(L-R) Edy Mertens, Mayor of Troisvierges; Louis Oberhag, Vice President of SYVICOL; Corinne Cahen, Minister for the Family and Integration; Credit: MFAMIGR

The Luxembourg municipalities of Schuttrange and Troisvierges have annouced that they have signed the "Pakt vum Zesummeliewen" (Coexistence Pact) with the Ministry of Family Affairs, Integration and the Greater Region and with the SYVICOL (association of Luxembourg cities and municipalities).

At the official signing on 20 April 2022, Jean-Paul Jost, mayor of Schuttrange, stressed that the pact allows the work already done by the consultative commissions and the municipality to be continued through the implementation of participatory projects promoting local coexistence.

On the occasion of the signing of the Pakt vum Zesummeliewen in Troisvierges on 3 May 2022, mayor Edy Mertens pointed out that foreigners who come to settle in the municipality enrich it with their very diverse cultures and experiences. The implementation of the Pakt vum Zesummeliewen is therefore an opportunity to illustrate this through projects in which everyone can participate, exchange and get to know each other.

The Minister for Family Affairs and Integration, Corinne Cahen, was impressed by the organisation of coexistence in Schuttrange. She underlined that the good practices already in place here should be shared with other communities.

In Troisvierges, Minister Cahen emphasised the participative aspect by stressing that through the Pakt vum Zesummeliewen, Luxembourgers and foreigners can become actors of the coexistence in their municipality. She recalled that the reception of newcomers is a very important first step for successful integration.

During the signing ceremonies, the minister congratulated the municipalities of Schuttrange and Troisvierges for their commitment and reiterated the ministry's commitment to support the signatory municipalities in collaboration with its contracted partners and integration advisors.

In his speech in Schuttrange, Louis Oberhag, vice-president of the SYVICOL, emphasised: "Coexistence is important to us. Social cohesion is particularly important in times of crisis and Schuttrange is an example for other municipalities". In Troisvierges, Louis Oberhag also pointed out that living together successfully means that everyone feels part of the community and together we are stronger. He thanked the respective municipalities for their commitment and wished them every success in implementing the pact.

By signing, the municipalities express their commitment to a multi-annual process based on three pillars: communication, access to information and participation of everyone who lives or works in the municipality.

In the coming months, more municipalities will join the existing 25 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, 25 municipalities have signed the Pakt vum Zesummeliewen.

The five steps of the Pakt vum Zesummeliewen:

  • Political commitment by the signing of the pact
  • Inventory of the needs of the municipality
  • Citizens' workshops to develop actions to promote integration
  • Implementation of actions to promote integration
  • 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, 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 coexistence 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: https://mfamigr.gouvernement.lu/en/le-ministere/attributions/integration/niveau-communal/plan-communal.html.