The European Churches taking position again on the "Repatriation Directive" which is being approved by the EU. In a letter sent over these days to all MEPs, Comece (Commission of the EU Bishops Conferences), the Conference of European Churches, Caritas Europe and the Commission of the Churches for Migrants in Europe express once again their doubts about the directive which should harmonise formalities for repatriation of illegal migrants across the EU. The same position was taken in a letter sent on January 8th this year to the EU executives (the current president of the EU Council, the president of the EU Commission and EU Parliament). The signatories acknowledge the problems of reaching agreement between the member states and the EU Parliament, the two co-legislators, on the subject. But in the run-up to the voting at the EU Parliament in Strasbourg, due to take place during the mid-June session, they confirm they are against "administrative detention" which might last as long as 18 months. The representatives of the Catholic, Protestant, Anglican and Orthodox Churches are also against banning repatriated illegal immigrants from Europe for five years. (continued)
