Signing of the "Pakt vum Zesummeliewen" in the municipalities of Boulaide, Sanem and Dippach

At the official signing on 2 June 2022, Jeff Gangler, mayor of Boulaide, stressed the importance of signing this pact together with all stakeholders and in the presence of the citizens. Within the framework of the "Pakt vum Zesummeliewen", the municipality of Boulaide continues to involve all residents as well as the municipal advisory boards and local associations to actively contribute to the design of participatory projects within the municipality.

On the occasion of the signing of the "Pakt vum Zesummeliewen" in Sanem on 13 June 2022, Mayor Simone Asselborn-Bintz stated that the philosophy of the pact fits in perfectly with the integration activities already initiated and carried out in recent years. The municipality of Sanem will continue its efforts to promote living together at local level.

On 24 June, Manon Bei-Roller, mayor of the municipality of Dippach, was "delighted to be able to participate as a municipality in a project that serves as a guideline for the municipality to promote living together at local level. However, in order for everyone to benefit, it is important that the citizens themselves get involved with the municipality and thus participate in the success of the project".

The Minister for Family Affairs and Integration, Corinne Cahen, also emphasised that citizens are the actors of living together. To be able to participate, they must be informed about the possibilities of involvement in their municipality and know how to find their way in their new environment. Welcoming new residents is therefore extremely important. The Minister also reminded the audience that the promotion of intercultural living together also involves sharing good practices. The municipalities of Boulaide, Sanem and Dippach, which have initiated very interesting actions, can thus be a source of inspiration for other municipalities.

In his speech in Boulaide, Emile Eicher, president of the Syvicol, highlighted the dynamism of the municipality, which demonstrates that a small municipality is very well able to take initiatives that promote cohesion and solidarity.

Louis Oberhag, vice-president of the Syvicol, in turn congratulated the municipality of Sanem for its commitment and willingness to contribute, through the "Pakt vum Zesummeliewen", to dynamic development in favour of social cohesion at local level.

In Dippach, Guy Wester, vice-president of the Syvicol, said: "Successful integration means that everyone finds their place in our society. The best way to achieve this is to develop a common understanding of living together in the municipalities. The municipalities are, after all, the first point of reference when it comes to gaining a foothold in a country whose history is marked by people from the most diverse cultures, which is in fact the richness of our country."

By signing, the municipalities express their commitment to a multi-annual process based on three pillars: communication, access to information and participation of all people living or working in the municipality.

They are accompanied by integration counsellors who support the process, as well as by the Ministry in close collaboration with its contracted partners CEFIS and ASTI.

In the coming months, other municipalities will join the 28 signatory municipalities of the "Pakt vum Zesummeliewen".

The origins of the "Pakt vum Zesummeliewen

At the beginning of 2021, the Ministry of Family Affairs, Integration and the Greater Region initiated a pilot project aimed at a more dynamic and multi-annual integration process.

Since the project was launched, 28 municipalities have signed the "Pakt vum Zesummeliewen".

The five steps of the "Pakt vum Zesummeliewen":

1.      Political commitment by the signing of the "Pakt"

2.      Inventory of the needs of the municipality

3.      Citizens workshops to develop actions to promote integration

4.      Implementation of actions to promote integration

5.      Evaluation of the work done and planning of the next steps

The implementation is closely accompanied by a team from the Integration department of the Ministry for Family Affairs, Integration and the Greater Region, its contracted partners ASTI and CEFIS, and four integration advisors. The latter make their expertise available and pass on good practices among the participating municipalities. Other partners, in particular local actors, are called upon to get involved and participate in the conception and implementation of living together in their municipality or the surrounding region.

To illustrate the possibilities of getting involved as a citizen in the various stages of the process, the Ministry has produced a brochure in four languages available to the participating municipalities. The "Pakt vum Zesummeliewen" is also summarised on the Ministry's website: Pakt vum Zesummeliewen.

Press release by the Ministry of Family Affairs, Integration and the Greater Region