ROME (ITALPRESS) – “If I had to describe the relationship between Luxembourg and Italy in one word, I would say it is excellent.” That’s how Christophe Schiltz, Luxembourg’s ambassador to Italy, summed up bilateral ties in an interview with Claudio Brachino for Diplomacy Magazine, the Italpress agency’s geopolitics feature.
“These are long-standing relations between Luxembourg and Italy,” the ambassador explained. “In fact, the first migrants to arrive in Luxembourg came from Italy at the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th century. Today, more than 25,000 Italians live in Luxembourg and are an integral part of Luxembourgish society. So there are strong bonds between Luxembourgish and Italian citizens.”
According to Schiltz, these ties extend beyond people-to-people connections to include strong institutional and political relations. “President Mattarella paid an official visit to Luxembourg in June this year. He was welcomed by the Grand Duke and met with the Speaker of Parliament, the Prime Minister, and the Italian community in Luxembourg. Our Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs visited Rome in June and met with Deputy Prime Minister Tajani. Our Minister of the Interior came in May and met with Minister Piantedosi,” Schiltz said.
He also recalled that “the then Crown Prince, now Grand Duke, visited Turin last March with the Ministers of Sport and Health for the Special Olympics World Games, joined by the Ministers of Finance, Economy, and Culture.”
Economic cooperation between the two nations is equally strong. Italy is Luxembourg’s fifth-largest trading partner, just after its geographically closer neighbours. “One of the strengths of our commercial relations is mutual understanding, thanks in part to the many Italians living in Luxembourg. This makes it easier to understand each other’s markets and work closely together. There’s a certain familiarity between our countries and economies, and that’s a real asset,” the ambassador noted.
He praised the Italo-Luxembourg Chamber of Commerce as “very active in strengthening ties between Luxembourg and Italy.” The chamber, which celebrated its 35th anniversary this year, supports numerous business promotion initiatives in both directions. Schiltz also pointed out that nearly 400 Italian companies are listed on the Luxembourg Stock Exchange—“a major strength in the financial sector,” he said—adding that there is extensive cooperation between Italian banks and insurance companies.
Several major names connect the two economies, including Ferrero, Cargolux, and Telespazio through its EarthLab project. Tourism and logistics also play a vital role. Luxembourg’s flag carrier, Luxair, serves 15 destinations in Italy—“making Italy the country with the highest number of destinations in its network,” Schiltz highlighted, while Italian ports are key partners in freight transport. “There are many strengths in our cooperation, and improving it means building on already solid foundations,” he added.
The ambassador emphasised Italy’s diversified economy, both by sector and region. “Of course, Milan is the main economic and financial centre, but many regions are dynamic and highly innovative. That’s why I try to travel beyond Milan, to different regions of Italy. The president himself advised not to stay only in Rome but to travel and get to know the country. I want to understand the Italian economy to see where we can collaborate more closely,” Schiltz said.
Luxembourg is renowned for its robust financial services, but it is also a pioneer in the aerospace industry. “In the 1980s, the government created Société Européenne des Satellites, the first private global satellite communications operator. Luxembourg was also the first European country to adopt a law on space activities in 2020, and even earlier, in 2017, a law on the exploration and use of space resources. So Luxembourg has been a pioneer, and Italy is active in this field too,” he explained. In 2021, the two countries’ space agencies signed a memorandum of understanding to deepen cooperation.
Cybersecurity is another key area of focus.
“I think Italy and Luxembourg have great potential to collaborate on cybersecurity, start-up support, and innovation. There’s strong potential in this field,” Schiltz remarked.
Cultural ties are equally vibrant, reflecting the historic friendship between the two nations.
“We have a structured approach to cultural cooperation and support—for artists and cultural activities, for example,” said the ambassador. “Our Luxembourg Arts Council is very active, as is our Film Fund, and the embassy supports these initiatives.”
“He recalled Luxembourg’s strong presence at major Italian cultural events such as the Venice Biennale and mentioned artist exchanges supported by the Academia Belgica, which has an agreement with Luxembourg’s Ministry of Culture allowing Luxembourgish artists to apply for research and creative residencies in Rome. “So there’s a kind of triangular cooperation between our countries,” Schiltz noted.
Academic exchanges also play a part, with a university course in Luxembourg dedicated to Italian language, culture, and society. “As an embassy, we support the participation of artists in cultural events, performances, and concerts,” he added. “This week, for example, a Luxembourgish jazz band is performing at the Rome Jazz Festival. Last month, the Rome Film Fest featured many Luxembourgish productions or co-productions. Many Luxembourg artists perform in Italy, and as an embassy we try both to participate in these events and to support them through sponsorship or financial assistance. From time to time, we also organise our own cultural events in Rome and across Italy,” Ambassador Schiltz concluded.
-Photo Italpress-
(ITALPRESS).
