motorists heading from Luxembourg to Thionville have had to navigate narrowed lanes on the viaduct as work progressed on widening the bridge deck toward France This followed a previous expansion of the opposite side to accommodate three lanes drivers will finally be able to cross the viaduct under normal traffic conditions the access ramp to the A3 at Livange had been reconfigured to divert France-bound traffic onto a specific section of the viaduct this ramp is now being reshaped again to restore its original layout Final works have been underway since last week Several asphalt layers have been laid on the viaduct’s surface According to the National Roads Administration the process includes first applying a waterproofing membrane to protect the reinforced concrete structure from water damage followed by multiple asphalt layers – one to safeguard the waterproofing and two top layers to complete the road surface Installation of safety barriers is currently in progress along with final connections to the road on both the northern and southern ends of the viaduct The full reopening will coincide with a planned weekend closure of the A3 from 9 to 11 May final surfacing works and road markings will be completed on sections of the viaduct currently in use “I would remind you that between 2008 and 2014 the territory was losing inhabitants,” points out Thionville mayor Pierre Cuny As a result of its dependence on Luxembourg the city of Thionville is becoming “more and more of a residential area,” warns the French national institute of statistics and economic studies Insee but an entire economy is based on this state of affairs counters Thionville mayor and chairman of the conurbation Pierre Cuny France’s national institute of statistics and economic studies Such is the case with its survey entitled “Les dynamiques des marchés locaux du travail dans le Grand Est: équilibre entre mobilités emploi et chômage” (“The dynamics of local labor markets in the Grand Est: balance between mobility published last week and which bases its reasoning on data collected over the period.. What does the statistics institute have to say The report published shows a fall in the number of people in work in the Grand Est region (2.6m people in 2018) with 9,000 fewer units over the period studied The decline was -0.8% for Metz and -1.4% for Nancy The notable exception is the Thionville area this area has seen a 6% increase in the number of people who work this same geographical area has conceded the loss of some 7,500 jobs “As a result of this decline… Thionville is becoming more and more of a residential area with only 55 jobs for every 100 working people in 2018,” notes the study which draws a parallel with the increase in the number of cross-border employees “The proportion of commuters among working people residing in the area has increased by 8.5 points in ten years For the mayor of Thionville and chairman of the Portes de France-Thionville conurbation “The first element [relating to the increase in the working population] is very positive because it confirms all the action taken over the last ten years,” stresses Cuny “I would remind you that between 2008 and 2014 (i.e. the term of office of the Socialist Bertrand Mertz who is also a putative candidate in next year’s municipal elections in Metz and with the same attractiveness of Luxembourg This study clearly shows that we have achieved something completely new in Thionville: a positive migratory balance and a previously deficit natural balance that is now also positive.” ‘Be careful that the region--and Thionville in particular--does not become a dormitory town.’ Since 2016 I've been repeating that Thionville absolutely has to stand on its own two feet with 50% of people employed in Luxembourg and 50% in the territory.” And the mayor goes on to cite the establishment of the Japanese company Kubota (which works with agricultural tools) and the German company Knauf (a provider of building materials and systems for the construction industry) or a project to create a methanol plant as examples of the re-industrialisation of the region “My vision and my analysis is that I need to continue very strongly to stabilise employment but also to act on this residential economy,” he says “Thionville and its territory are part of the area of attractiveness of the Luxembourg metropolis.” “It’s quite natural for Thionville to develop a residential activity contrary in fact to the notion of a ‘dormitory town,’” defends Cuny we’ve gone from 900 to practically 2,800 students It’s the opposite of a town where people just sleep and go off to spend money elsewhere.” He highlights Thionville’s commercial appeal explaining: “A dormitory town is a town that no longer has a town centre We’ve gone from a vacancy rate of 24% to 8% and it shows just how far we’ve come in developing this residential economy I know that around 80% of what cross-border commuters earn is spent--as far as retail is concerned--on our territory.” This will become a reality early next year The aim is “to promote access to employment where we will have to redevelop brownfield sites.” “We will be in a rather favourable situation very cautious about welcoming new industries,” he elaborates Is the new XL agglomeration a defensive or offensive project vis-à-vis the grand duchy When you look at the current mess in France it’s good to be able to combine two local authorities of different political persuasions [the chairman of the Val de Fensch conurbation editor’s note] who are able to complement each other perfectly to create this great conurbation: one focused more on the residential and tertiary economy We’re simply playing this complementary card in order to make the most of what can be gained from our proximity to our great neighbour Luxembourg When asked whether the Insee figures reflect an excessive dependence on the grand duchy “I have always placed Thionville in a European space but in the same way that Luxembourg has a dependence on the north of the Moselle for labour There is a form of win-win that still needs to be refined: I am clear Co-financing that now looks at the expenditure generated by the residentialisation of cross-border commuters in the territory.” the 24-year-old tennis sensation from Coppini Tennis Academy is making waves in the world of professional tennis Despite failing to qualify for the main draw at Challengers in Lugano last week Henning demonstrated unwavering resilience by showcasing an impressive performance at the Thionville Open ended in Henning’s favour with a score of 6-4 managed to accumulate 14 points more than Uesugi proving his excellent form and skill in the game Despite facing four break points and surrendering his serve three times securing 45% of the return points and landing four breaks from ten opportunities thus demonstrating his ability to create chances even under pressure Uesugi initially led 4-0 and 5-2 and served for it in game nine which Henning capitalized on to secure the set in a tie break Henning’s prowess is not just limited to the Thionville Open The South African third seed also recently clinched his spot in the men’s final at the Curro Centre Court Series in Stellenbosch (Week 1) He earned this position after a riveting 7-6(3) 6-4 triumph over fellow South African and second seed Kris van Wyk in the semifinals Henning took an early lead by capitalizing on his opponent’s backhand error in the first game He managed to secure two fine holds and quickly established a 3-1 lead Henning further extended his lead by breaking Uesugi’s serve including a forehand error and losing his serve in game six He served for the opener again in game ten and held at love after Uesugi’s mistake rounding off the first set in just 34 minutes The second set began with Uesugi denying two break points capitalizing on Henning’s forehand error to take a 2-0 lead Despite being two breaks down in the fourth game Henning made a comeback by pulling one break back in game five and holding his next two service games Uesugi served for the set and saved two break points denied the set points and continued to battle Henning seized the fourth break point with a crafty forehand crosscourt winner He then painted a backhand down the line winner in game ten for a hold and 5-5 Scoring a smash winner at the net in the third point and capitalizing on Uesugi’s forehand error in the next Henning continued to extend the gap and fired two service winners for 6-1 and five match points Henning has made a promising start to the Thionville Open raising hopes for an even more impressive performance in the second round His determination and skill make him a player to watch in the future His journey serves as a testament to his potential and his unwavering commitment to the sport has shocked the world with her heartbreaking revelation about the possibility of retiring young due to a persistent back injury drops a bombshell revelation about his ban period unveiling the surprising ally he found in fellow player Jack Draper during his three-month hiatus.. The American tennis world is in mourning following the tragic death of 18-year-old rising star Braun Levi who succumbed to injuries after being struck by a vehicle in.. The tennis world is abuzz with the surprising revelations of Madrid champion Casper Ruud who has openly declared his admiration for rising stars Coco Gauff and Iga Swiatek... The battleground is set for the 2025 Italian Open Rome WTA draw and it's a lineup that promises nothing short of fireworks © 2025 M Sports - Premium news & magazine M Sports Please enter your username or email address to reset your password © 2025 M Sports - Premium news & magazine M Sports Five others wounded in attack police sources say may be linked to settling of scores between drug traffickers One person has been killed and five others wounded in north-east France after masked gunmen opened fire at a wedding ceremony Sources suggested the attack in Thionville could be linked to a settling of scores between drug traffickers The shooting took place early on Sunday at a reception hallwhere about 100 people were in attendance Two people were seriously injured and one of them was in a critical condition The perpetrators of the shooting fled the scene “It was during a wedding,” a police source said a group of people went outside to smoke in front of the hall and then three heavily armed men arrived and opened fire in their direction.” It was not immediately clear where the vehicle had come from Thionville is located close to the borders of Luxembourg and Germany The police source added: “The wedding was not targeted as such A glass door pierced with bullet holes could be seen at the scene on Sunday morning shootings between rival gangs at a drug dealing point left five people injured in May 2023 The H2V company is launching a public consultation for its green hydrogen and e-methanol production project in Thionville an investment of €800m aimed at supporting the decarbonisation of transport from 2030 in the municipalities of Florange and Uckange the company H2V wants to install a green hydrogen and e-methanol production unit The project--estimated to cost €800m--will be the subject of a public consultation starting Monday 28 April is proceeding cautiously with its colossal hydrogen project While it initially announced the creation of a green hydrogen gigafactory due to a lack of industrial outlets for its initial project it aims to produce 30,000 tonnes of green hydrogen from 2030 and 150,000 tonnes of e-methanol to help decarbonise sea and air transport The project is expected to create 140 jobs the project--presented as “an essential link in the hydrogen chain in Moselle”--should prevent the emission of 160 tonnes of CO2 every year the plant will