Portuguese Luxembourger
Encyclopedia
A Portuguese Luxembourger or Lusoburguês is a person in Luxembourg
that either was born in Portugal
or is of Portuguese
ancestry. Although estimates of the total Portuguese Luxembourg population vary, there are 59,000 people in Luxembourg with Portuguese nationality. They constitute 13% of the population of Luxembourg, which makes them one of the largest ethnic groups as a proportion of the total national population.
, up from negligibly few in 1960. These may include Brazilians and Africans of Portuguese descent
.
relied upon the immigration of cheap labour to work in the country's steel mills and to counter the natural demographic decline of the native ethnic Luxembourgian
population. The successive waves of immigrants were predominated by Germans and Italians
, but, by the 1960s, the influx of foreign workers from these countries slowed, as their home countries' economies had recovered. By 1967, the Italian
expatriate
population had begun to decline as Italians returned home. This coincided with the rise of a booming financial services
sector, which caused native Luxembourgers to turn away from industrial jobs.
The mid-1960s saw the arrival of the first Portuguese people to Luxembourg. At the time, Portugal was ruled as a corporatist
military dictatorship
, and an economic downturn coincided with the so-called 'Academic Crisis
' and deteriorating conditions in Portugal's colonies
to put further pressure on many young Portuguese people to emigrate
.
The two governments signed a treaty in Lisbon
in 1970 to allow family unification, and this was enshrined in Luxembourg law in 1972. This turned the Portuguese community into a self-sustaining unit, marking it out as separate from the Germans, who had little desire to move permanently to Luxembourg, and Italians, who were not granted special status for family immigration.
When Portugal entered the European Economic Community
in 1986, Portuguese citizens were to be guaranteed equal rights to the Luxembourg labour market as Luxembourg citizens. All countries were given a transitional period of seven years to adapt to the new conditions, during which they could impose restrictions upon immigration from Portugal (and Spain
, the other new EEC member). Luxembourg was given a longer transitional period, of ten years, as the government feared a large influx of Portuguese immigrants. When, in 1990, the Luxembourg government found that immigration had barely increased since 1985, it dropped its limitations.
Luxembourg
Luxembourg , officially the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg , is a landlocked country in western Europe, bordered by Belgium, France, and Germany. It has two principal regions: the Oesling in the North as part of the Ardennes massif, and the Gutland in the south...
that either was born in Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
or is of Portuguese
Portuguese people
The Portuguese are a nation and ethnic group native to the country of Portugal, in the west of the Iberian peninsula of south-west Europe. Their language is Portuguese, and Roman Catholicism is the predominant religion....
ancestry. Although estimates of the total Portuguese Luxembourg population vary, there are 59,000 people in Luxembourg with Portuguese nationality. They constitute 13% of the population of Luxembourg, which makes them one of the largest ethnic groups as a proportion of the total national population.
Demographics
It is illegal to collect statistics about the race, ethnicity, or ancestry of Luxembourg citizens, which makes it very difficult to come to a proper estimate of the number of Portuguese Luxembourgers. In the 2001 census, there were 58,657 inhabitants with Portuguese nationalityNationality
Nationality is membership of a nation or sovereign state, usually determined by their citizenship, but sometimes by ethnicity or place of residence, or based on their sense of national identity....
, up from negligibly few in 1960. These may include Brazilians and Africans of Portuguese descent
Portuguese Africans
Portuguese Africans are Portuguese people born or permanently settled in Africa .The largest Portuguese African population lives in South Africa , while there are important minorities living in Namibia and the Portuguese-speaking African countries Portuguese Africans are Portuguese people born or...
.
