Local & National Daily News Round-up

FRIDAY 13 JUNE

Police recently searched the Luxembourg offices of Grant Thornton, the auditing firm for the Caritas charity, amid ongoing investigations into a €61 million embezzlement. The searches come after reports that Grant Thornton raised concerns about suspicious transfers as early as spring 2024, but those warnings were reportedly dismissed by Caritas’s management. There is no indication that Grant Thornton is accused of wrongdoing. The embezzlement was revealed last summer, with allegations that transfers were ordered by the charity’s CFO, who denies involvement. The case has also triggered inquiries into oversight failures at Luxembourg’s Spuerkeess bank, which may face sanctions.

Luxembourg’s reputation as a popular tourist destination continues to grow, with 2024 seeing a further increase in visitors compared to previous years. According to Luxembourg for Tourism (LFT), last year’s arrivals jumped by 6% over 2023 and 16% over 2019, marking a recovery to pre-pandemic levels. The most overnight visits came from neighboring France, Belgium, and Germany, with the Netherlands leading to more than 300,000 stays. LFT reaffirmed its commitment to sustainable tourism and promoting Luxembourg internationally through the Visit Luxembourg brand.

The European Court of Justice has ruled in favor of granting family allowances to children of the spouse of cross-border workers residing in Luxembourg. The Luxembourg legal system had restricted these benefits, allowing only children classified as "members of the family" to receive allowances. The court, following a request from Luxembourg’s justice authorities, clarified that a child can legitimately benefit indirectly if they live in the same household and share a family community with the cross-border worker. The ruling aims to resolve years of ambiguity, as Luxembourg had previously interpreted the law restrictively, despite earlier European warnings. This decision could help prevent further legal uncertainties in the region.