have to be built on former industrial wasteland in Thionville-Illange which has now become the E-Log’in 4 platform straddling the municipalities of Florange and Uckange The site was chosen for its strategic geographical location and proximity to several industrial sites The future plant will be powered by renewable electricity and connected to the grid with the involvement of RTE which will involve creating a 225,000 volt underground link from the site to Saint-Hubert in Uckange and will be classified as Seveso (low threshold) for risk management reasons A hazard study will therefore have to be carried out to identify the related risks and the measures that will have to be taken the scale of the facility and in accordance with France’s environmental code a preliminary consultation is being organised so that civil society can be informed on the subject and give its opinion The consultation begins on Monday 28 April and will last until 20 June the National Commission for Public Debate has appointed two citizens to act as guarantors for the consultation (Nathalie Durand and Jean-François Trassart) whose role will be to ensure the quality and transparency of the information and discussions All citizens have the opportunity to take part ; in the registers made available in the town halls defined as part of the project perimeter (Florange Thionville and Yutz); or during the planned discussion times These will be either public and themed meetings or debates at several venues in the Thionville area public meeting at ArcelorMittal’s Digital Lab in Uckange; debate at the E.Leclerc shopping centre in Fameck; - Thursday 15 May at 6pm at the Thionville-Yutz IUT themed meeting on the project’s contribution to decarbonising transport and the project’s outlets; - Tuesday 20 May at 6pm at Le Diapason village hall in Uckange a themed meeting on environmental issues and industrial risks; - Tuesday 3 June at 6pm in the Salle du Casino in Thionville training and the economic impact of the project; - Wednesday 11 June at 6pm in the Salle Pablo Neruda in Guénange a themed workshop on integrating the project into the local area; - Thursday 19 June at 6pm at the Bétange complex in Florange prior registration on the consultation website is recommended for each discussion time All information relating to the project is published on the  website the localised industrial action has since been cancelled SNCF said in a post on X on Friday: “Monday January 20: traffic will be normal on all lines following today’s consultation which made it possible to lift the notice of the local strike action.” The strike was initially announced as part of an “ongoing” dispute that was likely to be followed by further such strikes in the future It is not yet clear whether the success of consultation between workers and the rail company on Friday has resolved the dispute or simply postponed strike action The SNCF is recommending travellers to check its website for updated and accurate timetables Earlier this week, on Monday 13 January, Belgium was gripped by a national strike that affected all public transport, including trains to and from Luxembourg. EconomyFrench premier says referendum may be needed for reform plan It is essential for the country to balance its public finances, Bayrou said FranceFar-right Bardella confirms 2027 presidential bid if Le Pen is barredMarine Le Pen may be barred from the 2027 race over an embezzlement conviction she’s appealing. If she loses, Jordan Bardella will step in Early vote?Macron floats fresh snap election in France as early as the fallThe next legislative elections aren’t due until 2029, but Macron might be exploring the possibility of dissolving the parliament before then FranceFrance seeks extra spending cuts as budget plan under pressureA deteriorating growth outlook after US President Donald Trump announced sweeping trade tariffs is undermining France’s budget plans for this year Tourism industryTariffs may not impact travel economy, global tourism expert saysData on summer travel, which reflects existing bookings, shows France and Spain are each heading for a record year FranceFrance’s Le Pen tells supporters at rally she’ll keep fightingFar-right leader was found guilty last week of embezzlement and given an immediate five-year ban on running for office JusticeFrench far right to keep up pressure as Le Pen gets lifelineFrance’s National Rally is planning protests on Sunday following the conviction of its presumed presidential candidate, Marine Le Pen. EconomyFrench and Spanish inflation undershoot, backing ECB rate cutsFriday’s data provide early indication of momentum in Europe this month, before publications from other major member-states next week Advertiser contentTreat yourself to a stress-free holidayDreaming of a worry-free trip What if the secret to a smooth getaway was simply good preparation and the right protection Advertiser contentReal estate: Why should you take advantage of the start of 2025 to begin your real estate project?The main things we remember about the housing sector over the past 12 months are the rise in interest rates and the fall in property prices Advertiser contentProperty: I've decided to invest!The various forms of government support for investment Advertiser contentThe Luxembourg Times BusinessRun is happening again on 18th September!On Thursday 18th September with the starting gun of the 11th Luxembourg Times BusinessRun fired at the Coque at 7 pm Share this with instagramShare this with facebookShare this with linkedinSections was subjected to a disturbing threat from a gambler ahead of his participation in the Thionville Challenger match The unidentified individual had wagered a hefty sum of 2,000 euros on Bouquier’s victory and sent a message warning of dire consequences should the athlete fail to perform and win the match The message was sent to Bouquier before his game against Florian Broska was not only threatening but also indicated the person’s desperate circumstances who was betting on Bouquier to win in two sets I just hope you make the effort to take him out in 2 sets because I bet 2000 euros on you in 2 sets.” He further added I will hunt you down or your family just to hurt you even if it means going to prison by the way because if I lose these 2000 euros I will be on the street so nothing will make sense to me the individual ended the message by stating that he would be present in the audience during Bouquier’s match The tennis player went public with this incident by sharing the message on his social media The shocking incident emphasizes the darker side of sports gambling and the potential threats athletes face from disgruntled bettors it is expected that the organizers of the Thionville Challenger will take necessary actions to ensure Bouquier’s safety during and post-match This incident serves as a stark reminder of the high-pressure environment professional athletes operate in and the additional stressors they face off-field from fans It also raises questions about the measures in place to protect athletes from such threats and the need for more robust systems to ensure their safety and well-being this news story dominated headlines in the Lorraine region in France: a suspect was arrested two months after the murders that occurred during a wedding in Thionville Our colleagues at France 3 Grand Est reported this development in the investigation on Friday a police operation took place in Maxéville on October 8 executed a house search and arrested the male resident who is suspected of being one of the masterminds behind the murders The shooting incident occurred in late June resulting in the deaths of two individuals and severe injuries to two others Three hooded and heavily armed men opened fire on guests gathered outside the venue where the wedding was set to take place An investigation for premeditated group murder was launched and this theory remains the focus of the inquiry French investigators suspect the murders were linked to settling drug-trafficking debts Second victim succumbs to injuries after Thionville wedding shooting One dead, five injured in France wedding hall attack Mayor Pierre Cuny wants to position Thionville as a European and border city he believes that the problem of tax pressure needs to be resolved and investment with Luxembourg needs to be shared more equally held his back-to-school conference on Tuesday morning His determination to place the border town of 46,000 inhabitants at the crossroads of Europe remains as strong as ever the number of cross-border commuters is also set to rise It’s a challenge for the town and its new merged conurbation who has been mayor of Thionville since 2016 the new 4,400m2 sports complex located behind the theatre just opposite the Place de la Liberté car park--which is well known to cross-border commuters--as the venue for his back-to-school press conference The facility is the result of just over three years of work and will be inaugurated next Monday It is a powerful symbol of the mayor’s determination to make his city a benchmark for sport He also took the opportunity to unveil a 50-page brochure summarising the city’s actions over the last ten years €170m euros have been invested to make Esch-sur-Alzette’s twin city an attractive place to live and to give it the means to cope with a growing population Sixty thousand people will be living here in 20 years’ time And the number of cross-border commuters going to work in Luxembourg will follow the same upward trend which brings together the eight EPCIs [public inter-municipal cooperation establishment or établissement public de coopération intercommunale in French] between 50% and 80% of the population work in Luxembourg and in the greater Thionville-Fensch conurbation A third of cross-border commuters come from our region Statec forecasts 160,000 cross-border commuters by 2035 and we know full well that half of them will come from our area,” explains the mayor This is also one of the reasons behind the creation of the new Thionville-Fensch conurbation (160,000 inhabitants) which will be officially active from 1 January 2025 and brings together the Portes de France-Thionville and Val de Fensch conurbations “I think it was very important to have a significant weight and to coexist with Luxembourg,” says Cuny “There’s no question of having a self-sufficient region but rather one that looks out over both Luxembourg and Lorraine That’s always been my aim: to make Thionville an open something that hasn’t really been done until now.” be able to accommodate all the cross-border commuters in the future “we have a lot of work to do in terms of land pressure and housing creation.” To this end such as the Côte des Roses/Bel-Air “pharaonic worksite,” which will be completed in three years (investment of €120m) and the new districts on the left and right banks of the river The former industrial wasteland is currently being cleaned up with a view to becoming an eco-district with 1,000 new homes The first permits will be submitted in 2025 with construction due to start in late 2025 or early 2026 the municipal team is aiming to create a ZAC (mixed development zone or zone d’sménagement concerté) at Couronné “The aim is to create a highly European district with a focus on Luxembourg.” On the scale of the conurbation the mayor also mentions possibilities for the creation of housing “with 350ha of potential wasteland near Manom-Fensch.” Another condition for coping properly with the border phenomenon is to avoid falling into the trap of becoming a bedroom community they need to benefit both residents and cross-border commuters the mayor described  “symbol.” Cuny also mentioned the future silo car park next to the station which is due to open in the first half