Luxembourg Highlights Migration, Solidarity & Schengen Issues at JHA Council

On Monday 8 December 2025, Luxembourg's Minister for Home Affairs, Léon Gloden, participated in the meeting of the Justice and Home Affairs (JHA) Council of the European Union (EU), held in Brussels, Belgium.

The Council adopted negotiating mandates on the concept of a safe country of origin, that of a safe third country and the proposed return regulation, which will allow negotiations to begin with the European Parliament.

Minister Gloden stressed that an effective European return policy is "essential" for the credibility of overall migration policy. He noted: "Those who meet the conditions must be integrated and those who do not have the right to remain in the EU must leave. We need simple, efficient and rapid procedures. Luxembourg's policy on voluntary returns is part of this."

The JHA Council also adopted an implementing decision on the solidarity reserve, agreeing on 21,000 relocations and €420 million to benefit Member States under significant migratory pressure. According to Luxembourg’s Ministry of Home Affairs, this marks a step towards a responsible and solidarity-based implementation of the Pact on Migration and Asylum.

Minister Gloden stated: "Without solidarity, there is no responsibility. Member States on the frontline must be certain they will be supported. That is why Luxembourg will not only commit to providing financial contributions, but also to relocating fifteen people from the beneficiary Member States." The minister also welcomed the possibility of compensation for the burden of Dublin cases and stated that, in the coming year, the European Commission will assess the migration situation in light of regional coherence. He added that, according to the report, Luxembourg has made considerable efforts within the framework of its asylum and immigration policy.

At lunch, the ministers discussed the state of the Schengen Area and the need to strengthen the protection of external borders. Minister Gloden demanded that controls at internal borders cease, insisting: "Schengen must be alive!" He emphasised that Member States must make effective use of existing investments to monitor entries at external borders. He also urged the European Commission to fulfil its role as guardian of the treaties.

The ministers also discussed internal security implications, such as the illicit use of drones. Minister Gloden stressed that it is essential to ensure that "law enforcement agencies are at the forefront of technological innovation". "We must win this technological race," he added, underlining that particular efforts are needed in the area of drone detection and that a framework must be established to address the illicit use of drones in a cross-border context.

On the sidelines of the Council meeting, Minister Gloden met with his Swedish counterpart, Minister for Migration Johan Forssell, to discuss new measures introduced to better control migration flows. He also met with the French Minister Delegate to the Minister of the Interior, Marie-Pierre Vedrenne, to discuss modernising the bilateral framework for police cooperation, civil security and resilience.

EO