About this Episode
Politicians welcomed the CSSF’s decision not to extend approval for the contested Israel bonds beyond 31 August, but criticised its earlier authorisation and the regulator’s lack of prior consultation. Foreign Minister Xavier Bettel and LSAP MP Franz Fayot praised the move while stressing the need to avoid antisemitism when criticising Israeli policy. Fayot added that the EU should end double standards and that member states could take unilateral measures if necessary.
The European Commission urged Luxembourg to finalise pending reforms to access‑to‑documents law, saying draft changes first announced in 2023 remain incomplete and need clearer, enforceable guarantees for journalists and the public. The commission’s rule‑of‑law report praised progress on court digitalisation and anti‑money‑laundering measures but called for faster implementation of digital casework and completion of the transparency and governance reforms still under discussion.
Army union SPAL accused the government of sidelining social dialogue, saying responses to its letters and meeting requests have slowed markedly since Defence Minister Yuriko Backes took office. The union also criticised Backes for declining to attend a monitoring‑committee meeting on army working hours (her presence is required under a 2019 agreement), said the ministry failed to supply requested information in February, and cancelled the meeting rather than take part in what it called an “exercise in appearances.”
