Forum fir d'Zesummeliewen an eise Gemengen, Sign-ing ceremony of the "Gemengepakt vum interkul-turellen Zesummeliewen" and official handover of the "Citizen's guide" in Niederanven

Some 200 participants attended the event, including politicians, municipal representatives and staff, and members of municipal advisory committees on intercultural living together. Together, they represented some 65 municipalities and associations working to promote intercultural living together.

The meeting was opened by Fréd Ternes, Mayor of Niederanven, followed by a welcome from Max Hahn, Minister for Family Affairs, Solidarity, Living Together and Reception of Refugees.

During the first part of the event, the municipalities of Bertrange and Esch-sur-Alzette signed the "Gemengepakt vum interkulturellen Zesummeliewen” with the Minister for Family Affairs, Solidarity, Living Together and Reception of Refugees, Max Hahn, in the presence of the President of SYVICOL, Emile Eicher.

Minister Max Hahn then presented the municipalities of Beaufort, Erpeldange-sur-Sûre, Esch-sur-Sûre, Fischbach and Goesdorf (excused) with their personalised "Citizen's guide”.

The second part of the Forum fir d'Zesummeliewen was devoted to the theme "We are all experts in living together! Suggestions for a well-functioning committee on living together (CCVEI) and effective collaboration with local politicians”. In his keynote speech, Minister Max Hahn emphasised the important role of the municipal committees on intercultural living together (CCVEI) in promoting intercultural living together at the local level.

The President of SYVICOL, Emile Eicher, in turn, spoke of the ways in which political leaders can act as a driving force for good collaboration between those involved in promoting living together at the local level.

The participants in Niederanven then had the opportunity to take part in practical workshops on the missions of the municipal committee on intercultural living together (CCVEI), enabling them to identify ways in which this body can function well, and collaborate effectively with politicians at the local level.

ASTI, SYVICOL, CEFIS, the municipality of Niederanven and the Ministry of Family Affairs, Solidarity, Living Together and Reception of Refugees, co-organisers of this event, would like to thank all those present for their active participation in this platform for exchange and encounter.

The Forum fir d'Zesummeliewen an eise Gemengen

The Forum fir d'Zesummeliewen an eise Gemengen offers local authorities a platform for gathering, exchanging ideas, creating synergies, providing information, training and support around the themes of intercultural living together at local level. The next session is scheduled for spring 2025.

The documentation for this edition of the Forum fir d'Zesummeliewen will be available shortly at www.gemengen.zesummeliewen.lu/forum-fir-dzesummeliewen/

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 local level.

Since the law on intercultural living together came into force on 1 January 2024, 35 municipalities have signed the "Gemengepakt".

By signing the "Gemengepakt", a municipality or group of municipalities, SYVICOL and the Ministry of Family Affairs, Solidarity, Living Together and Reception of Refugees commit to close collaboration, with a view to a multi-annual and participatory process that emphasises access to information, the participation of all people living or working in the municipality and the fight against racism and all forms of discrimination.

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 "Gemengepakt" is based on the pilot project "Pakt vum Zesummeliewen" (2021-2023), in which 32 municipalities took part.

The implementation of the "Gemengepakt" is closely supported by the Ministry, 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.

The "Citizen's guide"

The "Citizen's guide" was drawn up by the Ministry in collaboration with SYVICOL and interested municipalities. Standardised in five languages, it consists of two parts: The information section, "I discover my municipality", invites you to discover the municipality by providing information on its make-up, local infrastructure, education, culture and associations, as well as an overview of the activities on offer. The second part, "I get involved in my municipality", is interactive and fun, offering ideas for getting involved and interacting with fellow citizens, through volunteering, learning, practising languages or getting involved in politics.

So far, 33 municipalities have received their personalised "Citizen's guide".

The "Citizen's guide" was drawn up in alphabetical order and by expression of interest.

Press release by the Ministry of Family Affairs, Solidarity, Living Together and Reception of Refugees, the municipality of Niederanven, the Association de soutien aux travailleurs immigrés (ASTI), the Centre d'étude et de formation interculturelles et sociales (CEFIS) and the Syndicat des villes et communes luxembourgeoises (SYVICOL).