of 2025 and is 50% funded by Luxembourg We want to turn the station area into a European district and in particular towards Luxembourg,” says the mayor But in order to build and offer new services So Cuny continues to defend the principle of co-financing and would like to apply it to issues other than transport He calls it “sharing the residential economy over the remaining costs” on services such as crèches “If we didn’t have crèches on our territory perhaps some parents would simply not go to work in Luxembourg Or Luxembourg would have to create more crèches And crèches cost much less to run in France.” we could imagine that doctors on the French side could apply the Luxembourg rate for cross-border commuters When a French doctor charges the French rate for a consultation So this will also be a major topic of discussion,” warns Cuny he advocates greater freedom of movement for specialist consultations “I’m not at all looking to get money back from Luxembourg he believes that better collaboration could be achieved on training he advocates a “right to return to training mechanism which would make it possible to compensate the training body But this is more complicated to put into practice because we are in Europe I’m in favour of our being an area of engineering I don’t dispute the fact that trained people go to Luxembourg All these issues should be addressed at the next intergovernmental conference (IGC) is likely to be postponed in view of the political turmoil in France a member of Édouard Philippe’s Horizons party (Philippe has announced his candidacy for the 2027 presidential election) he is leaving himself time to consider what comes next and in particular the 2026 municipal election the first thing to think about is my health,” says Cuny we’re going to be entering a much more complicated political dynamic I don’t think you can leave the boat once you’ve launched it.” held a press conference on Tuesday afternoon to officially launch the joint territorial project The subject had been under discussion for five years But the Moselle Prefect only approved it this summer The conurbations of Thionville-Portes de France (80,000 inhabitants in 13 communes) and Val de Fensch (71,000 inhabitants in 10 communes) will become a single entity on 1 January 2026 under the name of Thionville-Fensch Agglomération This will make it the 36th largest conurbation in France and the second largest in Moselle in terms of population "necessary" - each elected official has his or her own way of describing the coming together of the two conurbation communities president of Thionville-Portes de France and mayor of Thionville president of CA Val de Fensch and mayor of Fameck which will have a population of nearly 160,000 the borders drawn by politicians no longer exist in the region "In the day-to-day life of the people who live in our area the merger has been in place for a long time We move from one community to the other without any urban break Just as many people from the two conurbations go to work in the other every day The catchment area is already the same," explains Michel Liebgott The Portes de France CA has its headquarters in Thionville while the Val de Fensch CA has its headquarters in Hayange outlines some of the issues at stake: "We are facing major regional challenges not least because of our geographical position: problems of mobility ecological transition and the redevelopment of brownfield sites the same territorial issues and the same problems of territorial management The two areas also have another feature in common: a growing number of cross-border commuters the ratio of jobs to employed people in the Portes de France-Thionville and Val de Fensch conurbation communities is the highest in Northern Lorraine at 88 and 70 jobs respectively for every 100 employed people "On major issues such as the metropolitan regional express service it's clear that when you're a local authority with 160,000 inhabitants as you are on health and university issues It's a fact that has to do with the balance of power between local authorities We are going to create a balance of power" The merger should also enable us to "bring our weight to bear in the debate but also to bring our weight to bear on French territory by joining forces I think it's important that a local authority with a population of 160,000 is now organised for discussions for example with Prosud on the Luxembourg side" who is likely to be the future chairman of the new conurbation according to his counterpart Michel Liebgott the priorities in terms of cross-border cooperation are theand achieving a new way of working with Luxembourg on health issues in addition to the issues : "We want to promote ambitious projects such as a Thionville-Esch connection via the Bus à haut niveau de service (BHNS) even though this is the responsibility of the Region given the demographic situation and the scarcity of land in Luxembourg most of the issues mentioned by the two elected representatives are already being discussed within the framework of the France-Luxembourg Intergovernmental Commission (CIG) the result of a Franco-Luxembourg agreement signed in 2010 to strengthen cross-border cooperation It should not be confused with the Pôle métropolitain frontalier which is also a cross-border cooperation area The latter brings together eight inter-municipalities in Moselle and Meurthe-et-Moselle (338,000 inhabitants) structured around the urban centres of Thionville and Longwy as well as the southern fringe of the mainly Luxembourg centre of Kayl-Ottange while the latter - which also has a seat on the CIG - is more limited to a regional dimension "The strength we have today through the PMF also depends on the existence of a large conurbation The objective would be for this large conurbation to also exist as such and for it not just to have deputies and prefects We can't solve the problems we have here from Paris The Luxembourg government is familiar with these problems who has himself sat on the CIG as an MP in the past the two conurbations are strengthening their common position within the PMF this does not mean adding "another layer" to the "millefeuille" which will have more weight and will be a more influential partner This will enable us to structure projects and make progress in the discussions we want to have with our Luxembourg colleagues We will now have a clear idea of what we want for our region "there's nothing to say that this new conurbation won't extend as far as certain municipalities on the border The Pays haut - Val d'Alzette and Cattenom et environs intermunicipalities are closer to the Luxembourg border told the weekly La Semaine last summer: "I just hope that this merger will bring something positive to the people who live here and that it is not just a political ploy to create a counterpart to Metz but also the Cattenom CC and the Pays Haut Val d'Alzette CC which are geographically closer to the border the elected representatives will elect the new council which will have a president and 15 vice-presidents the new community should have 80 elected members compared with almost 100 today with the two conurbations The new council will be in place from1 January 2026 in the former CCI building recently acquired by the Portes de France-Thionville CA the new council will have to submit itself to the people's choice as 2026 will be a municipal election year in France It is only after this vote that the territorial project Thionville mayor Pierre Cuny on 20 January held a press conference prior to his New Year’s address to the population to be held this evening at the Spot in Thionville and his desire to position his conurbation as a driving force in cross-border discussions For Moselle elected representative Pierre Cuny chairman of the Communauté d’Agglomération Portes de France Thionville and departmental councillor “2025 will be a pivotal year.” And more than ever the opportunity to position the territory as a place of experimentation on cross-border issues one year before the next municipal elections The year 2024 marked the tenth anniversary of the term of office begun by Anne Grommerch who is also chairman of the conurbation and a departmental councillor but says he is still considering his decision as he addressed his best wishes to the population on Monday evening he described 2025 as a pivotal year for the future of the region the councillor was delighted with the latest projects which had already been mentioned  in September There was indeed the Passerelle de l’Europe the revitalisation of the town centre with the vacancy rate for commercial premises down from 23% to 8% since 2014 the opening of the Spot dedicated to sport and  This will be officially active starting 1 January 2026 and should help to instil greater equity in the area for the benefit of residents but it will also help to redraw the balance of power politically although he says he “has not decided to stand for re-election,” says he wants to look to the future One is to further increase the town’s population (which stood at 44,000 in 2024) with a target of 400 to 500 new residents per year by 2035 “a place for experimenting with what can be done in Europe today,” particularly on cross-border issues This is also one of the goals of the merger of the two conurbations agreed in 2024 and which will have a total population of 157,000 the elected representatives of the two conurbations will be working to prepare for this merger in order to build a conurbation that will have more clout to take forward certain issues “This large conurbation will oblige us to achieve results and to fulfil our obligations to our fellow citizens particularly to cross-border commuters in areas such as transport and mobility where a great deal is already happening,” emphasised the mayor Cuny also mentioned the mobility projects that are about to come to fruition and that could be of interest to cross-border commuters the De Gasperi bridge over the railway tracks and the Adenauer bridge over the Moselle and will be used for the future Bus à haut niveau de service (BHNS) and soft mobility they will help to speed up the mobility offer and serve the station To create a whole new mobility system around Thionville station With the increase in the frequency of trains planned by the region the station will also see its number of passengers per day rise from 4,000 to 8,000,” predicts Cuny who reiterated his two major proposals in the cross-border debate: the remainder of the cost of the residential economy to be borne by Luxembourg charging cross-border commuters who consult their doctor in France the Luxembourg rate or having Luxembourg pay the remaining costs of certain services such as crèches the mayor suggests that Luxembourg contribute €1.5m a year It is in these areas that the mayor wants to turn the region into a laboratory for experimentation and make constructive use of the “fraternal relationship” with Luxembourg We are at the crossroads of four countries and some of them are at a less advanced stage than we are and that’s an opportunity to move things forward,” he said Cuny also said he was in favour of to create a Franco-Luxembourg cross-border cooperation fund (FCT) submitted to the French Senate on 10 January “He was inspired by a proposal I made at the time on the subject of teleworking and the idea was to neutralise taxation and for both Luxembourg and France to contribute to this fund which would enable projects to be co-financed.” Except the framework for discussing these cross-border projects and positioning itself as a future laboratory is compromised by the political situation in France These issues will have to be discussed at the Intergovernmental Conference (IGC) whose next meeting has still not been