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Caritas Europa

CE

Caritas Europa is a network of 49 organizations promoting social justice and human dignity across Europe.

Lobbying Activity

Meeting with Leila Chaibi (Member of the European Parliament, Shadow rapporteur)

13 Jan 2026 · Rencontre avec les membres français de la FEANTSA

Meeting with Jan-Christoph Oetjen (Member of the European Parliament)

17 Nov 2025 · Migratory situation in Egypt

Meeting with Jan-Christoph Oetjen (Member of the European Parliament) and Amnesty International Limited and

6 Nov 2025 · Discussion on current migration policies

Meeting with Lukas Mandl (Member of the European Parliament, Rapporteur) and Save the Children Europe and

3 Nov 2025 · Interlinkage of development cooperation and migration

Meeting with Lena Düpont (Member of the European Parliament) and Deutscher Caritasverband e. V.

16 Sept 2025 · Exchange on migration and asylum

Caritas Europa calls for comprehensive EU anti-poverty strategy

27 Aug 2025
Topic — Strategy to implement European Pillar of Social Rights and achieve 2030 poverty reduction target.
Message — The strategy must address all relevant aspects of poverty through a life cycle approach. It should enhance social protection systems, ensure decent employment, prioritize affordable housing access, and mainstream anti-poverty measures into other policy areas. The organization requests practical amendments to fiscal rules and the European Semester process to allow necessary funding for anti-poverty policies.123
Why — This would enable them to expand social services and support for vulnerable populations across Europe.456
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Caritas Europa urges comprehensive EU anti-poverty strategy with binding minimum income directive

27 Aug 2025
Topic — Implementation of the European Pillar of Social Rights and achieving 2030 social targets.
Message — The organization calls for a comprehensive review of gaps in implementing all 20 EPSR principles, new legally binding initiatives including an EU directive on adequate minimum income, increased social investment through a larger post-2027 MFF, and ambitious poverty reduction targets aligned with SDG goals. They request concrete measures across employment, social protection, housing, and care services.1234
Why — This would strengthen their network's capacity to deliver social services and secure dedicated funding streams for their poverty reduction work.5678
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Caritas Europa Calls for Robust EU Civil Society Strategy

15 Aug 2025
Topic — A consultation on creating a comprehensive framework to support and protect European civil society.
Message — Caritas Europa calls for structured mechanisms and longer consultation timelines to include grassroots voices. They advocate for legislative protections and sustainable funding to counter the shrinking civic space. The group suggests assigning a representative from each Commission department to the Civil Society Platform.12
Why — This would secure long-term funding and ensure their policy input is formally recognized.3
Impact — Political groups attempting to restrict civil society would lose their power to silence critics.4
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Meeting with Sonia Vila Nunez (Cabinet of Executive Vice-President Roxana Mînzatu) and ORGANIZACION NACIONAL DE CIEGOS DE ESPAÑA and

23 Jul 2025 · Social inclusion of most vulnerable groups – overview of policies and post-2027 MFF perspectives.

Meeting with Ana Carrero (Cabinet of Commissioner Piotr Serafin) and ORGANIZACION NACIONAL DE CIEGOS DE ESPAÑA and

23 Jul 2025 · Exchange of views on the Multiannual Financial Framework proposal

Meeting with Birgit Sippel (Member of the European Parliament) and Deutscher Caritasverband e. V.

30 Jun 2025 · Return Regulation Proposal

Meeting with Hristo Petrov (Member of the European Parliament, Shadow rapporteur) and Eurochild AISBL

19 Jun 2025 · EU Anti-Poverty Strategy

Meeting with Sirpa Pietikäinen (Member of the European Parliament)

20 May 2025 · EU-Africa partnerships, Circular Economy

Meeting with Marit Maij (Member of the European Parliament) and OXFAM INTERNATIONAL EU ADVOCACY OFFICE and

14 May 2025 · Roundtable discussion on Financing for Development with MEP Charles Goerens and MEP Marit Maij

Meeting with Mélissa Camara (Member of the European Parliament) and Amnesty International Limited and

14 May 2025 · Mise en oeuvre du Pacte Asile Migration

Meeting with Jessika Roswall (Commissioner) and

13 May 2025 · Circular Economy

Meeting with Hadja Lahbib (Commissioner) and

12 May 2025 · • Commission Priorities • Caritas Europe priorities

Meeting with Sebastião Bugalho (Member of the European Parliament)

22 Apr 2025 · Human rights situation in the world

Meeting with Teresa Ribera Rodríguez (Executive Vice-President) and

15 Apr 2025 · Climate change, social justice and sustainability.

Meeting with Birgit Sippel (Member of the European Parliament, Rapporteur) and Amnesty International Limited and

14 Apr 2025 · Facilitation Directive Rapporteur's Draft (staff-level)

Meeting with Michael Karnitschnig (null Middle East, North Africa and the Gulf)

