Rome (NEV), November 23, 2017 – The Federation of Protestant Churches in Italy (FCEI) in collaboration with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Italy (CELI), will soon start a pilot project allowing the assistance of so-called “dublinated” asylum-seekers. Those people who, according to the Dublin Regulation 2013 of the European Union (EU), have been sent back to Italy, after having tried to leave the country they had first arrived within the EU. Back in Italy they are supposed to be re-admitted into the National reception system (SPRAR).
FCEI has always received such cases from churches overseas and has always taken in charge these instances from a social and legal point of view, believing that “these people are among the least protected and assisted categories at present in Europe”. CELI, considering it a moral duty to intervene, will finance the project with part of its 8 per thousand tax funds, and will offer support and practical collaboration through its Diaconia Service. The project foresees a reception service (food and lodging) and legal support for the reintegration into the SPRAR; it will last until October 2018.
The Dublin Regulations establish that the first Country of arrival has to take charge of the asylum request of a person reaching the EU’s territory. Recently the European Parliament voted in favor of a proposal to reform the rules that restrain asylum seekers to stay in the first State of arrival. The reform will be examined by the European Council in 2018.
