EU Planning to re-allow the sales of snus in 2014 !

[Mordred]

Funny, I live in the Grund. It's a small world after all. It was probably the Scott's Pub across the river from me.

I think that after WWII, there was so much fear of a new war that it was decided that it was better to lose the nations and cultures rather than risk another war. But what made Europe strong was it's diversity. I wish for a Europe where we live peacefully as neighbours. But that may never happen now.

As an aside, the reason why there are so many Portugese immigrants is that our government very strongly encouraged them. It was a way to achieve growth by importing cheaper labour. This had worked previously with italian immigrants when the steel industry was booming and you could make really good money if you were willing to work. Unfortunately, the steel industry was hit hard by a crisis and most of the steelworks were closed or sold. Without good jobs, many Portugese immigrants are now either jobless or working for really poor wages (by Luxembourg standards), making it hard for them to integrate into the country.

[Jan]

It's a small world indeed! It could have been the Scott's Pub, and if it has a balcony overlooking the river then it surely was! It carries a decent selection of Belgian and British Ales (I had Dikirch Grand Reserva), which we sipped while enjoying the quiet and tranquility of the Grund.
Luxembourg is a very interesting case to looks at. As I said we have German friends who live just across Moselle in Oberbillig (Wasserbillig lies on the other bank in Luxembourg). This is the area in Germany with the lowest rate of unemployment and with the lowest tax revenues at the same time. Nearly everyone commutes for work to Luxembourg and the reason is not only the higher wages they are earning there, there is hardly any industry on the German side, only vineyards. I am getting the impression Luxembourg has made itself very attractive for international business and investment, you have lower corporate tax and VAT rates compared to all of your neighbors. Whist this is good for economy you have to accept your Luxemburgisch identity being eroded away so to speak. Or, you need to give your country a radical makeover. I don't approve of EU becoming the United States of Europe, that was not the initial aim of European project and that would never work in Europe.

[Mordred]

Yeah, that's the one. I go there often to watch football for instance.

And yeah, you're absolutely right. We went for the quick and easy money and there is a price to pay for that.