9 Apr 2025 · Exchange of views on the situation in Palestine as well as the upcoming MED Pact.

Meeting with Philippe Lamberts (Principal Adviser Inspire, Debate, Engage and Accelerate Action)

9 Apr 2025 · Advancing the beyond growth approach in EU policies

Meeting with Manuela Ripa (Member of the European Parliament)

7 Apr 2025 · Beyond Growth

Meeting with Hildegard Bentele (Member of the European Parliament, Delegation chair) and ACT Alliance Advocacy to the European Union

7 Apr 2025 · Humanitarian Situation in Gaza

Meeting with Andrea Wechsler (Member of the European Parliament)

20 Mar 2025 · EU Social Affairs policy

Meeting with Birgit Sippel (Member of the European Parliament, Rapporteur) and Amnesty International Limited and

17 Mar 2025 · Facilitation directive; entry-exit-system

Meeting with Lukas Mandl (Member of the European Parliament)

6 Mar 2025 · EU-Entwicklungspolitik und humanitäre Hilfe

Meeting with Esther Pozo Vera (Head of Unit Migration and Home Affairs) and Amnesty International Limited and

19 Feb 2025 · Consultation with civil society organisations on the review of the safe third country (STC) concept

Meeting with Marit Maij (Member of the European Parliament) and Human Rights Watch and

18 Feb 2025 · Roundtable discussion on Financing for Development

Meeting with Estrella Galán (Member of the European Parliament)

18 Feb 2025 · Meeting with Leïla Bodeux, Asylum and Migration at Caritas Europa

Meeting with Tineke Strik (Member of the European Parliament)

17 Feb 2025 · EU external migration policy

Meeting with Ingeborg Ter Laak (Member of the European Parliament)

6 Feb 2025 · Impact ENVI legislation on third-countries

Meeting with Rasmus Andresen (Member of the European Parliament)

6 Feb 2025 · Kohösionsgelder

Meeting with Rudi Kennes (Member of the European Parliament)

5 Feb 2025 · Social issues

Meeting with Elisabetta Gualmini (Member of the European Parliament)

5 Feb 2025 · ITRE Committee

Meeting with Idoia Mendia (Member of the European Parliament)

15 Jan 2025 · Meeting with Caritas

Meeting with Hadja Lahbib (Commissioner) and

12 Jan 2025 · Caritas Ukraine’s President, Ms. Stawnychy, outlined initiatives aimed at rebuilding psychosocial wellbeing among vulnerable groups. The Commissioner participated in interactive activities with children and adolescents.

Meeting with Sara Matthieu (Member of the European Parliament)

11 Dec 2024 · Hosting: Going beyond economic growth - Europe’s role in building a just economy for the common good

Meeting with Mélissa Camara (Member of the European Parliament)

21 Nov 2024 · Anti-racism

Meeting with Terry Reintke (Member of the European Parliament) and European Environmental Bureau and

21 Nov 2024 · New European Commission

Meeting with Jan-Christoph Oetjen (Member of the European Parliament)

12 Nov 2024 · Exchange on Human Rights Situation in Egypt

Meeting with Saskia Bricmont (Member of the European Parliament)

23 Oct 2024 · Migration policy

Meeting with Daniel Freund (Member of the European Parliament) and Amnesty International Limited and

16 Oct 2024 · Cooperation on LIBE related matters

Meeting with Tineke Strik (Member of the European Parliament) and Amnesty International Limited and

16 Oct 2024 · LIBE Civil Society Meeting

Meeting with Pascal Arimont (Member of the European Parliament)

15 Oct 2024 · Cohesion policy and the European Social Fund

Meeting with Lukas Mandl (Member of the European Parliament)

14 Oct 2024 · Humanitarian aid and development work

Meeting with Marit Maij (Member of the European Parliament, Rapporteur) and EUROPEAN TRADE UNION CONFEDERATION and

14 Oct 2024 · Roundtable with CSOs for input for ESF Plus

Meeting with Robert Biedroń (Member of the European Parliament)

3 Oct 2024 · Humanitarian aid - priorities

Meeting with Jana Toom (Member of the European Parliament)

2 Oct 2024 · Fighting Poverty in the EU

Meeting with Charles Goerens (Member of the European Parliament)

23 Sept 2024 · Humanitarian action and development in the EU’s external actions

Meeting with Barry Andrews (Member of the European Parliament, Committee chair) and Center for Global Development

23 Sept 2024 · DEVE Committee

Meeting with Hildegard Bentele (Member of the European Parliament)

12 Sept 2024 · International cooperation

Meeting with Miriam Lexmann (Member of the European Parliament)

12 Sept 2024 · Caritas report + priorities for the EMPL committee

Meeting with Marco Tarquinio (Member of the European Parliament)

9 Sept 2024 · International cooperation

Meeting with Lena Düpont (Member of the European Parliament)

5 Sept 2024 · Partnerships for Social Impact

Meeting with Niels Geuking (Member of the European Parliament)

3 Sept 2024 · Frieden u Demokratie in Europa

Meeting with Ana Carla Pereira (Cabinet of Commissioner Nicolas Schmit)

13 May 2024 · EU directive on minimum income

Meeting with Alexandra Geese (Member of the European Parliament) and Deutscher Caritasverband e. V.