scheduled because we need to know when we will have a government that is fit for purpose,” said Cuny The region also contributes to the Mission opérationnelle transfrontalière (MOT) there are also seven cross-border regions like ours the most integrated and the most developed is the one between the Genevois and Haute-Savoie regions we are considered to be the second most advanced region in terms of dialogue with our neighbours,” he said with satisfaction The new car park at Thionville station is due to open in March and be inaugurated in June At the town council meeting held in Thionville on Monday 18 November local councillors set out the charges for the future silo car park By the end of the first quarter of 2025 at the latest the new 629-space car park next to Thionville station should be open to the public after two years of work co-financed by the municipality of Thionville Thionville’s local councillors were asked to vote on the prices that will be charged based on three price scales: one for the week from Monday to Friday from 5am to 10pm one for the weekend from Friday 5pm to Sunday 10pm A subscription system will also be offered to users Mayor Pierre Cuny also mentioned the possibility of a P+R + train pass The new facilities should further encourage cross-border workers to use public transport For those who already take the train every morning the new car park should make parking easier as the three car parks around the station are often full The new car park is also part of a wider project supported by the local authority which aims to redevelop the right bank into a multimodal hub comprising the station the future Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system and three bridges with new housing and office space planned for 2026 Rail services for French border workers are expected to face significant disruption this week The SNCF has announced major issues for trains traveling to and from Metz and Thionville due to local industrial action by the network operator A revised timetable outlines a severely reduced schedule for Thursday only eight trains will run between Metz and Luxembourg with just six trains running from Luxembourg to Metz and seven trains to Thionville Travellers are advised to plan ahead and consider alternative options where possible la circulation des trains est fortement perturbée pour les trains au départ et à l'arrivée de Metz et Thionville en raison d'un mouvement social local du gestionnaire du Réseau.Retrouvez les horaires des lignes concernées à partir de 17h sur TER Grand Est📱 The CFL has confirmed a disruptive day ahead for the Luxembourg-Thionville-Metz rail line with limited service expected due to local strikes including the Luxembourg-Paris Est and Luxembourg-Strasbourg-Montpellier-Marseille routes CFL has assured that trains on the Luxembourg-Bascharage-Sanem-Rodange-Longwy line will run as scheduled provided passengers have a Regiozone ticket Travellers are advised to plan their journeys accordingly Air traffic at several airports across France is set to face significant reductions on Thursday flights will be reduced by 10% between 6am and midnight while Paris-Orly will see a 25% reduction starting at 6pm Marseille Airport will face the heaviest impact and Toulouse Airport will experience a 20% reduction throughout the entire day disruption and delays are nevertheless to be expected" warns the French Civil Aviation Authority in a press release Teacher dissatisfaction appears to be reaching a boiling point as grievances over sick leave policies Many educators are expected to join the public service strike on Thursday with unions anticipating significant participation predicts that 65% of teachers in primary schools will strike the largest union for secondary school educators estimates that at least 50% of staff in 'collèges' and 'lycées' will also join the action Although teachers may still be present in schools on Thursday the staff strike is expected to have a significant impact on canteen services all cafeterias in the 61 primary schools will be closed potentially leaving many families scrambling to arrange alternative lunchtime solutions Hospitals are expected to feel the impact of the strike as well the French General Confederation of Labour (CGT) at Timone Hospital has warned via La Provence that a large number of healthcare workers are likely to participate the CGT union at Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris (AP-HP) is organising a rally at 2pm in Bercy to voice their grievances Nancy's Specialised Interregional Jurisdiction (Jirs) The shooting occurred around 1am on Sunday at the Eden Palace a wedding reception hall in a commercial area of Thionville Four people attending the wedding were shot and two have now succumbed to their injuries initially hospitalised in critical condition their lives are no longer in immediate danger," said Vincent Légaut two other individuals sustained minor injuries Approximately 100 guests were present at the wedding which drew attendees from the Metz metropolitan area described as three hooded men dressed in black and heavily armed appeared at the entrance and fired several dozen rounds at people outside and fled before emergency services arrived A police source suggested the attack was likely a settling of scores related to drug trafficking indicating that the wedding itself was not targeted but specific individuals at the event were The Lorraine border area has experienced violence related to drug trafficking before a shooting between rival gangs in Villerupt which occurred shortly before 5pm near Croix de Bettembourg heading toward France involved two cars and resulted in six people being injured Emergency services have confirmed the injuries and despatched two ambulances and two fire engines to the scene with two lanes blocked at the accident site The ACL advises motorists to avoid the area if possible Keolis wins a new bus contract in Thionville in France’s Grand Est Region with a focus on growing ridership The public transport company will operate and maintain the Citéline public transport network This public service delegation contract1 will come into effect on 1 April 2021 for a period of almost five years and is forecast to generate […] This public service delegation contract1 will come into effect on 1 April 2021 for a period of almost five years and is forecast to generate a total revenue of nearly €90 million Keolis will take over the existing network and accompany the SMiTU (which is Thionville-Fensch urban public transport authority) in launching an electric bus rapid transit (BRT) service in 2026 Keolis says the group aims to grow commercial revenues by 12.6% by 2025 Keolis will increase its operations in the Lorraine sector of the France’s Grand Est Region In addition to the urban transport system in Thionville The Citéline public transport network serves 190,000 inhabitants and 35 municipalities in Thionville a strategic cross-border hub situated between Metz and Luxembourg To promote the new transport service to passengers ’Bus info’ points will be set up in the different municipalities making up the urban area commented: “We are honoured by the SMiTU’s confidence and are committed to supporting a new phase in the development of mobility in this region” Keolis will accompany SMiTU in launching the future fully electric Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) service “Citézen” due in 2026 Keolis says the service will feature a new depot as well as a new maintenance centre which will house the entire network fleetto be built in Florange by 2025 © Copyright 2012 - 2025 | Vado e Torno Edizioni | All rights reserved | P.I France  © Photo credit: LT archivesPascal Mittelberger ShareFrench authorities are unclear how they will enforce an inspection regime at Luxembourg’s border that takes effect on Friday after earlier assuring they will not slow traffic on the main motorway between Metz France has said its reasons for imposing border controls through April - the maximum under the 1985 Schengen treaty creating a borderless EU - included ensuring its security against terrorists, criminals and human smugglers. France also intends to check identity documents at its borders with neighbouring Spain, Italy, Switzerland, Germany, and Belgium for the maximum six months allowed under the treaty. Luxembourg Interior Minister Léon Gloden said earlier this month that his French counterpart assured him that that checks will be restricted to secondary roads near the border and not the A31/A3 motorway connecting the two countries. Friday’s start of French border checks will bring the number of European countries that have launched inspections to seven, including Germany, Italy and Austria. Norway and Sweden plan to impose similar controls later in November. German police said they found 13% fewer illegal entries during the first three weeks after the country imposed controls at all land borders than the previous three weeks, the DPA news agency reported on Thursday. Germany’s federal police encountered 3,464 foreigners seeking to enter the country without permission between 16 September and 6 October and more than 2,000 were simply ordered to go back, the government said in response to a lawmaker’s questions. Public holiday 10 things to do on the 9 May Europe Day holidayVisit Robert Schuman’s house, head to the Mult-Culti festival in Bertrange or take a guided tour of the Europa Experience Robert Schuman The story behind 9 May celebrating Europe Day Luxembourg-born Robert Schuman delivered the Schuman Declaration, a speech widely known for setting the foundations of today’s European Union Financial regulationEU urged to scrap rules that force short-sellers out of shadowsThe EU has signaled openness to some changes made to ensure its financial industry can compete with global peers EU institutionsPremiumStandoff over union representation at Luxembourg’s largest EU employerUnion seeking permission to operate within European Investment Bank at loggerheads with bank over recognition process HealthIn Luxembourg, majority of alerts on high-risk products concern cosmetics 79% of alerts issued in 2024 were for cosmetics, according to the annual report of the European alert system Safety Gate Anti trust finesApple, Meta hit by €700m in EU fines after Trump threatsEU regulators levied the penalties — €500 million against Apple and €200 million against Meta — under its Digital Markets Act EU bodiesPremiumTwo Luxembourg-based EU bodies embroiled in immunity row ECA has refused to lift immunity for several staff as part of a fraud investigation being conducted by EPPO Regulation divergencePremiumLuxembourg businesses caught in Trump rules uncertaintyAs the Trump administration clamps down on DEI, the EU is seeking to soften many of its sustainability and due diligence reporting requirements with one reported to be in critical condition described as several masked gunmen armed with firearms where approximately a hundred people were gathered the incident unfolded around 1.15am during a wedding reception A group of individuals stepped outside to smoke when three heavily armed men arrived and fired multiple shots in their direction," the source detailed Authorities are investigating whether the vehicle originated from Germany or Luxembourg located approximately fifteen kilometers away "The incident appears to be linked to settling scores related to drug trafficking rather than a deliberate attack on the wedding event itself," the source commented Investigators were observed collecting samples from a vehicle at the scene by reporters on Sunday morning At least three bullet holes were visible on a glass door leading into the expansive reception hall "Numerous shell casings were recovered from the