Luxembourg continues to back Germany's hardline migration approach, Minister Léon Gloden confirmed ahead of an EU meeting focused on strengthening border controls and asylum returns.

EU interior ministers are gathering Tuesday in Copenhagen for an informal meeting on combating illegal migration, hosted under Danish presidency.

The discussions follow a recent mini-summit in Zugpiste organised by German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt, which included five European counterparts. Luxembourg had not been invited to this meeting and was not present.

Luxembourg's Minister for Home Affairs, Léon Gloden, is attending the Copenhagen meeting, where the agenda focusses on "innovative solutions" to migration challenges. Key proposals include establishing EU-run processing centres in partner countries near migrants' regions of origin to streamline returns for rejected asylum seekers.

Ahead of the talks, Gloden affirmed Luxembourg's alignment with Germany's stricter migration approach, citing a policy shift initiated when the current government took office in 2023.

"While Luxembourg recognises the need for migration, just as we need skilled labour, we must simultaneously curb illegal entry", Gloden told reporters. "We support Germany on this point and are among the like-minded states; we have been since November 2023, and our position has not changed", the minister stated.

Ministers will also discuss enhancing Frontex's role in border protection and facilitating larger-scale deportations to countries like Syria and Afghanistan.