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s2smodern

Interview with JRS-E Director.

Jean-Marie Carrière, SJ arrived to Brussels in 2013 to become Director of the Jesuit Refugee Service - Europe. He came from Paris where he was Bible Professor at the Centre Sèvres. JRS was not new for him as he had been country director of JRS France between 2006 and 2012. Now at the end of his mandate in Brussels he offers some reflections and experience in leading projects for refugees and forced migrants in Europe.

You came to Brussels after being Director in JRS-France. Which differences did you find when you arrive to JRS-Europe?

In the French Province, it was the beginning of JRS, everything was possible, imagination had the power, I had to adapt projects to the reality of refugees in France. Hence the Welcome project, and the reflexion on hospitality. At the level of JRS Europe, the history was already long, and common European projects were implemented: the conversion has been from imagination (as in Ignatius permanent attitude) to something more like management. With Michael Schöpf, I learned a lot about the European level, from the position of a country director; and so, some intuition of the European challenge was already in my mind, which had then to be realistically confronted at the level of the network of the JRSs.

What are the main challenges you have had to deal with in JRS-Europe?

We have had the chance – and I say: a chance – to see a great number of refugees arriving at the shores of Europe, and moving fast through national spaces to reach a place and a country they dream of. These movements push JRS in Europe to adapt to a humanitarian emergency attitude, which was not our usual type of services. But more, to adapt also to the rapid change of situations and conditions: now, no more emergency, but people stranded or numerous refugees in the process of integration. 

At the level of JRS Europe one challenge I appreciate: how to think and act in a European way, together as country offices, to accompany, serve and advocate refugees and forcibly displaced persons. And for the regional office, how to offer an effective service to the country directors (projects, funding, initiatives). 

What are the main achievements that JRS-Europe has done in the last years?

Dedicated to the accompaniment of refugees as an apostolic work of the Society, we are in fact more mobilised to respond to the challenges and the projects to build and implement. 

The concerned JRSs in Europe have given an excellent response to the movements of refugees, with the help of a good Skype coordination. JRS in Greece, in Macedonia, in Hungary are on the way to be effective and work really well. More, the booklet Journeys of Hope (available at JRS Europe website in 5 languages) has let hear the voices of refugees. 

The turn from emergency to integration challenges is now on the way, especially with the interesting 15 education projects all over the country offices, in line with the Global Education Initiative at the level of JRS worldwide. And with the relocation process between Greece and Portugal, which is a model for all country offices in Europe. 

Looking to the future, how the situation of Refugees in Europe will evolve in next years? How is JRS-Europe helping to change it for better?

As I already said, the future of refugees and forcibly displaced people is in the integration process, which will last long. JRS Europe helps for this process through different services, but especially with education projects. 

Policy-makers and medias put a strong accent on resistant public opinion, which is only 20% of the polls – and this means that the great majority of the national populations are opened to welcoming refugees, as we see it in Germany, France, Portugal … and through many civil society interesting initiatives. JRS in Europe supports this spirit through the « Best Practices » project. 

In terms of advocacy, JRS Europe concerns are, first, the legal and secure access to protection in Europe, an issue that the common European project « Protection at external borders » is dealing with. And, second, the reform of the Common European Asylum System, which presents good points together with unacceptable restrictions. Please note that advocacy is not the task of only the regional office in Brussels, but also the pressure on national governments in the countries. 

Displacement is now a worldwide and large reality, to which we, in Europe, are not yet accustomed: JRS Europe should link more with other JRS regions also confronted with the same phenomena as well as with Jesuit apostolic works also concerned in the Provinces of the European conference. 

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