Key Takeaways
- Luxembourg lawmakers oppose internal border controls, introduced by France and Germany, insisting these measures should remain extraordinary.
- Migration challenges require collective action, not localized measures – lawmakers emphasize strengthening external EU borders.
- Border checks disrupt cross-border workers, impacting Luxembourg’s economic and social welfare.
- Such measures aren’t limited to France and Germany – Austria, Norway, and others have implemented similar internal controls.
Luxembourg, the heart of Europe, thrives on open borders, both symbolically and practically. Recent moves by France and Germany to impose internal border checks have sparked outrage in Luxembourg’s parliament.
Lawmakers voiced unanimous opposition, asserting that such measures should remain a last resort. LSAP politician Yves Cruchten argued that internal border checks undermine the Schengen spirit and merely mask a reluctance to address migration issues collectively.
A Misguided Migration Strategy?
Deputy Stéphanie Weydert stressed that individual border controls do not solve migration challenges. Instead, she called for a united EU approach to bolster external borders. Weydert also highlighted the disruption caused to cross-border workers – a vital group for Luxembourg’s economy and social fabric.
Home Affairs Minister Léon Gloden echoed this sentiment, stating that Luxembourg’s government firmly opposes internal border checks, advocating instead for stronger external borders.
A Broader Issue
France and Germany are not alone in breaching Schengen principles. Austria, Norway, and even the Netherlands are extending or implementing internal checks. Austria plans to maintain these measures until May 2025, while Norway has set a December 2025 deadline.
What’s Next?
The policy of internal border checks threatens to erode the Schengen Zone’s cornerstone – free movement. As a nation reliant on open borders, Luxembourg is pushing back against this dangerous trend, advocating for a return to unity and cooperation.
