The recent knife attack in Solingen, Germany, has sparked discussions about security and migration policies in Luxembourg. In an interview with our colleagues from RTL.lu on Tuesday, Minister for Home Affairs Léon Gloden described the incident as “an attack on our democratic values”.
In response to the attack, German political figures, particularly from the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), have called for stricter migration policies and border controls. When asked about Luxembourg’s stance on these issues, Minister Gloden reaffirmed that the Grand Duchy’s position remains unchanged: controls on Luxembourg’s borders are not well received.
Gloden emphasised that the Luxembourg government does not interfere in Germany’s domestic affairs, but the country’s position on border controls is clear. He noted that Luxembourg strongly advocates for adherence to EU-level rules, particularly the Schengen Agreement. “We have always insisted that the EU’s external borders must be tightly controlled to avoid the need for internal border controls”, Gloden stated.
Should there be any changes to border controls, Luxembourg would engage in dialogue with Berlin. Gloden mentioned that, following internal discussions, he would “certainly” reach out to German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser, “as I did during the European Football Championship.”
Gloden also highlighted improvements in the EU’s new asylum and migration pact, which includes stricter measures, especially concerning transfers under the Dublin procedure.
Read also:
Growing social divisions: Knife attack fuels bitter German immigration debate
