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Signing of the "Gemengepakt vum interkulturellen Zesummeliewen” by the Naturpark Öewersauer
On Tuesday 2 December 2025, the signing ceremony of the "Gemengepakt vum interkulturellen Zesummeliewen” (municipal pact for intercultural living together) between the inter-municipal association Nordstad – representing the municipalities of Diekirch, Ettelbruck, Erpeldange-sur[1]Sûre and Schieren – and the Minister for Family, Solidarity, Living Together and Reception, Max Hahn, in the presence of SYVICOL president Emile Eicher took place.
Bob Steichen, bourgmestre de la Ville d’Ettelbruck ; Claude Gleis, bourgmestre de la commune d'Erpeldange-sur-Sûre ; Max Hahn, ministre de la Famille, des Solidarités, du Vivre ensemble et de l'Accueil ; Emile Eicher, président du Syndicat des villes et communes luxembourgeoises (Syvicol) ; Charel Weiler, bourgmestre de la Ville de Diekirch ; Jean-Paul Zeimes, bourgmestre de la commune de Schieren - Bob Steichen, bourgmestre de la Ville d’Ettelbruck ; Claude Gleis, bourgmestre de la commune d'Erpeldange-sur-Sûre ; Max Hahn, ministre de la Famille, des Solidarités, du Vivre ensemble et de l'Accueil ; Emile Eicher, président du Syndicat des villes et communes luxembourgeoises (Syvicol) ; Charel Weiler, bourgmestre de la Ville de Diekirch ; Jean-Paul Zeimes, bourgmestre de la commune de Schieren
© MFSVA
In his speech, Claude Gleis, President of the inter-municipal association Nordstad and Mayor of Erpeldange-sur-Sûre, emphasised the importance of a regional approach to intercultural living together. "The recent referendum and the decisions taken to continue regional collaboration in the Nordstad confirm our desire to move forward together. The Gemengepakt is fully in line with this dynamic, strengthening cooperation and participation. Working under the auspices of the Nordstad will enable us to pool our resources to achieve our common goal: greater social cohesion and a better quality of life in the region.”
Emile Eicher, President of SYVICOL, pointed out that "the challenges of today's world require coordinated action that goes beyond the municipal level, and a regional approach allows us to respond to them more coherently and effectively. Let us not forget that behind every municipality there are citizens, and that supporting their participation, their talents and their well-being means investing in a more resilient and united common future.”
In turn, Minister Max Hahn congratulated the political leaders of the municipalities in the Nordstad for their commitment to living together and for their recognition of diversity as an asset for Luxembourg society. "With the signing of the "Gemengepakt”, concrete actions can be developed to ensure that the residents of your municipalitiesfeel more "at home" and are actively involved in the social, cultural and political life of the region. My ministry will be working closely with you in this process and will be offering local authorities the opportunity to exchange ideas and learn from each other”.
By signing the "Gemengepakt”, the inter-municipal association Nordstad is expressing its commitment to a multi-year process based on three pillars: access to information, the participation of all people living or working on its territory, and the fight against racism and all forms of discrimination.
The Nordstad is supported in this process by the Ministry's advisors on intercultural living together, working closely with the partner organisations CEFIS and ASTI.
The "Gemengepakt" (municipal pact for intercultural living together)
The law of 23 August 2023 on intercultural living together created the "Gemengepakt" (municipal pact for intercultural living together), which helps to implement intercultural living together at the local level.
Since the law on intercultural living together came into force on 1 January 2024, 52 municipalities have signed the "Gemengepakt".
The "Gemengepakt" is divided into thematic cycles, which take place in five stages:
- Political commitment
- Assessment of the current situation
- Citizen workshops to develop concrete actions
- Implementation of concrete actions
- Evaluation of the work carried out
The implementation of the "Gemengepakt" is closely supported by the Ministry of Family Affairs, Solidarity, Living Together and Reception of Refugees, its official partners ASTI and CEFIS, and five advisers on intercultural living together. The latter provide their expertise and share good practices between the participating municipalities. Other partners, in particular local players, are called upon to get involved and participate in the development and implementation of intercultural living together in their municipality.
Under the "Gemengepakt" initiative, various forms of assistance are available to municipalities:
- an annual grant of up to €30,000 per municipality to cover the costs of a municipal pact coordinator,
- an annual grant of €3,000, €5,000 or €8,000 to cover the costs of implementing the municipal pact (depending on the number of local councillors) and
- an annual grant of €5 for each resident of the municipality and each cross-border worker whose place of work is in the municipality and who is a signatory of the citizens' pact at 31 December of the current year.
For more information, visit https://gemengen.zesummeliewen.lu or send an e-mail to gemengen.zesummeliewen@fm.etat.lu
Press release by the Ministry of Family Affairs, Solidarity, Living Together and Reception of Refugees and the Syndicat des villes et communes luxembourgeoises (SYVICOL)