Echternach: Luxembourg's Oldest City with a Rich Cultural Heritage
Luxembourg - August 13, 2024
Echternach, located in the Mullerthal region, is recognized as the oldest city in Luxembourg and is steeped in a rich history of cultural and religious events. Founded in 698 AD by Saint Willibrord, an English monk and the first Bishop of Utrecht, the city remains a significant historical and cultural hub in Luxembourg.
Historical and Cultural Attractions
Echternach is home to some of Luxembourg's most important historical landmarks, including the Abbey of Saint Willibrord and the Basilica of Saint Willibrord, renowned for its Romano-Gothic architecture. This abbey, which played a crucial role in the religious history of Europe, continues to be one of the city's major tourist attractions. Additionally, the Prehistory Museum, housed in a historic 15th-century building, showcases ancient artifacts discovered in the region, adding to the city's cultural allure.
Festivals and Cultural Events
One of the most notable cultural events in Echternach is the Echternach Dancing Procession, held annually on Whit Tuesday. This event, added to UNESCO's list of Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2010, is held in honor of Saint Willibrord and attracts visitors from around the globe.
Tourist and Recreational Facilities
In addition to its rich history and culture, Echternach offers numerous recreational opportunities. The Echternach Lake and its surrounding parks provide ample opportunities for walking, cycling, and water activities. The city also serves as the starting point for several well-known hiking trails in the Mullerthal region, known for its unique rocky landscapes, often referred to as "Luxembourg's Little Switzerland."
Echternach is not only a haven for history enthusiasts but also a perfect destination for nature and culture lovers. With its easy access from Luxembourg City and Trier, the city is an ideal choice for a day trip or a short stay. Adding to its charm, Echternach has been the headquarters of the SIMOURQ Association and the multilingual SIMOURQ News media outlet since 2013.
Luxembourg Ministry of Foreign Affairs Recommends Registering Foreign Travel for Enhanced Safety
Luxembourg - August 13, 2024
The Luxembourg Ministry of Foreign Affairs advises its citizens to register their foreign travel plans through the portal guichet.lu. This recommendation is particularly important for long-term trips, studies, or temporary stays abroad.
The program "Lëtzebuerger am Ausland," or LamA for short, which was launched in 2018, remains unfamiliar to many citizens. This initiative is designed to enhance the safety and awareness of Luxembourgish authorities regarding the status of their citizens abroad. According to the Deputy Director of Consular Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, registering through this portal is crucial in emergencies such as natural disasters or armed conflicts.
In an interview with local media, he explained, "If you are traveling for just one day, there is no need to register. However, if you plan to travel for one or two weeks, or if you are staying or studying abroad, you can register through this portal."
The program collects information such as the travel destination, contact details in Luxembourg or abroad, accommodation, and even information about sea voyages like the name of the ship. This information helps embassies and consulates to quickly and effectively assist citizens in emergencies.
The Deputy Director of Consular Affairs also emphasized that all data is stored anonymously two weeks after individuals return to Luxembourg. This program has proven particularly useful during international crises, such as the war in Ukraine or recent conflicts in the Middle East.
In recent months, dozens of Luxembourg citizens present in Israel, Palestine, or Lebanon have registered their information through this program. After receiving this information, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has actively contacted these individuals to assess their potential needs, such as financial assistance or repatriation.
Additionally, the Luxembourg Ministry of Foreign Affairs has established an emergency hotline for its citizens, available 24/7, to provide assistance in case of problems while abroad.
Luxembourg Ministry of Agriculture Issues Warning on Dangerous "Ascaris" Parasite
Luxembourg - August 13, 2024
The Luxembourg Ministry of Agriculture has issued a warning about the dangerous "Ascaris" parasite, primarily found in raccoons, highlighting the risks this parasite poses to both humans and animals. Raccoons, a species of mammal known as an invasive and non-native species in Europe, are the main carriers of this parasite.
Originating in North America, the Ascaris parasite has now spread to Europe, and its presence in Luxembourg's raccoons has been confirmed. Ascaris lives in the intestines of raccoons and can also be transmitted to dogs and cats, which can further spread the parasite's eggs through their feces into the environment. These eggs can be ingested by other mammals or birds, making it crucial to avoid contact with the feces of infected animals.
Although the risk of transmission to humans is not insignificant, ingesting the parasite's eggs can lead to illness, and if it spreads to various parts of the body, it can cause serious health complications.
