Senior-level official contacts
Australia’s Ambassador to the EU, NATO, Belgium and Luxembourg, Caroline Millar, met H.R.H. the Grand Duke of Luxembourg during her presentation of credentials in March 2022.
Former Prime Minister Morrison met Luxembourg Prime Minister Bettel during commemorations held in Portsmouth in June 2019 for the 75th anniversary of the D-Day landings.
Former Finance Minister Mathias Cormann met his Luxembourg counterpart, Pierre Gramegna, in March 2017 and Luxembourg’s Foreign Minister Jean Asselborn in September 2016.
Multilateralism
Reflecting the many common values between the two countries, Australia and Luxembourg work closely together in many international organisations to promote global peace and security and respect for human rights through effective multilateralism, with the UN at its core. We share strong mutual commitments on human rights, climate change and disarmament.
Australia and Luxembourg cooperate effectively on many issues of common interest in the UN Human Rights Council, where we were previously an elected member and Luxembourg is now. We share a strong commitment to the abolition of the death penalty.
Australia works cooperatively with the European Union (EU) – including with Luxembourg as an EU member state – in the World Trade Organisation (WTO) where we share an interest in ensuring an effective international rules-based trading system.
In the Indo-Pacific region, Australia works with Luxembourg in the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) and the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF).
Trade, investment and economic cooperation
Luxembourg is Australia’s seventh largest investor at A$103 billion in 2021. Australia and Luxembourg are negotiating a bilateral tax treaty which will further encourage foreign investment and trade.
Two-way services trade in 2020 was A$137 million and two-way goods trade amounted to nearly A$48 million.
Australia and the European Union launched negotiations for a bilateral free trade agreement (FTA) in June 2018. Conclusion of a comprehensive, high-quality FTA will open opportunities to further strengthen our trade and economic links.
People-to-People links
In 2017, the Australia-Luxembourg Working Holiday Arrangement entered into operation, allowing young Australians and Luxembourgers to travel and work in each other’s countries for a one-year period.