(Centre, L-R) HRH Princess Stéphanie, Hereditary Grand Duchess of Luxembourg; Corinne Cahen, Luxembourg's Minister for Family Affairs and Integration; Credit: MFAMIGR

On Saturday 19 November 2022, Her Royal Highness Princess Stéphanie, Hereditary Grand Duchess of Luxembourg, and the Minister for Family Affairs and Integration, Corinne Cahen, attended the Orientation Day of the Welcome and Integration Contract (Contrat d'accueil et d'intégration - CAI) at the European Convention Center Luxembourg (ECCL).

More than 550 signatories of the CAI (a voluntary integration programme for non-Luxembourgish residents) registered for this event, which was organised by the Department of Integration of the Ministry of Family Affairs, Integration and the Greater Region. During the Orientation Day, participants had the opportunity to learn more about administrative procedures, the country's institutions and community life in Luxembourg.

Princess Stéphanie, accompanied by Minister Cahen, attended the plenary conference of the Orientation Day and visited the various information stands on site.

In her welcome address, Minister Cahen thanked the Hereditary Grand Duchess for her presence, which underlines the importance of intercultural "living together" for Luxembourg. The minister added: "Living together also means actively participating in the Grand Duchy, in its economic, cultural, political and social life. It is essential for the country that everyone is involved in their own area of life: in schools, clubs, in the communes, as a volunteer or by registering to vote".

Across 30 stands, representatives of various Luxembourg ministries, administrations and organisations were present to answer the signatories' questions on integration issues, such as mobility and housing, associative life, continuous education, recognition of diplomas and culture.

In a panel discussion, five representatives from different sectors took the stage to discuss the topic of citizen participation.

In interactive workshops, participants were able to get a closer look at areas where their involvement can make a difference, such as political participation, administrative simplification, language practice and volunteering.

The CAI is an optional integration programme for all non-Luxembourgish residents (aged sixteen and over), which allows its signatories to discover Luxembourg, its languages, its customs and its institutions through language training, civic education courses and the Orientation Day.