integration. The finance and banking sector started to develop, which strongly contributed to compensate for a declining steel sector. Nowadays, Luxembourg is a modern, cosmopolitan country, with more than 35 % of its population being of foreign nationalities. Being a small size country further adds to the proximity between the authorities of Luxembourg and its people.