To prevent contamination, the Ministry of Agriculture has issued the following precautionary measures:
Wash hands thoroughly after outdoor activities or gardening, especially before preparing food or after handling animals that might be contaminated.
Wash fruits and vegetables from the garden thoroughly.
Raccoon feces are the primary source of this parasite. The eggs can survive and remain infectious in the environment for several years, so it is crucial to avoid contact with feces or areas where raccoons frequently defecate (raccoon latrines).
In addition, the Ministry of Agriculture recommends keeping raccoons as far away as possible from residential areas. To achieve this, the ministry has provided several guidelines:
Prevent access to food sources (e.g., avoid leaving pet food outdoors).
Store garbage in secure, sealed containers.
Block access to attics and basements.
Prevent pets from accessing areas where raccoon feces might be present.
Regularly treat pets for parasites under the supervision of a veterinarian.
Cover children's sandboxes when not in use, as raccoons may use them as a latrine.
Keep pet enclosures, bedding, and play areas clean and free of feces or contaminated waste.
If raccoon feces are found near your home or children's play areas, they should be carefully removed using disposable gloves and a face mask. Contaminated materials should be burned or buried, and boiling water or direct heat should be used for disinfection.
By following these recommendations, the risks posed by the Ascaris parasite to both animals and humans can be effectively minimized.
Warning on Excessive Use of Paracetamol: Risks and Safety Guidelines
Luxembourg - August 13, 2024
In 2023, approximately 20.9 tons of paracetamol were sold in Luxembourg's pharmacies, with 40% of these purchases made without a medical prescription. This widely-used medication, known for its effectiveness as a pain reliever and fever reducer among both adults and children, can pose serious health risks if used improperly or in excessive amounts.
According to a report from the Luxembourg Ministry of Health, the consumption of paracetamol has seen a significant increase in recent years. In 2022, sales reached a record high of 23.4 tons. However, in 2023, this figure decreased to 20.9 tons, which equates to an average consumption of 32 tablets of 1000 mg per person per year.
Risks of Excessive Paracetamol Use
While paracetamol is popular for its favorable balance of benefits and risks among over-the-counter medications, the Ministry of Health warns that it should not be taken indiscriminately. Overuse of this drug can lead to serious and irreversible liver damage. Additionally, it is important to note that many other medications also contain paracetamol, and taking them simultaneously can increase the risk of overdose and poisoning.
Safety Recommendations
The Ministry of Health advises that paracetamol should only be used when necessary, such as for fever or pain, and preferably under the guidance of a doctor or pharmacist. Currently, there are no restrictions on the over-the-counter purchase of this medication in pharmacies, but packages containing more than 10 grams of paracetamol are not sold without a prescription.
These precautions are crucial in ensuring the safe use of paracetamol and preventing the potential health hazards associated with its misuse.
Luxembourg Government Halts Financial Aid to Caritas
Luxembourg - August 13, 2024
Following the revelation of a financial embezzlement scandal within the non-governmental organization Caritas, a crisis committee was established about ten days ago to take over the management of the organization. In light of this situation, Luxembourg's Prime Minister announced that the government would cease all financial payments to Caritas from the end of August until all aspects of the case are fully clarified. This decision was made despite the ongoing importance of Caritas's activities.
The Luxembourg government's move has sparked widespread reactions among political parties. After the disclosure of an embezzlement case involving more than 60 million euros within the Caritas charity organization, the government decided to suspend all financial aid to the organization until further notice. Prime Minister Luc Frieden stated that this decision was taken due to the loss of trust in Caritas's management and its inability to maintain proper financial controls. The government is waiting for necessary reforms in the management and auditing of Caritas before resuming any support. This decision has raised concerns about the status of Caritas's 500 employees and the continuation of its charitable activities.
What Do We Know About the Financial Embezzlement Case in Caritas?
The large-scale corruption case within the Caritas charity, involving the embezzlement of 61 million euros, has drawn significant attention from financial sector experts. This amount was transferred to 14 accounts in the Spanish bank BBVA over five months starting in early 2024. Sources indicate that these transfers were made through hundreds of deposits, each less than 500,000 euros.
During this period, requests for additional credit lines were submitted to two banks, BCEE and BGL BNP Paribas. However, it remains unclear whether these credit lines were approved with only the signature of one Caritas board member or extended without additional approval.
