As cross-border crime continues to evolve across Europe, Luxembourg and Germany have signed a new agreement aimed at strengthening police cooperation and expanding joint operations along their shared border.
In Bollendorf, directly on the Luxembourg-German border, police authorities from both countries took a new step in their cooperation. A new cooperation agreement was signed at Weilerbach Castle, aimed at further expanding joint controls and patrols between Luxembourg and Germany.
The objective of the agreement is clear: to work together more effectively against cross-border crime. The cooperation is based on European regulations, including the Prüm Convention, which has helped simplify police cooperation across Europe for years.
Joint patrols with the German state police have already taken place in the past, for example during events such as Christmas markets and the Schueberfouer in Luxembourg, but these operations are now set to become more systematic.
Gregor Pelzl, president of the Federal Police Directorate in Koblenz, explained that the joint patrols would allow officers from both countries to work together directly on the ground and make joint observations.
He added that Luxembourg officers would also be able to operate on the German side of the border and vice versa, calling it "a new dimension in cooperation with Luxembourg".
In practical terms, this means German and Luxembourg officers will operate together on motorways and major transit routes. Information can therefore be shared directly and interventions coordinated more quickly.
Pascal Peters, general director of the Luxembourg Police, said the cooperation would also extend to train inspections on the main rail routes between Luxembourg and Germany, particularly towards Trier. "We will continue the joint procedures we already have in place with our Belgian and French colleagues," he added.
The agreement also reflects broader developments in criminal activity, with more criminal networks operating across borders. Borders play a central role particularly in cases involving theft, drug trafficking, and illegal migration.
"Criminals do not respect borders," Gregor Pelzl stressed, adding that this was precisely why police forces needed to further strengthen cross-border cooperation with Luxembourg police.
Alongside the official signing ceremony, practical operations were also presented in Bollendorf, including joint patrols and a drone demonstration by pilots from the German Federal Police.
The message of the day was clear: security does not stop at the border, and police cooperation with German counterparts is expected to become even closer in the future.
