New British ambassador says Luxembourg vital for renewed UK-EU cooperation

Just hours into her new role, the UK's new ambassador to Luxembourg, Joanne Olivier, spoke to RTL Today about her diplomatic priorities, her personal passions – and how her dog Pirate is adjusting to life in the Grand Duchy.

The interview was conducted at the ambassador's scenic residence – only a stone's throw from the Monument of Remembrance – shortly after her official swearing-in ceremony at the Grand Ducal Palace, and it offered a candid and comprehensive look at Olivier's early impressions of Luxembourg, her past work life, the challenges ahead, and what drives her both professionally and personally.

'Incredibly positive' first impressions

Despite only having been in Luxembourg for a short few weeks, Ambassador Olivier said she had long been anticipating her posting after a brief initial visit last year left a lasting impression.

"In a few short weeks since I've arrived, it struck me again… just how fascinating a place Luxembourg is", she said. "Incredibly clean, very well organised. I love the free transport. I have a dog, so the dispensaries with the bags for the dogs… all sorts of a well-organised, orderly maintenance of the city."

She added that she also had the chance to enjoy the various Easter activities around the city shortly after her arrival, which she said showcased the country's "vibrant culture".

Though her official duties have so far dominated her time in the Grand Duchy, Olivier has already explored a few corners of the country.

"It's been mostly straight to the office, although I did the weekend go to the Moselle, which was wonderful. And I have previously visited Vianden Castle. But I feel as though the whole of Luxembourg is waiting to be discovered, so I'm really looking forward to it."

A seasoned diplomat

Before arriving in Luxembourg, Olivier served the foreign office for 16 years across various postings, including ones in Pretoria, Paris, and London, where she held a number of roles with a strong geopolitical focus.

"In terms of fascinating issues... I've been very lucky. I've worked on what I feel are a key issues of the day", she noted. "So I've worked on Ukraine, Turkey, an important partner for the UK, most recently and the Mediterranean."

During the interview, she reflected on two particularly impactful experiences: her work as a Middle East Policy Planner at the Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) from 2014–2016, and her role as Head of the Ukraine Team at the FCO from 2016–2018.

Her Middle East role, which came in the midst of a "huge counterterrorism effort", focused mainly on the "bigger picture" of long-term regional policies, though this did not prevent her from also participating in the day-to-operations on the ground: "We would spend a lot of time outside of the office, talking to external experts, or traveling in the region."

Olivier's spell leading the FCO Ukraine team also came during a crucial moment in time, as she recalled: "I was running a team that were working on all aspects of Ukraine... And of course, since I did that between 2016 and 2018, things have developed a lot further... That is an ongoing, huge interest to me and of course incredibly important to the UK, to Europe."

Luxembourg tenure officially underway

Hours before the interview, Olivier was sworn in as ambassador in a ceremony at the Grand Ducal Palace – led by Hereditary Grand Duke Guillaume, who has been taking over some of his father's official duties in preparation for the transition of power later this year.

Read also: Hereditary Grand Duke Guillaume to become head of state in October 2025

"It was a fantastically interesting experience. One of a kind, I think", she said in admiration of the palace and the entire protocol surrounding the ceremony. She added that she also enjoyed her conversation with Hereditary Grand Duke Guillaume, which already gave her an opportunity to discuss cooperation between Luxembourg and the UK.

© Maison du Grand-Duc

Diplomatic challenges and key priorities

Olivier joins the embassy at a significant moment in European and global geopolitics, with new momentum in UK-EU relations, the ongoing war in Ukraine, and the return of Donald Trump to the US presidency all shaping the diplomatic landscape.

"I need to meet members of the Luxembourg administration", Olivier said, pointing to her goal of hitting the ground running after her arrival. "I will hope to get around and see as many ministers as possible, now that I am officially mandated to be here."

She elaborated on the first items on her schedule, including preparation for the upcoming UK-EU Summit in May, as well as a number of financial sector meetings, including a visit from Luxembourg's finance minister to the UK, and delegations from London and the UK's financial regulator to Luxembourg, as early opportunities for deepening cooperation.

The ambassador asserted that recent world events are fuelling the UK-EU rapprochement, which she believes to result in "mutual benefits" in economy, security, and energy.

"While we have voted to leave the EU, we have not left Europe", she said, underlining her view that the UK still has an essential role to play on the continent. "The relationship between the UK and EU [is] vital for Euro-Atlantic security, vital for our trade and economies."

Oliver's task here in the Grand Duchy is to lay the groundwork for this mutually beneficial relationship. Luxembourg, she said, has a uniquely "international outlook" and a "strong voice" in Europe and NATO, making it a key strategic point of interest for the UK.

She also highlighted shared interests in finance, space, innovation, health, and defence – areas she believes are ripe for "further closeness".

Asked about multilateral diplomacy, particularly in the context of recent meetings in London focused on Ukraine, Olivier acknowledged the complexity of aligning interests: "A future solution towards a peace agreement must of course include the voice of Ukraine – and will need US support.... And then beyond that, there are practical elements around if we were to have a peace agreement,... as a 'coalition of the willing', how would we enforce that?"

In regard to a recent leak from the US State Department about cost-cutting plans that include the potential closure of the US embassy in Luxembourg, Olivier assured that there are no such intentions in the UK: "You can only really understand the country if you are there and if you're speaking closely to people, watching things very closely – hard to do at a distance.

"At this moment of geopolitical upheaval and also the renewing of our friendships in Europe, for us, being here is important. And I think there are huge benefits that can flow from that."

Hopes for her tenure – and a few hiking plans

The ambassador contended that the main ambition for her tenure in the Grand Duchy is to grow the already-existing relationship between both nations: "I think Luxembourg is a unique partner for its agility and top-class diplomacy. I think there's a lot we can do together to make sure we grasp all the opportunities that are coming."

Olivier acknowledged that every ambassador brings their own touch to the role, even as certain objectives remain consistent. "My predecessor was here during COVID and also just after Brexit", she said. "My posting starts with a new [UK] government with a very strong sense of determination of renewing our relationship. So I think it's going to be quite a different experience, although there is huge continuity on a lot of our objectives."

And some initiatives have been carried over from one ambassador to the next: on 5 June, the residence will open its doors to registered members of the public for a one-off event that is part of the Luxembourg Urban Garden (LUGA) – an open-air exhibition with horticultural creations that will be taking place from 7 May to 18 October 2025 – an initiative launched by Fleur Thomas, the previous British ambassador to Luxembourg.

Despite a heavy workload, Olivier emphasised the importance of weaving her personal values into her professional mission: "We have the opportunity to sort of find those threads and run them through other activities as we're going along and have that sort of creative approach."

Having two daughters and two nieces, she said, means that women's issues are close to her heart. She is also passionate about climate protection, nature, and outdoor activities. "My way to relax and enjoy myself is to be outside in nature and to be walking with my dog. I also have an old horse in England", she added.

On a lighter note, she shared one thing that she is looking forward to once her schedule allows: hiking with her dog – a chocolate cocker spaniel named Pirate. "Pirate is very keen, I'm sure, that we get out and explore", she said with a smile. "I think my first stop might be Little Switzerland... it looks very beautiful in pictures."

With Pirate adjusting well and a full diplomatic agenda ahead, Ambassador Joanne Olivier's arrival in Luxembourg signals a renewed phase of engagement between the UK and one of its closest European partners.

© Elamine Oumara