CCME facilitators and participants of the 2025 Ecumenical Advocacy Training in Brussels.
By: Marie Bischofs, CCME intern
In a time when European migration and asylum policy continues to shift rapidly, the Churches' Commission for Migrants in Europe (CCME) hosted its second Advocacy Training from 11–13 June 2025 in Brussels. The three-day programme brought together representatives from CCME member churches and partner organisations across Europe.
The training aimed to strengthen participants' understanding of EU institutions and equip them with concrete advocacy strategies to influence policy at national and European levels. With sessions ranging from the mechanics of EU lawmaking to real-world advocacy visits with policymakers, the training offered both theoretical insight and practical tools.
Participants explored how to connect their work in faith-based organisations with broader efforts to uphold human rights, safe migration pathways, and dignity for all. A recurring theme throughout the event was the urgent need to reframe migration discourse and policymaking around human lives, not just borders.
Day 1: Understanding the EU Landscape
The first day of the training set the foundation for participants to navigate the complex structure of the European Union and its role in shaping migration and asylum policy. Dr. Torsten Moritz and Ana Puljiz from the CCME office opened with an overview of the current EU political landscape. They highlighted the shifting balance of power within EU institutions and what this means for the future of migration policy.
Subsequently, guest speaker Dr. Alberto Horst Neidhardt from the European Policy Centre delved into the practicalities of influencing EU policy as well as the importance of connecting EU-level advocacy with national and international efforts.
The following session on resource-effective advocacy by Valentin Dupouey from the College of Europe emphasized the importance of collaborative strategies and message clarity, particularly for smaller organisations. The day concluded with a practical group exercise, where participants formed groups and developed draft advocacy strategies based on their work priorities and the political context discussed.
Participant Giulia Bonoldi, who also attended the first advocacy training last year, shared that the most interesting insight for her was understanding how strategy plays an important role in advocacy through the workshops that offered detailed guidelines on what these strategies are.
Day 2: Advocacy in Practice
On the second day, participants moved from theory to hands-on application. The morning began with a deep dive into the EU policymaking 'triangle', led by Prof. Lilian Tsourdi. She explained the history of EU asylum and migration competence and walked participants through the complex decision-making processes involving the European Commission, Parliament, and Council.
The remainder of the day was dedicated to real-world engagement. Participants split into smaller groups for meetings with EU policymakers, putting their advocacy strategies to the test. These exchanges not only provided a clearer sense of how EU institutions operate but also highlighted the importance of timing, persistence, and relationship-building in advocacy.
In the afternoon, participants reconvened to share reflections on their meetings, exploring how these insights could inform their national-level work. They then returned to their advocacy plans, refining their strategies with newly gained experience.
Day 3: Prioritisation & Next Steps
The final day of the training brought all the threads together. Participants presented their refined advocacy strategies, showcasing a range of priorities, target audiences, and concrete steps for engaging EU and national policymakers. The group discussions that followed allowed for mutual feedback, further sharpening the plans and inspiring collaborative possibilities across countries and contexts.
One of the final inputs focused on CCME's shared vision, Protecting People More than Borders. The session encouraged participants to reflect on how this guiding principle could shape their messaging, partnerships, and broader advocacy work in the year ahead.
To close the training, participants wrote "a letter to themselves"—a practical and personal commitment to their advocacy goals, outlining who they will engage with, what their core messages will be, and how they will bring them across. A small but meaningful exercise, it served as both reflection and a roadmap for the months to come.
Reflecting on the training, participant Rev. Jebin Thankaraj said: "This training programme has provided me the opportunity to know the work which CCME is doing in this context [and] enlightened me, with various nuances, of the rules, the functioning of the EU and the European Parliament, the Commission, and how people are advocating. And [the guest speakers] have come here and showed us in what way we can do this advocating role in a better way."
CCME's Advocacy Training equipped church members and partners with the knowledge, tools, and networks needed to influence policy effectively. With Protecting People More than Borders as a guiding principle, participants leave empowered to advocate for a more just and humane migration system, turning commitment into concrete action across Europe.
The realization of this training is possible through the support of the Evangelische Kirche Im Rheinland, UMCOR/United Methodist Committee on Relief, Evangelische Landeskirche Im Wurttemberg, and the Protestant Church in Hesse Nassau.