Max Hahn, Luxembourg's Minister for Family Affairs, Solidarity, Living Together and Reception;
Credit: MFSVA
On Wednesday 29 November 2023, the Group for Exchange and Support on Integration at the Local level (GRESIL) held another meeting at the Paul Barblé cultural centre in Strassen.
Political leaders, municipal representatives and members of the municipal advisory committees on integration (future municipal committee on intercultural living together) met face-to-face to discuss the topic: "New legislative framework: law of 23 August 2023 on intercultural living together. Promoting intercultural living together at local level. Strengthening societal cohesion".
According to the organisers, the eleventh edition exceeded their expectations, with a record number of 200 participants, representing some 60 municipalities and 25 associations working to promote integration and intercultural living together, gathering in Strassen to attend the event. They were joined by the integration advisors (the future advisors on intercultural living together) and representatives from various ministries.
Nico Pundel, Mayor of the municipality of Strassen, kicked off the meeting, after which Max Hahn, Luxembourg's Minister for Family Affairs, Solidarity, Living Together and Reception, and Louis Oberhag, Vice-Chairman of Syvicol, welcomed the GRESIL participants.
After the initial welcome, Conny Heuertz and Anne Daems (from the Family Affairs Ministry's intercultural living together department) presented the new law on intercultural living together, and Anna Kirsch (also from this department) unveiled the new website for municipalities: https://gemengen.zesummeliewen.lu/. Finally, Lena Hartz from the intercultural agency of ASTI spoke about the paradigm shift from an integration approach to a broader and more open approach to intercultural living together.
During the second part of the GRESIL meeting, participants had the opportunity to take part in practical workshops on the implementation of the new law on intercultural living together.
ASTI, Syvicol, CEFIS, the municipality of Strassen and the intercultural living together department of the Ministry of Family Affairs, Solidarity, Living Together and Reception were the co-organisers of this event.
Born in 2018 out of the interest and need for Luxembourg municipalities to network on issues relating to integration and living together, the GRESIL offers municipalities a platform for gathering, exchanging, creating synergies, providing information, training and support on issues of integration and intercultural living together at local level. The next GRESIL meeting is scheduled for spring 2024.
