Jim Dearlove, Mary Foy and Paul Edwards in Barcelona

The MCW's NEC had prepared the English delegates' contribution to the questions posed for discussion. These included ‘What is the situation of migrants in your country?'; ‘Are people afraid of any of these groups?'; ‘How does your government tackle the view of migrants?' and ‘What is the response of the Church in your country to migrants?'Our preparation included noting that England had been a country of migration and settlement throughout its history. We also identified both the positives and negatives attributed to migration including the gaining of skills and sharing cultures whilst difficulties arose because of the strain put on current infrastructure not developed to meet the new demands of changing needs. The Catholic Bishops' Conference Policy Paper ‘Mission of the Church to Migrants in England & Wales' as well as our past enquiries on the Gospel's provocation to welcome and be in solidarity with the widow, the stranger and the orphan assisted us in our contribution to the seminar's deliberations.

In addition the MCW's responsibility for providing the Saturday Morning Spiritual Over 4 days of open sessions and group discussions the main focus of their deliberations was ‘Migration & Mobility (legal and illegal) of Workers in Europe'. This seminar was a follow-up from the Seville Declaration on Migration in Europe which was written in May 2007 at which Liz Meagher and Jim Dearlove were present.

Reflection focused on this challenge using readings from Deuteronomy 10:18-19; Luke 10:25-37 as well as part of a verse written from a migrant's perspective entitled ‘Home is home & bush is bush' from ‘Celebrating One World' booklet.

Arising out of the various discussions and presentations our delegation made three particular reflections:

• Although we were examining migration from a European perspective its worldwide context could not be ignored. Whilst some European countries spoke of the difficulties of hosting migrants it was important to remember that much poorer African countries were hosting most of the world's population of migrants.
• Much of the tension and struggle within our countries arose because our governments were failing to address the poverty and hardshipsuffered, many over generations, by our indigenous and settled communities whether in paid employment or without work.
• The governments of those countriesfrom where people were migrating had to take responsibility for their own policies instead of turning a blind eye to the circumstances of their communities.

Whilst these contextual issues remained unaddressed people who struggled and endeavoured to keep themselves and their families alive, fed, housed and in health in whatever and however way they could would remain the victim, the individual to be blamed.

The French and Portuguese delegations brought to our attention the moves afoot for the European Commission to ‘harmonise legislation' on illegal migration. This they emphasised was not to protect people's human rights but to simply improve the effectiveness of expulsion. What this included was a proposal to hold people in detention as a control i.e. an internment of migrants - an approach which runs contrary to the values founded through the reconstruction of Europe in the wake of the 2^nd World War. Thus they called upon the MEPs to refuse to vote in favour of this move so as to defend the fundamental values and liberty of people. With elections for our MEPs coming soon perhaps this is one question to be posed; where do they stand on internment for migrants?

The Barcelona Declaration, a document produced as a fruit of the various and wide ranging discussions from the seminar will be available soon. Don't forget to look for it on the MCW website www.mcworkers.org