22 Feb 2024 · Digital transformation and social services

Meeting with Radka Maxová (Member of the European Parliament)

31 Jan 2024 · NGO financing

Meeting with Udo Bullmann (Member of the European Parliament)

5 Dec 2023 · Localisation of Humanitarian Aid, protection of children during conflict

Meeting with Erik Marquardt (Member of the European Parliament, Shadow rapporteur) and Save the Children Europe and

15 Nov 2023 · CEAS and APR

Meeting with Ibán García Del Blanco (Member of the European Parliament)

29 Jun 2023 · Exchange of views on new EU-LAC partnership

Meeting with Mónica Silvana González (Member of the European Parliament)

3 May 2023 · Cooperation with Latin America

Meeting with Abir Al-Sahlani (Member of the European Parliament)

11 Apr 2023 · NGOs in EU

Meeting with Birgit Sippel (Member of the European Parliament) and European Digital Rights and EuroMed Rights / EuroMed Droits

11 Apr 2023 · Schengen Borders Code

Response to Boosting European learning mobility for all

27 Mar 2023

Research by Caritas Europa and Don Bosco International into the impact of COVID-19 restrictions on Vocational Education and Training (VET) reveals that over 57% of young people interviewed consider their education inadequate compared to before the pandemic. Young people from disadvantaged backgrounds had difficulties with e-learning and suffered from the digital divide while those with better access to technology and fast internet found it easier to continue learning. The research findings analyse 375 surveys completed by students aged 14 to 22 who rely on Caritas social services or attended VET centres run by Don Bosco in Albania, Finland, Greece, Italy, and Portugal. Based on these findings Don Bosco International and Caritas Europa formulate the following policy recommendations (full study attached): 1. The European Commission and EU Member States should increase investment through the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+) to support measures aimed at integrating disadvantaged youth and those not in education, employment, or training (NEETs) into the labour market as well as reducing school dropouts. The EU Institutions and Member States should likewise improve the inclusivity of apprenticeships to support school / training-to-work transitions, particularly in countries with weaker Vocational Education and Training (VET) systems. With the support of public and EU funding (such as ESF+, the Youth Employment Support (YES) and Horizon Europe, local authorities should promote start-ups, aimed at helping young people start their careers and acquire competencies. 2. The European Institutions and EU Member States should prioritise educational training, qualifications, and skilling of people in situations of vulnerability in order to improve their active participation in the labour market, by for instance, adapting upskilling and reskilling training to the capacities and desires of individuals and ensuring tailor-made support for NEETs. Trainings should also provide skills for the green and digital economy, within a lifelong learning framework. 3. The European Institutions and EU Member States should reinforce the Youth Guarantee through coherent actions and intergenerational solidarity. Member States should better target their policy interventions by taking into account the different characteristics and needs of the various subgroups within the NEET population, prioritising those disengaged and experiencing long-term unemployment. Cooperation between Public Employment Services and civil society organisations should be encouraged to reach out to these young people and address their motivation levels, while also building their trust and confidence in the relevant institutions. 4. The European Institutions and EU Member States should guarantee an accessible and inclusive reskilling and upskilling process for all, leaving no one behind, assuring more support to civil society organisations that play a key role in reaching young people from vulnerable and difficult socio-economic backgrounds, who are currently at risk of increased social inequalities and discriminations due to potentially elitist access during this transition. 5. The European Institutions and EU Member States should increase accessibility and social inclusion in the Erasmus+ framework in order to facilitate the participation of vulnerable and marginalised young people in the programme. The Erasmus+ financial support for mobility should be tailored according to the social economic background of families, considering also the cost of living of destination countries. Support schools and civil society organisations should implement an effective information strategy to raise awareness on Erasmus+ opportunities and funds for young people in need. 6. The European Commission should frame 2023 as the European Year of Skills in a holistic and integral manner, avoiding the portrayal of education, training and reskilling or upskilling as a means to competitiveness and employabil
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Meeting with Lena Düpont (Member of the European Parliament, Shadow rapporteur) and EKD-Büro Brüssel / EKD-Office Brussels and Jesuit Refugee Service - Europe

21 Mar 2023 · Asylum and Migration

Meeting with Marc Angel (Member of the European Parliament)

7 Mar 2023 · Social and Humanitarian Issues

Meeting with Birgit Sippel (Member of the European Parliament, Rapporteur) and Deutscher Caritasverband e. V.

