Your Weekly Recap for the Week of 5 – 9 September.
What you need to know at the end of this week:
- Elisabeth II has passed away. King Charles III is King.
- Inflation continues to run high in Luxembourg and the eurozone
- The ECB raised interest rates and
- the Commission proposed price caps on Russian Gas as
- Vladimir Putin vowed to fight to the end.
- No agreement reached on reimbursment of psychotheraphy fees.
Elisabeth II, Queen of the United Kingdom and Commonwealth Realms / © Buckingham Palace
1. Elisabeth II passed away on Thursday afternoon. King Charles III is King.
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Her Majesty was 96 years old, she passed away at Balmoral after a 70 year reign.
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Her family had gathered at her Scottish estate after concerns grew about her health.
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With her death, her eldest son Charles, formerly Prince of Wales, has become King and head of state of 14 Commonwealth realms.
- She had met the newly appointed Prime Minister Liz Truss, only 2 days earlier.
Her Majesty was 96 years old, she passed away at Balmoral after a 70 year reign.
Her family had gathered at her Scottish estate after concerns grew about her health.
With her death, her eldest son Charles, formerly Prince of Wales, has become King and head of state of 14 Commonwealth realms.
- A period of mourning has begun.
This is a seismic moment, world leaders, including Xavier Bettel have reacted to the news. Please check our News section for the latest developments.
Take a look back, through a timeline of her life, to the Quee’s visit to Luxembourg in 1976 and some of her most memorable quotes.
2. Inflation remained at record highs as the ECB raised interest rates by 3/4 of a percentage point.
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The annual inflation rate in Luxembourg sat at 6.8%.
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No update on when the next wage indexation will be triggered.
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Inflation in the Eurozone hit 9.1% in August, an all-time high.
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ECB raised interest rates by 0.75 on Thursday, seeking to tame soaring inflation, the largest hike ever.
The annual inflation rate in Luxembourg sat at 6.8%.
No update on when the next wage indexation will be triggered.
Inflation in the Eurozone hit 9.1% in August, an all-time high.
ECB raised interest rates by 0.75 on Thursday, seeking to tame soaring inflation, the largest hike ever.
The Euro, weaker than ever: Our single currency fell below $0.99 for the first time in 19 years this week.
Context: Last year the eurozone’s inflation sat at 3%. This year, 9 countries in the eurozone registered double-digit inflation. France’s 6.5% is the lowest. Inflation has been driven mainly by energy prices, which rose at an annual rate of 38.3%.
3. Negotiations for the reimbursement of Psychotherapy sessions failed, again.
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The CNS and the Federation of Associations representing Psychotherapists in Luxembourg once again could not reach an agreement on the issue. The CNS proposed an hourly rate of €120, while FAPSYLUX demanded €185.
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The services that would be covered in a potential agreement have still not been clarified.
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Negotiations have been going on for four years, and Minister of Social Security Claude Haagen is under increased pressure to intervene.
The CNS and the Federation of Associations representing Psychotherapists in Luxembourg once again could not reach an agreement on the issue. The CNS proposed an hourly rate of €120, while FAPSYLUX demanded €185.
The services that would be covered in a potential agreement have still not been clarified.
Negotiations have been going on for four years, and Minister of Social Security Claude Haagen is under increased pressure to intervene.
4. The European Commission said it will propose a price cap on Russian gas, in a bid to address the Energy Crisis.
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Luxembourg’s Energy Minister Claude Turmes unveiled the national Energy-Saving strategy on Thursday, however he highlighted that our efforts will not be enough if Russia stops supplying gas. He had previously said a European solution is needed to solve the crisis.
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Ursula von der Leyen announced a series of proposals to tackle the EU’s energy crisis and address soaring bills for households and companies under financial stress.
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E.U. energy ministers will meet today in Brussels to debate proposals to tackle energy prices.
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Germany presented a new 65-billion-euro package to help households cope with soaring prices and put two nuclear plants on standby as the shut-off of Russian gas has derailed energy transition plans.
