
Information related to drug trafficking and gang activity in the Franco-Luxembourg border area is to be shared more easily and effectively, following a new agreement between both countries' judicial authorities signed on Tuesday.
Justice Minister Elisabeth Margue on Tuesday hosted her French counterpart Gérald Darmanin for a working visit to Luxembourg. As part of the visit, both sides signed a Memorandum of Understanding aimed at deepening cooperation in the fight against drug-related crime.
According to Minister Margue, this collaboration is not only about responding to criminal activity but also about improving both countries' understanding of how drug networks operate in border regions. She emphasised that closer coordination would help prosecutors grasp the broader dynamics of organised crime – beyond the scope of individual cases – which is crucial for tackling these challenges more strategically.
The agreement outlines the creation of a liaison office specifically for this purpose. Prosecutor general John Petry explained that this bureau will serve as a point of contact between public prosecutors in the affected regions, allowing them to share concrete information on observed criminal trends and to coordinate their legal responses accordingly.
The goal, he said, is to gain a clearer picture of the criminal phenomenon as a whole, rather than simply pursuing individual drug dealers. This broader perspective would allow authorities to develop more targeted and effective joint strategies, including how legal responsibilities might be shared between the two countries.
Petry also underlined that drug crime is not confined by national borders – it spans across Europe. For this reason, judicial systems too must adapt and collaborate beyond their own frontiers.
Read also: New prosecutor general declares case backlogs 'a scandal'
When asked whether similar partnerships are planned with Luxembourg's other neighbouring countries, Minister Margue said this agreement represents a first step. She noted that Luxembourg has particularly close ties with the French justice system and that the initiative for this specific accord came from the French side.