Don Bosco International as presence and voice of Salesian Congregation towards European Institutions has among its responsibilities to react to situations which go against our principles and charisma, when attacking the dignity of human beings, with especial attention to young people in risk of social exclusion.
Therefore, we have done the following Public Statements:
Statement| ELSiA’s take on COP28
After the conclusion of the 28th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28) held in Dubai from 30 November until 12 December 2023, the European Laudato Si’ Alliance (ELSiA) releases on Tuesday 19 December 2023 the following statement.
The SDB Youth Ministry Department & DBI|Statement on COP28
Christian Group on Migration | Comments on the latest position of the European Parliament on Labour Migration in view of the Trilogues
As the European Parliament and Council are working to reach a compromise on two labour migration directives (Single Permit (SP) and Long Term Residence (LTR)), the Christian Group on Migration underlines the hope for enhanced mobility and rights for third-country nationals, the prospects for efficient procedures and a broader inclusivity, which would signal a proactive stride towards reinforcing the EU’s commitment to equal treatment and integration.
European Sunday Alliance | Statement on the annual European Day for a Work-Free Sunday: Synchronised quality resting time for an improved mental health of workers – 3 March 2023
On March 3, the annual European Day for a Work-Free Sunday, within the framework of the European Sunday Alliance, DBI calls on political leaders to put as a priority on the EU social policy agenda the establishment of a European weekly common day of rest.
Video message of Don Miguel Angel Garcìa – President of DBI
DBI, COMECE, FAFCE | Contribution to the European Commission’s consultation on the European Year of Skills 2023
In our role of stakeholders and partners of the EU institutions, Don Bosco International (DBI), the Federation of Catholic Family Associations in Europe (FAFCE) and the Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of the European Union (COMECE) published a joint contribution to the European Commission’s open consultation on a European Year of Skills 2023. Our work in the areas of education and training in Brussels and the local presence of our members in the EU encourages us to contribute to the initiative launched by the President of the European Commission in September 2022. While appreciating this new initiative, especially after the European Year of Youth 2022, we would like to propose our perspective and recommendations to make the European Year of Skills more holistic and inclusive of the various aspects that characterise education and training.
EU Alliance for Investing in Children | Statement on the belated submission of the Child Guarantee National Action Plans
The 24th of March 2022 marks the first anniversary of the European Commission’s proposal to set up a European Child Guarantee. The proposal signed a landmark step forward in the legislative process that culminated with the Council’s unanimous adoption of the Child Guarantee Recommendation in June 2021. By calling on EU Member States to guarantee access to basic rights and services for children in need, the Child Guarantee represents a pivotal and timely instrument to enhance the protection of children experiencing poverty and social exclusion, laying the foundation for a stronger social and equity-driven Europe.
Over the last months, it has been up to each EU Member State to draw up their Child Guarantee national action plans to outline how the framework will concretely be implemented in their respective countries until 2030. The national action plans were expected to be submitted by the 15th of March 2022, but at the time of publication of this statement, the European Commission received only ONE complete plan and THREE drafts.
With this statement, the EU Alliance for Investing in Children aims to demand immediate attention to the delays in submitting the national action plans and offer key recommendations on the Child Guarantee and its upcoming implementation.
Don Bosco International is full partner of the Alliance and together with other partner organizations we endorse the statement to be found here.
Statement of the Christian Group on Migration on the arrival of refugees from Ukraine and the application of the Temporary Protection Directive – 23 March 2022
With a rapidly raising number of refugees fleeing Ukraine due to the Russian regime’s aggression, Europe is facing the greatest refugee movement since World War II. DBI has just released a statement, together with the Brussels-based “Christian Group on Migration”, whose member organisations represent Churches throughout Europe – Anglican, Orthodox, Protestant and Catholic – as well as Christian agencies particularly concerned with migrants, refugees and asylum seekers. As Christian organisations, we are deeply committed to the inviolable dignity of the human person created in the image of God, as well as to the concepts of the common good, global solidarity and the promotion of a society that welcomes strangers and values freedom, security and justice in policy and practice.
Statement of the European Sunday Alliance on the annual European Day for a Work-Free Sunday – 3 March 2022
On March 3, the annual European Day for a Work-Free Sunday, within the framework of the European Sunday Alliance, DBI calls on political leaders to put as a priority on the EU social policy agenda the establishment of a European weekly common day of rest.
