Savona. On Thursday 9 May from 3pm the Caritas of the Diocese of Savona-Noli, together with the Municipality and other third sector partners, is organizing the second edition of the Europe Day. In Corso Italia, precisely between via Vegerio and Cesare Battisti, it will be possible to walk among handcrafting, face painting or entertainment stalls and information stands offered by local associations or to raise awareness about the next European elections and Savona’s candidacy as Italian Capital of Culture 2027 , the latter curated by the children who have joined the Path for Transversal Skills and Orientation proposed by Eurodesk Savona.
It will be an event open to all to remember our rights and duties as European citizens and “the opportunity to talk to the community about the Europe of Peace project that we dream of and want to achieve”, as Marco Berbaldi, president of the ComunitàServizi Foundation, writes in Il Letimbro , which manages diocesan charitable services. “Politics is the highest form of charity” is the message taken up several times by the social doctrine of the Church and which has been handed down since Pope Pius Catholic University. “On the eve of the European elections, this message should vibrate strongly in our consciences, encouraging us to exercise our vote, a right and duty that must always be defended and affirmed, with renewed awareness and participation,” states Berbaldi.
“Our diocesan Caritas recognizes itself in the words of the Manifesto for Europe promoted by Caritas Italiana, Catholic Action, Focsiv and Missio during the Summer School Acting EurHope 2017 – he states – In the recent declaration of the bishops of the Commission of the Episcopal Conferences of the European Union it is underlined that ‘a Europe united in diversity, strong, democratic, free, peaceful, prosperous and just is a peace project’. In this month that separates us from the elections we will strive to raise awareness in the local community, with particular attention to young people, so that everyone feels called to carry forward this peace project, expressing their vote and responsibly choosing the deputies who will represent these values and work for the common good.”
“In particular, we embrace and promote the five priorities indicated by Caritas Europa – writes the president of the foundation – The first is to guarantee effective, adequate and inclusive labor markets and social protection for all, carefully monitoring the correct implementation of all twenty principles of the ‘European Pillar of Social Rights’ and asking the European Commission to present a proposal for a framework directive on minimum income standards within the next mandate of the European Parliament”.
“The second issue to take forward is to guarantee high-quality, accessible and affordable social services for all, inviting the European Commission to present a proposal for a ‘golden rule’ for social investments and the creation of a reference framework for non-profit service providers – continues Berbaldi – The third urgency consists in defending, promoting and designing migration and asylum policies that respect the values of the European Union, the United Nations Convention on Refugees, human rights and the dignity of all people without distinction.”
“It is still called for to promote humanitarian action and locally-led development in the European Union’s external actions and significantly increase direct funding for humanitarian aid and development to local grassroots civil society organisations, paying particular attention attention to the general costs incurred by them – explains the president – Finally, it is a question of promoting global justice and coherence of policies for sustainable development in the South of the world, correcting power imbalances and structural obstacles to the reduction of poverty and inequalities ”.
“’Achieving real progress in these sectors is essential to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030′, underlines Caritas Europa in forwarding these requests to the political forces. A goal to which a united Europe can and must make a decisive contribution”, concludes Marco Berbaldi.
