Luxembourg Welcomes Poland, Sweden's Intention to Join EPPO

On Friday 26 January 2024, Luxembourg's Minister of Justice, Elisabeth Margue, participated in the informal meeting of the Justice and Home Affairs Council of the European Union in Brussels, under the Belgian presidency.

The justice and home affairs ministers discussed the fight against organised crime linked to drug trafficking. As reported by Luxembourg's Ministry of Justice, the proposed measures include the creation of a European network of specialist prosecutors and judges. In this regard, Minister Margue underlined that in Luxembourg, practically all investigations into organised crime or drug trafficking include a cross-border or international aspect. Drug traffickers operating on Luxembourg territory are mainly part of organised criminal networks and reside in neighbouring countries. Therefore, cooperation within the European Union as well as with third countries is considered essential to fight against this form of crime.

During their lunch debate, the ministers had an open discussion on different approaches to policy and regulation regarding sex work.

The ministers then engaged in a political debate on detention models, with particular emphasis on small-scale detention as a measure promoting the reintegration and rehabilitation of prisoners. Minister Margue expressed her opinion that semi-open structures can prove effective for the social reintegration of prisoners, because they allow them to lead a relatively independent life and take on more responsibilities.

Luxembourg's Justice Minister also welcomed the announcements made by the Polish and Swedish governments of their intention to join enhanced cooperation concerning the Luxembourg-based European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO), in order to more effectively fight fraud affecting the financial interests of the European Union.

On the sidelines of the Justice and Home Affairs Council, Minister Margue met with Franc Weerwind, Minister for Legal Protection of the Netherlands.