Luxembourg to Berlin: borders must not return in the minds of Europeans

Luxembourg's Interior Minister Léon Gloden (CSV) has openly opposed future German Chancellor Friedrich Merz's (CDU) plans to introduce permanent border checks and "systematic refusals" at the border. In an interview with Euractiv, he emphasised that such measures "clearly do not comply with European law" and destroy trust in the principles of free movement.

Border controls by Germany have been going on for months and Luxembourg is facing the consequences - especially felt by the 225,000 border workers who cross the border every day. "I receive complaints almost every day," the minister said. Sometimes people have to stand in traffic jams for more than two hours.

According to him, the effectiveness of such checks is questionable. "An illegal migrant will always find dozens of alternative routes through secondary roads. And good citizens suffer," he said. In comparison, France, according to the minister, carries out checks selectively, and still maintains the flow of free movement.

The minister is particularly outraged that such actions affect young people: "Luxembourg children's sports teams are stopped at the border on their way to competitions. This is not the spirit of Schengen. Such situations destroy not only European practice, but also European thinking, he believes.

Leon Gloden called for a return to a united, open Europe in which security issues are resolved at external borders rather than within the Schengen area. "We must not allow borders to reappear - even if only in people's minds," he emphasised.

His comments are not only a diplomatic signal to Berlin, but also a reminder of the values on which the European Union is founded.