European Stability Mechanism
The European Stability Mechanism (ESM) is an intergovernmental organization located in Luxembourg City, which operates under public international law for all eurozone member states having ratified a special ESM intergovernmental treaty. It was established on 27 September 2012 as a permanent firewall for the eurozone, to safeguard and provide instant access to financial assistance programmes for member states of the eurozone in financial difficulty, with a maximum lending capacity of €500 billion. It has replaced two earlier temporary EU funding programmes: the European Financial Stability Facility (EFSF) and the European Financial Stabilisation Mechanism (EFSM).
Image: PRESS CONFERENCE INFORMAL MEETING OF MINISTERS FOR ECONOMIC AND FINANCIAL AFFAIRS (Informal ECOFIN) 2016 09 09 (28938643543)
Image: Informal meeting of economic and financial affairs ministers (ECOFIN). Handshake, Eurogroup Toomas Tõniste and Pierre Gramegna (36840348840) CROP GRAMEGNA
Luxembourg, also known as Luxembourg City, is the capital city of Luxembourg and the country's most populous commune. Standing at the confluence of the Alzette and Pétrusse rivers in southern Luxembourg, the city lies at the heart of Western Europe, situated 213 km (132 mi) by road from Brussels, 372 km (231 mi) from Paris, and 209 km (130 mi) from Cologne. The city contains Luxembourg Castle, established by the Franks in the Early Middle Ages, around which a settlement developed.
Image: Luxembourg (city) view from Metz square
Image: Luxembourg Grand Ducal Palace 01
Image: Tram in Luxemburg 2023 3
Image: Fort Thüngen and Quartier européen Kirchberg, Luxembourgn 2019 08