Luxembourg’s Energy Minister Claude Turmes unveiled the national Energy-Saving strategy on Thursday, however he highlighted that our efforts will not be enough if Russia stops supplying gas. He had previously said a European solution is needed to solve the crisis.
Ursula von der Leyen announced a series of proposals to tackle the EU’s energy crisis and address soaring bills for households and companies under financial stress.
E.U. energy ministers will meet today in Brussels to debate proposals to tackle energy prices.
Germany presented a new 65-billion-euro package to help households cope with soaring prices and put two nuclear plants on standby as the shut-off of Russian gas has derailed energy transition plans.
Can Europe make it through the Winter? Russia has slashed gas flows to Germany and other countries in response to EU sanctions. A fear that Europe will run out of gas this winter is driving up prices. It is estimated that the gas stocks of the EU are 80% filled, however that only means Europe can cover 20 to 30% of needs of a normal winter.
5. Vladimir Putin vowed to fight until the end in Ukraine, and sent a stark warning to the West.
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Putin, speaking to an audience of an economic forum in Vladivostok dismissed losses in Ukraine and said Russia was winning at and gaining from this war.
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He said his country is profiting from a reordered world and vowed to cut gas and oil deliveries to countries imposing a price cap on supplies.
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He also branded European nations as ‘colonialists’, claiming that a United Nations deal that aimed to ease an acute global food crisis, was benefiting them more than developing countries.
Putin, speaking to an audience of an economic forum in Vladivostok dismissed losses in Ukraine and said Russia was winning at and gaining from this war.
He said his country is profiting from a reordered world and vowed to cut gas and oil deliveries to countries imposing a price cap on supplies.
He also branded European nations as ‘colonialists’, claiming that a United Nations deal that aimed to ease an acute global food crisis, was benefiting them more than developing countries.
More EU Help for Ukraine: The EU signed a deal with Ukraine on Monday to release a further 500 million euros in planned aid to support housing, education and agriculture.
6. Across the Channel, Liz Truss became the 56th Prime Minister of the UK.
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Liz Truss met the late Queen at Balmoral where she was formally asked to form a government.
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At her first parliamentary grilling as British prime minister she promised to unveil a costly plan to freeze domestic fuel bills to help ease the burden of a soaring cost-of-living crisis.
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Truss said she hopes talks with the EU could help resolve a dispute over post-Brexit trade in Northern Ireland.
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A full-fledged trade war with the European Union could be a reality if Truss’ Government abandons parts of the Brexit deal relating to checks at the Irish border.
- She will now need to lead a country mourning the passing of their Queen.
Liz Truss met the late Queen at Balmoral where she was formally asked to form a government.
At her first parliamentary grilling as British prime minister she promised to unveil a costly plan to freeze domestic fuel bills to help ease the burden of a soaring cost-of-living crisis.
Truss said she hopes talks with the EU could help resolve a dispute over post-Brexit trade in Northern Ireland.
A full-fledged trade war with the European Union could be a reality if Truss’ Government abandons parts of the Brexit deal relating to checks at the Irish border.
Diverging Interests: While both France and the UK have responded to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine with strong sanctions, some in France complain of British grandstanding over arms deliveries, while London mistrusts Paris’ insistence on keeping talks going with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
And in case you missed it:
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A United Nations report argued that recent crises, among them Covid-19, have set human progress back five years and fueled a global wave of uncertainty.
A United Nations report argued that recent crises, among them Covid-19, have set human progress back five years and fueled a global wave of uncertainty.
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Google announced the launch of the sustainable routes feature for Google Maps in Luxembourg, to help you save on fuel and lower emissions.
Google announced the launch of the sustainable routes feature for Google Maps in Luxembourg, to help you save on fuel and lower emissions.
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A group of French lawmakersvisited Taiwan this week, the first high-level European delegation since China conducted huge war drills to protest a visit to the island by US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
A group of French lawmakersvisited Taiwan this week, the first high-level European delegation since China conducted huge war drills to protest a visit to the island by US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
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Christos Floros covers News and Politics for RTL Today @christosfloros