The European Union is immersed in the “Qatargate” scandal, with several deputies of Parliament, in particular the vice-president, being suspected of corruption in favor of the emirate.
In Luxembourg, one of the most Europhile countries there is, the Twenty-Seven remain popular despite the controversy.
In this period of health, economic and international crisis, the population of the Grand Duchy remains convinced of the benefits of Europe and its absolute necessity.
We went to check on the spot.
From our special envoy in Luxembourg,
“Ech sinn, du bass, hien ass” Studious, Stéphanie repeats her Luxembourgish conjugation scales.
The Franco-German already masters her two native languages, in addition to English.
It is therefore a new step for this tower of Babel on legs in its objective to obtain the nationality of its host country - a language test is particularly necessary.
Luxembourg was first of all more of a professional adventure for Stéphanie than a real goal.
But very quickly, the young woman fell in love with this unique Nation, to the point of dreaming of joining the national volleyball team in a few years.
A love of the country not for its vast countryside, its castles or its green grass to make the Scottish plains look like carpets of ground.
Just the fact that when you were born from two neighboring peoples who may have been enemies over the centuries, Luxembourg represents “a certain European ideal, in particular through all these border residents who meet here, understand each other and work together.
It sounds a bit silly, but there's something moving about it.
»
Europe and Luxembourg, “incredible success story”
When she obtains nationality, Laura will reinforce the Europhilia of a territory… particularly Europhile.
At each Eurobarometer, the Grand Duchy in fact monopolizes the first places of the most sympathetic countries of the European Union.
At the start of 2022, 78% of Luxembourg respondents said they were attached to Europe, eleven points more than the average of the Twenty-Seven (67%).
The country remains the only one to have established May 9, Europe Day, as a public holiday.
Here, we love the EU as we inherit the family dish service: without asking too many questions.
Diego Velazquez, Luxembourg journalist for European affairs, says: “For the country, it's an incredible ''success story''.
We took advantage of many advantages without really having to concede much.
The Grand Duchy has twice as many inhabitants during the day as at night: half of the workers cross the borders after their day's work.
Concepts such as "free movement", "cooperation between Nations" and other peace between peoples are therefore particularly promising.
"No sense to do without Europe"
At the café at Luxembourg station (the capital), where this porosity of borders takes on its full meaning, travelers ask for an
Americano
, a
kaffee
, a
long coffee or
a
kaffi
without it surprising any ear.
Pierre, a 35-year-old local, explains to us while waiting for his train, dark circles still in his hot cup: “Europe surrounds us.
Without it, we lose half of our population, it wouldn't make sense to do without it.
It's easier to like the Twenty-Seven when you're a small country, they give you weight.
To exist alone, for us, is to be invisible.
I understand that you French people are more skeptical…”
Let's not exaggerate, the people of Luxembourg are not either to show the European flag like Bretons, or to sing
The Hymn to Joy
every morning when they wake up.
Europhilia is discreet, but solidly anchored.
“There is an awareness that the Union is beneficial to it, and that the country needs to rally to a cause greater than itself,” notes Anne Calteux, representative of the European Commission in Luxembourg.
It is one of the founding members and one of the European capitals”, a place “of unimaginable basic importance for us”, insists Pierre.
Anne Calteux then takes a very concrete example: vaccines against Covid-19: “Without the weight of the European Union, Luxembourg would never have been delivered so quickly.
»
Neighbors more giant than annoying
Even the proximity of the imposing Franco-German couple is seen as more of an opportunity than a shadow.
“Of course, in Luxembourg, nobody wants Europe to be reduced to two big countries and a pack of 25 followers, nuance Diego Velazquez.
But in view of its geographical location, its mixture of two cultures, and its place as European capital, Luxembourg can precisely afford to arbitrate in this duopoly.
The Franco-German couple is to our advantage, it puts us on the map.
»
What Sophie poetizes well: “To complain that Germany or France overshadows us, we would already have to have been in the light one day.
We are used to being dwarfs, we are not going to complain for nothing”.
At 52, this banker - it's not invented - has seen a good part of the construction of the Union, but also its difficulties.
Latest example with the "Qatargate", which shakes the European Parliament.
Several deputies, including Vice-President Eva Kaili, were arrested, with hundreds of thousands of euros found at home.
Qatar is accused of having bribed votes in its favor.
“Of course it's outrageous, and we'll have to wash it all away.
But Europe is more than worth it despite two or three dark spots,” Sophie sweeps away with a shrug.
What Diego Velazquez sums up effectively:
The war in Ukraine as a reminder
Who loves well, punishes well, relaunches Pierre: “We are more demanding since we love Europe.
We see its flaws, its limits, its shortcomings, its inactions.
This kind of thing saddens me."
But throwing the baby out with the bathwater is out of the question, especially since the Luxembourger is pragmatic: “Do you want a good reason to stay united?
The war in Ukraine.
Stack up the scandals, the blunders, the faults, as long as there are Putins - and there always will be -, we will have every interest in staying in the EU, despite all its faults.
»
Observation shared by Sophie.
And for her, no need to go to Moscow.
“When you know a little about our history, you know that it is better to have Germany, Belgium and France as allies than as potentially hostile neighbours”, each having nibbled away at territory in the Grand Duchy over the centuries.
The invasion of Ukraine is then only a reminder of the fact that war can return to Europe, and that if necessary, Luxembourg would have enough to defend itself.
Vaccines, peace, geopolitical weight... So many reasons to say that the game is worth the candle.
A convinced European, Stéphanie concludes: “Of course not everything is perfect, and it probably never will be.
But it's still worth dreaming about."
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