Luxembourg: VAT Rules Amended
(Aug. 17, 2012) On August 7, 2012, Luxembourg issued a decree amending its VAT rules for independent groups of persons. The amended rule, published in the official gazette (Journal Officiel du Grand-Duché de Luxembourg) on August 14, was adopted in response to a reasoned opinion from the European Commission. The opinion, sent to Luxembourg on […]
Contributor:
Johnson, Constance
Date:2012-08-17
Article
Luxembourg: New Citizenship Law
(Dec. 4, 2008) The aim of the Law of October 23, 2008, on Luxembourgian citizenship is to take into account the societal changes of the last 50 years and consolidate the integration of foreigners residing in Luxembourg. The Law, which will enter into force on January 1, 2009, allows dual citizenship or even multiple citizenships. […]
Contributor:
Atwill, Nicole
Date:2008-12-04
Article
Belgium; Luxembourg; Netherlands: New Treaty
(July 2, 2008) Belgium, The Netherlands, and Luxembourg signed a new Benelux Treaty on June 17, 2008, in The Hague. The new treaty revises the present treaty, signed in 1958, which will come to an end on October 31, 2010. Article 2 of the new treaty provides its main objectives: to protect the Benelux countries' […]
Contributor:
Atwill, Nicole
Date:2008-07-02
Article
Luxembourg: Three Referendum Questions Voted Down
(July 7, 2015) On June 7, 2015, voters in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg were called to vote by referendum on three questions related to the drafting of a new Constitution: (1) the optional right to vote for Luxembourgers from 16 years of age, (2) the optional right to vote for non-Luxembourg residents, provided that […]
Contributor:
Boring, Nicolas
Date:2015-07-07
Article
Luxembourg: Right to Die with Dignity
(Mar. 2, 2008) In February 2008, the Luxembourg Chamber of Deputies adopted the Law on the Right to Die with Dignity. The Law covers both euthanasia and physician-assisted suicides. A physician who performs euthanasia or assists in a suicide must ensure that: the patient is legally competent at the time of his request; the patient […]
Contributor:
Atwill, Nicole
Date:2008-03-02
Article
Luxembourg: Tax Administration Guidelines on Islamic Finance
(Feb. 4, 2010) The tax administration of Luxembourg issued a circular on January 12, 2010, on taxation of Islamic finance instruments. (Circular L.G.A. No. 55, cited in René Offermanns, Luxembourg: Guidelines on Islamic Finance Published, IBFD TAX NEWS SERVICE, Feb. 1, 2010, available by subscription from taxnewsservice@ibfd.org.) The financial products discussed in the document are […]
Contributor:
Johnson, Constance
Date:2010-02-04
Article
Luxembourg: Anti-Money Laundering and Terrorism Financing Laws
(Oct. 17, 2008) Luxembourg recently adopted two laws relating to the fight against money laundering and terrorism financing. They amend previous legislation on this subject matter, in particular, the Law of November 12, 2004. The first Law transposes into national law Directive 2005/60/EC of the European Parliament and Council of October 26, 2005, on the […]
Contributor:
Atwill, Nicole
Date:2008-10-17
Article
Luxembourg: New Law on Criminal Liability of Legal Entities
(May 4, 2010) Luxembourg's Law of March 3, 2010, Introducing the Criminal Liability of Legal Entities into the Penal Code and the Code of Criminal Investigation, was published in the MÉMORIAL, Luxembourg's official gazette, on March 11, 2010 (Loi du 3 mars 2010 introduisant la responsabilité pénale des personnes morales dans le Code pénal et […]
Contributor:
Atwill, Nicole
Date:2010-05-04
Article
Luxembourg: Law on Use of Resources in Space Adopted
(Aug. 22, 2017) The Luxembourg Chamber of Deputies adopted a law on the exploration of space and the use of space resources on July 13, 2017; the Grand Duke signed the law on July 20, 2017. (Loi du 20 juillet 2017 sur l’exploration et l’utilisation des ressources de l’espace [Law of 20 July 2017 on the […]
Contributor:
Boring, Nicolas
Date:2017-08-22
Article
European Union; Switzerland: Schengen Area Accession
(Jan. 12, 2009) The Schengen acquis (body of law) came into being in 1985 when the governments of Belgium, Germany, France, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands signed an agreement in Schengen, Luxembourg, to establish an area free of internal borders for nationals, goods, and services. In June 1990, the five original signatories signed the Convention that […]
Contributor:
Papademetriou, Theresa
Date:2009-01-12
Article
European Union: National and European Alert Programs to Report Internet Offenses
(Oct. 29, 2008) On October 24, 2008, the European Union Justice and Home Affairs Council, which convened in Luxembourg, adopted its conclusions on establishing national alert programs and a European alert program to report information on Internet offenses. For this purpose, it invited the EU Member States to take the necessary measures to create such […]
Contributor:
Papademetriou, Theresa
Date:2008-10-29
Article
European Union: Schengen Area and Re-Introduction of Border Controls
(Dec. 8, 2015) On December 1, 2015, Luxembourg, which is at present holding the rotating Presidency of the European Council, invited the Council of the European Union to hold a debate on the functioning of the Schengen area and to discuss a number of issues that have been raised due to the unprecedented influx of […]
