"The Governments of Europe and Africa must use any legitimate way to put an end to the dangerous journeys bound for Europe that for many African migrants end up in death. Regardless of how they have arrived in Europe, they must always be treated as human beings". This is the recommendation that the national directors of the pastoral of migrants of 21 European countries put forward at the end of their meeting, that took place in Vienna from 12th to 14th September, chaired by mgr. José Sanchez, bishop of Sigüenza-Guadalajara and president of the Commission for the pastoral of migrants of the Council of European Bishops Conferences (Ccee). The main focus of the meeting was "African migrants in Europe and in the Church Pastoral responsibility". Many migrants are driven to set out on such journeys, according to the directors, "by the state of many African countries, with attendant poverty, underdevelopment and dramatic desperation". Hence the request to the European countries for "more justice and cooperation in the development of the poorer countries". The meeting, which was also attended by delegates of the Holy See and international Catholic agencies (Comece, Icmc, Caritas Europa), decided that a conference about migration will be organised in Spain in 2010.
