Timeline: Luxembourg

A chronology of key events:

1914 - Outbreak of World War I. Luxembourg is occupied by Germany until 1918.

Grand Duke Henri has a limited political role

2000: Luxembourg's new Grand Duke

1920

- Luxembourg joins the League of Nations.

1921 - Luxembourg enters economic union with Belgium. The use of the Belgian currency in Luxembourg is permitted.

1940 - Luxembourg is again occupied by Germany. The occupation lasts for most of World War II, until 1944.

1948 - Luxembourg abandons its neutrality. Forms an economic union with Belgium and the Netherlands.

1949 - Luxembourg joins Nato.

1957 - Luxembourg becomes founder member of the European Economic Community, which comes into effect in January 1958. The EEC is a fore-runner of the European Union.

1964 - Grand Duchess Charlotte abdicates in favour of her son, who becomes Grand Duke Jean.

1974 - The Christian Social party fails to win elections and is out of government for the first time since the end of World War I. New government coalition between the Democrats and the Socialists.

Luxembourg City: Financial centre and EU hub

• Named after Lucilinburhuc, original fortress on site
• Population: 77,000

1979

- Christian Social party regains power. Luxembourg enters period of economic recession.

1984 - Jacques Santer becomes prime minister. He remains in power until 1995.

1992 - Luxembourg adopts the Maastricht Treaty creating the European Union.

1995 - Jean-Claude Juncker becomes prime minister after Jacques Santer is appointed president of the European Commission.

1999 - Jean-Claude Juncker re-elected as prime minister

2000 - Crown Prince Henri becomes Grand Duke of Luxembourg on the abdication of his father, Jean.

2002 January - Euro introduced as national currency.

2004 June - Jean-Claude Juncker again invited to form government after his party wins general election.

2005 July - Voters back a proposed EU constitution, rejected earlier in the year by French and Dutch voters.

2008 December - Parliament approves reform restricting the monarch to a purely ceremonial role after Grand Duke Henri's threat to block a bill legalising euthanasia sparks a constitutional crisis.