Léon Gloden, Minister for Home Affairs
Minister Gloden, please introduce yourself and explain your background.
I was born in 1972 in Ettelbruck. Having grown up near the Moselle River, I proudly consider myself a true “Miseler Jong” who spends a lot of time in the vineyards and enjoys running through them, sometimes even over 20 kilometers.
I hold a master’s degree in European and International Law from the University of Aix-Marseille and additional qualifications from University College London and a master’s degree at the College of Europe in Bruges. In 1999, I was admitted to the Luxembourg Bar and became a partner at Elvinger Hoss Prussen in Luxembourg in 2007.
Politically active in the CSV since 1999, I was a Member of Parliament in Luxembourg from 2009 to 2023 and Mayor of Grevenmacher from 2011 to 2023.
On November 17, 2023, I was appointed Minister for Home Affairs in the CSV-DP-government.
What values and objectives drive your decision-making?
The aim of my ministry is to be a supportive service provider for our citizens.
Therefore, my decisions are guided by our efforts to make Luxembourg a safer place. Having been a mayor for a long time, I know how important it is to be a reliable partner for the municipalities. This is why we work in close collaboration with the municipalities.
Please introduce and provide details about the Luxembourg police, which you oversee.
Our decision-making is guided by the “4 P’s”, which were elaborated in collaboration with the Police:
- Personnel: Increasing the number of Police staff to enhance operational effectiveness.
- Presence: Strengthening police visibility and accessibility.
- Proximity: Building closer relationships between the Police and the citizens.
- Prevention: Implementing proactive measures to reduce crime and ensure safety.
These principles reflect our commitment to strengthening public security and public’s trust in the Police.
The Police, under the authority of the Ministry of Home Affairs, consists of approximately 3,300 uniformed and civilian agents. Their responsibilities include maintaining public order, crime prevention and law enforcement. A recent initiative introduced by my ministry to enhance security is the Local Police Unit, which increases proximity and prevention.
What are the major challenges faced by the Luxembourg Police, and how are you addressing them?
Key challenges include:
- Drug trafficking, particularly in the Gare district.
- Public safety in high-density areas.
My main objective is to increase the feeling of safety. To counter these issues, we have reinforced Police presence, deployed more units, and intensified cooperation with local authorities and international partners.
How have you addressed these challenges over the past two years? Are you satisfied, and what are your priority actions for further progress?
Initiatives undertaken include:
- Local Police Unit as a pilot-project that has conducted over 1,650 patrols in six months from July to December 2024, improving public security.
- Enhanced recruitment: The Police recruitment has increased from 160 to 200 candidates per promotion.
I am satisfied with the progress but recognize that sustained efforts are needed. Future priorities include expanding Police recruitment, investing in advanced equipment, and reinforcing cross-border cooperation.
What are your responsibilities regarding national government relations with communes? What challenges are you addressing, and how are you improving these relations?
Our main challenge is reducing bureaucratic hurdles and expediting administrative processes. Therefore, the municipalities work with an internet-based platform called “e-mint” to streamline document transmission and extended building permit durations to facilitate urban development.
We serve as a partner to the municipalities and provide administrative support, financial assistance, guidance on regulatory compliance, and resources to enhance local governance and public services.
What challenges concern you regarding asylum seekers, refugees, and non-Luxembourg passport holders?
A responsible asylum policy ensures a balanced and well-regulated approach to migration, promoting economic growth and social stability. It is therefore important that Luxembourg and all other EU Member States swiftly implement the new asylum and migration pact.
The renewed European blue card is a key instrument in the migration politics, which allows people from non-EU countries the opportunity to work and reside in Luxembourg, thereby addressing the needs of the labor market.
Legal immigration plays a crucial role in fostering innovation, supporting key industries, and contributing to the country’s long-term economic prosperity while maintaining social cohesion and integration efforts.
How has increased legal and illegal immigration impacted Luxembourg’s quality of life, and what measures are in place to mitigate these effects?
The government is taking a number of steps to address the challenges posed by immigration. For example, by enhancing cooperation with European partners on border control and migration policies. Collaborating with neighboring countries and EU institutions allows us to manage migration flows effectively and uphold security standards.
Moreover, I do not believe that illegal migration can be effectively tackled by closing the internal borders in the Schengen area. That is why I keep repeating how important it is that we strengthen controls at our external EU borders.
How much time and effort does the police devote to business sector crime? What are the major concerns, and how are you addressing them?
Financial crime, including fraud, money laundering, and corruption, is a major concern. The Police works with national and international agencies to detect and prosecute such crimes, using advanced technology and specialized investigative units to combat financial crime effectively.
We are addressing these issues through enhanced co-operation with Europol, strengthened cross-border investigations and improved information sharing to enable effective crime prevention and coordinated action.
In the area of drug-related crime, there were two very significant cocaine seizures in Luxembourg last month, totaling almost 1400 kilograms of cocaine. The police had a major success in February when, thanks to successful cooperation between Europol and the Luxembourg authorities, they were able to seize around 900 kilograms of cocaine. At the beginning of February, a further 500 kilograms of cocaine were found and seized by the Luxembourg customs authorities during a cargo check at Luxembourg airport.
Are you satisfied with police funding for public and business safety? Are there areas needing increased resources, and what are your future concerns?
A modern Police requires enough staff, modern equipment, and adequate infrastructure. Given Luxembourg’s strategic location at the heart of Europe, cooperation with international law enforcement agencies is crucial for combating organized crime, financial fraud, and cyber threats.
Strengthening cross-border police cooperation enhances our ability to tackle transnational crime effectively, ensuring that criminal networks do not exploit jurisdictional gaps.
The EU Commission’s Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) funding program also plays a key role in enhancing security capabilities, particularly in the areas of chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear threat prevention.
Luxembourg actively engages in these initiatives to bolster its emergency response infrastructure and preparedness against emergency security risks.
Minister Gloden was asked if he had any additional comments on areas of responsibility and related issues not previously addressed.
As someone who has lived on the Luxembourg-German border all my life, I am very attached to the Schengen area and open internal EU borders. That is why I am strongly opposed to internal border controls in the Schengen area. Borders should only be visible on a map, and we cannot afford to re-create borders in people’s minds. As 2025 will be the 40th anniversary of the Schengen Agreement, we should make sure this event becomes a celebration and not a tragedy. Schengen must be alive.
Therefore, I emphasize strengthening external EU borders, in order to guarantee open internal borders in accordance with the Schengen Agreement, ensuring a balance between security and freedom of movement.
