With the most neglected

In view of the upcoming European elections (June 4-7), COMECE, the Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of the European Community, drew up a document titled “Building a Better European Home” (SIR Europe 22/2009). The umbrella Association “Christian initiative for Europe” (IXE) representing 13 European Countries, and set up in 2006, issued a statement in view of the forthcoming elections calling upon European citizens, notably Christians, to cast their vote (SIR Europe 24/2009). Another document was issued a few days ago by “Justice and Peace Europe” (SIR Europe 34/2009).On the eve of the European elections the Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of the European Community (COMECE), “Justice and Peace Europe” and various ecumenical organizations seated in Brussels, issued statements aimed at “ensuring that the new Parliament contributes to the creation of the social and human Europe we all dream of”. In the COMECE statement it is affirmed that EU citizens, and Christians in particular, “not only have the right, but also the responsibility to be actively engaged in this project by exercising their vote” for a EU in which “all Europeans feel at home”. The bishops describe the EU as “a project of hope for all citizens”. In examining the features of the said “project”, marked by the respect for diversity and the acceptance of shared policies and goods inside and outside national borders, a reading of the situation from the perspective of migration is crucial. Recent surveys carried out by Eurobarometer indicate that Europeans no longer consider the theme of immigration as important as they did in the past, whilst EU migration flow management is the criteria that make either a “common home” or a fortress. Migrants, their diversities and their humanity, which must be acknowledged, remind us that Europe is made up of people and solidarity, of languages, cultures and peaceful coexistence. They contribute the ingredient of imagination to a project that would otherwise risk being stranded on the banks of economy and individualism. The migrant pursued a project of hope consisting in a more human life for himself and his family. This is why he crossed ancient borders when the dream of a common home hadn’t yet been developed. Carlo Levi described the migrant as the one who erases borders off maps. In the COMECE document the Bishops ask, “that solidarity be conveyed in policies providing support to the weakest and poorest brackets in our societies”, a phrase that apparently doesn’t take into due account the decisive role played by immigrants in the European building. In the Post-War period the European yard had attracted an ever-increasing number of immigrant labour-workers, committed in the material reconstruction of the different nations. The traces of this passage are there to be seen, although historical developments have often removed the tragedy of their suffering along with the difficulties linked to the acceptance of the migrants’ culture and lifestyle. Campaigns against foreigners are not infrequent, and there is ongoing prejudice; restrictive regulations enforced by single states prevail; the implementation of the Dublin regulation strongly penalizes not only the Countries on EU’s external borders but also the very refugees, who despite disparities in terms of asylum and reception procedures, are sent back to their Countries of origin, as envisaged by the law. This goes against the Europe of Peoples dreamt by the first pioneers, and which they started to develop in the midst of many difficulties. Albeit unintentionally, migrants paved the way. With their humble presence they incessantly tore down narrow-minded nationalistic feelings, they upheld the defence of all persons regardless of their nationality and cultural background, they obliged local institutions to clarify the concept of ‘cultural difference’ and highlight harmonious coexistence and dialogue. They were ahead of their own time and their experience has become the paradigm of what European citizens are called to live in the Union. The Post-Synodal Apostolic exhortation Ecclesia in Europe states: “The phenomenon of migration challenges Europe’s ability to provide for forms of intelligent acceptance and hospitality. A “universal” vision of the common good demands this”. Transforming Europe into a place marked by “coexistence, where all Europeans feel at home” ought to comprise not only the natives but also those who arrived with their dreams and their hopes.