28 Feb 2023 · New Pact on Migration and Asylum, in particular Screening Regulation (Staff-level)

Response to New Agenda for Latin America and the Caribbean

8 Feb 2023

Ahead of the upcoming EU-CELAC summit in July 2023, COMECE and Caritas Europa welcome the opportunity of this Have your say initiative. Together with our partners from the LAC region, we consider this an initial feedback and look forward to having other opportunities to be formally consulted and to have exchanges with EU decision-makers on EU-LAC relations before, during and after the summit. In line with the transformative principles of the 2030 Agenda, COMECE and Caritas Europa believe EU-LAC relations should be primarily about the long-term objectives of eradicating poverty, fostering sustainable and human development and pursuing social justice, while promoting peace. The EU-LAC partnership should focus on addressing structural issues that increase LAC countries overdependencies and vulnerabilities (for example in international trade or regarding climate change) and that bring disproportionate effects of global crises on populations in LAC. In practice, this means upscaling investments in the priorities of local communities and social movements in LAC and in key pillars of social justice and human rights and environmental protection: debt cancellation, corporate social responsibility, climate adaptation, social economy, agroecology, locally-led development, as well as addressing the root causes of organised crime and violence. The new EU Strategy on Latin America and the Caribbean should also acknowledge the long-standing historical, cultural and religious ties between the two regions, and promote inter-cultural and inter-religious dialogue and cooperation. At the global level, the EU and CELAC may work together for a reinvigoration of multilateralism and enhancement of global standards and procedures on key issues, such as climate protection, conflict prevention, as well as sustainable and fair trade and a human-centric and ethical development and use of modern technologies. Please refer to the attachment for our detailed recommendations for the new agenda for EU relations with LAC.
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Meeting with Javier Moreno Sánchez (Member of the European Parliament, Rapporteur)

6 Feb 2023 · Single Permit Directive

Meeting with Saskia Bricmont (Member of the European Parliament)

12 Jan 2023 · prep meeting Global Gateway Africa workshop (meeting with APA)

Meeting with Sylvie Brunet (Member of the European Parliament) and Secretariat of COMECE (Commission of the Episcopates of the European Union)

6 Dec 2022 · Revenu minimum

Meeting with Mónica Silvana González (Member of the European Parliament, Rapporteur)

13 Oct 2022 · Preparation of INI report on humanitarian aid

Meeting with Olivér Várhelyi (Commissioner)

6 Sept 2022 · IPA III

Meeting with Giulio Di Blasi (Cabinet of Commissioner Ylva Johansson) and Platform of European Social NGOs and Housing Europe - European Federation for Public, Cooperative and Social Housing

2 Sept 2022 · Ukraine Safe Homes Initiative

Meeting with Ana Carla Pereira (Cabinet of Commissioner Nicolas Schmit)

19 Jul 2022 · European Care Strategy

Meeting with Nicolas Schmit (Commissioner) and

29 Jun 2022 · European Care Strategy, Minimum Wages, Social economy.

Meeting with Ylva Johansson (Commissioner) and

29 Jun 2022 · The consequences of the war in Ukraine, external borders and resettlement.

Meeting with Birgit Sippel (Member of the European Parliament, Rapporteur)

23 Jun 2022 · Caritas Europa webinar welcoming refugees

Meeting with Delara Burkhardt (Member of the European Parliament)

1 Jun 2022 · Migration

Meeting with Nicolas Schmit (Commissioner) and

1 Jun 2022 · Social economy, minimum income, fighting poverty, minimum wages, Care strategy.

Meeting with Lena Düpont (Member of the European Parliament, Shadow rapporteur) and International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and

19 Apr 2022 · Asylum and Migration

Response to Proposal for a Council Recommendation on long-term care

28 Mar 2022

An enabling EU vision, framework and strategy to address care challenges Caritas Europa members provide care services as well as social counselling services, which play a crucial role in informing people about the existence of care services and how to access them. We are working with our member organisations on fair care. This refers to training and working conditions of care workers, demanding greater recognition of this sector. Solutions should ensure a strong link to the EU’s legal migration channels to fill increasing labour market gaps. Access to social protection and fair working conditions for all care workers, including migrants, should be guaranteed. Sanctions are needed against recruitment agencies and employers who rely on undeclared work. Caritas is working to raise attention to these many problems by exchanging practices and challenges on the ground, and contributing with solutions and advocacy, see more here: https://www.euractiv.com/section/economy-jobs/opinion/the-carers-in-our-own-homes-areessential-workers-too/ Based on this experience, we believe that care services should enable persons with support needs to live independently, to be active, to participate fully in society and have a decent quality of life. Quality care and support services must respond to the individual needs of those drawing on such services. Such services are provided in complementarity with other services through integrated approaches, e.g., to deliver seamless transitions between social care, healthcare, housing, employment, etc.. Delivering quality services can only be guaranteed by investing in staff quality and quantity. An EU Care Strategy should set an EU quality framework and create a Care Guarantee, empowering social care providers to deliver on the shift to person-centred and community-based services. Such a strategy should include: • A strategic vision, setting out the direction for social care providers towards home and community-based provision of care services • Promotion of the basic right to social, medical and home care • Provision of timely access to affordable, high-quality and appropriate care services for all persons in need of care in the EU • Applying and monitoring quality indicators to measure social impact focused on quality-of-life principles • Promoting social innovation through partnerships between public authorities, social care providers and service users in an integrated way, considering both institutional and home care services • Investing in digital technologies and ensuring sustainable funding • Modernising social infrastructure • Using the EU’s strategic advantages of a strong not-for-profit/social economy sector and an 11-million-person workforce • Creating attractive jobs, good and safe working conditions with access to social protection • Ensuring the choice of providers by enabling plurality and fair competition • Integrating home care programmes into professional health care training • Enhancing volunteerism in social care Quality indicators should guarantee access, availability, affordability and adequacy of care services in an integrated approach. This will require initiatives in the following areas: • Ensure a work-family life balance, allowing informal carers to take up informal caring for family members and others. • Promote healthy lifestyles, increasing the chances to postpone people’s need for care • Invest in community-based services/home care services, allowing people in need of care to stay (longer) in their own home, and supporting informal carers. • Prioritise not-for-profit provision of care, ensuring a focus on quality care and care work, not on profits and private marketisation. • Set quality standards of care services and organise quality control, in particular for elderly care and childcare. • Ensure availability of care services, addressing the rural/urban divide in provision of services. • Ensure affordability through a collective insurance and service users’ contribution
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Response to Recommendation on minimum income

