The Luxembourg Minister of Internal Affairs, Leon Gloden, stated to PAP that it was unexpected for such a small EU country to file a complaint against Germany, but they have done so, and he hopes Poland will support them regarding concerns about border controls.
In February, Luxembourg filed a complaint with the European Commission about Germany’s border controls. Gloden highlighted that the filing surprised many, yet they received favorable responses, including from Poland, reflecting shared concerns about the situation. “We face similar challenges,” he noted.
Gloden expressed hope that Poland would take similar action, mentioning that Polish officials share discontent with current border controls and could file a complaint to support Luxembourg’s position.
He warned that an essential achievement of European integration, alongside the common currency, is under threat. “In Schengen, we are part of a larger region, and discussions about borders have diminished,” he remarked.
Schengen, established to ensure freedom of movement, marks the convergence of Luxembourg, Germany, and France’s borders.
“The only silver lining of these controls is that people are becoming more aware of the concept of Schengen,” he noted, adding that the ease of travel has become the norm in border areas, and now people are struggling with renewed controls.
Gloden indicated that these controls have disrupted daily life, as 55,000 individuals travel from Germany to Luxembourg each day. He mentioned that traffic jams have worsened on highways and smaller bridges as people seek quicker routes.
The government has created an email address for concerns from daily commuters, with feedback indicating that travel times have increased by two to four hours on average.
He recalled a similar scenario during the pandemic when Germany closed its borders, emphasizing that such controls do not effectively halt the virus and are similarly unhelpful now. “I hope Germany will recognize this and lift the controls soon,” Gloden added.
Germany reinstated border controls in September 2024 to manage migrant flows. While the Schengen Code allows for temporary controls of up to six months, many countries, including Germany, often extend these measures. Currently, 15 out of 29 Schengen states are enforcing border controls.
Gloden recently hosted the 40th-anniversary celebrations of Europe’s freedom of movement in Schengen, attended by EU interior ministers, including Poland’s Tomasz Siemoniak. (13.06.2025)
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