Regional forum on sustainable development priorities

The Minett Regional Forum brought together local stakeholders to discuss the priorities of regional sustainable development

On Saturday, 6 June 2026, the intermunicipal syndicate PRO-SUD organised a regional forum at Hall VEWA in Dudelange dedicated to the shared and sustainable development of the Minett. The event brought together representatives of municipalities, institutions, regional partners, local stakeholders and civil society to discuss the priorities that will guide the sustainable development of southern Luxembourg in the years to come.

© Alexandre Benavente

Organised as part of the preparation of the new territorial cooperation agreement between PRO-SUD and the Ministry of Housing and Spatial Planning, the forum was based on the results of a representative survey conducted by Ilres among 837 residents of the eleven municipalities of the Minett, as well as on projects already led by PRO-SUD and the Minett UNESCO Biosphere.

“The Regional Forum confirmed the willingness of municipalities, institutions and local stakeholders to work together on the future of the Minett. The contributions collected provide an important basis for defining the priorities of the 2027–2031 work programme of PRO-SUD and the Minett UNESCO Biosphere.”

Christian WEIS, President of the PRO-SUD syndicate

Six topics relating to sustainable development

The discussions confirmed the importance of a coordinated approach at regional level in order to respond to challenges that extend beyond municipal boundaries: quality of life, social cohesion, ecological transition, mobility, housing, sustainable resource management, the attractiveness of the region and citizen participation.

Participants worked in groups around six major themes corresponding to the main fields of action of PRO-SUD through the Minett UNESCO Biosphere. These thematic tables were chaired by regional elected representatives, members of the syndicate committee, in order to ensure a direct link between the participants’ contributions and the priorities supported by the municipalities of the South.

Throughout the forum, Christian WEIS, President of PRO-SUD, and Claude MEISCH, Minister of Housing and Spatial Planning, took part in the discussions with the stakeholders present. Their participation underlined the importance of direct dialogue between municipalities, regional stakeholders and the State in shaping the next territorial priorities.

“Behind the major challenges of housing, mobility and climate, there is above all the daily life of residents. The discussions held during this Regional Forum confirmed the importance of listening to those who experience the territory day by day and of building, together with them, responses adapted to the challenges of tomorrow. Our responsibility now is to translate these reflections into concrete action. The future territorial cooperation agreement with PRO-SUD will allow us to accelerate this momentum and develop projects that meet residents’ needs while sustainably preparing the future of our territory.”

Claude MEISCH, Minister of Housing and Spatial Planning

Discussions within the framework of development programmes

The discussions focused in particular on the climate resilience of the territory, the development of more sustainable and better-connected mobility, the preservation of biodiversity, the adaptation of towns and cities to climate change, the promotion of the natural and industrial heritage of the Minett, as well as the strengthening of short supply chains and local products.

The forum forms part of the guidelines of the Master Programme for Spatial Planning (PDAT) and the action targets of the UNESCO “Man and the Biosphere” programme. Since 2020, PRO-SUD has been responsible for managing the Minett UNESCO Biosphere, which makes southern Luxembourg a testing ground for reconciling environmental protection, urban development, economic activities, citizen participation and quality of life.

The contributions collected during the forum will be analysed in the coming weeks by the teams and elected representatives of the syndicate of municipalities. They will feed into the preparation of PRO-SUD and the Minett UNESCO Biosphere’s multiannual work programme for 2027–2031, which will be annexed to the new territorial cooperation agreement.

Through this approach, PRO-SUD aims to consolidate its role as a platform for regional cooperation and to help make the Minett a more resilient, more attractive, more inclusive and more sustainable territory.