(L-R) Elisabeth Margue, Minister of Justice; Martine Hansen, Minister of Agriculture; Claude Meisch, Minister of Education; Prince Guillaume; Claude Wiseler, Chamber of Deputies President; Patrick Wies, JEL President; Sven Baltes, JEL Director;
Credit: JEL
On Monday 2 June 2025, Jonk Entrepreneuren Luxembourg (JEL) celebrated 20 years of commitment to entrepreneurial education during a convivial evening held at the premises of Spuerkeess (BCEE) in Luxembourg City.
The evening was marked by the presence of Prince Guillaume, Hereditary Grand Duke of Luxembourg, which JEL said underlined its important role in Luxembourg's educational and socioeconomic landscape. Also present were the President of the Chamber of Deputies (parliament), Claude Wiseler, Luxembourg's Minister of Education, Children and Youth, Claude Meisch, the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Viticulture, Martine Hansen, and the Minister of Justice, Elisabeth Margue.
Sven Baltes, moderator and JEL Director, delivered the opening remarks. A video retracing the history of JEL set the tone of the evening, followed by speeches from BCEE CEO Françoise Thoma and Minister Meisch. They both emphasised the importance of supporting young people in developing their innovative spirit, creativity, initiative and responsible engagement.
Salvatore Nigro, CEO of JA Europe, presented the importance and impact of entrepreneurial education on a European scale. A roundtable discussion then brought together former and current participants, who shared their experiences and the lasting impact of JEL's programmes. A video tribute highlighted the commitment of volunteers, alumni, participants, board members, staff, partners and teachers. An impact presentation, moderated by JEL management committee members Myriam Baustert and Yves Wiltgen, highlighted the concrete results in the Luxembourg educational landscape. In his speech, Georges Bock, serial entrepreneur and innovation enthusiast, offered a vision on entrepreneurial leadership and the challenges facing young entrepreneurs.
The evening also saw the unveiling of JEL's new visual identity, reportedly reflecting renewed ambition and strategic alignment with JA Europe, a leading organisation in Europe dedicated to inspiring and preparing young people to succeed. "This new identity embodies our dynamism and commitment to inspiring the next generation of bold entrepreneurs, ready to transform their ideas into concrete actions," said Sven Baltes, Director of JEL. The complete rebranding will be implemented for the 2025/2026 school year.
Patrick Wies, President of JEL, closed the event in saying: "We are ready to take on the challenges of tomorrow by continuing to inspire and support young people to become the leaders of tomorrow. This success is the result of collective effort, and I warmly thank all those who make this mission possible," he said. He thanked former presidents Norbert Friob, Yves Elsen and Charles Denotte, the board of directors and all the stakeholders who support JEL on a daily basis.
JEL noted that "the entire organisation is enthusiastically looking toward a promising future, driven by innovative and ambitious projects currently in preparation, which it is planning to bring to fruition alongside key players in the ecosystem".