site," noted the local daily Le Républicain lorrain.The Eden Palace which boasts a capacity to host 600 diners and accommodate 800 guests is situated in a commercial zone outside Thionville The case has been assigned to the judicial police in Metz. The border region of Lorraine has been grappling with issues related to drug trafficking. In a separate incident in May 2023 shootings between rival gangs at a drug distribution point in Villerupt in the neighboring department of Meurthe-et-Moselle A national strike in France is due to see reduced services in both directions between Luxembourg and towns close to the border such as Metz and Thionville as well as on longer distance TGV routes linking the Grand Duchy with other parts of France “According to information provided by SNCF train traffic on the Luxembourg–Thionville–Metz line will be significantly disrupted in both directions train traffic on the Luxembourg–Bascharage-Sanem–Rodange–Longwy track will be maintained,” the CFL said in a press release The national railway operator advises passengers to check updates on its website no details have been released on the services that will run as normal The timetable for trains on the TER Nancy-Metz-Luxembourg line will be published on Wednesday at 17:00 on the TER Grand Est website (This article was originally published by Virgule. Translation and editing by John Monaghan) the DIR has been carrying out work to replace the message signs installed over the lanes of the A31 this time in the Terville and Thionville area The replacement work will occur in the evening and at night the off-ramps at junction 41 (Terville) will be closed between 9 pm and 5 am in the direction Luxembourg to Metz the off-ramps at junction 39 (near the Beauregard viaduct) will be closed The French road administrations urges extreme caution and speed moderation near the worksites Rail services on the Luxembourg City - Esch/Alzette - Rodange and Luxembourg City - Thionville - Metz lines experienced significant disruptions on Friday evening due to urgent maintenance work between Bettembourg and Luxembourg Further details have now emerged about the causes of the delays The issues began on Friday morning near Hollerich station when the driver of a train on the Käerjeng-Sanem-Rodange-Athus line reported a problem with the doors To ensure passenger safety and prevent anyone from disembarking into a potentially dangerous situation head of communications at the Luxembourg National Railway Company (CFL) emphasised that safety protocols are a top priority for the CFL and are strictly enforced in such scenarios rail traffic between Luxembourg City and Thionville was interrupted due to "emergency maintenance work" between Bettembourg and the capital This led to adjustments in the frequency of trains on the Luxembourg City - Esch/Alzette - Rodange line while services on the Luxembourg City - Thionville - Metz line were temporarily suspended Partial service on the latter route resumed at 5.39pm the disruptions were caused by an issue with a rail which was addressed as a priority due to the potential risks associated with such problems The CFL worked to resolve the situation throughout the evening Normal service was eventually restored shortly before 2am on Saturday the CFL expressed regret for the inconvenience caused to passengers and thanked them for their understanding Travellers are advised to check the latest updates via the CFL timetable search at www.cfl.lu or the CFL mobile application No trains will be running for the next two weeks Passengers are asked to adapt to the updated train schedules for Luxembourg and cross-border regions The National Railway Company has announced they will be doing major renovation work during the Easter holidays This work is expected to disrupt the circulation of trains on certain train lines The renovation will notably concern the Luxembourg-Bettembourg line The area also includes the lines to Esch-sur-Alzette and Rodange In order to allow the construction to take place on the second track of the interchange hub in Howald the trains will be disrupted from Saturday 5 April to Monday 21 April this construction will enable the lines to France and Esch-sur-Alzette to be completely separated passengers will have to take the bus L60 to get from Luxembourg to Bettembourg CFL is also renovating the Luxembourg–Kleinbettingen–Arlon line It will be completely closed for traffic from Saturday 5 to Monday 21 April Replacement L50 buses will serve all stops between Luxembourg and Arlon L52 will also provide a non-stop link between the two cities Nightly construction on the rails will go from Saturday 5 April to Saturday 19 April Trains will not circulate from 7.40pm to 3.30am between Ettelbruck and Gouvy as well as Kautenbach and Wiltz CFL has organised replacement buses for popular connections Ettelbruck and Gouvy via Wilwerwiltz will be serviced by bus L15 Ettelbruck and Gouvy by a direct connection with L16 bus and Ettelbruck and Wiltz via Kautenbach with Bus L17 The project involves creating a new 7.9km section through Florange and a bypass around Thionville Prefecture de Moselle/ Montage: Maison Moderne After long months of waiting to find out the route of the future A31 bis motorway the project is entering a new phase: that of public consultation French transport minister Clément Beaune finally unveiled the chosen route for the future A31 bis: No This new 7.9km section starts at the Sainte-Agathe interchange and passes through Florange via a 2.2km tunnel to rejoin the current A31 route to the west of Thionville (Bétange interchange) A bypass to the west of Thionville is also planned This will be a 2x2 lane road stretching 8km between the Sainte-Agathe interchange on the A30 at Fameck to the south and the étoile interchange on the A31 at Florange to the north the minister said he hoped the work would start quickly which has long been described as a sea serpent the consultation phase is set to begin on 3 September and run until 1 October with the aim of gathering public opinion so that local elected representatives can amend their planning documents accordingly The prefecture is clear: this consultation “is not intended to discuss the appropriateness of the project which has already been the subject of a public debate in 2015 and a preliminary consultation in 2018-2019 or the choice of route for the northern sector which has already been the subject of a consultation in 2022-2023.” An online space has been set up to collect residents’ opinions and questions and registers have been set up in several municipalities directly affected by the project: Zoufftgen There will also be office hours at town halls (see below) the project is not intended to cure all the ills of cross-border workers on the road Nobody thought that the A31 bis was a solution The project is first and foremost a matter of upgrading,” said the mayor of Thionville and chairman of the urban community the project is intended as “a response to the challenges of mobility in the Lorraine corridor,” as the state itself points out describing it as “a complementary approach to rail and river projects.” Even so the future route should help to relieve traffic congestion on the A31 Some aspects of the project remain unresolved the question of the cost of the toll that is to be installed on this future route the project will have to undergo a public enquiry in order to apply for a declaration of public utility (DUP) in 2025 The DUP is expected in the second quarter of 2026 before a call for tenders to find the concessionaire in 2027 or until 2033 according to the provisional timetable communicated by the French government the estimated cost of the route under Florange is between €700m and €900m The project owner’s office hours in town halls are scheduled as follows: — 4 September from 4pm to 6pm in Terville at the town hall; — 12 September from 4pm to 6pm in Richemont; — 14 September from 10:30am to 12:30pm in Florange; from 2:30pm to 4:30pm in Thionville (Maison de quartier Dupont des Loges); — 18 September from 2pm to 4pm in Entrange; — 18 September from 4.30 to 6.30 pm in Zoufftgen Moroccan midfielder Bilal Nadir is set to make his first start for Olympique de Marseille as they face Thionville in the Coupe de France Multiple Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) absences leave Marseille scrambling around to put a coherent team together Les Phocéens are the most heavily AFCON-affected side in Ligue 1 Iliman Ndiaye and Ismaïla Sarr are all absent who declined his Cameroon call-up to remain with OM is still awaiting authorisation to play for his club during the AFCON period Valentin Rongier and Joaquín Correa are also both absent through injury which will provide Nadir with his long-awaited opportunity to make an impression on Gennaro Gattuso GFFN | Luke Entwistle The public prosecutor's office in Thionville announced on Monday that it had opened an investigation into "theft resulting in death," with oversight assigned to the criminal police This decision follows the discovery of the lifeless body of an 84-year-old nursing home resident by care staff at the Sainte-Madeleine nursing home in Thionville around 4am on Sunday According to Thionville public prosecutor Brice Partouche initial observations indicate signs of forced entry through an open window with care staff testimony suggesting that the window was not open when they last visited the room "The evidence gathered so far suggests that the position of the victim's body seems to correspond to her sleeping habits No traces of a struggle or physical violence have yet been found although the presence of a pillow on the victim's body may suggest possible suffocation," the prosecutor said a criminal investigation has been launched into theft resulting in death overseen by the interdepartmental service of the Metz criminal police An autopsy is scheduled to determine the precise cause of death Two of Luxembourg's primary rail lines faced significant disruptions on Wednesday due to technical issues The Luxembourg National Railway Company (CFL) reported midday that a breakdown near Bettembourg impacted services on the Luxembourg City-Esch-Rodange and Luxembourg City-Thionville-Metz routes temporarily halted rail traffic in both directions between Luxembourg City and Bettembourg CFL deployed replacement buses in the early afternoon to transport passengers along the affected route These buses stopped at all stations between Luxembourg City and Bettembourg CFL announced the gradual resumption of train services on the Luxembourg City-Esch/Alzette-Rodange and Luxembourg City-Thionville-Metz lines between Luxembourg City and Bettembourg passengers should expect possible delays and cancellations as operations return to normal Travellers are advised to consult the latest timetables on the CFL app or the company's website for updates FDN / Politics / Communities / Thionville : Anticor on the bench of the accused The association specializing in the fight against corruption and its head in Moselle must answer for defamation against the town of Terville (57) it is not a crooked elected official prosecuted for violating the rules of public accounting who will be on the bench of the Thionville judicial court but rather the association Anticor and its head for Moselle who is also vice-president of the national association Olivier Postal and the city of Terville (57) unjustly implicated in a case of big money Terville would have camouflaged a huge debt in the accounts of a Mixed Economy Company (SEM) of development (read the post below) The accusation is all the more serious as we are in the middle of an election campaign two days before the second round of municipal elections After three consecutive mandates (18 years) the