Luxembourg Minister Criticizes German Border Checks as Ineffective
Interior Minister Léon Gloden voices concerns over Germany’s renewed border controls and their impact on the Schengen Area.
Berlin – Luxembourg's Interior Minister Léon Gloden has expressed strong opposition to the German government's reintroduction of border checks, labeling them as ineffective and detrimental to both Luxembourg and Germany.
The comments come amid growing tension over Germany’s border policies, which were reinstated last autumn following a series of violent incidents linked to migrants.
Gloden, a representative of Luxembourg’s center-right Christian Social People's Party (CSV), contends that these border checks serve as mere tokenism, undermining the free movement that Schengen was designed to promote.
Germany imposed stricter border controls on its frontiers with Austria, Poland, Czechia, and Switzerland in October 2023, as part of an effort to address a high volume of asylum applications.
The decision has sparked criticism from neighboring nations, particularly Luxembourg, which shares a border with Germany and relies heavily on cross-border workers.
As Schengen’s 40th anniversary approaches in June, internal border checks within the area have reached their highest levels since the treaty's inception.
The reinstatement of such measures has raised alarms regarding the future of the Schengen Agreement, which facilitates unrestricted travel across much of Europe.
Approximately 225,000 individuals cross into Luxembourg daily, with many employed in essential sectors such as healthcare and finance.
Gloden articulated frustration over the daily disruptions experienced by commuters, noting an increase in grievances from locals questioning their work-related travel to Luxembourg.
He pointed out that shopping trips to nearby German cities are declining among Luxembourgers as a direct result of the border checks.
Germany’s outgoing Interior Minister, Nancy Faeser, has attributed a reduction in asylum applications to these heightened security measures.
However, Gloden disputes this assertion, arguing that the underlying causes of the attacks linked to asylum seekers stemmed from long-term illegal immigrants already present in the country, rather than new arrivals encouraged by open borders.
He described Germany’s setup, which includes two permanent checkpoints on major motorways, as yielding numerous opportunities for migrants to enter the country unmonitored, suggesting that such a system lacks efficacy.
Gloden further criticized the political motivations behind Germany’s border policies, suggesting that they aim to portray a strong response to public safety concerns without addressing the root problems.
In response to these developments, Luxembourg has initiated a formal complaint against Germany before the European Commission, alleging that the country’s border controls fail to meet the legal criteria for justification under Schengen rules which require proportionality in their renewal every six months.
The Luxembourg minister expressed hope that EU Home Affairs Commissioner Magnus Brunner will acknowledge and address these grievances.
Gloden is also looking toward potential changes with the upcoming German government, which is expected to be led by Friedrich Merz of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), the sister party of his CSV.
Despite Merz’s projected focus on European cooperation, Gloden deems it unlikely there will be concessions regarding border controls, given the emphasis on stricter measures against asylum seekers, particularly those intended to be turned away at borders without prior agreements with their home countries.
Legal experts have criticized unilateral pushback policies, asserting that such actions would conflict with EU law and could provoke further discord among member states.
Gloden's advocacy for preserving the Schengen framework stands firm, as he recalls the damage caused by border enforcement during the COVID-19 pandemic.
He witnessed firsthand the distress caused to families separated by border closures, emphasizing that people should recognize the value of open borders for freedom and unity.
Looking ahead, Gloden harbors optimism for Schengen's future, contemplating celebratory plans and the potential for expanded membership as new countries move toward joining the agreement.
The Luxembourg minister is keen to ensure that recognition of Schengen's significance is maintained, with aspirations of a jubilant celebration for its upcoming anniversary.
The comments come amid growing tension over Germany’s border policies, which were reinstated last autumn following a series of violent incidents linked to migrants.
Gloden, a representative of Luxembourg’s center-right Christian Social People's Party (CSV), contends that these border checks serve as mere tokenism, undermining the free movement that Schengen was designed to promote.
Germany imposed stricter border controls on its frontiers with Austria, Poland, Czechia, and Switzerland in October 2023, as part of an effort to address a high volume of asylum applications.
The decision has sparked criticism from neighboring nations, particularly Luxembourg, which shares a border with Germany and relies heavily on cross-border workers.
As Schengen’s 40th anniversary approaches in June, internal border checks within the area have reached their highest levels since the treaty's inception.
The reinstatement of such measures has raised alarms regarding the future of the Schengen Agreement, which facilitates unrestricted travel across much of Europe.
Approximately 225,000 individuals cross into Luxembourg daily, with many employed in essential sectors such as healthcare and finance.
Gloden articulated frustration over the daily disruptions experienced by commuters, noting an increase in grievances from locals questioning their work-related travel to Luxembourg.
He pointed out that shopping trips to nearby German cities are declining among Luxembourgers as a direct result of the border checks.
Germany’s outgoing Interior Minister, Nancy Faeser, has attributed a reduction in asylum applications to these heightened security measures.
However, Gloden disputes this assertion, arguing that the underlying causes of the attacks linked to asylum seekers stemmed from long-term illegal immigrants already present in the country, rather than new arrivals encouraged by open borders.
He described Germany’s setup, which includes two permanent checkpoints on major motorways, as yielding numerous opportunities for migrants to enter the country unmonitored, suggesting that such a system lacks efficacy.
Gloden further criticized the political motivations behind Germany’s border policies, suggesting that they aim to portray a strong response to public safety concerns without addressing the root problems.
In response to these developments, Luxembourg has initiated a formal complaint against Germany before the European Commission, alleging that the country’s border controls fail to meet the legal criteria for justification under Schengen rules which require proportionality in their renewal every six months.
The Luxembourg minister expressed hope that EU Home Affairs Commissioner Magnus Brunner will acknowledge and address these grievances.
Gloden is also looking toward potential changes with the upcoming German government, which is expected to be led by Friedrich Merz of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), the sister party of his CSV.
Despite Merz’s projected focus on European cooperation, Gloden deems it unlikely there will be concessions regarding border controls, given the emphasis on stricter measures against asylum seekers, particularly those intended to be turned away at borders without prior agreements with their home countries.
Legal experts have criticized unilateral pushback policies, asserting that such actions would conflict with EU law and could provoke further discord among member states.
Gloden's advocacy for preserving the Schengen framework stands firm, as he recalls the damage caused by border enforcement during the COVID-19 pandemic.
He witnessed firsthand the distress caused to families separated by border closures, emphasizing that people should recognize the value of open borders for freedom and unity.
Looking ahead, Gloden harbors optimism for Schengen's future, contemplating celebratory plans and the potential for expanded membership as new countries move toward joining the agreement.
The Luxembourg minister is keen to ensure that recognition of Schengen's significance is maintained, with aspirations of a jubilant celebration for its upcoming anniversary.
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