Representatives from government, unions and employers will get together on 17^th March for “Tripartite” meetings.

The meetings are scheduled to continue on 24^th March as well as the 10^th , 20^th and 27^th April. Five dates to decide the fate of the country through three themes: employment including aid during unemployment, and public finances.

For several weeks now, the participants have already unveiled their proposals, others prefer to wait for the D Day itself. However all proposals stem from the same basic premise: the financial crisis has seriously affected the Grand Duchy.

While ten years Luxembourg's unemployment rate was at a 3% average it is now around 7% and is predicted to increase further. Similarly, relexing of banking secrecy together with the financial crisis has forced policy makers to diversify Luxembourg's economy.

The challenge of this tripartite will be to agree on new areas of activity to develop in the Grand Duchy. Reducing the deficit will take up a lot of discussion time at the meetings. On the menu, reducing costs and, where appropriate, new sources of revenue through taxation.