Credit: Luxembourg's Directorate of Defence Facebook page
Luxembourg's Directorate of Defence has issued a statement clarifying its position after a social media post featuring military imagery, published as part of a European Central Bank (ECB) public debate on the design of future euro banknotes, sparked criticism online.
On Thursday 30 July 2026, the authorities shared visuals on social media in response to the ECB's consultation on the future design of euro banknotes. Following what it described as a "wave of reactions", the directorate published a statement on Friday 31 July 2026, acknowledging public concerns.
The directorate said it recognised that some people had found the visuals confusing or offensive and apologised for any misunderstanding caused. It also reaffirmed its commitment to responsible communication.
According to the statement, the publication formed part of a wider social media trend in which several European defence institutions had participated. The directorate also clarified that the post had not been approved by Luxembourg's Minister of Defence, Yuriko Backes.
The statement stressed that both Luxembourg and the European Union (EU) are founded on the values of peace, democracy, human rights and freedom. It argued that the military capabilities depicted in the visuals are intended to protect those values rather than contradict them.
The directorate added that the aim of the publication was to showcase Luxembourg's operational defence capabilities, developed in Europe and deployed in support of the security and defence of the Euro-Atlantic area.
It concluded by emphasising that the intention had not been to promote militarism but to raise awareness of the practical challenges of European defence through content designed for social media platforms.
