On Tuesday next week, the Chamber of Deputies will vote on two bills which will implement the EU's asylum and migration directive through national law. But many opposition MPs have criticised the government's management of time around the legal texts, saying they have not had sufficient time to consider the bills.
At the European level, the relevant texts – eight regulations and a directive – were adopted in spring 2024. Minister of the Interior Léon Gloden tabled the bill 8684 on 14 January 2026, while Max Hahn, the family minister, tabled bill 8732 on 22 April.
On Thursday, the opposition parties the LSAP, the Greens, the Left and the Pirates called upon the Conference of Presidents to delay Tuesday's vote to allow them more time to prepare. The LSAP's Yves Cruchten explained:
"We're working on amendments that probably will be discussed by the committee on Monday, so just one day before the vote. All these amendments will be refused, because if they accept them, they can't vote on the text on Tuesday. So in my opinion this is all just for show, on behalf of the government, and it does not make it possible to carry out serious parliamentary work."
The opposition is above all furious at the length of time needed by the Ministry of Family to prepare a text. There is still no report on Max Hahn's bill, and the entire Chamber is only likely to receive this report on Monday.
Meris Šehović of the Greens said the delay to the texts does not just affect MPs:
"Accommodating refugees is an area which is not just organised by the government in Luxembourg. Instead a vast number of civil society stakeholders take over responsibility, such as the Red Cross, Inter-Actions, Hut, and many others. It is certainly the case that within the month that this text has been submitted there has not been sufficient time for these stakeholders to review the text."
A third bill, from justice minister Elisabeth Margue, also indirectly belongs to the implementation of the EU directive, but will not be put to a vote on Tuesday. The Left's Marc Baum said:
"The Council of State raised so many principal questions that the text really isn't ready. It has to be said that this migration package will lead to significantly more procedures, and faster procedures brought to Luxembourg's administrative courts, which could eventually trigger a standstill. We are already very far behind in terms of deadlines."
The CSV's Stéphanie Weydert, the rapporteur for Gloden's bill, expressed surprise at the criticism. The Minister of the Interior had asked for the subject to be debated on 9 June back in April. Weydert pointed out that the package is set to enter into force on 12 June and that Luxembourg risks a legal vacuum if the two bills are not adopted in time. The argument that Luxembourg is behind when it comes to other EU texts was not enough to sway her.
"This is about accommodating people from a third country, it is a question of national security. We want to keep the rights for these people who come here seeking refuge and we also want to offer the necessary perspective."
The justice minister's text will not be submitted to a vote on the same day, something that Weydert views as clear and unnecessary from the start.
She added that the ADR was the only opposition party that did not object to the vote on Tuesday.
