(ANS – Brussels) – On the eve of the European elections some lay Catholics have launched “The Europe Experience” to empower Catholics as citizens of the European Union.

From 22 to 25 May, all over Europe, EU citizens will vote for a new Parliament that will determine the shape and future of the European Union for the next five years

An interactive website has been launched to promote dialogue between  EU policies in different fields on the one hand, and the social doctrine and the experience and suggestions of Christian organizations in their respective fields. The experience is developed in three stages:

1 Be informed:
In the first part of the site there is information on five key areas :
• Migration and asylum;
• Economic and Social Policies;
• The EU and the world;
• Sustainability in the EU;
• Youth and Family.

2 - Be inspired:
The second part provides a reflection on the social teaching of the Church and some concrete policy proposals from Catholic organizations, based on their experience.

3 – Participate:
The third part is more interactive  and allows viewers to be involved by sending concrete proposals to the candidates in the upcoming European elections.

Since the Salesians have a lot of experience in several of the areas listed, Don Bosco International, presenting the Borgo Don Bosco in Rome, has invited the European institutions to ensure that quality education is guaranteed to all.

To achieve its purpose, which is to promote the integral development of the person in accordance with the democratic principles of coexistence and human rights, education and training must embrace information, technology and values, in a way that forms the person first, then the citizen and finally the professional.

The DBI has therefore stressed the need to integrate into all Community policies the principles of empowerment, the delegation of responsibility to young people and the dignity of all young people.

Published 16/05/2014