[1][2] Goebbels started his career as one of the editors in charge of international affairs in a Luxembourg daily.

He was elected secretary general of the Luxembourg Socialist Workers' Party in 1971 and regularly re-elected up to 1984.

In 1986 Goebbels was also appointed vice-chairman of the GATT-Conference in Punta del Este, which launched the Uruguay Round.

In addition he chaired the Lisbon network on Growth and Investments of the European Socialist Party.

In 2001 Goebbels was elected chairman of the Committee on Human Genetics of the European Parliament.

In 2006 Goebbels was appointed by the Government as High Commissioner for the Luxembourg Pavilion at the Shanghai World Expo 2010.