Luxembourg’s Minister of Home Affairs;
Credit: © PIO Rep. of Cyprus
On Thursday 22 January 2026, Luxembourg’s Minister of Home Affairs, Léon Gloden, took part in the informal meeting of the Justice and Home Affairs Council (JHA) of the European Union (EU), which was held in Nicosia, Cyprus.
According to Luxembourg’s Ministry of Home Affairs, ministers exchanged views on challenges related to migration and asylum, as well as the Schengen area. Discussions focused in particular on sustainable approaches to return and reintegration. They also addressed the issue of returns to Syria and Afghanistan.
In this context, Minister Gloden underlined that: “reintegration is an integral part of a credible, predictable and coherent return policy. In this context, a strengthening of cooperation between Member States is important”. Luxembourg is among the first countries to have implemented a voluntary return system in order to provide better assistance to the persons concerned.
Returns to Syria and Afghanistan remain particularly difficult. However, ministers reached a clear consensus regarding the return of individuals who pose a threat to the security of EU Member States. In the context of voluntary returns to these two countries, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) play a key role.
With regard to the Schengen area, ministers reiterated that it is non-negotiable. They recalled that Schengen guarantees the free movement of persons. They stressed that the lifting of internal border controls requires common and sustainable solutions. In this respect, the European Commission is expected to take a position on the necessity and proportionality of these internal controls. It is also expected to issue its opinion on the complaints submitted by Luxembourg. Ministers highlighted the importance of avoiding the re-emergence of borders in the minds of citizens.
On the sidelines of the JHA Council, Minister Gloden held bilateral talks with Gerhard Karner, Austria’s Minister of the Interior. The discussions focused on their “forward strategy” aimed at lifting internal border controls within the Schengen area.
