Czech Ambassador Vladimír Bärtl Says Adieu after 5 Years in Luxembourg

Friday 31 January 2025 was the last day in the Grand Duchy for Vladimír Bärtl, the Czech Ambassador to Luxembourg; he had said goodbye to friends and colleagues at a farewell reception on Tuesday evening at the Scheiss centre in Val Ste Croix, and prepared for the handover to his successor on Saturday 1 February.

Having arrived in Luxembourg in February 2020, just before the COVID-19 pandemic, his appointment was for five years; his next appointment is as Czech Ambassador to the EU, based in Brussels, to where he is travelling this weekend.

While in Luxembourg, he was very active in the community and became a member of the flying club at Findel airport, regularly taking passengers up into the skies when his calendar allowed and when the weather was suitable. Talking with Chronicle.lu, he confirmed that he would retain his membership  at the flying club as he expects to return here during council sessions (normally in April, June and October).

Looking back at his time in Luxembourg, Vladimír Bärtl enrolled in 2020 at the INL for a Luxembourgish language course and gained an A1 certificate.

During the period of COVID, he maintained close cooperation with “Celule logistique” and Luxinnovation; he recalled that its director, Sasha Baillie, identified appropriate partners in Luxembourg so that he could take samples of masks made from Czech nanofibres and ride around on his Jawa motorcycle to take them to the factories for evaluation for local production.

In 2020, he was involved in a year-long programme of events to celebrate the 100th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the Czech Republic and the Grand Duchy, including the inauguration of Václav Havel Street by Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala.

He also recalled the presentation of the Czech Presidency of the EU Council, in close cooperation with the European Commission Delegation in Luxembourg, including five Heads of Mission meetings with members of the Luxembourg government.

He was also involved in the co-organisation (in partnership with AMCHAM) of the unique visit of resident ambassadors of NATO member states to Spangdahlem Air Base, near Bitburg in Germany, on board a fleet of small aircraft, of which he piloted one himself.

He was a blood donor for the Luxembourg Red Cross, and gave blood eleven times during his stay here.

He was also involved in the establishment of a new traditions, including a series of autumn concerts in the Berdorf forest amphitheatre in memory of the victims of the Russian invasion of Czechoslovakia in 1968, and later of the victims of the new Russian invasion of Ukraine; the Diplomatic Grape Harvest (in collaboration with Bernard-Massard; the Plein Air Gallery on the railings outside the embassy in Limpertsberg. He also continued traditions such as hosting annual International Human Rights Day breakfasts.

He confirmed that "the greatest challenge a diplomat could wish for" happened in 2024 when he was involved in the successful state visit by the Czech President and a business delegation; he confirmed that many of the participating companies are now in regular contact (with the support of the Embassy) with their Luxembourg counterparts and partners.

During his time in Luxembourg, Ambassador Bärtl was a member of the MeliMelo folklore ensemble (on accordion) and of the La Confrérie du Chant Traditionnel choir (Czech, Polish, German, Slovenian and Scottish).

At a farewell audience with Grand Duke Henri, Vladimír Bärtl was awarded Commander of the Order of the Oak Crown.