On the other hand, the Caritas Foundation has stated that all these transfers and credit requests were carried out by the financial director. This individual, who had been under suspicion from the beginning, was accused of embezzlement by the Caritas director and was the subject of a formal complaint filed in mid-July. However, the financial director soon turned himself in to the police, with his lawyer presenting him as a victim in this case.
Meanwhile, the local media outlet Radio 100,7 suggested that the entire fraud scheme might have been internally orchestrated using confidential Caritas information. It is alleged that the financial director had continuous contact with someone posing as the Caritas director and did everything possible to ensure the success of these transfers to Spain.
This case has raised serious questions about the governance weaknesses within Caritas and the performance of the banks involved. The case is currently under extensive review by the Commission de Surveillance du Secteur Financier (CSSF) and judicial investigations.
In response to the case, BCEE has refrained from providing specific explanations, limiting its comments to general statements about transaction monitoring and the importance of thorough customer analysis. However, many experts in the field have concluded that such a fraud could not have occurred without either collaboration or significant lapses in the banks' oversight systems.
This case remains under investigation, and until a final judgment is rendered, all accused individuals are presumed innocent.
Child Rights Committee Reviews Decision to Return Syrian Family to Greece
Luxembourg - August 13, 2024
The International Committee on the Rights of the Child has called for a thorough review of the case involving a Syrian family whose asylum request in Luxembourg was denied. The family arrived in Luxembourg in 2019 after spending two years in Greece, where they had been granted international protection. Consequently, Luxembourg did not grant them asylum status.
After their arrival in Luxembourg, the mother gave birth to their sixth child in the country. This child did not have asylum status in Greece, leading the parents to file a new application in Luxembourg in February 2020.
The Deputy Director of Immigration at the Luxembourg Ministry of Internal Affairs explained, "It should be noted that the parents have residency permits in Greece. We assessed whether there was any danger to the child in Greece. The asylum request for the child born in Luxembourg was denied because, in fact, there was no threat to the child in Greece."
However, the director of the non-governmental organization Passerell, which advocates for refugee rights, stated that the family has filed a complaint due to the way Luxembourg authorities handled the children's asylum applications. He added, "In addition to the harsh living conditions in Greece and the risk of the family being sent back to Syria, we are particularly concerned that the children were not heard during the legal proceedings. The parents and children made multiple requests to be heard and to express the challenges they faced in Syria and Greece."
In response to these criticisms, the Deputy Director of Immigration emphasized, "It is important to note that the parents' applications were submitted on behalf of all the children. Therefore, the parents were required to present all relevant issues. The law stipulates that the parents must be heard, but in this context, there was no need to hear the children separately."
Currently, this complaint is under a comprehensive review, and the decision to return the family to Greece has been suspended until the review is completed. The Passerell organization continues to monitor the case and emphasizes that the situation of refugees in Greece is highly precarious, and having international protection status does not necessarily guarantee the rights of individuals, especially children.
Criticism of Affordable Housing: "You Are Not the Real Owner"
Luxembourg - August 13, 2024
The Chamber of Public Employees and Staff (CHFEP) has pointed out that some individuals are hesitant to engage with affordable housing due to the "drawbacks" associated with long-term lease agreements. These statements are in response to the affordable housing programs offered by the National Affordable Housing Company (SNHBM).
Currently, SNHBM has 120 vacant housing units, with about 50 of them located in the village of Elmen. The mayor of this area attributes the vacancy of these units primarily to the lack of approval for mortgage loans. However, CHFEP offers a different perspective, suggesting that the long-term lease agreement, known as "bail emphytéotique," is a key reason for the lack of interest.
Concerns About Long-Term Lease Agreements
According to CHFEP, the "bail emphytéotique" is a long-term lease agreement (usually 99 years) that does not grant buyers full ownership of the land. As a result, this type of contract differs from outright property ownership, and some individuals do not find these conditions appealing.
In response to this criticism, SNHBM has emphasized that although the land is leased, the buyer still gains full ownership of the house and can use it as collateral for a bank loan. Furthermore, the buyer can sell the property at any time, but it must be sold exclusively to SNHBM to prevent any financial speculation and to ensure that the affordable housing remains available to the public.
Property Value and Price Increase
SNHBM has also clarified that the sale price of the property is updated according to the construction index, but with an annual price reduction of 1%. For example, if the construction index increases by 10%, the property price would increase by 9%. Additionally, the price remains fixed for the first three years to encourage residents to stay in the property.