25 Mar 2022

The Covid crisis has shown the need for and importance of well-performing social protection systems. Adequate minimum income systems play a key role as last resort/safety net in a social protection system. It is also an indicator of the performance of a social protection system and labour market. In an ideal situation nobody would have to apply for a minimum income, because they would have a secured income out of labour, disability payment or on basis of built-up social rights, such as a retirement pension. The European Pillar of Social Rights and its Action Plan have given impetus to strengthening social rights and social protection systems across the EU. There is still a lot of divergence between the various national social protection systems, and it will take time to make them disappear. It is therefore of crucial importance that at least minimum income systems, as last safety net, are adequate. However, we observe wide disparities across the EU in minimum income provision. National minimum income systems have various weaknesses, such as coverage: age and residence requirements exclude groups of people from accession to minimum income. The adequacy of minimum income levels and measures to update those levels also need to be improved for the minimum income system to effectively have a poverty-reducing effect. Non take-up is another big challenge: eligible people do not apply for minimum income because they are not aware of, do not know how to apply or don’t have access to a computer or internet. Others receive a negative decision because of mistakes in their application. The interaction between minimum income provision, labour market integration and coordination with enabling services also needs improvement and should meet minimum standards. Minimum income schemes should be part of an ecosystem enabling beneficiaries to independently support themselves and their families again, e.g. support to reintegrate into the labour market, benefits and services indispensable to live a dignified life must be accessible, granted unconditionally and without any obligations to those in need. Caritas Europa position A Council Recommendation on minimum income will not have a massive impact on the quality of national minimum income systems, while such quality upgrade is necessary for the EU to reach its target of reducing the number of persons at-risk-of poverty and social exclusion by at least 15 million in 2030 or, even better reach the SDG poverty target of reducing poverty by 50% by 2030. Additional policy guidance and identification of best practices to support Member States’ efforts can be useful but have proven not effective enough and contribute insufficiently to the implementation of principle 14 of the EPSR. We therefore recommend that the Council Recommendation includes a call on the EC to present a proposal for framework directive setting quality standards for minimum income systems, in line with earlier Council Recommendations and Conclusions. Caritas Europa proposes the elements to be included in such directive in its position paper (attached). A directive can respect the principle of subsidiarity and different social models throughout the EU. It is necessary, also for the credibility of the EU, to make significant social progress and implement the principles of the EPSR. The Covid crisis has shown the need for it, the measures taken to address the consequences of the Covid crisis have shown that new adequate solutions can be found if the political will is there. The EU and its member states should make use of this momentum now.
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Meeting with Lena Düpont (Member of the European Parliament, Shadow rapporteur) and International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and

15 Mar 2022 · Asylum and Migration

Meeting with Helena Dalli (Commissioner) and

21 Feb 2022 · Keynote speech during launch event of the Caritas CARES! European Poverty Report.

Meeting with Jutta Urpilainen (Commissioner) and Climate Action Network Europe and

1 Feb 2022 · Roundtable with CSO: Preparation of the AU-EU Summit and the Africa-Europe Week 2022

Meeting with Sylvie Guillaume (Member of the European Parliament) and Jesuit Refugee Service - Europe

21 Sept 2021 · Directive retour et Reglement Procédure d'asile

Response to Draft Delegated Act defining a methodology for reporting social expenditure

