Nordstad is an old sea serpent that keeps biting its own tail. On 2 June 2023, it celebrated its 50th anniversary. Or, to be more precise, the 50th anniversary of the coining of the word ‘Nordstad’ by economic expert Adrien Ries. Ries came up with the term to give a name to the economic development project he was advocating for the north of Luxembourg.
As for the merger process launched by the communes of Bettendorf, Diekirch, Erpeldange-sur-Sûre, Ettelbruck and Schieren to form a “Nordstad commune,” which would be considered the third most attractive centre in the country--behind Luxembourg City and Esch-sur-Alzette--it is now slowly approaching its fifth anniversary...
The vast majority of candidates running want to move towards a merger.
“Nordstad has several definitions. Before it was a merger, it was synonymous with collaboration between different autonomous municipalities. A collaboration and an inter-municipal syndicate which, in particular, enabled the creation of the ‘Fridhaff’ business park and its 28.5 hectares dedicated to businesses (located astride the municipalities of Erpeldange-sur-Sûre and Diekirch, editor’s note),” explains (CSV, 57), mayor of Ettelbruck since 2003.
He is therefore a privileged witness to the development of the project since the first “Nordstad agreement,” signed in 2006 between the municipalities (of which there were six at the time, Colmar-Berg having since stepped aside) and the ministry of territorial planning, but also an ideal interlocutor to explain why the merger now seems to be at a standstill.
The “small” step back
“This merger process was launched during this legislature, in autumn 2018,” recalls the MP and mayor. “Initially, the municipal councils of the five entities concerned set in motion the preparatory work.” These were inevitably delayed by the coronavirus pandemic and the ensuing health crisis. “But once they had been completed, a little over a year ago, the municipalities were asked to take a position on the follow-up to be given to the merger project, as well as on the timing to be followed,” continues the CSV mayor of Ettelbruck, who will be standing for a fifth term of office on Sunday.
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“The three ‘small’ communes--Bettendorf (3,052 inhabitants), Erpeldange (2,429) and Schieren (2,149)--then argued that the local councils in place preferred not to take a position due to the proximity of the next municipal elections.” This was to avoid putting their next council’s back against the wall. But as a result, there has been no confirmation of intent to merge.
Opponents of the merger in Diekirch, Bettendorf, Erpelange, etc.
So that’s where we are today, less than a week before the vote on 11 June. The Nordstad merger project is now awaiting the green light from the local councils that will take office in the wake of the elections.
Which begs the question: could the merger be called into question following next weekend’s results? The mayors of the five communes seem to be in agreement: “A priori no.” “The vast majority of the candidates standing want to go ahead with the merger. Even if there are a few opponents, particularly in my own municipality,” says Claude Gleis (CSV), the outgoing mayor of Erpeldange, who will be facing (DP) on Sunday.
For the local population, this merger remains very abstract.
“In Diekirch, for example, the DP section explained through its co-list leader José Lopes (on Radio 100.7 on 17 May) that the merger was no longer a priority for them,” adds Pascale Hansen (ex-DP, aged 48), the outgoing mayor of Bettendorf, who has decided not to stand for re-election this year. “And in my municipality too, different sensibilities are present on certain lists... But all that shouldn’t derail the merger process.”
A referendum would be the final word
If, in a few weeks’ time, the various municipal councils agree to continue this process, it will mean “the start of legislative work, with a draft law and the holding of a referendum,” adds Jean-Paul Schaaf. A referendum that would act as a true justice of the peace, with the final say resting with the citizens.
If the population were to reject this merger, it would put the matter on the back burner for a long time to come.
“However, for the population, this merger remains very abstract. There’s still a lot of work to be done if we want to present a project that appeals to them,” says Claude Thill (LSAP, 58), who replaced the minister (LSAP) at the head of the Diekirch municipality and will do the same as head of the list this weekend.
“There is some reluctance in the three least populated communes,” adds Éric Thill (DP, 29), mayor of Schieren. “It’s logical when you consider that the merged municipality of Nordstad will initially have a population of 25,000, before reaching other new levels. So we need to be cautious and let things mature a little, in order to convince the citizens. Because if the population were to reject this merger, it would put the issue on the back burner for a long time to come.”
A merger within six years, or else...
Above all, we need to strike the right balance between not moving too fast and not moving too slowly. While none of the five mayors dares to suggest that Sunday will see the last communal elections in autonomous communes, they do seem to think that if the merger is not settled during the next legislature, it may well be put off indefinitely.
Unless, of course, the merger is ultimately carried out between a smaller number of communes. In any case, some people seem to be starting to think about it...
This story was first published in French on . It has been translated and edited for Delano.