France Will Not Implement Fixed Border Controls With Luxembourg, Interior Minister Confirms

France has confirmed that it will not introduce fixed internal border controls with Luxembourg, despite ongoing selective checks within the country.

France to Continue Targeted Checks

French Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau has assured that France will not set up fixed checkpoints on the Luxembourg border, opting instead to continue targeted controls.

The statement was made during a meeting in Paris with Luxembourg’s Minister for Home Affairs, Léon Gloden, as reported by Schengen.News.

Minister Retailleau clarified that the increased security measures are not aimed at Luxembourg and should not cause disruptions in Schengen Area cross-border traffic. French authorities will continue to monitor national roads rather than establish permanent border control points.

Luxembourg Supports Joint Border Patrols

Minister Gloden acknowledged the extended border controls but noted that France had made regulatory adjustments to minimize their impact.

He also emphasized the importance of joint border patrols between France and Luxembourg, stating that such cooperation has already helped prevent irregular entries and other illegal activities. As a result, both countries have agreed to expand their collaboration on border security efforts.

France Reinforced Border Controls With All Neighbors in 2024

On November 1, 2024, France reinstated internal border controls with all its neighboring Schengen countries in an effort to combat irregular migration and terrorist threats.

Currently, these measures apply to Belgium, Spain, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Germany, and Italy, and will remain in effect until at least April 30, 2025.

Should the French government find the controls effective, the measure could be extended beyond April.

Despite criticism from Luxembourg, former French Prime Minister Michel Barnier defended the decision, arguing that border controls have proven effective and that French citizens expect strong policies on immigration control.

However, Luxembourg lawmakers called for an end to these measures just two weeks after their implementation, arguing that border controls within the Schengen Area should only be used as a last resort and not become a routine practice.

Additionally, Luxembourg’s legislators criticized similar measures taken by Germany, stating that irregular migration should not be used as a justification for imposing additional internal border checks within the free-movement zone.