Signing of the "Pakt vum Zesummeliewen" in the municipality of Leudelange

At the official ceremony on 26 January 2023, Diane Feipel, mayor, emphasised that "with the signing of the 'Pakt vum Zesummeliewen', we will formalise what we are already experiencing in Leudelange." Christiane Hamen, president of the municipal advisory committee on integration, added that the signing of this pact is not a starting point, but rather a step. Indeed, many actions and projects have already been initiated and realised and the municipality will continue its efforts to favour the living together of all citizens.

Louis Oberhag, vice-president of Syvicol, pointed out that successful living together means that everyone feels part of the community. "The signing of the 'Pakt vum Zesummeliewen' is a crucial step in strengthening the bond between the municipality and its citizens." Louis Oberhag thanked the municipality of Leudelange for its commitment and participation in this project in favour of local integration and social cohesion.

For the Minister for Family Affairs and Integration, Corinne Cahen, the commitment of the municipality of Leudelange serves as a source of inspiration for other municipalities. According to her, citizens must be the actors of the local living together by being actively involved at the level of their municipality. The Minister recalled that one way to participate is to register on the electoral roll and vote in the June 2023 municipal elections. "Voting is a right and a duty. The electoral law has been amended but many people are still unaware of this." Corinne Cahen insisted on the need to inform and motivate non-Luxembourgish people to register, especially when welcoming citizens in their municipality.

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 assisted by integration counsellors who accompany the process and by the Ministry in close collaboration with its contracted partners CEFIS and ASTI.

In the coming months, other municipalities will join the 31 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 start of the project, 31 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 of Family Affairs, Integration and the Greater Region, its contracted partners ASTI and CEFIS, as well as 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.

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