Statement on Migration: JPIC Promoters Europe
Meeting of the Promotors of Justice and Peace, Order of Preachers – Europe
Vienna, 1–5 June 2025
The Promotors of Justice and Peace of the Dominican Order in Europe reflected deeply on the theme of migration in relation to the economy. Our discussions were shaped by the conviction that migration must not be reduced to a question of policy alone, but must also recognize the aspirations, dignity, and lived realities of human beings.
Migration is not only a policy issue; it is a human issue. People move not merely as economic agents or political actors, but as individuals with hopes, struggles, and a desire for a meaningful life. The current framing of discussion about migration policies in the EU, however, often criminalises poverty and the search for safety or opportunity.
We asked: Do our migration policies promote human dignity, or do they criminalise human movement?
We expressed deep concern over the systematic exploitation of migrant labour, especially where minimum wage structures allow for undervalued and precarious employment. As long as economic systems benefit from cheap labour while denying full protection, migration remains entangled with economic injustice. Also, the CCPCJ of the United Nations in Vienna condemned this situation of injustice.
We also noted with alarm recent developments in EU-level discussions aiming to restrict or dismantle the right to asylum, for example, the ‘push-back actions’ at the borders and other externalisation practices. We believe that such shifts represent a moral and legal regression, undermining the principles of protection and solidarity that lie at the heart of international law and Christian teaching.
As agents of justice, we are called to advocate for policies that uphold the fullness of the human person, not merely their utility to the economy or their legal status. In line with with what Pope Francis said in Fratelli Tutti:
“Complex challenges arise when our neighbour happens to be an immigrant. Ideally, unnecessary migration ought to be avoided” (no. 129); yet to ban it outright is to deny people their basic rights when they lack safe and legal pathways.
We propose the following:
- European migration policy must integrate the aspirations of migrants, not only the interests of states.
- EU development aid should aim to strengthen livelihood resilience rather than reinforce border security.
- Policy co-design is essential: migrants, regardless of race, religion, or sex, must have a voice in shaping the policies that affect their lives.
As Dominicans committed to truth and justice, we urge all stakeholders to resist simplistic narratives and pursue policies rooted in compassion and reality. A just and humane Europe listens, includes, and dignifies all people, especially those on the move.
Migration is not just a matter of borders, but of belonging.
