Luxembourg’s Interior Minister, Léon Gloden, has sharply criticized Germany’s reimposed border checks, calling them “symbolic” and “ineffective,” while stressing that Luxembourg is increasing pressure on Berlin to reverse the decision.
“The narrative from the German government that border controls do not cause disruptions and improve security does not reflect reality,” Gloden said. “Border control is mostly symbolic. It harms Luxembourg, harms Germany, and achieves very little—that’s my conclusion.”
Germany’s decision to reinstate border controls at several points last autumn, in response to a series of violent incidents involving migrants, sparked frustration among its neighboring countries.
Gloden argues that these checks jeopardize the Schengen Area’s borderless travel system, which is vital for Luxembourg, a small country bordered by Germany, France, and Belgium. Around 225,000 people cross into Luxembourg daily for work in sectors such as healthcare and finance.
The Schengen Area, now nearly 40 years old, has seen an uptick in border checks since the treaty’s inception, particularly with the rise in post-pandemic migration to the EU. Luxembourg’s interior minister has been one of the few vocal defenders of Schengen, criticizing Germany for not living up to its commitment to prevent traffic delays and other issues.
“I get complaints almost daily from commuters who question whether they’ll continue working in Luxembourg… Many Luxembourgers say they no longer go shopping in Trier [Germany], for example,” Gloden noted.
In contrast, he pointed out that France’s occasional border checks, which have been in place since the 2024 Olympic Games, have caused relatively few disruptions.
Gloden also cast doubt on the security benefits claimed by Germany’s Interior Minister, Nancy Faeser. He argued that the attacks which prompted the reintroduction of checks were likely carried out by migrants already residing in Germany for years, rather than individuals entering through Schengen borders.
“They didn’t come into Germany via a Schengen highway on Monday morning and carry out an attack in the afternoon,”Gloden said.
Furthermore, Gloden criticized Germany’s reliance on two permanent checkpoints on major highways, stating that this approach overlooks smaller entry points. “The idea of permanent checkpoints is absurd,” he concluded.
He urged German politicians to visit the border areas, suggesting that they appeared “completely unaware that this control is… pointless.”
Despite maintaining “very friendly and good relations” with Faeser, Gloden expressed frustration, stating that she has shown “no real willingness” to amend the current measures.
In response to the ongoing disagreement, Luxembourg filed a formal complaint with the European Commission in February over Germany’s extension of its border checks. Under Schengen rules, border controls must be justifiable, proportionate, and renewed every six months with solid reasoning. According to Gloden, Germany’s border checks “do not meet the legal criteria.”
