Laura Zuccoli, president of the Luxembourg Refugee Council, said Minister of the Interior Léon Gloden had made a “harsh statement” during an interview with RTL Radio on Friday. Paraphrasing, she described his statement as essentially saying “we send them money and people should let themselves get shot over there”.
“War is a professional matter. It’s also a situation in which people are frightened for their lives. It’s not up to the minister to decide who should go to war or who shouldn’t. These are decisions people make when they’re afraid for themselves or for their children. If they have the opportunity to leave, then they will do that. That’s something one has to respect.”
Zuccoli also reserved criticism for the government’s bill implementing the European asylum and immigration pact, saying they were placing a security vacuum ahead of the well-being of minors. Children should be accommodated with their parents, she said, which is only permitted in exceptional circumstances according to the EU directive.
