Jean Asselborn, foreign affairs minister, made official the opening of a new Luxembourg embassy in Dublin in the presence of the Luxembourg ambassador to Ireland, Florence Ensch, and Caroline Conroy (centre), Lord Mayor of Dublin. (Photo: MFA)

Jean Asselborn, foreign affairs minister, made official the opening of a new Luxembourg embassy in Dublin in the presence of the Luxembourg ambassador to Ireland, Florence Ensch, and Caroline Conroy (centre), Lord Mayor of Dublin. (Photo: MFA)

The approximately 150 Luxembourg nationals and 150 Luxembourg students living in Ireland will no longer have to travel to London to set foot in a Luxembourg embassy.

During a two-day working visit to Ireland on 13 and 14 September, foreign affairs minister Jean Asselborn (LSAP) formalised the establishment of a Luxembourg Embassy in Dublin. Previously, Luxembourg's interests were represented by an embassy in London, which was co-accredited in Ireland, with the support of an honorary consulate in Dublin.

, the establishment of this new embassy will "strengthen the links between the two countries and their respective populations, by exploring opportunities for cooperation in the economic, commercial, financial, academic and cultural fields", according to the foreign affairs ministry. Ireland and Luxembourg have a long-standing close relationship, with the ministry calling Ireland a "reliable partner".

Ireland has long been a reliable European partner that shares common values with Luxembourg in the areas of the rule of law, human rights, European integration and multilateralism. Similarly, Luxembourg and Ireland enjoy strong bilateral relations.

While the new embassy has just opened, Luxembourg has been represented since 24 November 2021 by ambassador Florence Ensch, when she presented her credentials to Irish President Michael D. Higgins. In Dublin, the number of Luxembourg diplomats amounts to two, including the ambassador. "In addition, there are local staff who assist the diplomats in carrying out diplomatic and consular services," the ministry said.

Luxembourg, although territorially small, is at the head of a significant diplomatic and consular network. The country currently has 49 diplomatic and consular missions, including 32 bilateral embassies, 12 representations to international organisations and 5 consulates general. Luxembourg is also accredited to more than 70 countries by resident or non-resident ambassadors, either through Luxembourg's diplomatic missions abroad or from Luxembourg. In addition, there is a network of 153 honorary consuls serving Luxembourg.

During his working visit, Jean Asselborn took the opportunity to visit the activities of CLdN Cobelfret, a specialist in maritime freight and the transport of coal, iron ore and bauxite, whose headquarters are in Luxembourg. The minister noted an increase in the activities of the Luxembourg transport and logistics company in the post-Brexit context.

This story was first published in French on Paperjam. It has been translated and edited for Delano.