The European Churches and Christian organizations that deal with immigrants and youth ask for “greater coherence” in the demographic policies of the European Union. The joint appeal signed by the CEC (Conference of European Churches), the Commission of the Churches for Migrants in Europe (CCME), the Ecumenical Council of Youth in Europe (EYCE) and Eurodiaconia (federation of 43 aid organizations) refers to the Green Paper of the European Union on demographic changes. Welcoming the efforts of the European Commission in this field, the European Churches and Christian organizations ask for “solutions aimed at a new quality of relations between the generations, between the time dedicated to the family and to work, and at the integration of immigrants”. The joint Christian appeal points out “a lack of cohesion in European policies in their response to demographic changes”. The “integrated guidelines on growth and labour” would need to be revised, “taking into account the challenges of demographic changes and the need for a better cohesion in social, economic and environmental policies”. “European immigration policies stress the European Churches and Christian organizations ought not to consider just the economic benefits or problems of immigration, but also devote attention to the rights and needs of immigrants, to what is represented by the challenge of immigration for the host societies and the effects of migration on the countries of origin”. The European Churches and Christian organizations support a “friendly and familial approach” in European policies, i.e. “coherent policies that take account of the living conditions of families in every field”.
