Seventh edition of the "Groupe d'échange et de soutien en matière d'intégration au niveau local"

Political leaders, municipal representatives and agents as well as members of the municipal integration advisory commissions met face-to-face at Artikuss in Soleuvre as well as via videoconference to discuss the theme "Promoting living together in our municipalities through meeting points and exchange". 140 participants took part in the event representing 50 municipalities. In addition, there were representatives from the regions LEADER-West, LEADER-Mullerthal, the "Réidener Kanton” as well as various ministries, the National Council for Foreigners (CNE) and a number of associations working on integration.

The session was opened by Nathalie Morgenthaler, alderman of the municipality of Sanem and host of the event. Subqsequently, the Minister for Family Affairs and Integration, Corinne Cahen, and the president of Syvicol, Emile Eicher, also welcomed the GRESIL participants. Anne Daems, head of the Communal and Regional Integration Unit at the Department of Integration, and Philippe Eschenauer, on behalf of the organisers, moderated the event.

After an introduction to the general concept of third places, great importance was attached to the presentation of several concrete examples of existing or emerging places, as well as financing possibilities for municipalities wanting to set up such a space.

During the second part of the GRESIL, participants discussed the question "how to mobilize residents and project leaders of third places in neighbourhoods and localities?”

An innovative element of the seventh edition of the GRESIL was the possibility to visit existing third places in the days following the GRESIL. Time slots for such visits were set up and participants as well as any other interested person could sign up for one or more visits of third places spread all over the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg.

ASTI, Syvicol, CEFIS and the Department for Integration of the Ministry of Family Affairs, Integration and the Greater Region - organizers of this event - would like to thank all those present for their active participation in this digital exchange platform.

Born out of the strong interest and need of Luxembourg municipalities to network on integration and coexisting issues, the GRESIL provides a platform for municipalities to gather, exchange, synergize, inform, train and support integration issues at the local level. The organizers will continue to offer these GRESIL events to give communities the opportunity to exchange with one anotherand discuss the issues mentioned above.

Press release by the Ministry of Family Affairs, Integration and the Greater Region, ASTI, Syvicol and CEFIS