Europe is a continent on the move. Internal migration and migration from outside, not least in pursuit of political asylum, has impacted on the lives of all communities within all Member States and communities of the EU. The Church is deeply concerned for the situation of refugees and asylum seekers, especially after the tragedy off Lampedusa.
(Credit: Web)
‘Migration and Integration’ will be the main topic of the COMECE Autumn Plenary which will be held from Wednesday 13th till Friday 15th of November 2013 in Brussels.
The Bishops representing the 27 Bishops’ Conferences of the EU Member States will gather for 3 days to be briefed by those shaping migration Policy at EU and national level. They will also hear the witness statement of those on the front line and reflect on how to assist their fellow bishops to develop their pastoral thinking, not only on how to respond to the immediate crisis but also to reflect on pastoral strategies for welcome and integration of migrants into the future.
The Plenary Assembly will open with a public Evening debate on “The Migrant experience” on Wed 13 November at the Chapel for Europe. The migrant is our neighbor. In order that they feel at home within the European family we need to understand the EU from their perspective. Cecilia Taylor Camara, Senior Policy Adviser for Migration Policy (Catholic Trust for England & Wales) will describe their situation.
More information and registration: https://www.comece.eu/site/en/activities/events/europepoliticsandbeyond
The Plenary will continue on Thursday and Friday in a closed meeting. The COMECE Bishops will first be introduced to the EU Legal-political framework on Migration and Asylum by a representative of the EU Commission (DG Home affairs) as well as to the Integration of migrants by the Deputy Head DG Immigration, of the Community of Madrid (Spain). They will then tackle the question of Trafficking of human beings by hearing the story of a police inspector and of a trafficked woman from UK.
A press release will be published on Friday 12:00