Request for urgent support for the Covid-19 temporary TRIPS waiver – 7 July 2021
DBI co-signed a letter together with 9 more faith-based organisations and networks from Europe and Africa, calling on the European Commission’s President to agree on the WTO’s (World Trade Organization) revised decision text IP/C/W/669/Rev.1, tabled on 25 May, introducing a waiver from TRIPS (The Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights) rules for the prevention, containment and treatment of COVID-19.
Manifesto on Child Poverty and Social Inclusion in Europe – 4 May 2021
Manifesto on childpoverty and social exclusion
DBI endorsed thid Manifesto as member of the EU Alliance on Investing in Children.
European Sunday Alliance – Statement on 3 March 2021
European Day for a Work-Free Sunday 2021
Every year, the 3rd of March is the European Day for a #workfreesunday
On March 3, 321 AD, emperor Constantine decreed Sunday to be a day of rest protected by law. On the occasion of today’s 1700-year anniversary of a work-free Sunday, the European Sunday Alliance recalls the lasting value of synchronised free time – in most European countries traditionally on Sundays – and the importance of protecting it. DBI is member of the Alliance’s Steering Committee.
SDG Watch Europe – Statement on 19 February 2021
This is not enough!
Reaffirming our call for ambitious EU policies on the SDGs
SDG Watch Europe Response to the EU Commission Staff Working Document “Delivering on the
UN’s Sustainable Development Goals – A comprehensive approach”
Joint Statements on Investing in, Protecting Children and Promoting their Rights
March-June 2020
In the first semester of 2020 DBI co-drafted and endorsed a series of joint statements, together with partners of some European platforms, advocating for investing in children and promoting children’s rights. The reasons why so many statements on this topic were published over the first monhts of 2020 are mainly two: first of all, in the first semester of 2020 the European Union (EU) is finalizing its Multi-annual Financial Framework (MFF) for 2021-2027; secondly, since February 2020 the EU and its Member States are facing the consequences of Covid-19 pandemic, which is affecting in many ways millions of children and their families. Between March and June 2020 DBI was able to join the following initiatives thanks to our membership within the Eurochild platform, the EU Alliance for Investing in Children and the SDG Watch Europe platform.
March 2020 (EU Alliance for Investing in Children)
April 2020 (EU Alliance for Investing in Children)
Joint statement on protecting children and their families during and after the COVID19 crisis
May 2020 (within our participation in Eurochild’s DataCare project)
June 2020 (European Alliance on Investing in Children and SDG Watch Europe)
Call for Action for a comprehensive, sustainable Europe 2030 strategy with a strong social dimension
For a Reinforced Youth Guarantee
March 2020
On the 2nd of March 2020, Don Bosco International (DBI) participated in the Strategic Dialogue Meeting on reinforcing the Youth Guarantee. This was the first meeting on this topic organized by the DG Employment and Social Affairs of the European Commission (EC) since the beginning of the new EC mandate (December 2019 – November 2024).
In her Mission letter, President von der Leyen asks Commissioner Schmit to “reinforce the Youth Guarantee”. The initiative is now part of the Commission Work Programme for 2020. The Communication “A Strong Social Europe for Just Transitions” of 14 January 2020 stated that the new Youth Guarantee will reach out to young people, supporting them in developing skills and gaining work experience, in particular those relevant to the green and digital transitions. The European Green Deal also announced that the Youth Guarantee will be updated to enhance employability in the green economy.
The aim of the meeting was to consult Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), such as DBI, on the possible areas in which the existing Youth Guarantee could be reinforced, taking into account the identified problems and drivers. The views from the civil society will serve as valuable input for the Commission’s proposal for a Council Recommendation on reinforcing the Youth Guarantee, foreseen in the second quarter of 2020. DBI was able to draft an essential statement on how to reinforce this measure in favor of the most disadvantaged among young people.
