Meeting of the municipal council of 10 June 2022

Question posed by Paul GALLES 

For International Women's Day, celebrated around the world on 8 March each year, many municipalities organise events and undertake initiatives, such as temporarily renaming some streets after influential women. To which women did the college of aldermen pay tribute for International Women's Day? What proportion of street names in Luxembourg City are named after men compared to women? Did the City organise anything else for International Women's Day? How are names chosen for the city's streets, squares and buildings? Is there a list of people whose names will be used for streets, squares and so on over time? Could you please tell us more about the street naming process, the committee responsible for this and its composition?

Response provided by Alderman Maurice BAUER

In 2022, the City took part in the "Affichons l'égalité" gender equality initiative lead by the (Conseil national des femmes du Luxembourg (National Women's Council of Luxembourg – CNFL) and supported by Syndicat des Villes et Communes Luxembourgeoises (Association of Luxembourg Cities and Municipalities – SYVICOL), by symbolically renaming six streets and a public square after deserving women who have a link to Luxembourg City for three weeks. The initiative was launched on 8 March and involved Rue des Capucins, Place d’Armes, Rue Beaumont, Avenue de la Porte-Neuve, Grand-Rue, Rue de la Poste and Rue Genistre. These are all busy areas in the city centre.

For the duration of the initiative, these streets were named after the following significant figures: Lise Rischard-Meyer (1868–1940), member of the British Secret Service; Elsy Jacobs (1933–1998), a pioneering cyclist who won the first Women's World Road Race in 1958; Liliane Thorn-Petit (1933–2008), journalist and co-founder of the CNFL and of the Association des Femmes Libérales (association of liberal women); Joséphine Jacquemart-Jaans (1890–1988), gymnastics teacher and member of the resistance; Helen Buchholtz (1877–1953), musician and composer; Dr. Marie-Paule Molitor-Peffer (1929–1999), gynaecologist and founding member of Planning Familial (association for family planning); Lily Unden (1908–1989), teacher, painter, poet and member of the resistance.

Of the 467 streets and squares named after people in Luxembourg City, 50 of these (a little over 10%) are named after women. For several years now, the City has been working redress this imbalance, which exists for historical reasons.

Every year, the City also hosts a reception for its staff to mark International Women's Day. In 2022, the reception was held on 8 March at Villa Vauban and included a guided tour of Berthe Lutgen's works at the "Summer of 69" exhibition.

Street names are allocated by the college of aldermen on the proposal of the ad-hoc "Dénomination des rues" (street naming) working group. This group operated until the 1970s and was reinstated by the college of aldermen on 4 July 2001. Its members include: Ms Evamarie Bange, Curator at the Archives municipales (Luxembourg City archives); Mr Luc Didier, Surveying Director at the Direction Géomètre (Survey Directorate); Mr Gilles Peters, Planning Manager at the Service Autobus (Bus Department); Ms Christiane Sietzen, Cultural Coordinator; and Mr Guy Thewes, Director of Luxembourg City's two museums. Proposals are put forwards by the working group itself, citizens, associations, local interest groups, and national or international institutions.

The following criteria are used to select eligible candidates: the person is deceased, has a clear link with the city and has made a worthy contribution to it. The only exception to this rule is for deceased people who have made a significant contribution to humanity, such as scientists (Da Vinci), inventors (Gutenberg), composers (Beethoven) and writers (Heine).

Question posed by Ana CORREIA DA VEIGA

According to an article in Le Quotidien, Racing FC Union Luxembourg has complained about the state of the changing rooms and sanitary facilities at the ARIS 1 (Camille Polfer) and ARIS 2 stadiums: "Mould on the shower ceilings, faded paint, container used as a changing room and cracks in the walls at the Polfer 1 stadium. (…) There is not even a working radiator, or toilet. [At the Polfer 2 stadium], young girls aged 7 to 10 years have to walk 300 m and cross two roads to get from the pitch to the toilets." These conditions are reported to be "surprising for a female club that has qualified for the Champions League in the past two seasons".

The article goes on to say that "Ms Beissel confirms this state of affairs", but that she notes that "one hundred and sixty-seven clubs are happy with the municipality, except one" and that she "is surprised by the RFCU's choices: Racing is the team with the most pitches. (…) I would never put such high-level female players on a pitch like that."

According to its president, the club "has submitted several requests to bring it up to code". Is this true?

What does the City intend to do to solve the problems at the ARIS 1 and 2 stadiums?

Are there other pitches or sports facilities with comparable shortcomings?

Does the City have a multi-year plan for work to be carried out at its existing sports facilities? If so, which facilities will be renovated? If not, why not?

Response provided by Alderwoman Simone BEISSEL

The management of Racing FC Union Luxembourg has only submitted its grievances to the ministry, even though the football pitches in question fall under the remit of the City.

Even though Racing is not the club with the most players, it has the highest number of pitches of all football clubs in the city (five existing pitches plus two planned on Rue Anatole France).

The City is in regular contact with members of Racing's committee.

Racing's main pitches have been renovated.

The renovation of the facilities at the ARIS 1 (Camille Polfer) stadium has been included in the multi-year plan since 2018. The clubhouse, changing rooms, sanitary facilities, stands and pitch will all be renovated, while the old facilities along Rue Nic Martha (currently used for storage) will be demolished. Racing is well aware of this. The club's management is also aware that the City cannot provide an alternative pitch while the work is under way. Because of this restriction, the pandemic and a shortage of companies available to carry out the work, the work has not yet been undertaken.

ARIS 2, on the other hand, has always been a training pitch without changing rooms or toilet facilities. Players have always used the toilets at ARIS 1. The City has, however, agreed to install modular changing rooms and sanitary facilities at ARIS 2. The corresponding call for tenders is ongoing. The pitch has been adapted to bring it in line with FLF (Fédération Luxembourgeoise de Football – Luxembourg Football Federation) standards and equipped with LED lighting.

Neither the City nor the FLF understands Racing's decision to have female top-league players train at ARIS 2, as this pitch is not suitable for that purpose.

187 of the city's 188 sports clubs follow the existing guidelines. Only Racing does not adhere to the "gentlemen’s agreement" under which the clubs clean the facilities made available to them themselves, and undertake minor repairs. Racing has already been made aware of this situation.

Racing's attitude towards the City of Luxembourg is regrettable, as is the fact that the club has tarnished my reputation with its unjustified complaints.

Response provided by Alderwoman Ana CORREIA DA VEIGA

When can the renovation of ARIS 1 begin?

Response provided by Alderwoman Simone BEISSEL

The start date for this renovation work has not yet been set, given that Racing will not be able to use the pitch for 18 months and no alternative pitch can be provided.