What were the changes and which are the challenges for the future.
The first decade that is about to come to it’s final year, and the 5 Years of the end of the 20th century are characterized by Prime minister Juncker’s government. One week ago the new government came into place, the 4th under Prime minister Juncker.And he still is not an elder statesman! The tremendous changes that will affect the economy and the welfare of Luxembourg citizens can only be evaluated through a solid appreciation of the efforts done by a small community in a small country in the heart of Europe.
A small country with a big heart, the green heart of Europe, it’s nature, memories of the past through it’s castles and monuments, the villages with their churches, that’s only part of it. The idyllic picture does not fit anymore to our country, the challenges we are facing not only come from outside, the global crises of the financial markets and the much more severe problems of climate change being less important than the structural challenge of the structure of its population.
Among all the member states of the European Union the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg is home to by far the highest proportion of foreigners who make up more than 42 % of its population. Of a total population of 483.800 ,
foreign residents account for a presence of 205.900. And yet the cohabitation of more than 160 nationalities is not perceived as leading to intercultural conflicts or a general atmosphere of misunderstanding.
I should say most of the foreigners feel comfortable, many are establishing for the good. Not yet the cohesion of the society is in danger, nevertheless the questioning about our identity is on the agenda. In l995 when the city of Luxembourg was appointed capital for culture of Europe, cultural facilities were lacking. The city had to be inventive to make up for it and pitched tents called the Zeltstadt. In a decade the country succeeded in performing the highest investment ever done in new buildings for cultural facilities.
The strong will to offer the extremely diverse elements of the Luxembourg community a cultural project capable of consolidating true social cohesion an prove that identity is not diluted by opening up to other cultures, but on the contrary may be enhanced and enriched by sharing, was at the beginning of these efforts.
The new Philharmonic hall, dedicated to Grand duchess Joséphine Charlotte and the Museum of modern art dedicated to Grand Duke Jean are nowadays attractive meeting points for world wide known artists. Investors coming to our region are no more in a cultural no man’s land, they take benefit of a very easy and diverse cultural offer with high quality standards.
In our knowledge based society could we restrain from investment in research? It was a decision of the European research ministers in 2000 to encourage member states of the European Union to invest 3% of GDP in public research. In spite of the financial crises the new government sticks to this aim, although 3% of GDP will certainly be lower in real figures than it would have been in the years before the crisis. Actually 0.7 % of GDP is invested in public research. In order to achieve this goal the government took some initiatives with long dated effects.
The creation of the national research fund, joining the European Space agency, and finally creating our own university, the University of Luxembourg were the main steps taken in the early years of the new millennium.
It was my privilege to be involved in this development as minister for culture, research and higher education and public works from 1995 to 2004.
The University was the boldest step, my fellow ministers were not convinced by the idea and neither were those generations of Luxemburg Academics having accomplished their studies abroad at the most famous universities worldwide. So why should we have a University, our own university? For 40 years Miami University John Dolibois center was with great success hosted in our country. So was the Sacred Heart University giving opportunities for many degrees and diplomas to a great variety of students.
In the meantime mentalities have changed. Innovation, Science and technology as well as research can they progress in a surrounding not driven by the strong excellence criteria that could provide attractive jobs for researchers and professors?
The University was created in 2003, the first evaluation after the initial five year period has been quite positive. Luxembourg University is a unique model in the European university landscape: International, research centered , multilingual (French German and English), mobile, regionally linked, quick and close.
New facilities are under construction near the steel mills of Belval, in the south of the country. Three faculties, focused on science and technology, European and business Law, international finance, educational science an Luxembourgish studies have hosted in the first period some 5000 students, from all over the world, mostly new member states of the EU. During the last academic year 8 American students enrolled in the University of Luxembourg. Framework agreements were signed with the William and Mary School of Law, the University of Northern Arizona, Miami University and Colorado state university.
Since November 2008 the Institute for Systems Biology in Seattle is a strategic partner of the University of Luxembourg in a 5year project of the Luxembourgish government. A centre of expertise in the scope of systems biology and molecular medecine in order to diversify the economic fabric in the country is the final aim.
Small but excellent, already now public private partnership is well developing and the University of Luxembourg is confident for its future development. Heading the association of the Friends ,amis de l’université, it is my pleasure to invite you all to have a closer look at the activities of this quite challenging new initiative in the country.
The creation of the Luxembourgish studies is another important step strongly linked to the linguistic emancipation of our national language. This will lead to university degrees in luxembourgish, the language culture and history being joint studies and the basics of understanding what it means being a Luxembourger. In parallel the bill on double nationality was passed, giving the opportunity to many foreign people to become full-fledged citizens of more than one state. This is indeed a new paradigm that has to be seen in relation with the Charta of individual rights linked to the Lisbon treaty.
The news in the economic development are strongly linked to innovation. Our most famous company the SES the Satellite provider is doing quite well. Some other high-tech investors have good opportunities through the country’s membership in ESA and the participation in the European Galileo program, aware as well, that the new European spectrum policy will create some activities.
Well prepared for the challenge of a global mind, ready to accept diversity as the richness of the future, but conscious for the weakness of a small state, the Grand Duchy is more than ever bound to its friends abroad.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Centuries ago our people had to emigrate from a poor country unable to provide food for everyone. Today young people emigrate by choice for new challenges in a global world. Highly skilled scientists left our country because of the lack of opportunities for their professional background. A strong network of Luxembourgers abroad could be the new way of understanding and surviving. But that is another story for another celebration.
Thank you for your attention.