19 Aug 2021

When reviewing the methodology for reporting on social expenditure, listed in the annex, I wondered why there is not also a category to monitor Roma or other minority groups in the same way there is a the mainstreaming of children and the youth, and on gender equality. There was a reference to the contribution to the National Roma Strategies and the EU Anti-racism Action Plan, but how will these be monitored if not included in the annex and overview of possible populations to monitor? Perhaps, there is a way to monitor this that I am not aware of? Regarding the monitoring of the Social category: Social policies: 9. Social protection, including social services and integration of vulnerable group, I think it could be interesting to monitor also if a specific individualised, targeted approach is applied versus a general social service response. With such an indicator, it could be relevant to monitor the impact/success rate of the intervention and funding allocated to this purpose, since tailored measures prove more successful. Relative to the Social category: Health and long-term care, it is somewhat unfortunate that there is not an ability to link the long-term care concerns also with the Social category: Employment and skills as well as the Social category: Education and childcare, since the long-term care sector is in dire need of modernizing and the care workers are in need of further training and qualifications. Is there anyway to triangulate this by referencing their interconnectedness in the description of the regulation?
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Response to Delegated act framing the programming of the Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument (NDICI)

28 May 2021

Given the mission, impact and value of the EU’s development cooperation and the growing needs due to the socio-economic consequences of the Covid-19 pandemic, we urge the European Commission to translate the principle of leaving no one behind into all initiatives funded by the NDICI/Global Europe instrument, by making the reduction of inequalities a high priority in all sub-regions and by mainstreaming it across all programmes. This should include heavily investing in human development, especially through activities aimed at strengthening social protection systems and at enhancing access to quality public education and healthcare services. This should also include promoting local private sector development and improving the business environment through local markets and actors and sustainable and inclusive business models such social economy enterprises and cooperatives. More broadly, it is crucial that all objectives for all sub-regions are strictly aligned with partner countries’ priorities and national development plans, directly contributing to poverty reduction, and respecting the principle of Policy Coherence for Sustainable Development. Caritas Europa also strongly recommends that all Global Europe initiatives are undertaken in consultation and collaboration with local civil society actors.
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Response to Social Economy Action Plan

23 Apr 2021

Caritas Europa (CE) welcomes the opportunity to give feedback on the roadmap on the European Action Plan for Social Economy. For CE, social economy organisations play an essential role in building an inclusive labour market and in fostering a human-centred economy, where the main function of the economy is to serve people. Given the mission, impact and value of social economy actors and the growing significance of the social economy sector in Europe and around the world, we urge the Commission to ensure that the Action Plan: builds upon the Toledo Declaration and following declarations on the Social and Solidarity Economy; acknowledges the importance of both the internal and external dimensions of the social economy; and has for its core objective to support and promote all social economy actors in their development and as strategic partners, supporting EU Member States and partner countries in significantly scaling-up their actions in the social economy. Whilst there were many good suggestions put forward in the roadmap, they were only mentioned to a limited extent. There were also many recommendations that were missing. CE would therefore like to suggest more detailed recommendations for consideration by the Commission, including to: • Develop a common EU definition of the social economy, with clear criteria defining “green” and “social” practices, to facilitate the monitoring, mapping and measuring of the social, economic and environmental impact of social economy organisations. This would foster a better understanding of the social economy sector and avoid both green and social washing. • Develop a common EU definition of social economy enterprises (SEEs) and help Member States to design consistent legal and regulatory frameworks on SEEs that would bring coherence and transparency to all. • Improve access to EU funding and investment for all social economy actors, particularly in the mobilisation of InvestEU and in the Recovery and Resilience Facility. This funding should be in the form of grants, affordable loans and temporary tax exemptions so that different types of funds are available for different types of social economy actors. • Foster a conducive ecosystem for the growth of the social economy at all levels in Europe, with effective legal, economic and political dimensions, as well as stronger models of cooperation within the social economy ecosystem, to foster innovation, create quality job opportunities, encourage active participation, and generate social, economic and environmental benefits at the local level. • Increase the visibility, recognition and significance of the social economy sector through better research, monitoring, evaluation and communication. A permanent monitoring, mapping and evaluation system would enable regular, up-to-date and comparable data on the varied social economy organisations and the added value of the sector’s social, economic and environmental impact. • Consolidate and strengthen a permanent and structured dialogue between the EU Institutions and social economy actors to regularly assess the barriers to their development. • Build upon the strong social economy tradition in many EU countries and share the EU experience globally, promoting the models of social economy through international partnerships and development cooperation, trade, investment, economic diplomacy, and global platforms and multilateral fora. This should apply to EU partner countries of all regions. Especially in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, the European Green Deal, the implementation of the European Pillar of Social Rights and in building an “Economy that works for people”, the EU needs to make all possible efforts to maximise the potential of the social economy and its actors, who are distinctively equipped to address social inequalities and environmental degradation, promote social inclusion, foster resilience and community-led development and help achieve the SDGs, both within and beyond Europe.
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Meeting with Ylva Johansson (Commissioner) and

29 Mar 2021 · Migration management on Lesvos

Meeting with Lena Düpont (Member of the European Parliament, Shadow rapporteur) and International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and Platform for International Cooperation on Undocumented Migrants

