During his visit to Australia and New Zealand this week by Luxembourg's Minister for Foreign and European Affaird, Jean Asselborn, he was first in New Zealand at the invitation of the Minister of Immigration, Budget Relations and Workplace Safety, Michael Woodhouse, on Monday and Tuesday this week.
The visit of Minister Asselborn in Wellington was primarily an opportunity to sign with the New Zealand authorities an agreed "Working Holiday Program" (PVT), also known as the Working Holiday Scheme. This is a first for the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg.
This agreement will allow - on a reciprocal basis, - young citizens of both countries age between 18 and 30, to perform a stay of a duration of one year during which they will be free to travel and also work or study. The host State shall issue to the applicant a single visa, called Working Holiday Visa. The agreement, which will be limited to 50 citizens by cointry, will enter into force upon the completion of internal procedures planned for the month of April 2017. Young people will be supervised by the National Youth Service, which will soon launch a website with all relevant information.
During his working visit to New Zealand, Minister Asselborn held talks with Minister Woodhouse, before meeting Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and Trade of New Zealand, Brook Barrington, and the Minister of Arts, Culture and Heritage, Maggie Barry. The discussions helped to take stock of bilateral relations by addressing a number of issues of common interest, in particular, to continue negotiations for a non-double taxation agreement. The ministers also reviewed issues related to regional and international politics.
Finally, on the occasion of the commemoration of the centenary of the Battle of the Somme, Minister Asselborn laid a wreath at the Pukeahu National War Memorial Park in Wellington in tribute to the sacrifices made by New Zealand during the First World War.
Photo by MAEE
