At the meeting of the Political Steering Committee of the 'Nordstad' Convention on 25 June 2015, the co-Presidency passed from Erpeldange Commune to the Town of Ettelbrück.
Under the agreement signed in April 2014, the Co-Presidency is formed by the Minister of Sustainable Development and Infrastructures, François Bausch, and is circulated annually between the mayors of the six municipalities. Mayor of Erpeldange Gleis Claude fulfilled this role for the past year, and Mayor of the City of Ettelbrück, John Paul Schaaf, will co-chair with Minister Bausch for the coming year.
At the meeting, Claude Gleise spoke of a productive discussion with François Bausch and Camille Gira on the subject of State-Commune collaboration on a collection of projects, notably the update of the 'central axis' plan of Ettelbrück, Erpeldange and Diekirch. he proceeded to thank the group who had drafted the statutes of the future multi-purpose, permanently-structured union which will provide a base for all Political Committee projects.
In 2014, the first issue of the 'HEX' publication, dedicated exclusively to Nordstad, was launched, with 15,000 copies of the publication distributed free of charge four times annually to all households.
Claude Gleis also praised the fact that the detailed planning for the Fridhaff area, as well as of water management and flood areas, were on the point of being finalised, rounding off his comments by warmly thanking all those involved in the Nordstad project.
John Paul Schaaf similarly emphasised that his priority, along with that of his team and all municipal councillors, was of establishing the Union as a sustainable structure and multi-purpose outlet.
Regarding the 'Emovin' rental system, which currently uses seven electic cars and 28 'E-Bikes', Schaaf proposed to integrate into future urban projects all of the elements required to ensure the efficient working of the system, as well as an alliance with private partners to implement they system in a systematic manner.
Speaking on the topic of tourism, Schaaf also suggested to keep interested parties consistently informed on all potential walks and hikes, with informative elements set up to offer historical and cultural facts. Following a meeting between the Municipal Committees on Integration, Jon Paul Schaaf proposed that the 'Nordstad Communal Integration Plan' thereby discussed by implemented as soon as possible. He also suggested the presentation and adoption of an equality charted document from the Ministry of Equal Opportunities, in preparation for the Consulting Committee of Equal Opportunities in the Nordstad communes.
Schaaf listed the finalisation of the Nordstad mobility concept and subsequent improved public transport project between Ettelbrück, Erpeldange and Diekirch as a top priority. he also expressed his wish to open a discussion concerning an agreement of the communal endowments for the Centres of Development and Attraction (CDA).
Photo by Sarah Graham (Minister of Sustainable Development and Infrastructures, François Bausch)
