Beyond integration

"The operative word is something more than social inclusion, because working with and for migrants in Europe mainly involves a process of "communion", which requires a "change" of attitude and perspective "in those migrants who get into a country and in those people who receive them". Card. Josip Bozaniæ, archbishop of Zagreb, outlined the conclusions of a two-day meeting on "A Pastoral of Communion for a Renewed Evangelization", which brought to Rome (27-29 November) about 40 delegates, bishops and national directors of the pastoral services for migrants of the European Bishops Conferences (CCEE). It is actually the style of "communion" – the archbishop of Zagreb said – that is the "specific contribution" the Church can make in the difficult process of reception and social inclusion of migrants in European countries, especially at a time of economic recession. "An important process" which "the Church needs to work at", and "so should political and welfare organizations". The meeting in Rome was promoted by the Council of European Bishops’ Conferences, during which participants discussed the efforts that the Church makes in Europe in support not only of the immigrants who come to Europe but also of the emigrants who leave their countries. A Church close to the last. "What came out of this – said mgr. Pierre Burcher, bishop of Reykjavik (Iceland) – is "the icon of a Church that is close to the last, the poor, often the migrants". Attention should also be paid to the problems of those European countries that have been hit by the economic recession, such as Portugal, where 5 million people have been "recorded" as having gone abroad, in addition to about 2 million people who have unofficially left the country. "And while in the Nineties – said father Francisco Sales Diniz, member of the Bishops’ Commission for Migrants – Portugal received migrants, mainly coming from the former Soviet Union, since 2005, with the crisis, Portugal has become a country of emigrants again". Father Giovanni Peragine, president of UCESM (European Confederation of Major Superiors) and a missionary in Albania, highlighted "the problem of those who stay at home, the families left behind by those who leave their country in search of a job and better living conditions. So a special service should also be created to help those people who stay at home and are in difficult, uncertain conditions".Economic crisis and Arab spring. Spain, said father José Luis Pinilla, director of the Secretariat of the Bishops Committee for Migration, is a "country that is going through a difficult economic crisis, there are 5.5 million immigrants living there, accounting for 14% of the population. The immigrants’ unemployment rate has reached 35%. There are no xenophobic phenomena, but we must be careful: the recession and the crisis are destroying the main grounds of social inclusion, expanding marginalization, with some problems of crime". The migratory flow in Europe is also affected by the conflict going on in the countries of the so-called "Arab spring", the Maltese delegate, mgr. Alfred Vella, pointed out. With over 15,000 immigrants in the last few years, Malta finds it hard to cope. In fact, although they are fewer than in other European countries, migrants are still too many "for such a small island as ours". "And while a few years ago migrants were a temporary phenomenon in Malta – he said – they have now become a constant presence, not least because of the Arab spring, the fall of Gaddafi in Libya and the war in Syria".New fragility and poverty. Msgr. Giancarlo Perego, general director of the Migrantes Foundation, said that special attention should be given to the "new forms of fragility and poverty, which heavily affect migrants, especially at a time of economic crisis". "Precariousness and job insecurity – he said – highlight the need to address the theme of offer and demand in the job market, within the framework of the legalization of migrant flows. This is a new perspective that requires a legislative change, and most of all, it entails the awareness that there cannot be a recognized situation of illegality and labour exploitation, limbos where citizenship and protection are not recognize,d where mafia and corruption are fuelled to the detriment of the Country and of the same migrants". Msgr. Perego reiterated the importance of ensuring family reunification. He denounced: "Unfortunately investing in family policies, migrations, housing, health and school policies in our country is still insufficient compared to other European countries".