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

EU Pact on Migration: COMECE calls for concrete solidarity and generosity

Following the adoption of the new EU Pact on Migration and Asylum proposed by the European Commission on Wednesday 23 September 2020, the Bishops of the European Union encourage the EU and its Member States to act in concrete solidarity and responsibility towards migrants and refugees. Considering the dysfunctionalities of the current migration and asylum systems and the dramatic situations that have recently affected many … Continue reading »

Migration & Asylum, Policy Areas, Press

NEWS

Moria fires, COMECE urges action to protect asylum seekers

In the context of the tragedy occurred in the Moria camp (Lesvos) on Tuesday 8 September 2020, the Bishops of the European Union urge the EU institutions and all Member States to act more swiftly and firmly to finally make the relocation of asylum seekers from the Greek islands a reality. Card. Hollerich: “we need to enhance the common EU asylum policy”. Approximately 13,000 people, … Continue reading »

Migration & Asylum, Policy Areas, Press

Press Release

COMECE calls the EU and its Member States for a common response to forced migration

“The pandemic should not be an excuse to let human beings die in the Mediterranean Sea”, states COMECE General Secretary Fr. Barrios Prieto. Referring to the many migrants who were not promptly and safely disembarked at the closest EU port over the last days, COMECE calls for “a predictable solidarity mechanism agreed among EU member states”. COMECE shares the concerns recently expressed by the Maltese … Continue reading »

Migration & Asylum, Policy Areas, Press

NEWS

Refugees in Europe: human dignity is not in quarantine

COMECE calls EU members states to show generosity in accepting the relocation of asylum seekers from Greek islands, minimising the risk of Covid-19 infection among them and providing adequate health treatment to those already infected. “We are in our homes, afraid. I also think of the most vulnerable: how it must feel for those who are in refugee camps, who have nothing, not even medicine … Continue reading »

Migration & Asylum, Policy Areas, Press

News

Cardinal Hollerich calls EU Bishops’ Conferences to launch relocation projects for refugees in Greece

“An invitation for the whole Church to awaken new evangelical energies of welcome in each of the member countries of the European Union”. With these words, three leading Cardinals of the Catholic Church outline in a letter to EU Episcopal Conferences a strong call for relocation projects concerning refugee families stuck indefinitely in Lesbos and other reception camps in Greece. In the letter, H. Em. … Continue reading »

Migration & Asylum, Policy Areas, Press

Press Release

COMECE joins Pope Francis’ call for not excluding anyone

2019 World Day of Migrants and Refugees

COMECE First Vice-President H.E. Mgr. Mariano Crociata (Italy) will concelebrate today, Sunday 29 September 2019 at 10h30, the Holy Mass presided by Pope Francis on the occasion of the 2019 World Day of Migrants and Refugees (WDMR). The theme for this important day of prayer and action is “It is not just about migrants”. In the context of globalization of “indifference”, the Holy Father explained … Continue reading »

Migration & Asylum, Press

NEWS

COMECE advocates for humane treatment in irregular migrants’ return process

In the context of the reform of the EU Return Directive, COMECE calls for human-centered policies including the fundamental rights protection of irregular migrants at all stages of their return, the implementation of alternatives to detention, the full respect of the principle of non-refoulment and the prioritisation of voluntary return. According to recent statistics, more than 1/3 of the return decisions were effectively implemented in … Continue reading »

Migration & Asylum, Press

NEWS

COMECE calls for people-centred asylum policies

COMECE welcomes the publication of the 2019 Asylum Office report and calls EU Member States to respect international law obligations with regards to anyone looking for international protection in their territories. The report contains an overview of key indicators regarding the situation of refugees in Europe. While the number of applicants for international protection diminished in 2018, the report shows that 39% of them got … Continue reading »

Migration & Asylum, Press

NEWS

COMECE on Roma inclusion: “working with them, not for them”

In view of the upcoming EU elections and on the occasion of the “2019 Roma Week”, COMECE calls future EU leaders to adopt a post-2020 EU Framework for National Roma Integration Strategies and to relaunch EU institutions’ commitment to enhance Roma inclusion. The 2018 EC report on the evaluation of the EU Framework for National Roma Integration Strategies up to 2020 shows improvements in the … Continue reading »

Migration & Asylum, Press

NEWS

Holy See’s Undersecretary Fr. Czerny presents the “Pastoral Orientations on human trafficking” at the European Parliament

“Our long-term goal is to prevent, ultimately dismantle, this most evil and sinful enterprise of deception, entrapment, domination and exploitation called human trafficking”, stated Fr. Michael Czerny , S.J., Under-Secretary of the Migrants & Refugees Section (Holy See), during a dialogue meeting hosted at the European Parliament by MEP Teresa Jiménez-Becerril on Tuesday 19 February 2019. Focusing on “Catholic Action against Trafficking in Human Beings”, … Continue reading »