The Grand Ducal police warned that "the scale of the demonstration will require a large number of protective measures.” In order to be able to react adequately in the event of public order disturbances, a large number of security forces will be in place. (Photo: Maison Moderne)

The Grand Ducal police warned that "the scale of the demonstration will require a large number of protective measures.” In order to be able to react adequately in the event of public order disturbances, a large number of security forces will be in place. (Photo: Maison Moderne)

On Friday 22 October, 2,000 Polish demonstrators are expected to gather in front of the European Court of Justice to protest against the Court's decision to close a Polish coal mine in Turow. The police have provided extensive protection, roads are closed and bus routes are being diverted.

The demonstration planned for Friday from 9.30 a.m. in Kirchberg is not being taken lightly: roads are cut off, institutions closed and bus traffic is disrupted. 2,000 Polish demonstrators are expected in front of the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU).

Questioned by Delano's sister publication Paperjam, the Grand-Ducal police warned that "the scale of the demonstration means that the police will have to be alert. In order to be able to react adequately in the event of public order disturbances, a significant amount of law enforcement will be put in place.”

Thus, in the vicinity of the CJEU and the Schuman roundabout, several roads will be closed to traffic as of Thursday. Traffic disruptions are therefore to be expected. "In general, it is recommended to avoid the area," warns the City of Luxembourg.

Disruptions to public transport are also to be expected in the area, particularly on lines 6, 12, 16, 18, 21, 25, 32, 72, 81, 86 and 88 as well as the city night bus.

Closed institutions

The police have also "contacted potentially affected local employers in the area to advise them of the situation.” Various institutions have advised employees not to go to the company's premises or have even preferred to close their doors on Friday. This is the case of the EIB and the Chamber of Commerce, which decided to close the access to its training centre, the restaurant and the car park.

Some court cases were postponed: the 4th chamber of the administrative court announced that it would postpone the processing of cases scheduled for Friday until 26 October, as the demonstration could "make it impossible to access the building.”

The demonstration was prompted by a complaint of the Czech Republic to the CJEU against a Polish coal plant in Turow. The CJEU ordered the closure of the mine in May and in September sentenced the country to a daily penalty payment for not complying.

This story was first published in French on . It has been translated and edited for Delano.