L-R: Heiko Maas, Germany's Minister of Foreign Affairs; Jean Asselborn, Luxembourg's Minister of Foreign and European Affairs; Jean-Yves Le Drian, France's Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs;
Credit: SIP / Jean-Christophe Verhaegen
On Thursday 8 July 2021, Luxembourg's Minister of Foreign and European Affairs, Jean Asselborn, met with his German and French counterparts, Heiko Maas and Jean-Yves Le Drian, in Schengen.
The informal meeting in Schengen, which has become a symbol of free movement in Europe, enabled the Foreign Ministers of Luxembourg, Germany and France to discuss current international and European affairs. The ministers particularly discussed issues related to cross-border cooperation and free movement within the European Union (EU) .
Minister Jean Asselborn took this opportunity to highlight the need to preserve the the acquis and the spirit of Schengen, so that it is not permanently undermined by the COVID-19 pandemic and related restrictions.
“In this region where Germany, France, Luxembourg and also - about 50 kilometres away- Belgium meet, citizens have become accustomed to organising their professional and private lives regardless of borders. In everyday life, borders no longer exist”, stressed Luxembourg's Foreign Minister, before adding that “Europe lives on open borders, free movement as well as cross-border cooperation”.
