Building Belonging through Dialogue: High-Level Roundtable on Faith and Civic Engagement
On July 2-3, 2025, FSL partnered with KAICIID's Network for Dialogue and the Ana Lindh Foundation Network in Luxembourg to convene faith leaders, policymakers, and civil society representatives at Abbey Neumünster for critical conversations on inclusion and shared citizenship.
On July 2-3, 2025, Formation et Sensibilisation de Luxembourg (FSL) co-hosted a landmark roundtable dialogue at the historic Abbey Neumünster in Luxembourg. In partnership with KAICIID's Network for Dialogue and the Ana Lindh Foundation Network in Luxembourg, we brought together distinguished religious leaders, policymakers, and civil society actors to explore a pressing question: How can religious institutions strengthen belonging and civic engagement in today's diverse European societies?
The event, titled "The Role of Religious Institutions in Belonging and Civic Engagement in Europe," created space for meaningful exchange on how faith communities can foster shared citizenship, trust, and inclusion across differences.
From Symbolic Gestures to Structural Change
The roundtable featured rich discussions on the evolution of interfaith cooperation in Europe. Participants emphasized the critical need to move beyond symbolic interfaith gestures toward embedding dialogue structurally in decision-making processes. Key themes included the importance of reflecting diverse community realities in faith institutions, ensuring gender inclusion in religious and civic leadership, and recognizing that lived experiences—rather than legal status alone—define true citizenship.
Faith leaders participating in the dialogue stressed their commitment to sustained cooperation across religious lines, particularly in times of external tension, affirming their obligation to future generations to maintain collaborative relationships even when circumstances make it challenging.
Faith-Based Actors as Partners in Governance
The Council of Europe's Intercultural Cities (ICC) Programme also participated, presenting their intercultural inclusion model and sharing practical examples of how municipalities can engage religious institutions as long-term partners in local governance. These initiatives demonstrated how inclusive cooperation with faith-based actors can foster mutual understanding, trust, and civic participation at the community level.
A Commitment to Belonging
This roundtable reflects FSL's ongoing commitment to dialogue as a driver of social cohesion and cross-sector collaboration. The discussions affirmed the vital role of religious institutions as co-creators of inclusion and democratic resilience in Europe. By bringing together diverse voices in structured, multistakeholder cooperation, we continue advancing a vision where faith communities actively contribute to shared citizenship and mutual responsibility.
Partner & Media Coverage
Our partners and participating organizations have also shared their perspectives on this important dialogue. The Muslim Jewish Leadership Council (MJLC) reflected on the event's emphasis on structural inclusion and mutual responsibility as pillars of European democracy. The Council of Europe's Intercultural Cities Programme highlighted how the roundtable reinforced the value of faith-based actors as co-creators of inclusion and democratic resilience. KAICIID International Dialogue Centre documented the event on X, Facebook and Instagram as part of their commitment to dialogue-driven social cohesion. We invite you to explore these diverse perspectives to gain a fuller picture of the conversations that took place at Abbey Neumünster.