Participants share country experiences, relating to the EU Asylum and Migration Pact.

BRUSSELS — Churches and Christian organizations' advocates from across Europe gathered on 9–11 June in Brussels for the Churches’ Commission for Migrants in Europe (CCME) Advocacy Training 2026, held at CCME's headquarters. The training arrived at a defining moment: on 12 June 2026, the European Union (EU) Pact on Migration and Asylum entered into full application. Comprising ten interlocking legislative acts adopted in May 2024, the Pact fundamentally reshaped how Europe screens and processes people seeking protection. The European Commission's progress report of 8 May 2026 confirmed that while Member States had advanced significantly, sustained efforts would be needed to fully operationalise the new framework (Sources: euaa.europa.eu; home-affairs.ec.europa.eu, 8 May 2026).

“Since discussions on the Pact began, we have asked if and how it will work in practice. One day before it should be implemented, many member states are far from being ready. Much will remain wishful thinking and many provisions were bad right from the beginning – take processing at the border as an example. It is likely that the most vulnerable, all those seeking protection in Europe, will have to pay the price for this. This training is a commitment and tool for CCME and members to try to monitor the pact implementation and engage in damage control, where possible. However, we are certain that a solution for the European asylum and migration challenge cannot be based on a system of dissuasion, deterrence and curtailing right. What is needed is a system which protects people more than boarders,” CCME General Secretary Dr Torsten Moritz commented at the end of training.

Training Civil Society at a Critical Juncture

For CCME, the Pact's launch marked the beginning of a new advocacy opportunity. With several Member States still working to bring national systems into compliance and critical gaps acknowledged by the European Commission, the role of independent civil society has never been more urgent. The training prepared participants to act in precisely this environment, drawing on expert sessions covering EU decision-making, advocacy strategy, and practical techniques for small organisations. Days 2 and 3 moved from theory to action: participants met EU policymakers directly, then returned to refine their strategies, present their advocacy plans, and commit to next steps, including through CCME's flagship campaign, "Protecting People More Than Borders."

Voices from the Training: Participant Testimonies

The following testimonies were gathered from participants following the conclusion of the training on 11 June 2026.

Stefanie Gabuyo, World Methodist Council Youth and Young Adult committee chair and European Methodist Council support officer, said she was "grateful for the opportunity to learn more about advocacy, to listen to others working across Europe, and to meet policymakers. The experience helped me see more clearly how churches and faith-based organisations can contribute not only through welcome and practical support, but also by asking questions of justice, transparency, and accountability." She added that the training "connects closely with my own work in migration, community engagement, peacebuilding, and young adult formation. I leave the training with a stronger sense that advocacy is part of our Christian witness: to protect people, to defend dignity, and to help build communities shaped by compassion and justice."

Vereb Kata, service manager and refugee project manager for the Hungarian Reformed Charity Service, said that the training was an opportunity for her to find a group of people "who genuinely care—people who are kind to one another, highly committed to their work, and very professional." She said that she appreciated the level of honesty in the discussions. "We (participants and expert speakers) openly talked about the challenges, the shortcomings within the system, and the realities we face in our work. I was impressed by how everyone represented their own country while also making an effort to understand the challenges faced by others, particularly in relation to working with refugees and implementing the EU Asylum and Migration Pact."

Kerk in Actie Liaison Specialist for international churches (migrant churches) Shadi Haddad said that for his work back in the Netherlands, "the training has strengthened my understanding of how local experiences of migrant communities and migrant churches can be connected to national and European policy discussions. It has also encouraged me to think more strategically about advocacy and coalition-building. These (advocacy)communication tools will be particularly useful in my work at Kerk in Actie, where building support, creating partnerships, and advocating for migrant communities often depends on the ability to communicate clearly and effectively." He added that the training reminded him that "good advocacy is not only about having a strong cause, but also about telling the story in a way that people can understand, relate to, and act upon."

Looking Ahead

The CCME Advocacy Training 2026 concluded on 11 June, just a day before the EU Pact's entry into application. Participants left Brussels not only with a deeper understanding of the EU machinery, but with a personal plan for engaging it. For an organisation whose mandate was rooted in the dignity and rights of migrants and refugees, ensuring that independent, value-driven voices remained present in Brussels, and in national capitals, throughout the implementation process was a matter of profound importance.

The training is supported by the Evangelische Kirche im Rheinland (EKiR) and EKHN.

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