Rome (NEV), May 27, 2018 – On May 23, the Bologna Methodist Church promoted a meeting to present the campaign for a “Welcoming Europe”. The aim was “To say and to do, all together, something radically different from the culture of hatred, ignorance and fear that many are trying to build in the Country”.
The meeting was attended, among others, by Luca Maria Negro, president of the Federation of Protestant Churches in Italy (FCEI); Boubacar Dia, Radio Città del Capo; Luigi Manconi, coordinator of the National Anti-Discrimination Office (UNAR); Antonella Soldo, national president of the Italian Radical party.
The “Welcoming Europe” initiative aims to build a hospitable, inclusive and supportive Europe based on fundamental human rights. Three are the proposal pillars: no to the crime of solidarity; the opening of legal and safe ways for refugees; the protection of human rights. Since 1990 more than 34,000 people have died trying to reach Europe by sea. In 12 European countries, humanitarian aid is punishable by fines and in some cases by arrest.
Welcoming Europe is a European citizens’ initiative (ICE), a participatory tool foreseen by the European Union regulation number 211 of 2011, which allows citizens to ask the European Commission for a legal act on Community policies through the certified collection of one million signatures in 12 months in at least 7 states.
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The ICE “Welcoming Europe. For a Europe that welcomes” was registered with the European Commission in December 2017. Approved on February 14, 2018. Subscription deadline: February 2019.
Promoting committees are established in Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Estonia, Finland, France, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Holland, Portugal, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Hungary.
In Italy, the initiative is promoted by a platform that includes the Federation of Evangelical Churches in Italy (FCEI), the Italian Radicals, Legambiente, Cnca, Casa della Carità Foundation, Oxfam, Truth and Justice Committee for the New Mediterranean Desaparecidos, AOI , Scalabrinian Agency for Cooperation and Development, ActionAid, A Buon Diritto, Acli, Arci, Baobab Experience, CILD.
Numerous signatures have joined and continue to join, including Doctors Without Borders Italy, Diaconia Valdese, Open Arms, SeaWatch, A Bridge for …, Carta di Milano, Rainbow for Africa, Cittadinanzattiva, Amnesty International Italy, Libera International, Refugee Welcome.
For details and to sign the proposal: www.welcomingeurope.it
