German restrictions affecting residents at the border

The restrictions have had a knock-on effect on economic and social aspects for many in Luxembourg.

Very few cross-border workers are currently commuting through Schengen, as the summer holidays are in full swing.

A small number of German tourists can be found, although they are in the minority - Luxembourg was designated a risk zone by Germany in recent weeks.

The borders might still be open, but normality seems a long way away.

Local businesses

Economically, Luxembourg's classification has been a catastrophe, for large and small businesses alike based around the border.

Ursula Peifer, owner of a pet store in Perl, just over the German border, explained their customer footfall has dropped significantly as a result of the restrictions.

The store's Luxembourgish and French clients form the majority of their customer base and in normal times, supply a large amount of the shop's profits.

The knock-on effect has spread further afield, as Ute Klassen confirmed. She runs a butcher's in Rheinland-Palatinate, and explained the Luxembourgish clientele went a long way to keeping the region's economy going.

Many business owners in the area have expressed growing concerns over their futures while deprived of their usual customer base.

On the Luxembourg side of the border, the effects are noticeably less stark - although petrol stations are quieter, many customers in stores are made up of residents and cross-border workers who have remained loyal.

Risk of xenophobia?

In recent weeks, a social issue has raised its head as a result of the restrictions.

A Luxembourg resident stated the closure of the borders during the high point of the pandemic brought back bad memories, particularly exacerbated by the sight of police patrolling border zones, armed with machine guns.

Video report in Luxembourgish:

Elsewhere, the German government's decision to place Luxembourg on a risk zone list has caused anger among some Luxembourgers. Small acts of aggression have become more commonplace in shops and supermarkets. A witness described a Luxembourger verbally abusing a pregnant German woman in a supermarket after the latter felt ill and removed her mask.

In Bettembourg, another German woman left the Parc Merveilleux amusement park with her children and discovered a note affixed to her windshield which read "Nazis out!".

Such incidents have become more commonplace in recent weeks, on both sides of the border.

Although they are not exclusive to Luxembourg, residents along the Moselle are concerned over what the future may hold, particularly if the German restrictions continue.