Luxembourg on the World Map

I was excited to meet Veronique Dockendorf, Deputy Director for Political Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Luxembourg at a lunch hosted by the Polish Embassy for all interns. Having recently won a seat on the UN Security Council it was an exciting time for Luxembourg on more than just the EU side of politics. It was interesting to hear about Luxembourg’s campaign for a seat on the Security Council, Dockendorf mentioned that it was a hard fought campaign, particularly because Luxembourg narrowly missed out by one vote in the first round of elections, which would have ensured their immediate success. She stressed that despite its small size, Luxembourg had contributed actively in UN missions to the DRC, the Gaza strip and off the coast of Somalia, to stop piracy. Indeed, even so early on in its new role, Luxembourg has already been active with Australia in drafting a statement to boost aid access into Syria, which had so far only approved 12 humanitarian organisations in the relief effort.

With the Polish Ambassdor to Luxembourg and Veronique Dockendorf

It was also fascinating to hear about her career in the Foreign Service and as an attaché of the permanent representation to the UN. We covered topics as diverse as finance, Luxembourg’s high carbon footprint (in part due to fuel tourism from Germany, Belgium and France) and equally interesting were her thoughts prior to the elections in Luxembourg- would the CSV win and if so, who might they form a coalition with. Needless to say, as a civil servant, she was hesitant to be more forthcoming about the result!

With Veronique Dockendorf and other embassy interns before the lunch

October is traditionally a very busy month for the British Embassy and for the British government as both are preparing for EU council meetings that take place in Kirchberg, a little outside of Luxembourg City. I was able to join UKREP visits officer Ian Phipps to see the council buildings, the offices that the UK holds there and talk to him a little about the meetings themselves. Having already attended economic and foreign affairs briefings at Luxembourg ministries in the weeks prior to his visit, it was interesting to talk about how information from these briefings relayed by our Ambassadors back to Ministers in the UK would be used to prepare the British position at the General Affairs and Foreign Affairs councils. 

     

                                               The EU Council building in Kirchberg