Genoa: Alfonso Luzzi: “Let's allocate more funding to families, not to buying weapons!”

Alfonso Luzzi, president of the Movimento Cristiano Lavoratori (MCL, Italy), chaired the European studies seminar held in Genoa, Italy. Representatives of social, union, political, and religious organizations from thirteen countries participated.

Alfonso Luzzi defined the MCL as “an organization that supports workers and defends the family.” He analyzed labor issues: pensions, equal opportunities for men and women, work-life balance, workplace accidents, and the demographic crisis. He called on European governments to invest more in families: “Let's allocate more funding to families and family balance, not to buying weapons!”

The sessions were chaired by Piergiorgio Sciacqua, co-president of EZA and vice-president of PICM; Stefano Ceci, president of EFAL; Massimo Caldarella, president of MCL Genoa; Margherita Peroni, Vice President of MCL; and Guglielmo Borri, Vice President of MCL.

The seminar was held from July 7 to 9, 2025, at the NH Genova Marina Hotel. It was attended by delegates from Italy, Spain, Portugal, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Poland, Austria, Albania, Cyprus, Montenegro, Romania, the Czech Republic, Hungary, and the Netherlands. It was organized by MCL and EFAL, with the support of EZA and the EU, to discuss the balance of family and work. It is also part of the activities of the IPCM.

María Reina Martin (Fidestra, Portugal), Vice President of IPCM, explained the situation of migrant women in Portugal, coming from Brazil and other Portuguese-speaking countries. She highlighted their difficulties in domestic work, elder care, hospitality, and agriculture.

Rafael Rodríguez-Ponga (Spain), president of IPCM, presented the most significant points of the International Conference on Financing for Development (FfD4), the UN summit held recently in Seville. He highlighted aspects related to work and immigration.

Francesco Seghezzi (Adapt, Italy) analyzed the problems between family/work, work/school, and work/personal interests. He explained the dual crisis in the world of work: the change in the meaning of work, dominated by pragmatic and economic criteria; and demographic changes (low birth rates, aging, immigration).

Norbert Schnedl (Eurofedop, Austria/Belgium), a pensions expert, offered a message of hope to young people: the pension systems of European countries are more solid than is sometimes claimed. He denounced the fact that the underground economy is damaging the future of pensions. Former MEP Ria Oomen-Ruijten (Netherlands) gave the point of view of the EU as a whole.

Other members of the PICM Board of Directors attended the seminar: Maribel Alañón, vice-treasurer; Francisco Domínguez and Paolo Cesana, members. Also participating were Carmen Quintanilla (Afammer, Spain), Silviu Ispas (Ifes, Romania), Luca Maestrepieri (CISL, Liguria-Italy), Gabor Berczeli (Schuman Institut, Hungary), Diomedes Diomidous (Pase-Atik, Cyprus), Vladimir Drobnjak (Montenegro), César Rodríguez (CEAT, Spain), Valbona Halitay (Student Council, Albania), Maria José Carvalho (Fidestra, Portugal); Magdalena Babiracka and Eva Miroche (EDS Fundacia Nowy Staw, Poland); María Jiménez (Afammer CyL, Spain). Also present for the MCL were Marco Boleo, Francesco Poli (ecclesiastical advisor), and Maria Pangaro, among others.

Local institutions were represented by Simona Ferro, member of the Regional Government of Liguria; Mario Mascia, councilor of the Genoa City Council; and Gian Piero Carzino, coordinator of social affairs for the Archdiocese of Genoa. They explained the specific situation in that region of Italy.