outgoing mayor was not running for re-election in Terville but in the neighboring town of Thionville Why didn’t she contact the public prosecutor lost honorably on June 28 with 31.75% of the votes against the outgoing mayor Pierre Cuny (41.36%) “I only responded to an article published the day before said that Terville’s debt was 3 M€ and would gradually disappear the municipality’s debt has been reduced to 3 M€ thanks to the sale of land to SEM the city is the guarantor of a loan that is added to the debt POST D’ ANTICOR 57 SUR FB EN DATE DU 26.06.20 A new seven-kilometre railway line will be built between Bettembourg and Luxembourg City to alleviate the heavy daily traffic of trains coming from southern Luxembourg and from Metz via Thionville As the regional trains from Luxembourg and Thionville have entirely different structures and needs to the French TGVs that pass via the same line 'a new track is being built to separate the two types of traffic,' explains Henri Werdel the Bettembourg and Howald stations need to be widened to ensure that a two-way railway line can continue to serve even the trains of up to 250 metres in length with a seating capacity of 1,000 The goal is for ten trains per hour and per direction to run on the line but this increased capacity has to first be negotiated with the French rail company SNCF the journey time won't change much for cross-border commuters from Metz and Thionville the trains will be able to travel at speeds of up to 160 km/h as the trains will be separated from each other' Construction work began before the summer holidays of which some will continue over the break.'I think we'll use this period to finish the bits best worked on in summer Passengers will have to wait for these updates as construction work on the new line is expected to be completed in 2027 Trains between Thionville and Luxembourg City have been suspended in full due to the installation of a new bridge over Bettembourg station and will remain so until 11 August 2024 Although Bettembourg station will reopen after this date trains to and from the capital will remain suspended until 15 September 2024 due to further engineering works passengers using the line will still be subjected to cancellations and revised timetables "We have more closures planned for Easter 2025 and over the summer in 2026 and 2027," reveals Rui Raimundo The cycle path between Bettembourg and Luxembourg City train station is also projected to be completed in that time Curious onlookers assembled in Bettembourg on Wednesday evening to watch the installation of the new Hammerel bridge Moving the bridge is a long process which requires much patience and dexterity The new installation will replace the old Hammerel bridge which was recently demolished after 50 years CFL has updated that the  Luxembourg – Esch/Alzette – Rodange and Luxembourg – Thionville – Metz routes have been fixed after necessary emergency maintenance work between Bettembourg and Luxembourg CFL previously communicated that urgent maintenance works were required and no trains will be circulating between Luxembourg and Bettembourg on the Luxembourg – Esch/Alzette – Rodange and Luxembourg – Thionville – Metz lines until But CFL had set up a replacement bus service to ensure smooth transport The bus service is no longer being used since the train lines are in full use again Although the route has now gotten back to normal, passengers are advised to still check updated schedules on www.cfl.lu or via the CFL mobile app for the latest information As part of the widening project for the A3 roadworks will take place at the Livange interchange starting this Sunday 1am until next Saturday 6am according to the National Roads Administration This will cause traffic complications for cross-border commuters from France A roadblock will be installed at the Livange exit the National Roads Administration notes that "traffic coming from the A31 and heading towards Livange will be diverted via the A3 in the direction of Luxembourg City Residents in southern Luxembourg and the French border region are set to face significant travel disruptions this summer as extensive construction projects in Bettembourg will lead to a complete shutdown of the railway link to the capital for two months there will be no train services operating between Bettembourg and Luxembourg Bettembourg station will not be able to accommodate any trains during the first month of the planned works due to the full reconstruction of the Hammerel bridge over the train tracks The Luxembourg National Railway Company (CFL) will simultaneously carry out preparatory work to connect the new Bettembourg-Luxembourg line The closures will be split into the following periods: Saturday 13 July to Sunday 11 August: Bettembourg station will be fully closed There will be no train services on line 90 from Thionville or line 60 from Esch/Rodange towards Bettembourg CFL will provide  a replacement bus service to Luxembourg City Monday 12 August to Sunday 15 September: Bettembourg station will reopen This means that passengers will need to board a rail replacement bus to continue their journey to Luxembourg City doubling the tracks between Luxembourg and Bettembourg will allow for an increase in the number of trains from 2028 onwards Trains on line 60 (from Esch/Rodange) will use the existing tracks while trains from Thionville (line 90) will use the new tracks "We set a new record for passenger numbers in 2023 with 28.7 million which allows us to continue our modernisation efforts with the aim of becoming the preferred choice in terms of mobility," says Marc Wengler this summer promises to be particularly difficult for train commuters The victim was shot by a heavily armed man in a parking lots outside a Decathlon sports equipment store, which was shut for several hours in the wake of the incident. According to local media the shooter was settling a family dispute, with the victim presumed to be the suspect's uncle. The injured man was shot in the leg with two bullets and is in stable condition. The suspect was able to flee the scene and remains at large. Green transitionOver 8,600 solar panel subsidy requests pending in LuxembourgEnvironment administration hiring staff and training workers to cut down delays HealthcareLuxembourg to offer new homegrown midwifery qualificationUniversity of Luxembourg is launching four-year degree to train more midwives State financesLuxembourg recorded budget surplus in Q1Gilles Roth presented state of national economy report to parliament’s finance committees on Tuesday PoliticsHow much do Luxembourg ministers really earn?In addition to basic salary, ministers are entitled to monthly allowances of up to €8,000 and end-of-year bonuses EvacuationWeapon used in Kirchberg scare was fakeMan armed with fake gun caused commotion at bank branch on Monday Schengen AreaLuxembourg hopes for dialogue with Germany over border checksTens of thousands of people commute to work in Luxembourg every day Job searchBeen job-hunting unsuccessfully for more than six months? If you’ve had several months of rejection letters or never made it beyond first interviews, here’s what you might be doing wrong Financial scandalSpuerkeess rejects blame in Caritas embezzlement case Representatives tell parliament that the bank followed all internal procedures with its client The situation is likely to last until the weekend: the SNCF has announced that "no train will travel between Bettembourg and Thionville before Saturday". Didier Wallerich, in charge of communication at SNCF confesses he does not "have great hope" that the situation will return to normal on Friday. "We make our transport plans on a day-to-day basis, we will see what our colleagues in the CFL are saying, we are working with them," he explains. Substitute buses are therefore set up for TER users from the Luxembourg train station to compensate for the absence of trains. But CFL, warns "delays on arrival are to be expected". Buses are available until 11:13pm and service is resumed with a first bus from Luxembourg to Thionville at 05:13am on Thursday," he said. 22 buses will be running between Luxembourg and Thionville and 9 other buses (7 French and 2 CFL) will make Thionville, Hettange-Grande and Bettembourg. The 7th meeting of the Franco-Luxembourgish Intergovernmental Commission for the Strengthening of Cross-border Cooperation (CIG) took place in Thionville (France) on 17 April 2023 The delegation of the French Republic was led by Ms Laurence Boone Secretary of State to the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Minister for the Greater Region of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg The cross-border cooperation between Luxembourg and France has intensified considerably since the creation of the Intergovernmental Conference in 2010 It has contributed significantly to the integration of our border areas for the benefit of their inhabitants through exchanges in numerous fields The consequences of the Covid 19 pandemic have further brought the two countries closer to each other having kept their common border open throughout the health crisis As the number of French residents working in Luxembourg is steadily increasing - over 120,000 at the beginning of 2023 - both sides reaffirm their commitment to this intergovernmental framework in order to ensure good coordination of public policies This body also aims to stimulate the emergence and implementation of joint initiatives designed to improve the daily lives of border residents and promote the harmonious economic development of this area Since the last intergovernmental conference progress has been made on telework by raising the tax tolerance threshold from 29 to 34 days through an amendment to the tax agreement signed on 7 November 2022 both parties are committed to continuing discussions by the end of 2024 in order to reach a permanent solution as of 1 January 2025 France has decided to simplify the administrative procedures for Luxembourgish employers who employ teleworkers residing in France the financial law of 2023 introduces a mechanism for timely advance payments debited directly from the employees' bank account instead of the application of a withholding tax by the employer Facilitating travel and the mobility of cross-border workers which are at the heart of our fellow citizens' concerns is another important topic of cooperation between the two parties which focus on collective and sustainable transport as this is the only way to ensure medium-term solutions for the growing flow of cross-border workers Substantial work has been launched based on the Protocol of Agreement on strengthening cooperation in cross-border transport signed on 20 March 2018 This agreement sets out the financing of 240 million euros between the French and Luxembourg parties of which 220 million euros are devoted to rail transport and 20 million euros to car-pooling policy and public transport services by road The commitment to cross-border rail transport is strengthened by the amendment to the protocol signed on 19 October 2021 which increases the investment for this mode of transport to 440 million EUR a contribution of 110 million EUR from each of the parties compared to the initial protocol it is envisaged that the work financed by the Protocol and its amendment will be carried out in two phases is well underway: the work on extending the platforms on the French side should be completed by the end of 2023 and studies on strengthening the line's electrical infrastructure are continuing These improvements will enable the first capacity level to be reached with the circulation of trains with an additional train set Park and Ride (P&R) facilities planned for Longwy and Thionville stations will be