cafebabel.com

Frédérique Ries: from journalist in Luxembourg to MEP in Brussels

('Andrew Burgess',) — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 16:21:30 -0000

After fifteen years in journalism, the 52-year-old decided to make her mark at the European parliament. A decade on and she's still going strong. Portrait of a passionate figure whose passage into politics has not been without its pitfalls

Viviane Reding vs Europe’s macho club?

('English language version of cafebabel.com',) — Wed, 22 Sep 2010 13:00:00 -0000

When the EU justice minister compared France's expulsions of essentially Romanian and Bulgarian citizens to nazi deportation acts in world war two in mid-September, she apparently crossed the line for Paris and Rome...and their male politicians

Jean-Claude Juncker or Tony Blair for EU president?

('euro topics',) — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 13:13:45 -0000

The Luxembourg prime minister has declared his willingness to run for the post of EU president. But the EU may decide not to elect either of these two formidable politicians and opt for a lacklustre candidate instead. The Luxembourg, British, Italian and French press react

Luxembourg, the only genuinely multilingual country in Europe?

Tue, 05 May 2009 17:00:00 -0000

There’s a lot of talk about Luxembourg in Europe at the moment because of the country’s commitment to ‘bank confidentiality’. But while the financiers may be keeping their lips sealed, the Luxembourgers are speaking a whole host of languages

Luiza Sosna, the Polish woman who will integrate you in Luxembourg

('Annie Rutherford',) — Tue, 05 May 2009 12:15:00 -0000

The 30-year-old has only recently moved to the grand duchy herself and advocates a quite particular theory: no one can escape the culture shock

Can immigrants in Luxembourg vote at the 7 June elections?

('Ellie Banks',) — Tue, 05 May 2009 12:00:00 -0000

Almost half the population living in Luxembourg are immigrants. ‘Multi-Culti’ is the motto of the capital, where two thirds of these foreigners have found a new home. Statistics predict that by 2015 the Grand Duchy will number more immigrant citizens than native. Immigrants who have had a fixed residence in Luxembourg for 5 years are allowed to vote in local elections, but in the parliamentary election on 7 June, they will not have a voice. Do you think immigrants in Luxembourg should be allowed to take part in general elections as well? The answer in pictures

Luxembourg’s citizens on tax havens

Tue, 22 Apr 2008 12:00:00 -0000

Background on the terrestrial fiscal paradise bordering Belgium, France and Germany

Heide Rühle on Andorra, Gibraltar and Liechtenstein tax havens

Tue, 22 Apr 2008 12:00:00 -0000

The German politician and member of the European parliament for the European Greens says fiscal paradises threaten the European social model

Juliane Kokott: 'there's no macho atmosphere at the European Court of Justice'

Fri, 11 Apr 2008 12:00:00 -0000

The German mother-of-six, 50, is a woman of superlatives: as one of three women in an eight-man advocate general team at the ECJ, she most famously helped put Berlusconi on trial

Babel music room: October

('Sophie Paterson',) — Mon, 01 Oct 2007 12:00:00 -0000

The return of a legend. A Catalan and a French woman sweeten the bitter taste of autumn, Swedish boys rock elegantly and two other delicious treats in store for fans: a selection of European sounds

Working abroad - necessity or Easyjet pleasure?

Fri, 09 Mar 2007 12:00:00 -0000

The concept of working abroad has changed hugely - two generations explain why they left their countries. Third in our 'Crossed Portraits' series, marking 50 years of Europe

Luxemburg: three languages, one nation

Mon, 06 Feb 2006 14:00:00 -0000

It is not easy to establish a national identity when foreigners make up 38% of a country’s population, especially when it is a country that has to sit between France and Germany. However, sometimes a small country can teach the European Union a wonderful lesson on integration.