History
From 1875 onwards, Luxembourg's economyEconomy of Luxembourg
The economy of Luxembourg is largely dependent on the banking, steel, and industrial sectors. Luxembourgers enjoy the second highest per capita gross domestic product in the world , behind Qatar...
relied upon the immigration of cheap labour to work in the country's steel mills and to counter the natural demographic decline of the native ethnic Luxembourgian
Luxembourgers
Luxembourgers are an ethnic group native to Luxembourg sharing Luxembourgian culture and being of Luxembourgian descent.-Location:Most ethnic Luxembourgers live in the Grand-Duchy of Luxembourg, a small country located in Europe between Germany, France and Belgium and are a mixture of Latin and...
population. The successive waves of immigrants were predominated by Germans and Italians
Italian people
The Italian people are an ethnic group that share a common Italian culture, ancestry and speak the Italian language as a mother tongue. Within Italy, Italians are defined by citizenship, regardless of ancestry or country of residence , and are distinguished from people...
, but, by the 1960s, the influx of foreign workers from these countries slowed, as their home countries' economies had recovered. By 1967, the Italian
Italian people
The Italian people are an ethnic group that share a common Italian culture, ancestry and speak the Italian language as a mother tongue. Within Italy, Italians are defined by citizenship, regardless of ancestry or country of residence , and are distinguished from people...
expatriate
Expatriate
An expatriate is a person temporarily or permanently residing in a country and culture other than that of the person's upbringing...
population had begun to decline as Italians returned home. This coincided with the rise of a booming financial services
Financial services
Financial services refer to services provided by the finance industry. The finance industry encompasses a broad range of organizations that deal with the management of money. Among these organizations are credit unions, banks, credit card companies, insurance companies, consumer finance companies,...
sector, which caused native Luxembourgers to turn away from industrial jobs.
The mid-1960s saw the arrival of the first Portuguese people to Luxembourg. At the time, Portugal was ruled as a corporatist
Corporatism
Corporatism, also known as corporativism, is a system of economic, political, or social organization that involves association of the people of society into corporate groups, such as agricultural, business, ethnic, labor, military, patronage, or scientific affiliations, on the basis of common...
military dictatorship
Military dictatorship
A military dictatorship is a form of government where in the political power resides with the military. It is similar but not identical to a stratocracy, a state ruled directly by the military....
, and an economic downturn coincided with the so-called 'Academic Crisis
Academic Crisis
The Academic Crisis is the name given to a Portuguese governmental policy instigated in 1962 by the Portuguese dictatorial regime entailing the boycott and closure of several student associations and organizations, including the National Secretariat of Portuguese Students. Most members of this...
' and deteriorating conditions in Portugal's colonies
Portuguese Empire
The Portuguese Empire , also known as the Portuguese Overseas Empire or the Portuguese Colonial Empire , was the first global empire in history...
to put further pressure on many young Portuguese people to emigrate
Emigrate
Emigrate is a heavy metal band based in New York, led by Richard Z. Kruspe, the lead guitarist of the German band Rammstein.-History:Kruspe started the band in 2005, when Rammstein decided to take a year off from touring and recording...
.
The two governments signed a treaty in Lisbon
Lisbon
Lisbon is the capital city and largest city of Portugal with a population of 545,245 within its administrative limits on a land area of . The urban area of Lisbon extends beyond the administrative city limits with a population of 3 million on an area of , making it the 9th most populous urban...
in 1970 to allow family unification, and this was enshrined in Luxembourg law in 1972. This turned the Portuguese community into a self-sustaining unit, marking it out as separate from the Germans, who had little desire to move permanently to Luxembourg, and Italians, who were not granted special status for family immigration.
When Portugal entered the European Economic Community
European Economic Community
The European Economic Community The European Economic Community (EEC) The European Economic Community (EEC) (also known as the Common Market in the English-speaking world, renamed the European Community (EC) in 1993The information in this article primarily covers the EEC's time as an independent...
in 1986, Portuguese citizens were to be guaranteed equal rights to the Luxembourg labour market as Luxembourg citizens. All countries were given a transitional period of seven years to adapt to the new conditions, during which they could impose restrictions upon immigration from Portugal (and Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
, the other new EEC member). Luxembourg was given a longer transitional period, of ten years, as the government feared a large influx of Portuguese immigrants. When, in 1990, the Luxembourg government found that immigration had barely increased since 1985, it dropped its limitations.