23 Feb 2021 · return directives and migration

Caritas Europa warns new migration pact risks human rights

18 Jan 2021
Topic — The consultation concerns the European Commission's proposal for a New Pact on Migration and Asylum.
Message — They want stronger family rules and to stop using first-entry points for processing applications. They also call for mandatory relocation to ensure fair responsibility sharing.123
Why — These changes would ensure humane conditions and protect their members’ humanitarian work from criminalization.45
Impact — EU governments opposing refugee quotas lose the ability to choose deportation assistance instead of relocation.6
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Caritas Europa Urges Stricter Rules for Migration Crisis Derogations

18 Jan 2021
Topic — A regulation defining emergency exceptions to EU asylum and migration rules.
Message — The organization demands narrowing exceptions to ensure they apply only in truly exceptional situations. They advocate defining force majeure and maintaining the possibility of granting immediate protection.12
Why — This ensures their member organizations can effectively advocate for asylum seekers' legal rights.3
Impact — Member States lose the flexible power to bypass asylum obligations during migration influxes.4
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Caritas Europa warns against mass detention under new migration pact

18 Jan 2021
Topic — The consultation addresses the European Commission's new proposal for a Migration and Asylum Pact.
Message — The organization calls for access to legal aid and remedies to challenge debriefing outcomes. They recommend providing independent oral counseling and ending the systematic use of detention. Finally, they seek to remove return sponsorship as a possible solidarity measure.123
Why — This would reduce the legal and humanitarian burden on their frontline member organizations.4
Impact — Member States wanting to avoid refugee transfers would lose the return sponsorship alternative.5
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Caritas Europa Urges Human Rights Priority in Migrant Returns

12 Jan 2021
Topic — The EU is consulting on a strategy for sustainable voluntary migrant return and reintegration.
Message — Caritas Europa demands that voluntary return should always prevail over forced return and be tailor-made. They insist that withdrawing social benefits should not be used as a return incentive.12
Why — Adopting these standards would increase funding and institutional support for the organization’s reintegration networks.3
Impact — Member States would lose the ability to expedite deportations through detention and reduced social protections.4
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Meeting with Nicolas Schmit (Commissioner) and

18 Sept 2020 · Meeting on social and employment policies in Europe, on the social dimension of the Green Deal as well as on housing and anti-poverty.

Caritas Europa Urges Human Rights-First EU Migration Pact

27 Aug 2020
Topic — This consultation addresses the creation of a comprehensive EU asylum and migration framework.
Message — Caritas Europa calls for a shift from security-focused policies to a system that prioritizes human rights and solidarity. They recommend ending mandatory border detention and expanding safe, legal routes for migrants and refugees.123
Why — Adopting these policies would validate Caritas’s social work and promote more welcoming European societies.4
Impact — Governments focused on deterrence would lose the ability to use development aid for border control.5
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Meeting with Johannes Hahn (Commissioner)

28 Jul 2020 · MFF, support to civil society and NGOs

Meeting with Astrid Dentler (Cabinet of Vice-President Dubravka Šuica)

15 Jul 2020 · Report on the Impact of Demographic Change Green Paper on Ageing Rights of the elderly Challenges of the care sector

Meeting with Jutta Urpilainen (Commissioner)

9 Jun 2020 · Presentation of the Caritas work in the field of human development, Africa-EU relations and migration.

Meeting with Ylva Johansson (Commissioner) and

5 May 2020 · Migrants’ challenges in the current COVID-19 crisis and their contribution to economic recovery

Meeting with Ylva Johansson (Commissioner) and

20 Feb 2020 · Consultations on the New Pact on Migrations

Meeting with Diederik Samsom (Cabinet of Executive Vice-President Frans Timmermans) and European Youth Forum and

19 Feb 2020 · European Green Deal

Meeting with Ylva Johansson (Commissioner) and

17 Feb 2020 · Consultations on the New Pact on Migrations

Meeting with Ylva Johansson (Commissioner) and

12 Feb 2020 · New Pact on Migration

Meeting with Ylva Johansson (Commissioner) and Amnesty International Limited and

6 Feb 2020 · Discussions on the New Pact on Migration

Meeting with Ylva Johansson (Commissioner) and

4 Feb 2020 · Discussion on the New Pact on Migration

Meeting with Ana Carla Pereira (Cabinet of Commissioner Nicolas Schmit)

22 Jan 2020 · implementation of the Social pilar

Response to More efficient law-making in social policy: identification of areas for an enhanced move to qualified majority voting