Read the Statement of DBI on Reinforcing the Youth Guarantee
On the occasion of the International Migrant Day, 18th December, Don Bosco International, releases the policy paper “Salesian approach to Unaccompanied Minor Refugees”
Find the whole document in English here:
The Salesian Approach to Unaccompanied Minor Refugees
Find the Italian version here:
L’approccio Salesiano verso i Minori Stranieri Non Accompagnati
Find the Spanish version here:
Salesians: South Sudan, a country in its infancy, has a right to peace and development
15 July 2016
Between Sunday and Monday last, thousands of frightened people sought refuge in the Salesian mission at Gumbo, 8 km from the centre of Juba, in South Sudan, because of the resumption of armed clashes. Now the mission is home to a huge number of people: between 5,000 and 8,000 by day, a number that increases at night because many return there to sleep. And they need everything: food, water, basic necessities.
But the mission cannot cope alone with the needs of several thousand refugees, especially because of the impossibility of getting new supplies since the roads and the airport are blocked. (…)
For this reason the Salesians wish to be the voice of the voiceless, the poor people who came to the mission en masse and with virtually nothing. We therefore extend an invitation to the international community, NGOs and the general public not to turn the other way, but to act quickly in the appropriate fora, to ensure that the ceasefire holds and to persuade the rival groups to return to dialogue so that the people may enjoy their right to peace and social stability in the area.
We Salesians of Don Bosco work on the inclusion of migrants and refugees in Europe and other continents and are Concerned about the implications of the Agreement between the European Union (EU) and Turkey.Whilst recognising that it may bring a temporary improvement to a currently chaotic situation, we believe that the accelerated provisions in the Agreement go against at least the spirit of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (Art. 3, 22), the Geneva Refugee Convention (1951/1967) and the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union (Art. 18).
Since the phenomenon of irregular migration is part of the emerging European reality, we are confident that rather than being pushed back at the borders, unaccompanied minors, young people and families seeking asylum in the EU can be afforded a chance to rebuild their lives in the European Union through the provision of quality services that meet their needs.
As Salesians of Don Bosco we believe that inclusion promotes citizenship and participation in society. For us, diversity is a value and our presence in 23 EU Member States seeks to include young migrants in society, offering them educative opportunities and a high standard of services adapted to their needs, that they may have a real chance to start again in life.
Children cannot wait: 7 priority actions to protect all refugee and migrant children
29 November 2016
78 organisations active in the field of children’s rights strongly welcome that this year’s European Forum on the Rights of the Child focuses on protecting children in migration. Children represent a significant proportion of migrants and refugees. At least 1 in 3 people arriving to Greece by sea in 2016 were children. In the same year, the number of unaccompanied children arriving to Italy has doubled compared to 2015. However, actions for children have remained uneven and insufficient. Responses to migration cannot be effective or protect children unless they systematically take into account their best interests and specific needs.
Don Bosco International is not working alone in his advocacy task in Brussels. We usually cooperate with other NGOs, platforms and alliances in order to reach a higher number of policy and decision makers.
Therefore we have endorsed the following statements in coordination with other NGOs and platforms at European and International level.
Resolution of European Sunday Alliance on Digitalisation
15 November 2016
On the occasion of European Sunday Alliance Conference on 15th November 2016 we have launched a Resolution for a better work-life-balance and synchronized free time in the age of digitalization. The Resolution is aimed at activating civil society and politicians to use the opportunities for a better work-life-balance and to limit the risks created by Digitalization for the benefit of all European citizens. Don Bosco International has pledged this resolution and it is still open for signature that you can find in the link below. If willing to do so, please write us to dbi@sdb.org
A new Europe for people, planet and prosperity for all
12 September 2016
Europe is at a crossroads, and the future of European cooperation and the benefits it brings are at stake. This is about the future of our society and how we want to be viewed by the wider world. The future of our planet and the kind of Europe our children will grow up in. The current crisis highlights the urgent need to reflect on fundamental questions: how do we ensure that the European project reclaims its promise of peace, democracy and solidarity? How can Europe work for its people?
Letter to several EU leaders on the EU Migration Partnership Framework
16 June 2016
Together with Caritas Europe, Jesuit Refugee Service, Act Alliance, Churches’ Commission for Migrants in Europe and ICMC Europe we share our concerns regarding several European initiatives preventing people from coming safely to Europe to ask for protection or simply to have a better life. One example is the European Commission’s proposal on the Partnership Framework is a turning point, with the virtually complete externalisation of EU migration policies.
Full letter ChristianGroupLetterEUMigrationPartnerships