Press release
MORE SUPPORT FOR MORE MIGRANTS, FOR THE BENEFIT OF ALL
Brussels,
18 December 2015
On the occasion of International Migrants Day, Eurodiaconia would like to call for increased investment in social integration measures for migrants, refugees and asylum seekers.
Eurodiaconia is a network of diaconal organisations fighting against poverty and social exclusion. Its member organisations are actively engaged in the support of migrants, refugees and asylum seekers across Europe. Through material aid, education, language courses, vocational training, health services, legal advice and advocacy work towards local and national authorities, our members seek to welcome refugees and improve their reception and integration conditions. Yet, against a background of cuts in public spending and of political unwillingness in most EU countries, they say they struggle to meet an ever-increasing demand for support.
The increasing number of people coming to Europe cannot be ignored nor can the social needs of people be disregarded. Social rights, regardless of origin, must be upheld and support must be given to organisations such as Eurodiaconia members who work both in providing immediate assistance on arrival in Europe and longer term social integration including employment programmes.
Against this background, Heather Roy, secretary general of Eurodiaconia, urges all EU Member States “to share responsibility in the social well-being and integration of migrants, refugees and asylum seekers and to put our common European values of solidarity and hospitality into action”. She adds that “countries that are yet unfamiliar with hosting refugees should be supported to do so”. Finally, she warns that “asylum seekers should not be seen by the population or “used” politically as competitors of other people who face social exclusion: investing in social structures to support refugees will ultimately benefit all, particularly in those countries that most lack social services.”
For more information, please contact:
Nicolas Derobert, 0032 (0)483 62 18 88 or nicolas.derobert@eurodiaconia.org
More resources on our work on migration can be found here.
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