Together with Christians in other European countries, in our intercessions on a Sunday around 20 June 2013 we remember in particular migrants and refugees who have died on their way to seek a life of human dignity in Europe. We deplore the lethal consequences of sealing off the external borders of the European Union. This is taking place throughincreasingly sophisticated technical systems of border protection, through...English, German , Spanish

************

In view of the on-going trialogue on the European Commission’s proposed directive on "conditions of entry and residence of third-country nationals for the purposes of seasonal employment", CCME and a coalition of NGOs active on migration (see logos above) recall the need to guarantee a uniform and extensive sets of labour rights for third-country workers across the EU.

We warmly welcome and strongly support measures under discussion to create clear working and housing standards in seasonal work and reduce exploitation risks, while helping to meet labour…read more

************

To date, over 620,000 refugees have fled to neighbouring countries and North Africa to escape the bloody conflict that has so far left at least 60,000 people dead, according to United Nations figures. At least two million others in Syria have been displaced from their homes. Civilians in Syria are bearing the brunt of violations of...read more

************

64 NGOs call the EU Member States and the European Commission to safeguard family life of migrants and refugees

On the occasion of the public hearing on family reunification of third country nationals living in the EU, we, the undersigned organisations, call on the European Commission and EU Member States to guarantee the effective right to family life and family reunification for all migrants and beneficiaries of international protection. It is in the interest of Member States to harmonize practices and legislation in the field of family reunification. We remind that Member States have the obligation to properly implement the EU Family Reunification Directive and to remove the many legal and practical obstacles to family reunion that exist today.
While all Member States could improve...read more , FRENCH Version , SPANISH Version

**************

20 NGOs call the EU Member States and the European Commission to safeguard family life of migrants and refugees
Today, on the International Day of Families, we, the undersigned organisations, call on the European Commission and EU Member States to guarantee the effective right to family life and family reunification for all migrants and beneficiaries of international protection. It is in the interest of Member States to harmonize practices and legislation in the field of family reunification. We remind that Member States have the obligation to properly implement the EU Family Reunification Directive and to remove the many legal and practical obstacles to family reunion that exist today.
While all Member States could improve their family reunification practices...read more

************

CCME Press Release 12/05

02.04.12 13:28

Refugee resettlement to the EU:
European churches call for 20.000 places by 2020                     PDF Version

CCME Executive Committee calls on “EU member states to agree on more ambitious targets”
 
CCME moderator Prof Dr Victoria Kamondji said that “the recent adoption of the EU resettlement scheme after such long negotiations is an encouraging sign. The EU member must now use the momentum to increase their efforts in this exercise of global responsibility sharing. Churches and other civil society organisation would stand ready to make their contribution to this.”
 
While the Executive Committee of the Churches´ Commission for Migrants in Europe (CCME) welcomes recent decisions of the EU Parliament and Council, CCME calls on EU member states to increase the volume and impact of refugee resettlement to the EU. In a policy paper adopted at its meeting in Hannover (Germany) 29-31 March 2012, the CCME Executive Committee, argues that “the EU and its member states can and must do more to offer protection to the most vulnerable refugees”. The policy papers notes that only a small percentage of the world’s refugees are hosted in Europe and that EU member states so far only offer around 4.-5.000 places per year for refugee resettlement. It highlights that the adoption of a common resettlement scheme by EU Council and European Parliament in March should lead to a “debate how a more meaningful and ambitious contribution by EU member states to international refugee protection could be achieved until the end of this decade and how coordination by the EU could maximise impact.”
 
In its policy recommendations, the CCME Executive Committee puts forward the target of 20.000 resettlement places to be made available annually by the then 28 (or more) EU member states by the year 2020. An overview table illustrates which ranges of resettlement places per member state would allow the EU to offer 20.000 resettlement places by the end of the decade. The CCME Executive Committee underlines that “the figures for 20.000 places within 8 years is entirely realistic, however, steps for attaining the figures need to start now”. The policy paper argues for stronger coordination of resettlement efforts of EU member states with external policies of the EU and calls for strong cooperation between governments, UNHCR and civil society in planning, implementing and evaluating refugee resettlement to the EU.
 
The full text of the policy paper can be found at: http://www.ccme.be/fileadmin/filer/ccme/20_Areas_of_Work/01_Refugee_Protection/2012-03-30-20_00_places_policy_final.pdf

*************
 

PRESS CONFERENCE Brussels 15th March 2012, 11.00‐12.00

Labour trafficking: European NGO campaign asks EU citizens to “open your eyes !”

Presentation of video spot in four European countries to highlight need for better identification

Tens of thousands persons every year find themselves trafficked into forced labour in Europe, according to estimates in the EU Member States, with exploitation happening mainly in the areas of construction, agriculture or domestic services. Against this background a group of civil society organisations in four European countries will on 15th March launch a series of video spots, asking EU citizens to “open your eyes” and help in identifying trafficked persons. The video spot is part of the MIRROR project. Read more...

The Civil Society Input to the New Agenda for Integration

The European Integration Agenda is a paramount instrument to strengthen and improve EU integration policies that should rely on a multi-dimensional process. We welcome the efforts of the European Union (EU) and the Member States to further develop and consolidate the EU common agenda for the integration of third country nationals.
Being aware that the European and International....read more

JOINT NGO STATEMENT: "Emergency in the South Mediterranean – towards a true policy of addressing humanitarian assistance, protection, cooperation and solidarity".

We are representatives of humanitarian, human rights, refugee and migrant assisting organisations from all over Europe who are deeply concerned about and committed to the response to refugees, migrants and other displaced persons in and from North Africa. We believe that this is a moment for action and cooperation by the European Union and Member States, together with NGOs and broader civil society, anchored in the core values of the Union that is solidarity, humanity and ....read more

Budapest - 21/02/2011
The annual meeting of the networks of two European church organizations was held in Budapest from February 14 to 15. It was hosted by the Synod of the Reformed Church in Hungary. Hungarian Reformed experts drafted the program of the first part of the two-day meeting to which the Churches Commission for Migrants in Europe (CCME), Eurodiaconia invited representatives of their partner organizations and cooperating churches.
CCME was represented by....read more

Please find press-releases and press-announcements of CCME, as well as common Christian Comments. These contain common positions by the Christian organizations indicated in the document on respective issues.

Please chose a year:

< Downloads          >Home<          ^top^          Links >