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, Plenary Assembly, Policy Areas, Press

News

Mass for Europe. Archbishop Hollerich: “It is our duty as Christians to welcome the refugees”

Archbishop Jean-Claude Hollerich, member Bishop of COMECE and Archbishop of Luxembourg, the Member State currently holding the presidency of the Council of the EU, was invited to deliver the homily during the Mass for Europe, celebrated in Brussels on 23 September. At the very moment when an extraordinary European Council was being held in Brussels on the refugee crisis, Archbishop Hollerich urged Christians to show … Continue reading »

Migration & Asylum, Policy Areas, Press

Press Release

The Refugee crisis requires a common European solution

Statement of the Standing Committee of COMECE, the Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of the European Community, on the current refugee crisis and the debate on a common European migration and asylum policy. The flux of refugees to Europe places the countries on our continent before enormous challenges. Yet these challenges can be overcome, if we Europeans consider them as a shared responsibility and cooperate … Continue reading »

Migration & Asylum, Policy Areas, Press

News

EU Agenda on Migration: “a significant step forward”

COMECE Secretary General Fr Patrick H. Daly reacts to the publication today of the European Commission’s Communication ‘Agenda on Migration’: ‘COMECE, which has European migration and asylum policies as a central concern, welcomes the concrete proposals issued today by the EU Commission. They represent a significant step forward in tackling the repeated tragedies in the Mediterranean. The proposals formulated by the EU Commission, if adopted … Continue reading »

Migration & Asylum, Policy Areas, Press

Press Release

COMECE President Cardinal Marx: « Europe’s response will be a litmus test for the European values »

Press statement of the President of the Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of the European Union (COMECE), Reinhard Cardinal Marx, on the tragedy in the Mediterranean. “We cannot allow the Mediterranean to become a vast cemetery!” This was the call of Pope Francis to the European States, in his address to the European Parliament in Strasbourg on 25 November 2014, in which he encouraged “mutual … Continue reading »

Migration & Asylum, Policy Areas, Press

Press Release

Human trafficking: Churches call on the EU for action on a wider front

An estimated 800,000 women, men, and children are victims of human trafficking within the EU today. Up to 60% of the victims originate from EU states. The EU and its member states urgently need to implement the legal framework already in place and to intensify cooperation with civil society and church organisations that work with victims at the grassroots level. This was one of the … Continue reading »

Migration & Asylum, Policy Areas, Press

News

COMECE General Secretary visits Caritas projects in Greece

On Saturday 11 January the COMECE General Secretary, Father Patrick H. Daly, paid a visit to the offices of CARITAS Greece at 52 Kapodistriou Street in downtown Athens. He was received by Father Andreas Voutsinos (Director CARITAS Greece), Nikos A. Voutsinos, responsible for the Refugee Programme and Evelyn Karastamati, Coordinator of the ELPIS Project. He was fully briefed on the work of CARITAS for the … Continue reading »