Living together in Luxembourg

The Loi du 23 août 2023 relative au vivre-ensemble interculturel has applied since January 2024 and replaced the earlier 2008 integration approach. It treats cultural diversity as a resource and provides a national framework through the Plan national, the Biergerpakt, the Programme pour le vivre-ensemble interculturel and the Pacte communal. Practical implementation remains strongly dependent on communes and institutions. Luxembourg had 681,973 inhabitants on 1 January 2025; 320,726 were foreign residents, representing about 47% of the population, with around 180 nationalities. Lëtzebuergesch, French and German are the administrative languages. Applications may be submitted in any of these languages, and authorities respond in the chosen language where possible, while administrative acts are generally issued in French. The Biergerpakt is a voluntary moral commitment for people who live or work in Luxembourg, including cross-border workers. Its programme includes at least six hours of basic knowledge about Luxembourg, a language objective of A1.1 in one administrative language and further modules on language, administration, history, intercultural relations, racism, discrimination and civic engagement. The programme is offered continuously, but the available research does not establish one nationwide fee or duration. Participation does not create general legal pressure. Neighbourhood disputes usually begin with direct clarification between the affected person and the person causing the problem. Voluntary mediation is possible only when all sides cooperate in good faith. Depending on the issue, the commune, communal police or Administration de l’environnement may be responsible. The environmental authority handles complaints about noise, odours, vibrations, air or soil pollution and non-compliant waste management. A complaint should identify the source, place, type, frequency, start, relevant time of day or season, evidence and previous contact attempts. Acute danger belongs with 112, while a crime or police emergency belongs with 113. A private neighbour dispute does not automatically fall under environmental authority procedures. The Centre de médiation ASBL, a non-profit mediation association, can address suitable disputes; its civil, commercial and social mediation procedure can last up to three months, with mediator fees based on an hourly agreement. Local coverage and prices require separate confirmation. The Ombudsman deals with a concrete wrong decision, delay or malfunction by the State, a commune or a public institution. The affected person should first contact the responsible office and then wait one month. The service is free, but the Ombudsman issues recommendations rather than court judgments and does not handle private neighbour disputes. Discrimination concerns can be raised with the independent Centre for Equal Treatment, which covers racial or ethnic origin, gender, sexual orientation, religion or belief, disability and age. Criminal discrimination matters can also require the police or courts. The national action plan against racism contains 118 measures. Civic engagement can take place through a local ASBL, meaning a non-profit association, informal volunteering, municipal activities or political participation. An ASBL is registered through the RCS/RESA and uses statutes in Lëtzebuergesch, French or German. The Service national de la jeunesse offers programmes with different conditions: the Service volontaire national is for people aged 16 to under 30 who have completed compulsory schooling, legally reside in Luxembourg and know one administrative language; it is full-time and lasts up to 12 months. The European Solidarity Corps accepts participants aged 18 to 30 for 14 to 59 days or 3 to 12 months, while other international voluntary-service programmes have their own rules and support. Non-Luxembourg residents may vote and stand as candidates in municipal elections when the applicable residence and registration conditions are met. Registration closes at 5 p.m. on the 55th day before the election, and voting becomes compulsory after registration. Use of public space depends on the relevant communal police regulation. Markets, festivals, games, performances, fireworks and other gatherings may require permission from the mairie or bourgmestre. Fees depend on the commune and event; Luxembourg City may also charge an entertainment tax. Housing questions such as rent, termination and eviction belong to housing law, but shared living has a specific coexistence rule: a written colocation pact must be concluded no later than the lease signing. It can allocate rent and charges, inventory, utilities, insurance, entry, departure, replacement tenants, the deposit and conflict resolution. The arrangement must provide at least one shared living room or sanitary room, and each room must have at least 9 square metres per occupant. Tenants remain jointly liable to the landlord unless the pact distributes obligations differently. Online conduct follows the rule that conduct illegal offline remains illegal online. For repeated insults, threats, ridicule, hate speech or cyber-harassment, preserve screenshots, messages and URLs, then block or report the account and contact the police where appropriate. BEE SECURE Stopline accepts potentially illegal racist, revisionist, discriminatory, terrorist or child sexual abuse material, but not ordinary personal cyberbullying. The Autorité de la concurrence receives user complaints about platform duties under the Digital Services Act but does not remove the content itself. Privacy and personal-data issues belong with the Commission nationale pour la protection des données.