Ninth edition of the "Group for Exchange and Support on Integration at Local level" (GRESIL)

Political leaders, municipal representatives and agents as well as members of the Consultative Municipal Commissions on Integration met face-to-face as well as by videoconference to discuss the topic "Citizen and political participation following the amendment of the electoral law: raising awareness and motivating non-Luxembourgers to participate in the municipal elections of 11 June 2023. Let's discuss together awareness-raising actions in the municipalities". A total of 125 participants attended the event, representing 50 municipalities. In addition, integration advisors were present, as well as representatives from different ministries, the CNE and a number of associations working in the field of integration.

The session was opened by Jean-Marie Jans, alderman of the municipality of Bettembourg, who hosted the event at the KulTourhaus Huncherange. The Minister for Family Affairs and Integration, Corinne Cahen, and Emile Eicher, President of Syvicol, also welcomed the GRESIL participants. Conny Heuertz from the Department of Integration moderated the event.

After a brief introduction, a representative of CEFIS gave an update on the monitoring of the registration of non-Luxembourg residents on the electoral roll, using the example of the municipality of Bettembourg. Then, the president of the CNE underlined the importance of multipliers in raising awareness among non-Luxembourg residents to register on the electoral roll. GRESIL participants also received explanations on the current status of the national campaign "I can vote" of the Ministry of Family Affairs, Integration and the Greater Region and a presentation of the campaign "Egalitéit liewen!” by the Ministry of Equality between Women and Men. ASTI unveiled its digital "toolbox" to raise awareness among non-Luxembourgers to register to vote and the mayor of Steinfort, Sammy Wagner, the alderman of Schifflange, Marc Spautz, as well as the mayor of Strassen, Nico Pundel, presented awareness-raising measures on political participation in their respective municipalities.

During the second part of the GRESIL, the participants discussed in 7 workshops the involvement of non-Luxembourgers at local level and their political participation in view of the next municipal elections.

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

Born in 2018 out of the strong interest and need of Luxembourg municipalities to network on issues related to integration and living together, the GRESIL, of which we count nine editions so far, offers municipalities a platform for gathering, exchanging, creating synergies, informing, training and supporting around the themes of integration at local level. The next GRESIL is scheduled for spring 2023.

A full recording of the first part of GRESIL 9, as well as all presentations on best practices presented, will be available shortly on the intergatioun.lu website under the link: https://integratioun.lu/gresil/gresil-9-09-11-2022/

Press release by the Department of Integration of the Ministry of Family Affairs, Integration and the Greater Region, the municipality of Bettembourg, the Association de soutien aux travailleurs immigrés (ASTI), the Syndicat des villes et communes luxembourgeoises (Syvicol) and the Centre d'Etude et de Formation interculturelles et sociales (CEFIS)