Luxembourg , officially the Grand Duchy of , is a landlocked country in Western Europe.

It is bordered by Belgium to the west and north, Germany to the east, and France to the south. It comprises two principal regions: the esling in the north as part of the !rdennes massif, and the Gutland "#good country#$ in the south.%&' (u)embourg has a population of &*+,,&- "as of ctober *./*$%0' and an area of *,&,0 s1uare kilometres "22, s1 mi$, making it one of the smallest so3ereign nations in Europe.%4' !s a representati3e democracy with a constitutional monarch, it is headed by a grand duke and is the world5s only remaining grand duchy. (u)embourg is a de3eloped country, with an ad3anced economy and the world5s second highest G67 "777$ per capita "after 8atar$, according to the World Bank. Its central location has historically made it of great strategic importance to numerous powers, dating back to its founding as a 9oman fortress, its hosting of a 3ital Frankish castle during the Early :iddle !ges, and its role as a bastion for the ;panish 9oad between /0th and /4th centuries. (u)embourg is a member of the European <nion, =!> , E?6, the <nited =ations, and Benelu), reflecting its political consensus in fa3our of economic, political, and military integration. >he city of (u)embourg, which is the capital and largest city, is the seat of se3eral institutions and agencies of the E<. n /, ctober *./*, (u)embourg was elected to a temporary seat on the <nited =ations ;ecurity ?ouncil for the first time in its history. >he country will ser3e on the ;ecurity ?ouncil from / @anuary *./- until -/ 6ecember *./+. 9eflecting its geographic position, (u)embourg5s culture is a fusion of 9omanic and Germanic Europe, borrowing customs from each. ;ubse1uently, (u)embourg is a trilingual country: (u)embourgish, French and German are official languages. !lthough a secular state, (u)embourg is predominantly 9oman ?atholic.

History
>he recorded history of (u)embourg begins with the ac1uisition of (ucilinburhuc %,' "today (u)embourg ?astle$ situated on the Bock rock by ;iegfried, ?ount of !rdennes, in 20- through an e)change act with ;t. :a)imin5s !bbey, >rier.%2' !round this fort, a town gradually de3eloped, which became the centre of a state of great strategic 3alue. In the /+th and early /&th centuries, three members of the Aouse of (u)embourg reigned as Aoly 9oman Emperors. In /+-4, the Aouse of (u)embourg suffered a succession crisis, precipitated by the lack of a male heir to assume the throne, which led to the territories being sold by 6uchess Elisabeth to 7hilip the Good of Burgundy.%/.' In the following centuries, (u)embourg5s fortress was steadily enlarged and strengthened by its successi3e occupants, the Bourbons, Aabsburgs, AohenBollerns and the French. !fter the defeat of =apoleon in /,/&, (u)embourg was disputed between 7russia and the =etherlands. >he ?ongress of Cienna formed (u)embourg as a Grand 6uchy within the German ?onfederation in personal union with the =etherlands, being at the same time a part of the =etherlands and ruled as one of its pro3inces, with a ?onfederate fortress manned by 7russian troops. %//' >his situation was re3ised by the /,-2 First >reaty of (ondon, from which date (u)embourg5s full independence is reckoned.%/*'%/-'%/+'%/&'

