BY: BRIANNE CRAIGHEAD

Luxembourg

Facts

Location: Western Europe, bordering Belgium 148 km, France 73 km, Germany 138 km

Capital: Luxembourg Population: 462,690 (July 2004 est.)

Ethnic Make-up: Celtic base (with French and German blend), Portuguese, Italian, Slavs (from Montenegro, Albania, and Kosovo) and European (guest and resident workers)

Religions: 87% Roman Catholic, 13% Protestants, Jews, and Muslims (2000)

The spoken language of the majority of the 400,000 population is LuxembourgishLuxembourg - Language, Culture, Customs and Etiquette

The Government

Principal Government Officials

Chief of State: Grand Duke HenriHead of Government: Prime Minister Jean-Claude Juncker

Luxembourg has a parliamentary form of government with a constitutional monarchy.

Legislative power is vested in the Chamber of Deputies, the members of which are elected directly to 5-year terms.

POLITICAL CONDITIONS

Luxembourg's political system has a strong local focus. National politicians very often begin their careers and establish a political base serving as mayors, and members of the Chamber of Deputies are elected from one of four regions. The political culture favors consensus, and the parties coexist within the context of broad agreement on key issues, including the value of deep European integration. National elections are held at least every 5 years and municipal elections every 6 years. Elections for the Chamber of Deputies were held in June 2009.

FOREIGN RELATIONS

Luxembourg has long been a prominent supporter of European political and economic integration. In efforts foreshadowing European integration, Luxembourg and Belgium in 1921 formed the Belgium-Luxembourg Economic Union (BLEU) to create an inter-exchangeable currency and a common customs regime. Luxembourg is a member of the Benelux Economic Union and was one of the founding members of the European Economic Community (now the European Union). It also participates in the Schengen Group, which allows for the free movement of citizens among member states

Principle Products

Agriculture - products: grapes, barley, oats, potatoes, wheat, fruits; dairy and livestock products

Famous Monument

This is one of the countries most famous monuments. This monuments name is Castle of Vianden. It was built between the 11th and 13th centuries

Food

Some of the most famous foods in Luxembourg

Thuringer: spicy version of the famed German bratwurst sausages. These links are both tasty and cheap.

Black pudding (Treipen): specialty made of pig head, lungs, kidneys and tongue, seasoned with cabbage, onion, toast slices and spicy herbs.

Luxembourgian ham: type of ham similar to the Italian prosciutto crudo. It is served cut in fine slices on bread, as snap.

Gingerbread men (boxemannercher): product served to the children on the evening of December the 6th (Saint Nicholas).

Map

Luxembourg has a population of 524,853 and an area of 2,586 square kilometres (998 sq mi)

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