Contributor:
Papademetriou, Theresa
Date:2015-12-08
Article
Iceland: Update: Supreme Court Increases Jail Sentence for Kaupthing Bank Director and Shareholder
(July 2, 2015) On February 12, 2015, the Icelandic Supreme Court decided the Al-Thani Case, in which the Chief Executive of Kaupthing Bank, the CEO of its Luxembourg branch, the Chairman of the Board, and the bank’s largest shareholder were charged with market manipulation. (Iceland Jails Kaupthing Bankers for Market Manipulation, NEW YORK TIMES (Feb. […]
Contributor:
Hofverberg, Elin
Date:2015-07-02
Article
Cape Verde; Portugal: Signature of Protocol on Sustainable Energy
(Sept. 25, 2014) Portugal and Cape Verde signed a protocol in the area of sustainable energy on September 23, 2014, during the United Nations Summit on Climate Change in New York. The protocol aims to strengthen recovery in the context of sustainable energy. It was also signed by Luxembourg, Spain, and Austria. (Press Release, Ministério […]
Contributor:
Soares, Eduardo
Date:2014-09-25
Article
European Union; Israel: Agreement to Upgrade Relations
(July 2, 2008) An upgrade in Israel-European Union relations was announced in Luxembourg on June 16, 2008, during the eighth annual EU-Israel Association Council meeting, headed by Tzipi Livni, Israel's Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Dr. Dimitrij Rupel, President of the EU General Affairs and External Relations Council and Slovenian Foreign Minister. The relationship will […]
European Union: Proposal on Deposit Guarantee Scheme
(Apr. 9, 2013) The current banking crisis in Cyprus sparked debate at the European Union (EU) level as to whether bank depositors should be immune from bail-ins for troubled banks or whether only deposits in excess of €100,000 (about US$130,000) should be subject to a tax. (Bail-In Blues: Luxembourg Warns of Investor Flight from Europe, […]
Contributor:
Papademetriou, Theresa
Date:2013-04-09
Article
European Union: General Court Rejects Challenge to Emissions Trading Directive
(Mar. 16, 2010) On March 2, 2010, the General Court of the European Union rejected a challenge, brought by “the world's largest steel producer” Arcelor S.A., to the EU's 2003 Emissions Trading Directive. The Luxembourg-based company argued that several European Community law principles – the right to property and to the pursuit of economic activity, […]
Australia: Court Recognizes ICSID Arbitration Award Against a Sovereign State
On June 25, 2021, the Full Court of the Federal Court of Australia made an order recognizing an award issued by the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) against the Kingdom of Spain.In its decision, Kingdom of Spain v Infrastructure Services Luxembourg S.a.r.l. (No. 3) [2021] FCAFC 112 (June 25, 2021) (second decision), … Continue reading “Australia: Court Recognizes ICSID Arbitration Award…
Contributor:
Buchanan, Kelly
Date:2021-09-16
Article
Austria; Council of Europe; Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development: Ratification of Tax Convention
(Sept. 10, 2014) On August 28, 2014, Austria deposited its instrument of ratification of the Convention on Mutual Administrative Assistance in Tax Matters. The Convention and its amending Protocol will enter into force for Austria in three months, on December 1. (Convention and Protocol on Mutual Administrative Assistance in Tax Matters – Austria Deposits Instruments […]
Contributor:
Zeldin, Wendy
Date:2014-09-10
Article
Andorra, Principality of: Legislation to Lift Bank Secrecy Promised
(Mar. 18, 2009) On March 11, 2009, the head of the government of the Principat d' Andorra signed the “Declaration of the Principat d'Andorra” in Paris, pledging to pass legislation before September 1, 2009, that would lift bank secrecy within the framework of bilateral treaties on exchange of tax information to be signed with other […]
Contributor:
Rodriguez-Ferrand, Graciela
Date:2009-03-18
Article
European Parliament: Agreement to Freeze Its Own Budget for 2013
(Mar. 1, 2012) On February 16, 2012, in response to the financial crisis that has hit the members of the euro zone, the European Parliament adopted a resolution, by a show of hands, to freeze its own budget for 2013. (Press Release, European Parliament to Freeze Its Own Budget for 2013 (Feb.16, 2012).) An important […]
Contributor:
Papademetriou, Theresa
Date:2012-03-01
Article
France; Switzerland: Exchange of Bank Information for Tax Purposes
(June 25, 2009) On June 12, 2009, France and Switzerland agreed to amend their existing bilateral tax treaty by adding a provision that allows the exchange of bank information for tax purposes, bringing the treaty up to the standard of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Model Tax Convention (OECD, Centre for Tax […]
Contributor:
Atwill, Nicole
Date:2009-06-25
Article
Canada; European Union: Trade Dispute over Seals
(Dec. 2, 2007) The European Union is the second largest market for seal products originating from Canada. Canada annually exports €12.7 million (about US$18.6 million) worth of seal products to the EU. Only white seal cub furs are prohibited for import. This ban has been in place since the 1980s, following the vocal campaign against […]
