Léon Gloden, Luxembourg’s Minister for Home Affairs, once again initiated discussions around border controls with his German counterpart, Nancy Faeser, on the sidelines of the Justice and Home Affairs Council in Brussels. Gloden proposed a regulatory approach through bilateral agreements aimed at resolving persisting issues and also enhancing cross-border police cooperation.
In a press release (FR) issued after the meeting, Gloden underlined that the Schengen Agreement, nearing its 40th anniversary, is not just about the free movement of goods and capital, but, above all, the free movement of people. “Schengen must be alive”, he underlined.
According to the statement, Gloden’s proposal was positively received by both Minister Faeser and French Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau.
At the Council, member states also reached a consensus to implement electronic recording of data for individuals entering the Schengen area. The new entry and exit system is set for gradual implementation across the region.
Since the meeting was also attended by representatives of the Latin American Committee for Internal Security (CLASI), Gloden took the opportunity to stress the high level of cooperation with Colombia and with Europol in the context of the recent record cocaine seizures in Luxembourg. “If we succeed in effectively combating drug trafficking and improving living conditions, this will also enable us to make progress in the area of migration with these countries”, Gloden stated.