operational in 2024 while a first part of the P&R facility at Longwy has been in 2021 With the arrival of new trains purchased by the Grand Est region all this work will enable a capacity increase from 8,000 to 14,000 seats per day and per direction at rush hours will allow for a further leap in capacity with the aim of reaching 22,000 seats through optimised use of the infrastructure upgrades for the benefit of freight traffic and for increasing the electrical capacity of the line for which studies are due to be launched in 2023 the Thionville-Metzange park-and-ride (P+R) car park was inaugurated on 12 July 2022 in the presence of the Luxembourg Prime Minister Xavier Bettel the Minister of the Greater Region Corinne Cahen and the Secretary of State to the Minister for Ecological Transition and Territorial Cohesion Both sides agreed to commission a comprehensive study on cross-border mobility between Luxembourg and the cross-border employment area in France located in particular in the north of Lorraine and gradually extending from the south of Thionville to Metz several projects for cross-border BHNS lines supported by the Moselle department have been mentioned including the project between Frisange (Luxembourg) and Hettange-Grande (France) on the RD 653 The modalities of a financial participation of Luxembourg in the scheme of cross-border high-speed buses and park-and-ride (P+R) facilities will be determined depending on the results of the overall study mentioned above Both sides also welcomed the progress made on the upgrading of the A3 and A31 and agreed to support the development of public transport and carpooling on this axis which would allow the extension of the motorway between the border and Thionville and the Thionville bypass was the subject of public consultation from the end of November 2022 to the beginning of February 2023 The public consultation based on the chosen route will be launched in 2024 the completion of the works to widen the A3 to 2x3 lanes is scheduled for the end of 2030 France and Luxembourg have also decided to set up a new working group on the environment This new field of cross-border cooperation will initially address issues related to cross-border waste deposits the two parties signed a statement of intention to set up an Observatory for health data surveillance and alert in the border living areas of the Grand Est Region and Luxembourg This digital observatory will aim to respond to the need for deepening accurate and mutual knowledge of health data in the French-Luxembourgish cross-border living area in order to better anticipate epidemics and global health issues on each side The Commission confirmed the intention of both sides to facilitate access to local health care for the border population With regard to medical training and in accordance with an agreement signed in 2021 Luxembourg and four French universities (Sorbonne Université Université de Lorraine) have signed an operational agreement for the implementation of the amendment to the Additional Protocol on Scientific and Academic Cooperation This agreement specifies in particular the amount and payment modalities of Luxembourg's participation in the clinical training of students from the University of Luxembourg's bachelor's degree in medicine for the three years of preparation for the advanced medical sciences diploma The two countries also signed a statement of intention on the establishment of an enhanced multilingual education programme in English German and Luxembourgish on the territory of the EGTC Alzette-Belval This would start in the kindergarten and continue in elementary schools in the municipality of Villerupt and in the secondary school of Audun-le-Tiche Luxembourg would provide assistants and teachers in Luxembourgish while France would provide the Luxembourgish side with training in French literacy for Luxembourgish teachers both sides have agreed to exchange information on the organisation and management of education and care services on both sides of the border and to finalise coordination between the competent institutions so that reimbursement of care benefits in kind provided in France to insured persons under the Luxembourg scheme can be made in accordance with the provisions of the EU Regulation 883/2004 both sides welcomed the cross-border success of Esch-sur-Alzette which involved the Community of the municipalities of Pays Haut Val d'Alzette in the northern Lorraine region To pursue the cultural and tourist development of our border region it was agreed to look for ways and means to perpetuate this exemplary cooperation in order to follow up the framework partnership agreement currently in force can be continued a reflection day with stakeholders will be organised in autumn 2023 so that cross-border cultural actors can consolidate a long-term roadmap The Intergovernmental Conference was informed about the establishment of functional areas in the framework of the Interreg Greater Region Programme 2021-2027 Functional areas are an innovative and important tool for the implementation of local development strategies and for strengthening cross-border planning the Intergovernmental Conference takes note of the establishment of a functional area on the territory of the EGTC Alzette Belval and is studying the possibilities of setting up further functional areas on the French-Luxembourgish border both sides welcomed the progress made in the preparation and forthcoming signature of administrative arrangements setting out the modalities for the implementation of joint controls and patrols in railway stations and trains as well as on cross-border roads and motorways This is a useful step towards cross-border cooperation on internal security allowing a more efficient joint action to tackle cross-border crime and common security challenges With the aim of further strengthening cooperation in this field both sides have started work on deepening the legal framework for cross-border police and customs cooperation A review was presented following the first exercise of the border alert plan on 29 March 2023 It was also agreed to strengthen cooperation in the field of local security in view of the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games Aware of the importance of the cross-border challenges both sides have committed to carrying out a precise and regular follow-up of the implementation of the conclusions adopted by this seventh Commission The eighth session of the Intergovernmental Commission will take place in Luxembourg in 2024 Press release by the Ministry of Family Affairs Integration and the Greater Region and the Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs of the Government of the French Republic It brings more chaos to a city where buses, which are already replacing trains, can't move normally due to the protests. who stole some 13,000 letters and stored them secretly in his attic for more than a decade.04/03/2015ShareA French court on Tuesday delivered a six-month suspended sentence to a "compulsive" postman in Thionville who stole some 13,000 letters and stored them secretly in his attic for more than a decade has agreed to return all the stolen letters the unnamed postal worker was caught red-handed in 2011 when La Poste laid a trap by planting a letter filled with a powder that stained his hands and clothes The police then found his haul in the attic: 13,694 letters His lawyer David Jeanmaire stated the man suffered from a "compulsive hoarding disorder" "He told police he was attracted by the colour and shape of certain letters like a magpie drawn towards shiny objects," said Jeanmaire he would have got rid of the letters." Jeanmaire said the postcards were a way for the postman to "travel by proxy" "His behaviour was a little curious," conceded a lawyer for La Poste though she said he still had material concerns and used the money to fill up his car More than 550 customers were listed as claimants in the trial in the town of Thionville although the court only awarded damages to a small group totalling around 900 euros postal workers in France have taken an oath to scrupulously protect the items they carry and the secrecy of correspondence more than 23,500 undelivered letters were found in the home of a postwoman in Gironde in the Bordeaux region Do not miss the news - sign up to receive the wort.lu newsletter in English delivered to your inbox six days a week. Luxembourg rail operator CFL said a technical room in Bettembourg had been flooded in Monday's downpours, causing a short circuit and disruption to the train signalling system at around 4:30pm. Rail replacement buses had been put in place between Luxembourg, Thionville and Hettange-Grande. The bus leaves from platform 19 at Luxembourg City's train station. Rail lines were not the only form of transport to be affected by Monday's rainfall with several roads partially closed because of flooding. Among those affected were the N13 between Bettembourg and Hellange, the road that connects Contern in Itzig, another road between Weiler-la-Tour and Schlammestee, and the road between Hellange and Crauthem.The motorway junction for Esch at the Croix de Gasperich, had to be closed due to flooding, but was reopened to traffic shortly before 4pm. Surplus water on the motorway also prompted traffic authorities to limit speeds on the A1 to 90km/h because of the risk of aquaplaning. Earlier on Monday, Luxembourg weather agency Météolux issued an “orange alert” for Monday as it forecast heavy rainfall across the country. Société Générale’s 870 Belval-based employees can reach their offices by bus directly from Thionville Photos: Matic Zorman/Maison Moderne/Société Générale some companies are offering their employees extra benefits Société Générale employees have their own shuttles It’s a measure put in place to accompany the move of the teams to Belval Part of the workforce--1,120 employees according to Luxembourg’s statistics bureau Statec--will move to its new city-centre headquarters These staff members mainly work in front office functions: private and corporate banking and some support functions The move began on 5 June and will be completed in September The bank has put in place a number of measures to support employees affected by this change of workplace one of which is the return of the shuttle buses two buses--operated by Emile Weber and each with 65 seats--will leave every morning from Thionville and head for Belval Two additional shuttles will enable employees from Belgium to commute to Société Générale the buses will leave at 5.30pm and 6pm for France and at 5pm and 5.45pm for Belgium The company surveyed its teams to determine the number of seats needed and the timetable given that employees can organise their days flexibly as long as they arrive before 9.30 in the morning 60% of Belval-based employees live in France The shuttle system began on 5 June--with the move--and is now running at reduced capacity due to holidays and the fact that not all teams have yet moved to the new building whether from Thionville or Belgium,” says human resources director Aurélie Ederle “We have employees who use them morning and evening and others take the train in the morning and the shuttle in the evening The bank leaves itself the possibility of adapting the frequency of the shuttles after the start of the school year but will cost the bank “between €220,000 and €225,000 over the next six months.” both internally and externally,” says Ederle “It’s part of Société Générale’s culture to be a responsible employer and to support change “an employee to whom you offer flexible and supportive working conditions will have a lower rate of absenteeism greater commitment and lasting employer loyalty.” The HR department hopes to reduce