16 Jan 2019

Caritas Europa, a network of 49 member organisations in 46 countries across the European continent, working with people of all faiths to end poverty and to promote the dignity of all people. is in favour of moving to qualified majority voting in the Council, where the possibility is foreseen in article 153 TFEU, and therefore welcomes the initiative of the Commission. Caritas Europa believes that it is of crucial importance to make maximum use of the provisions to simplify the decision –making procedure, to improve democratic decision making in the EU and to strengthen social governance. EU legislation often constitutes the lowest common denominator of the individual Member States’ own national legislation, mainly due to the current requirement for unanimity voting at EU level. The qualified majority voting principle allows and intensifies the discussion and negotiations. The European Union has gradually become a social union and deserves the most effective decision making procedure available under the current Treaties. The social dimension of the EU was recently reinforced by the proclamation of the European Pillar of Social Rights and the EU Institutional framework should reflect that ambition in its decision making provisions. Based on growing awareness and new insights, it is clear now that economic objectives (internal market, economic and monetary union) and social objectives are interdependent. Economic integration should be accompanied and reinforced by social integration. Moving to qualified majority voting in the Council, making use of the passerelle clause is a useful and necessary step in this process, without changing the current balance of competences between EU and Member States. The importance of the European social model for the future of European integration must be stressed, as must the importance of the market economy being socially and environmentally responsible. Economic and institutional integration must be accompanied by democratic and social integration. The enjoyment and protection of universal rights which guarantee protection against social exclusion and are not linked with paid labour is very important. The European Union’s policies have an increasing degree of impact on social policy developments at the national, regional and local levels.
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Response to Evaluation of EU’s emergency trust fund for stability and addressing root causes of migration in Africa

7 Dec 2018

Caritas Europa (CE) welcomes this feedback on the MTE of the EUTF. Our members have been involved in development projects funded under the EUTF. CE suggests the evaluation should note the following: 1 Assess how the architecture of the EUTF is impacting quality and scope of development projects. -The EUTF, through the stated goal of addressing the ‘root causes of irregular migration and displaced persons in Africa’, has linked issues of development to issues of migration management. There is a concrete risk that development projects (such as on food security, water sanitation, resilience, etc) that do not incorporate a migration management component may be less likely to be funded, or rather be funded only in areas that are strategic from a migration point of view (e.g. Niger).Risk is that regions where migration is not considered a priority could less likely receive development funding: migration patterns, instead of the needs of countries and regions, risk determining the allocation of aid.Those risks demand a careful assessment. -The need by the European Commission for immediate, ‘concrete’ results has, in some cases, led to improvised and rushed planning of the first phase of the EUTF.Such an approach also encourages more of a short-term approach to structural development actions that, instead would require long-term planning, extensive reflection and a long-term view. The impact of such an approach should be evaluated. -It is important to ensure that EUTF actions are not driven by EU security&foreign policy concerns but rather respond to the needs and priorities of the countries & communities where those projects are implemented. This should be assessed. 2 Assess alignment of EUTF with EU’s fundamental values and principles. -Importance of ensuring that all actions funded under the EUTF incorporate a commitment to protect and advance human rights, in particular for those actions that refer to the fight against trafficking and irregular migration as well as to border management. -Importance of ensuring that the EUTF fully respects the internationally-agreed principles of development effectiveness. Also, a strong mechanism to ensure DAC-ability of most of the EUTF resources should be in place – in line with rules governing the European Development Fund. 3 Assess level of consultation and engagement of civil society (CSOs) both in Europe and in the Global South -In some contexts, civil society was not meaningfully engaged in the early stages of defining the EUTF programs. It is important to assess whether CSOs, both in Europe and in target regions, have been meaningfully involved in EUTF activities, not only in the latter’s implementation but also in their conceptualization and design. -Particularly in countries lacking strong democratic institutions and processes, it is important to ensure that local communities, authorities and civil society are consulted and involved in the process in a substantial manner. -It is important to assess and evaluate the level of transparency of the EUTF processes: which stakeholders have been engaged in the definition of the programs and the priorities, transparency around the allocation of funds (calls for proposals), transparency of the selection processes, etc. 4 Assess coherence and balance of EUTF activities, in particular on migration management -Important to ensure that migration management activities do not produce results that are against existing legal frameworks and/or hamper socio-economic development (e.g. implementation of law 2015-36 in Niger and its adverse effects on freedom of circulation in the ECOWAS region). -Important to ensure that migration management activities not only include repressive actions (border management, repression of smuggling and smuggling and trafficking activities, assisted voluntary return) but also pro-active ones (promotion of safe and regular migration, including seasonal/circular migration, fpr study, labor, family).
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Meeting with Nils Behrndt (Cabinet of Vice-President Neven Mimica) and OXFAM INTERNATIONAL EU ADVOCACY OFFICE and

4 Oct 2017 · Financing for development cooperation

Meeting with Mathieu Briens (Cabinet of Commissioner Christos Stylianides)

12 Apr 2017 · Refugee crisis

Meeting with Marianne Thyssen (Commissioner) and

28 Apr 2016 · Pauvreté en Europe et des moyens de lutte contre ce fléau grandissant

Meeting with Philippos Savvides (Cabinet of Commissioner Christos Stylianides)

22 Dec 2015 · exchange of views on current situation and cabs future actions

Meeting with Claus Sorensen (Director-General European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations)

8 May 2015 · Current Humaniatrian issues, Ukraine Crisis, WHS