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Signing of the "Gemengepakt vum interkulturellen Zesummeliewen" by the municipality of Betzdorf
On Monday, 9 February 2026, the signing ceremony for the "Gemengepakt vum interkulturellen Zesummeliewen" (municipal pact for intercultural living together) took place between the municipality of Betzdorf and the Minister for Family Affairs, Solidarity, Living together and Reception of Refugees, Max Hahn, in the presence of the president of SYVICOL, Emile Eicher.
(de g. à dr.) Marie-Claire Ruppert, échevine à la commune de Betzdorf ; Marc Ries, bourgmestre de la commune Betzdorf ; 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)
© MEVA
By signing the "Gemengepakt", the municipality of Betzdorf has committed to a multi-year, participatory process that emphasises access to information, the involvement of all people living or working in their territory, and the fight against racism and all forms of discrimination.
Minister Max Hahn praised the municipality of Betzdorf for its commitment to intercultural living together, acknowledging the efforts already made. He emphasised that the signing of the "Gemengepakt" was an opportunity to continue and strengthen this work through the development of concrete actions promoting a sense of belonging and the participation of residents in social, cultural and political life at the local level. The Minister also reiterated the support offered by his Ministry and the importance of exchanges between signatory municipalities to promote mutual learning and the sharing of good practices.
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, 53 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 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)