Saeul

The municipalities of the Rédange district, together with the municipality of Mertzig, signed the “Pakt vum Zesummeliewen” collectively on 11 May 2021. The steering committee is made up of one representative from each municipality.

While the canton of Rédange and the municipality of Mertzig already had a number of good practices in terms of intercultural living together before the signing of the “Pakt vum Zesummeliewen” (Mertzig4all, Weekend Vum Wëlle Westen), a review of the situation highlighted additional areas of interest.

The presentation of statistical data focused on the entire region and not on individual municipalities. At the prioritisation meeting on 26 June 2021, the aim was to choose a priority for the region as a whole. The projects were then to be developed and implemented in collaboration with the Syndicat Intercommunal du Canton de Rédange. The representatives of the various municipalities therefore chose the theme of "Political and civic participation" with a view to the municipal elections in June 2023. 

Due to the particular composition of the canton of Rédange, the citizens' workshop was suspended and replaced by a meeting of the various local authorities. 

• Launch of the Hoplr neighborhood application 

This application is designed to improve and encourage exchanges between neighbors in the various localities in the Canton of Redange and the municipality of Mertzig.

• "Wëlle Westen" brochure 

This brochure has been created to raise awareness among non-Luxembourgish residents of the Canton of Redange of the need to register to vote and to take an interest in local politics. It includes testimonials from politicians and new arrivals, explains how the municipality works and provides practical information for the municipal elections.

• Personalised letters to register to vote

A rough version was created and made available for each municipality. The aim was to raise awareness among non-Luxembourgish citizens of the need to register to vote in the local elections on 11 June 2023.

• "Passing on the music" concert 

Before the start of a new “Pakt vum Zesummeliewen” loop, the steering committee has decided to organise a cultural concert in the Rindschleiden church on 28 July 2023. The group in question is Deya & Albertus. Together they form a dynamic duo, with the Spanish guitar as their pillar and epicentre, where two life stories and two distinct cultures - Cuban and Dutch - merge, with the profound influence of a third culture: Spanish culture.

It is clear that the various actions under the “Pakt vum Zesummeliewen” had an impact, but it remains difficult to know which measure was the most effective. For example, registration rates for non-Luxembourgish residents were higher than the national level (19.8%) for almost every municipality in the canton of Rédange. Saeul (30.8%) and Beckerich (29%) were the municipalities with the highest rates. 

In general, the increase in interest in local politics among non-Luxembourgish residents remains difficult to measure. Those working in the field said that it was difficult to reach this target audience. Young people were also difficult to attract to events.