“When we landed, we were crying with happiness. At last we felt safe”, explained Sara, a 27 year old woman who fled the violence in Syria. Sara put her life in the hands of smugglers to reach safety in Europe. She paid for the crossing of the Mediterranean on a makeshift boat, squeezed with tens […]
5-6 November | Sofia, Bulgaria Europe is currently facing one of the most serious migration and refugee crisis of recent history and this needs coherent, rapid and systemic responses. The influx and movement of people to and across Europe is a phenomenon that is here to stay. Technology, open labour markets, free movement are all […]
By Lisa Dezauer, Social Platform Intern During the past few weeks, events on Hungary’s borders are worsening. After Hungary closed its border to Serbia on 14 September, the situation escalated when the Hungarian police used tear gas and water cannons in effort to hinder people crossing the border. As a European I must therefore say […]
A collective of national children’s rights networks, representing over 1900 organisations working for children’s rights across Europe, called for stronger direction at the EU level to help EU member states promote and protect children’s rights in Europe. The meeting of Eurochild’s 18 ‘National Partner Networks’ (NPNs) in Amsterdam, Netherlands today showed the need for a […]
The European Anti-Poverty Network (EAPN) sent yesterday [21 September] its contribution to the Annual Growth Survey to European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker. As the letter highlights, EAPN has been engaged in the European Semester process from the start in 2011, showcasing the experience and knowledge from its members on the impact of EU policies on people’s […]
Over the last two weeks Social Platform has focused on mobilising a joint response to the humanitarian crisis, bringing together European civil society actors across different sectors, including migration & asylum, environment and development. Federica Mogherini, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security wisely reminded the European Parliament on 15 September […]
“I call on Member States to adopt the Commission proposals on the emergency relocation of altogether 160,000 refugees at the Extraordinary Council of Interior Ministers on 14 September. We now need immediate action. We cannot leave Italy, Greece and Hungary to fare alone. Just as we would not leave any other EU Member State alone”. […]
Caritas organisations across Europe are dismayed by the results of the collapse of European migration policies. Therefore, Caritas Europa reiterates its call on European decision-makers to take a strong stand for a human-centered approach to the ongoing migration and humanitarian crisis based on the recognition that migrants and asylum seekers arriving to Europe are not […]
#WeApologise. That was the message civil society organisations delivered to people fleeing war, persecution and poverty for the lack of response from decision-makers. Signed by over 45 organisations, the open letter apologises for the absence of safe and regular channels to the EU, meaning that many people have risked their lives – or worse – […]
Eurochild calls for solidarity and leadership ahead of EU meeting of ministers In advance of the EU Ministers meeting on Monday 14 September, Eurochild, a network of children’s rights organisations with over 180 members across 35 European countries, calls on EU governments to adopt a shared response to the refugee crisis based on the European […]
