Municipal citizen card: fostering inclusion and solidarity at the local level. A focus on the “Carte Ardente” initiative in Liège, Belgium

Born in the United States in the wake of the “sanctuary cities”, municipal identity card initiatives are the subject of growing interest from European cities. This contribution focuses in particular on the “Carte Ardente” citizens’ card initiative currently under negotiation in Liège, Belgium. These initiatives are set up by municipalities with the conscious aim of fighting discrimination and strengthening the sense of belonging and citizenship at local level, including among migrant people. The condition of widespread use of the card not only mitigates the risk of discriminatory usage targeting specific vulnerable groups but also serves to unite the population around shared values. Municipal identity cards have the characteristic of being introduced in relatively autonomous towns and cities, generally in federal contexts, which give towns and cities the power to manage their own territory. What they also have in common is that they are fertile ground for local solidarity in national and supranational contexts that are mostly hostile towards migrants. Issued by municipal authorities, these cards serve as a means of identification and proof of residence for all individuals residing within the city, regardless of their administrative status. The case of the Liège initiative will show how the local level collaborates with grassroots associations and responds to the needs of migrant people, for example by creating innovative local policies.