>he Belgian 9e3olution of /,-.D/,-2 reduced (u)embourg5s territory by more than half, as the predominantly francophone western part of the country was transferred to Belgium. (u)embourg5s full independence was established by the /,-2 First >reaty of (ondon. In the same year, (u)embourg Eoined the Foll3erein.%/4' (u)embourg5s independence and neutrality were again affirmed by the /,04 ;econd >reaty of (ondon, after the (u)embourg ?risis nearly led to war between 7russia and France.%/,' !fter the latter conflict, the ?onfederate fortress was dismantled.%/2' >he Ging of the =etherlands remained Aead of ;tate as Grand 6uke of (u)embourg, maintaining personal union between the two countries until /,2.. !t the death of William III, the 6utch throne passed to his daughter Wilhelmina, while (u)embourg "at that time restricted to male heirs by the =assau Family 7act$ passed to !dolph of =assauHWeilburg.%*.' 6uring World War I, (u)embourg was in3aded and occupied by Germany, but was allowed to maintain its independence and political mechanisms. 6uring World War II, (u)embourg was unable to maintain its policy of neutrality when in /2+. =aBi Germany in3aded and occupied the country, due to its strategic location on the in3asion route into France. In contrast to the First World War e)perience, (u)embourg was treated as a Germanic territory and informally anne)ed to an adEacent pro3ince of the >hird 9eich in /2+.. ! go3ernment in e)ile based in (ondon fought alongside the !llies, sending a small group of 3olunteers who participated in the =ormandy in3asion. (u)embourg was liberated in ;eptember /2++. It became a founding member of the <nited =ations in /2+&, and of =!> in /2+2. In /2&4, (u)embourg became one of the si) founding countries of the European Economic ?ommunity "later the European <nion$, and, in /222, it Eoined the euro currency area. In *..&, a referendum on the E< treaty establishing a constitution for Europe was held in (u)embourg.%*/'

Politics
(u)embourg is a parliamentary democracy headed by a constitutional monarch. <nder the constitution of /,0,, e)ecuti3e power is e)ercised by the Grand 6uke and the cabinet, which consists of se3eral other ministers.%**' >he Grand 6uke has the power to dissol3e the legislature, in which case new elections must be held within three months. Aowe3er, since /2/2, so3ereignty has resided with the =ation, e)ercised by the Grand 6uke in accordance with the ?onstitution and the law.%*-' (egislati3e power is 3ested in the ?hamber of 6eputies, a unicameral legislature of si)ty members, who are directly elected to fi3eHyear terms from four constituencies. ! second body, the ?ouncil of ;tate "Conseil d'tat$, composed of twentyHone ordinary citiBens appointed by the Grand 6uke, ad3ises the ?hamber of 6eputies in the drafting of legislation.%*+' >he Grand 6uchy has three lower tribunals "justices de paixI in EschHsurH!lBette, the city of (u)embourg, and 6iekirch$, two district tribunals "(u)embourg and 6iekirch$ and a ;uperior ?ourt of @ustice "(u)embourg$, which includes the ?ourt of !ppeal and the ?ourt of ?assation.

>here is also an !dministrati3e >ribunal and an !dministrati3e ?ourt, as well as a ?onstitutional ?ourt, all of which are located in the capital.

Administrative divisions
(u)embourg is di3ided into - districts, which are further di3ided into /* cantons and then /.0 communes.%*&' >wel3e of the communes ha3e city status, of which the city of (u)embourg is the largest.

Foreign relations
(u)embourg has long been a prominent supporter of European political and economic integration. In efforts foreshadowing European integration, (u)embourg and Belgium in /2*/ formed the BelgiumH(u)embourg Economic <nion "B(E<$ to create an interHe)changeable currency and a common customs regime. (u)embourg is a member of the Benelu) Economic <nion and was one of the founding members of the European Economic ?ommunity "now the European <nion$. It also participates in the ;chengen Group "named after the (u)embourg 3illage of ;chengen where the agreements were signed$, whose goal is the free mo3ement of citiBens among member states. !t the same time, the maEority of (u)embourgers ha3e consistently belie3ed that European unity makes sense only in the conte)t of a dynamic transatlantic relationship, and thus ha3e traditionally pursued a proH=!> , proH<; foreign policy. (u)embourg is the site of the European ?ourt of @ustice, the European ?ourt of !uditors, the ;tatistical ffice of the European ?ommunities "#Eurostat#$ and other 3ital E< organs. >he ;ecretariat of the European 7arliament is located in (u)embourg, but the 7arliament usually meets in nearby ;trasbourg.

Military
>he contribution (u)embourg makes to its defense and to =!> consists of a small army "currently consisting of around 2.. people$. !s a landlocked country, it has no na3y. (u)embourg also lacks an air force, though the /4 =!> !W!?; aeroplanes are for con3enience registered as aircraft of (u)embourg.%*0' In accordance with a Eoint agreement with Belgium, both countries ha3e put forth funding for one !+..: military cargo plane.%