Municipal Meetings to be Held via Video Conference

Luxembourg's Minister of the Interior Taina Bofferding and the SYVICOL inter-municipal trade union agreed yesterday to hold municipal meetings and sessions via video conference in light of the new COVID-19-related measures.

The Interior Minister briefed SYVICOL (Syndicat des Villes et Communes luxembourgeoises) representatives on the situation regarding the new measures and the impact they are likely to have on the municipal sector.

In line with the legislative provisions currently in force concerning the meetings of the municipal council, whose members can opt to meet via video conference, Minister Taina Bofferding proposed a temporary modification of the municipal law to also allow the college of mayors and aldermen to use video conferencing to hold their meetings. From now on, this will concern not only public sessions, but also those held behind closed doors. These measures aim to allow vulnerable members or those unable to travel to be able to participate and reach a quorum to deliberate in the given circumstances.

SYVICOL approved this modification given the exponential evolution of COVID-19 and its impact on the organisation of sessions and meetings of the legislative bodies of municipalities and similar entities. In order to ensure that the municipal sector can continue to function, this measure is considered necessary in the current situation.

The minister and trade union representatives also discussed the collaboration between the state and the municipalities for the implementation of new COVID-19 test centres, as well as the care of people in precarious and vulnerable situations.

Minister Taina Bofferding recalled the health recommendations and the importance of guaranteeing the continuity of services by resorting to teleworking as far as possible.

The Interior Minister and SYVICOL concluded by deciding to intensify their existing regular exchange in order to stay informed of the evolution of the COVID-19 crisis.