Nordstad merger still at 'full throttle' despite setbacks

Claude Gleis, spokesperson for the Nordstad and mayor of Erpeldange-sur-Sûre, expressed disappointment in an interview with RTL after the Bettendorf municipal council voted against joining the merger. Following the cancellation of an initial secret vote by the Ministry of the Interior, the council reaffirmed its decision on Wednesday.

Now, only four municipalities—Diekirch, Ettelbruck, Schieren, and Erpeldange-sur-Sûre—remain committed to the project. Despite this, Gleis remains optimistic about the merger’s prospects.

"I still believe the Nordstad merger has a future," said the CSV politician, emphasising the importance of the project for the region. He added that the four remaining municipalities would continue working at "full throttle."

Gleis also warned against further delays: "We must not waste time, or we’ll lose the timeline we’ve set for ourselves."

The current plan aims to hold a referendum in 2027, allowing citizens to vote on the merger. Next month, the four municipalities are expected to adopt a new "mutal deliberation," a necessary step after Bettendorf's withdrawal.

Gleis hopes that, with fewer municipalities involved, progress may be easier to achieve. He downplayed concerns of a domino effect following Bettendorf’s exit and expressed confidence that Erpeldange-sur-Sûre, despite a narrow majority in favour, would continue to back the project.

The Nordstad merger has faced delays for years, partly due to demands from the participating municipalities for additional financial support from the Ministry of the Interior, beyond the typical subsidies provided for such mergers. These negotiations have significantly slowed progress.