Belgium, February 2025

Date: Tuesday 18 February 2025, 2.30-5 PM
Location: UC Louvain
Format: Half-day seminar including presentations and panel discussion
Participants: Clergy members, academics, migration experts, and policymakers

This event is organized within the framework of the ACRONYM project (Advancing CoopeRatiON on asYlum and
Migration), funded by the Horizon Europe program (2023–2025).

Rationale

Faith and religion play a significant role in shaping societal attitudes toward migration, particularly in
Central and Eastern Europe, where Christian churches, especially the Roman Catholic Church, hold
substantial influence. Priests, as community leaders, are uniquely positioned to mediate narratives
surrounding migration, making their perspectives critical to understanding the interplay between faith
and migration policy.

In the context of Slovakia and the broader CEE region, targeted disinformation campaigns have sought
to depict migration as a threat to traditional Christian and conservative values. These narratives can
exacerbate public fears and influence the perceptions of clergy and faith communities. Understanding
how such external factors shape attitudes toward migration is crucial to fostering informed and
empathetic dialogue.

Building on findings from the ACRONYM project’s recent survey on priests’ perceptions of migration in
Slovakia, this seminar will present the results and provide a platform for a broader discussion on the
role of the church in addressing migration challenges. This will include examining the discrepancy
between official Vatican positions and local clergy attitudes, as well as exploring potential avenues for
constructive dialogue and collaboration.

Objectives

The seminar seeks to:
1. Present key findings from the Slovak survey on priests’ perceptions of migration.
2. Compare these perceptions to those in other European contexts.
3. Discuss the role of the church in shaping narratives and policies on migration and asylum.
4. Strengthen collaboration between academic institutions and faith communities to promote
mutual understanding and policy innovation.

Key Questions for Discussion

• What factors shape the perceptions of migration among priests in Slovakia?
• How do these perceptions align or differ from Vatican positions on migration and asylum?
• How do priests’ attitudes toward migration in Slovakia compare to those in other parts of
Europe?
• What role can the church play in advancing cooperation on asylum and migration across
Europe?
• What role does the church play in fostering trust, empathy, and integration for migrants and
asylum seekers?
• How can interfaith and inter-institutional collaboration address migration challenges
effectively?

Keynote Speakers :

• Dr Katarina Csefalvayova (Institute for Central Europe, Bratislava)
• Prof Marek Šmid (Dean, Faculty of Theology, Trnava) – tbc
• Marcella Villalobos (Bishops Conference, France) – tbc
• Dr François Gemenne (FNRS ULiège)

Place : Leclerc 93 Room, College J. Leclercq, 1 Place Montesquieu, 1348 Louvain-la-Neuve.
Information : olivier.servais@uclouvain.be

 

Bratislava, December 2024

The Institute for Central Europe (ICE) recently hosted the second Agile Project Management training session under the ACRONYM project designed to enhance the skills and knowledge of the Institute’s team members, marking a significant step towards achieving excellence in project development and project management.

The session was led by Geoffroy Decorsier, project manager with a focus on international projects from Université Paris Cité, sharing his expertise and knowledge. This session emphasized practical applications of project management practices, fostering the Institute’s capacity to handle the multifaceted demands of international collaborations. The involvement of high-level partners like University of Liège and Université Paris Cité underscores ICE’s commitment to leveraging world-class expertise to elevate its involvement in international collaborations.

This initiative has significantly enhanced the Institute’s capacity to secure and manage complex international projects. By embedding Agile project management practices, ICE is now better equipped to track project progress effectively and achieve long-term impact. The collaborations with advanced partners not only provide invaluable knowledge transfer but also solidify ICE’s standing within a network of esteemed institutions in the European Union. This alignment with high-level partnerships and connections ensures a sustainable growth trajectory, fostering capacity building and reinforcing the Institute’s role as a key contributor to international research and development projects.

Through these efforts, ICE is not only advancing its own capabilities but also contributing to the broader ACRONYM project goals of fostering collaboration, innovation, and societal impact across Europe. By partnering with leading institutions to acquire cutting-edge knowledge and practices, the Institute is well-positioned to tackle complex challenges, drive impactful projects, and uphold its mission of fostering excellence beyond the Central and Eastern Europe region.