Category Archives: Migration & Asylum

Migration and asylum are human rights issues. Frequently, individuals and families leave their places of origin or residence seeking an improvement in their living conditions or simply fleeing violence or war.
The current scale of the phenomenon at the EU borders is worrying, as are the tragedies and deaths that result from the desperation of migrants, many of them victims of criminal activities of smugglers and traffickers. Integration of migrants and asylum seekers is also a challenge.
The COMECE Secretariat works for the rights of migrants, refugees and hosting societies to be harmonised and respected in the EU for the sake of the common good in the Christian spirit of welcoming the stranger.
COMECE is assisted in this mission by a Working Group on Migration and Asylum.
Migration & Asylum, Policy Areas, Press

Press Release

Statement of the General Secretary of COMECE on the Morocco-Spain border cross tragic incident

Following the tragic incident that occurred on 25 June 2022, when around 2,000 migrants crossing from Morocco tried to break through the Melilla border fence, Fr. Manuel Barrios Prieto, General Secretary of the Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of the European Union (COMECE), releases on Monday 27 June 2022 the following statement (EN – ES). “COMECE laments the death of dozens of migrants and asylum … Continue reading »

EU External Affairs, Migration & Asylum, Policy Areas, Press

Press Release, 08/04/2022

Leaders of EU Churches at the Polish-Ukrainian border call for peace and reconciliation

The Presidents of COMECE and CEC issue a special Easter message from the Polish-Ukrainian border on Friday 8 April 2022, invoking prayer and action for peace in Ukraine and beyond. “Let us continue to pray and work for justice, reconciliation and peace between people, cultures, nations.” Easter Message | Video| Photos H.Em. Cardinal Jean-Claude Hollerich SJ and Rev. Christian Krieger, Presidents of the Commission of … Continue reading »

Migration & Asylum, Policy Areas, Press

Press Release

Statement of the Christian Group on Migration on the arrival of refugees from Ukraine

The Christian Group on Migration, composed of organisations representing Churches throughout Europe, as well as Christian agencies particularly concerned with migrants, refugees, and asylum seekers, releases on Thursday 24 March 2022 a statement welcoming the warm EU-wide support to refugees from Ukraine and appeals to EU Member States to broadly implement the Temporary Protection Directive. The document includes “important steps to be taken at policy and … Continue reading »

Migration & Asylum, Press

COMECE on the humanitarian crisis at the Polish-Belarusian border: “Migrants and asylum seekers deserve full respect of their dignity and fundamental rights”

In the context of the alarming humanitarian situation at the Polish-Belarusian border, COMECE releases a statement urging the EU and its Member States to express practical solidarity with migrants and asylum seekers. Cardinal Hollerich: “Every human being must be treated in a humane way. Migrants and asylum seekers deserve full respect of their dignity and fundamental rights, no matter their legal status.” In their statement, … Continue reading »

Migration & Asylum, Policy Areas, Press

Press Release

Polish-Belarusian border, “Migrants and asylum seekers deserve full respect of their dignity and fundamental rights”

In the context of the alarming humanitarian situation at the Polish-Belarusian border, COMECE releases a statement urging the EU and its Member States to express practical solidarity with migrants and asylum seekers. Cardinal Hollerich: “Every human being must be treated in a humane way. Migrants and asylum seekers deserve full respect of their dignity and fundamental rights, no matter their legal status.” In their statement, … Continue reading »

Migration & Asylum, Policy Areas, Press

Press Release

Card. Hollerich on migration: “Being European also means to put solidarity in practice”

Following the letter addressed to the European Commission by the Ministers of 12 EU Member States on the recent developments at the external borders of the European Union, I would like to express my concern about the situation of migrants and asylum seekers in vulnerable situation whose human dignity and fundamental rights should be uphold. Their right to seek asylum should be protected and states … Continue reading »

Migration & Asylum, Policy Areas, Press

Press Release

European Churches urge EU to protect the vulnerable in Afghanistan

Conveying solidarity with people in Afghanistan, Rev. Christian Krieger, president of the Conference of European Churches (CEC), and H. Em. Card. Jean-Claude Hollerich SJ, president of the Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of the European Union (COMECE), issued a joint statement on Thursday, 2 September, urging the European decision makers to show humanity and act with determination in addressing the human tragedy currently unfolding in … Continue reading »

Migration & Asylum, Policy Areas, Press

Press Release

Christian actors publish concrete recommendations to the EU Pact on Migration

The Christian Group on Migration and Asylum has recently published several detailed documents analysing some key aspects of the proposed EU Pact on Migration and Asylum, stressing the centrality of the human person and his/her dignity at every stage of the migratory experience. Following the publication of the proposed EU Pact on Migration and Asylum by the European Commission in September 2020, this Christian Group … Continue reading »