staff turnover by “two to three percentange points”--it was “around 9%” at the end of 2022--and “to have an external impact.” The shuttles are one of the three measures in the “transport” package set up by the bank to accompany their teams’ move through which employees can carpool with other members of the company (the use of the Société Générale logo on profiles allows colleagues to meet up on the platform) or other members of the platform The passenger must pay 50 cents per journey to the driver who in turn benefits from government support Société Générale is also offering a “parking for all” approach it rents some in the Terres Rouges car park the company reimburses the employee for parking elsewhere in Belval this is the most widely used support measure.” The cost of these other measures was not given “The building itself contributes to the attractiveness of the site,” says the HR director there are other tools to promote a balance between private and professional life “We have set up a sports hall to enable our employees to take part in sporting activities during their working hours Those who work in one of the company’s two buildings will also be able to use the other one from time to time for reasons related to personal or professional organisation This article was first published in French on It has been translated and edited for Delano The incident occurred at a garage located on Route de Thionville in Bonnevoie. Firefighters rushed to the scene and managed to extinguish the blaze rapidly. According to reports, the fire was started by “small sparks due to solvent vapours”. One employee at the dealership suffered injuries to his hands. An investigation has been launched. gave a number of details about works on the new A31 Touvet confirmed that motorists will soon have to pay to travel from Metz to Luxembourg via the motorway and that the route selected for the expansion was indeed variant F4 which will bypass Thionville to the west through a deep tunnel under Florange This will create a new 7.9-kilometre section including the 2.2 km-long tunnel under Florange The tunnel will rejoin the A31 to the west of Thionville at the 'étoile' interchange the A31 will become a three-lane motorway all the way to Luxembourg The entire project is expected to cost between €700 and €900 million The creation of a toll booth will "make it possible to finance the project more quickly" The estimated cost of a Metz-Luxembourg journey is €4 the costs are €2 for the tunnel and €2 for the section north of Thionville Touvet further explained that it will be a free-flow toll meaning no barriers will be installed to avoid additional congestion Number plates will be scanned and payments can be made digitally There might be a season ticket for cross-border commuters with "a reduction of up to 30% of the price" meaning a more expensive fare at peak times The timetable for the works has been unveiled: the public enquiry will begin in 2024 and is scheduled to conclude in 2025 The 'Declaration of Public Utility' is expected in the second half of 2026 The concession is due to be awarded in 2028 with work starting in 2029 and finishing in 2032 two years after completion of the widening of the A3 on the Luxembourg side French authorities want to coordinate with Luxembourg to test a "dedicated carpooling lane" On the section between Thionville and the border in addition to widening the motorway to three lanes in each direction the project thus also includes the construction of a lane reserved for public transport on the hard shoulder The aim is to promote public transport with cross-border coaches The Dernier Sol district in Luxembourg is being completely transformed The block of land located between the Route de Thionville and Rue Dernier Sol in Luxembourg City’s Bonnevoie district is undergoing a thorough conversion Several projects are underway on these plots the station area has been undergoing a transformation which is now culminating in the Nei Hollerich development as well plans for a park spanning the train tracks at the Rocade and ending in Bonnevoie this project constrained the redevelopment of the Dernier Sol block located between the Route de Thionville and Rue du Dernier Sol just on the other side of the railway tracks the owners of the land on this block tried to develop a new special development plan (PAP) which specifies the types of buildings that can be constructed the City of Luxembourg launched the revision of its general development plan (PAG) which more widely looks at urban development of an area with the tram also entering the discussion a completely new constellation was put in place ProGroup was commissioned by a group of owners to lead the development of the PAP the urban development of which was entrusted to Laruade The work to be carried out with the various administrations concerned with infrastructure and roads was entrusted to the engineering consultancy Icone View of the plot of land concerned by the PAP Dernier Sol in Luxembourg-Bonnevoie The environment of this 1.02 ha PAP is marked by a particular and heterogeneous context there is the very marked presence of various transport infrastructures such as the CFL railway line for access to the central station just 750m away as well as the southern part of the Rocade de Bonnevoie bypass for access to the city centre and the junction with the Route de Thionville (N3) the extension of the tram network is planned along the N3 which must be redeveloped to accommodate the new tracks and a cycle path An existing row of buildings will remain in place New buildings are already beginning to emerge there are a number of public and semi-public facilities with a wide range of users the Caritas Ulysse reception and emergency accommodation centre the district already has many shops and it can be said that a neighbourhood life exists warehouses or garages with no architectural value or land that can be considered as wasteland a link between the fabric fragmented by the transport infrastructures and a lively and colourful urban district The objective of this new PAP is to bring a new urban quality to this block while preserving the mixed character of the district and to create meeting places such as connecting to the existing buildings interacting with the Route de Thionville and the tramway finding a solution so that the Rue du Dernier Sol is not a dead end and determining a water management system that meets the expectations of the administration concerned All this while satisfying the interests of multiple owners it was decided to open up the heart of the block by creating a new street to place residential buildings perpendicular to it to take advantage of good orientation and to create a small square at the end of the block to make the link with the tram stop framed by end buildings with shops or services at ground level Graphic part of the PAP Dernier Sol (Illustration: Laruade architect and urban planner) After all these years of work and twists and turns it represents 18,982m2 of gross building area and 35% of the land area is dedicated to roads which is significant since on average it is more like 25% the development of the plots has been able to start and the changes are now beginning to be visible Some owners have chosen to sell their land and Eaglestone has taken a position on all but one of the plots This developer has chosen to develop the project called "Brooklyn" the architectural mission of which has been entrusted to M3 architects This is what the new street in the heart of Eaglestone's Brooklyn project will look like representing a total surface of approximately 6,000m2 an office building of 4,500m2 will be developed a mixed complex of 2,800m2 will be built with shops seven new buildings with 120 housing units--including low-cost housing--will be erected Most of the new buildings will be small-scale residential units which will meet the current needs of the city’s residential market The M3 Architects office will also design lot seven It is planned to develop an office building of 4,950m2 gross with perhaps some retail space on the ground floor an architectural coherence will emerge from the new constructions on all eight lots that make up the PAP The landscaping of the square has been entrusted to the landscape engineer Carlo Mersch Development is also taking place outside the Dernier Sol PAP Opposite the residences developed by Eaglestone but there is no more information about it at this stage which it will knock down and instead build a new residence two duplexes and two penthouses on six floors and whose architectural design has been entrusted to A3 Architecture The agency is also building two new residences Elidia at 65 Route de Thionville and Teva at 122 Route de Thionville which will be delivered in the first quarter of 2023 and 2024 respectively View of the façade of the Elidia residence View of the rear façade of the Elidia residence View of the front façade of the Teva residence developed by The Agency Rear view of the Teva residence (Illustration: The Agency) the Losch car dealership does not appear to have any plans to leave its premises or does not wish to confirm this at the moment Nor does the drug centre’s move appear to have made much progress the front of the Route de Thionville will certainly be remodelled as well This article is taken from the weekly newsletter Paperjam Architecture + Real Estate the place to be for news about architecture and real estate in Luxembourg This story was first published in French on The body of a young woman was discovered in the river by German workers in Palzem, on the German side of the river opposite Stadtbredimus on February 17, prompting a cross-border investigation. Last Saturday police received a missing person report, concerning a 31-year-old woman who had not been seen since February 17. An autopsy concluded that there was no indication of foul play involved in the woman's death. The news was announced in an Alsace newspaper which said that farmers were travelling to the main motorway with their tractors French farmers blocked roads from Spain and Germany on Sunday and Monday to stop foreign products entering the country the latest protest against a fall in food prices that has brought them to the brink of bankruptcy The action comes after a week that has seen farmers block cities roads and tourist sites across France in protest at falling food prices Fearful of France's powerful agricultural lobby the government on Wednesday unveiled an emergency package worth 600 million euros in tax relief and loan guarantees but the aid has done little to stop the unrest Dozens of farmers arrived in tractors to slow down circulation at Geric roundabout in Thionville on Tuesday morning Images from the event depict around 25 tractors participating in the demonstration The protesters initially blocked one of the two lanes at the roundabout before police intervened to cut off traffic and forced other motorists to avoid the manifestation with both police and protesters observing a minute's silence in homage to the victims of the attack on Paris police earlier this week Further demonstrations have been organised across the region and the rest of France by farmers hoping to alert the French government to the growing difficulties experienced by those in the profession protesters have taken aim at so-called "agri-bashing" which damages their image on a regular basis as well as commercial accords regarding the importing of foods and the distorting of competition which is slowly damaging French agriculture French newspaper Est Républicain indicated there would be a filter dam set up near the Gye toll on the A31 Protesters are equally present in Metz at the roundabout near Queuleu prison Les photos de la manifestation