, who studied law, took office as state council president in April 2021. The council reviews all laws submitted to parliament for their compliance with Luxembourg’s constitution and other laws and treaties. At the same time, he is a senior civil servant within the cooperation development ministry.

What was your first job and how long did you do this job for?

My first paid job was actually a summer job at a record store, selling music records. I did that for a few years during the summer break.

My first “proper” job was as “chargé de mission” at the permanent representation of Luxembourg to the European Union in Brussels during the Luxembourg presidency of the Council of the European Union in 2005.

I had the role of “deputy Antici”, in the general coordination unit at the permanent representation. It was a fixed term contract from July 2004 until August 2005.

What’s your best/worst memory?

My best memory is being able to do this very interesting job, at the heart of European affairs, after having graduated only a week earlier in European political administrative studies, following my law degree.

I was able to attend European summits, ministerial meetings, see so much in practice of what I had studied before and, hopefully, managed to contribute a tiny little bit, to the success of the Luxembourg Presidency.

My worst memory is linked to the job but only indirectly. The 2004 tsunami caused by the Indian ocean earthquake hit a few days before the start of the presidency with all its devastating consequences.

It also meant we had to hit the ground running in terms of coordinating the EU response. This job with the Luxembourg EU council presidency unfortunately also reminds me of this catastrophe and the human suffering caused.

What did you learn that helped your career further along the way?

I think one of the things I learned is to persevere and to go for what you want to do. The path I took was certainly not mapped out from the start and it definitely took some unexpected twists and turns. But I do think that hard work pays, and did pay, off; but you have to persevere. And sometimes get a bit lucky.

What did you spend your first salary on?

To be honest, I do not remember 100% what I spent my first “proper job” salary on. But I did buy an electric guitar and an amp with the salary from my summer job. Actually, I might have spent some of the proper job salary on guitars too…

Why did you quit?

I did not quit actually as it was a fixed term job for the Luxembourg presidency of the Council of the EU. From there I went on to work as a “référendaire” for the Luxembourg judge at the European Court of Justice and then later I entered the diplomatic service for good.