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19 July 2025
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🔴 Solidarity visit to Ukraine: COMECE witnesses the scale of human loss
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18 July - A delegation of COMECE, led by its President Mgr. Mariano Crociata, concluded an official visit to Ukraine from 16 to 18 July 2025. The visit reaffirmed COMECE’s closeness to the people of Ukraine and its unwavering solidarity with those suffering from the consequences of Russia’s ongoing war of aggression. During the three-day visit to the region of Lviv, the COMECE delegation met with representatives of the Greek Catholic and Roman Catholic Church in Ukraine, as well as with local authorities and members of the civil society and academia. Read the Press Release | Photo Gallery | Mgr. Crociata’s video
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VIDEO | COMECE President Mariano Crociata on his solidarity visit to Ukraine
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18 July - With this visit of solidarity to Ukraine, COMECE renews the call of the EU Bishops to the institutions of the European Union to remain firmly united in its commitment to supporting Ukraine and upholding the dignity and fundamental rights of all its people. In this respect, Mgr. Mariano Crociata calls upon EU leaders to “enhance all diplomatic efforts aimed at achieving a comprehensive, just and lasting peace, rooted in international law and the principles of justice”. Watch the video of Mgr. Crociata [IT]
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DOCUMENT | COMECE Youth Net’s annual contribution on EU migration policy now published
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17 July - COMECE released the 2024–2025 contribution of the COMECE Youth Net, which focuses on the integration of migrants in Europe. Finalised during the spring meeting of the Youth Net in Budapest, the document explores key dimensions of integration, including vocational fulfilment and respect for human dignity, the demographic crisis and the role of community-based approaches, as well as the relationship between migration and security. Read the Press Release | Download the Contribution | Photo Gallery
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NEWS | Security, strategy and leadership: European Summer School 2025 concludes after 9 immersive days
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16 July - The second edition of the European Summer School 2025, themed Security, Strategy and Leadership, has now concluded. The programme took place from 5 to 13 July 2025 at the historic Monastery of Poblet, Spain.
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Bringing together 40 carefully selected young professionals from over 20 countries, the programme chose participants based on their academic excellence, leadership potential, and dedication to shaping Europe’s future.
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This year’s theme — Security and Defence — tackled one of the most urgent and complex issues of our time. Over nine intensive days, participants engaged in high-level lectures, strategic workshops, and collaborative simulations, all designed to deepen their understanding of Europe’s current vulnerabilities and responsibilities within a rapidly changing global order.
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The Summer School was organised by the School of Government and Leadership Isabel la Católica, part of the Universidad Francisco de Vitoria, in partnership with COMECE, the Konrad Adenauer Foundation and Fundación Nemesio Díez. Read the News
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YOUTH | AEJ youth delegation visits COMECE Secretariat
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17 July - A group of young representatives from AEJ (Evangelische Jugend Deutschland) visited the COMECE Secretariat as part of an educational tour of EU institutions and organisations based in Brussels. During the meeting, COMECE adviser Emilio Dogliani explained the functioning and mission of COMECE, with a particular focus on its work in the area of youth policy.
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SPEECH | President Crociata addresses FNOMCeO conference on the importance of healthcare systems in Europe
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10 July - The President of COMECE, Mgr. Mariano Crociata, addressed the audience at a FNOMCeO conference on the importance of healthcare systems. He shared some of COMECE’s initiatives in this field, as well as key EU actions on health. FNOMCeO is the Italian National Federation of the Orders of Surgeons and Dentists. Read the speech of Mgr. Crociata
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LETTER | COMECE Youth Platform meets Micallef cabinet and welcomes launch of ‘Youth Advisory Board’
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9 July - COMECE welcomed the official launch of the European Commission president’s Youth Advisory Board, a body that will bring together 28 representatives from the EU Member States’ National Youth Councils and the European Youth Forum, “to advise the Commission on policies relevant to young people”.
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The launch of the board earlier this July followed a meeting of members of the COMECE Youth Platform held at the European Commission, in Brussels, on 16 June 2025, to discuss with Mr. David Ciliberti, Cabinet Expert of Commissioner Glenn Micallef, on the establishment of the Commission’s Youth Advisory Board.
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As part of ongoing efforts to strengthen youth engagement at the European level, members of the Youth Platform presented to the Cabinet the contents of an open letter to the Commissioner for Intergenerational Fairness, Youth, Culture and Sport, Glenn Micallef, sharing practical steps to make the Board inclusive, accessible and genuinely representative of the diverse youth across Europe. The COMECE Youth Platform expressed satisfaction to see that elements of the letter have been included in the proposed Board functioning.
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DIALOGUE | New DBK bishop delegate to COMECE visits Brussels for high-level dialogue meetings on peace, democracy, sustainability and AI
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3 July - Bishop Heiner Wilmer SCJ, new delegate of the German Bishops’ Conference to the COMECE Assembly, officially visited Brussels on 2–3 July 2025 for a series of dialogue meetings with representatives of the EU institutions as well as Brussels-based Catholic organisations. Mgr. Wilmer had the opportunity to engage in meaningful and timely discussions on topics including the European Union’s geopolitical responsibilities, the safeguarding of peace and democracy, care for Creation and the ethical development of Artificial Intelligence.
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VIDEO | Full video recording of the Conference “European Universities Alliances: an opportunity for Catholic Universities?” now available
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1 July - The video recordings of the conference “European Universities Alliances: an opportunity for Catholic Universities?”, held on 6 and 13 May 2025, are now publicly available for viewing on the COMECE YouTube channel. The conference, held in a digital format, comprised two sessions exploring how Catholic universities can engage with the European Universities Initiative (EUI), launched by the European Commission in 2019. The initiative aims to foster collaboration among universities by forming alliances that promote cross-border cooperation, student and staff mobility, as well as innovative approaches to teaching and learning.
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PUBLICATION | Our 2024 Annual Report is now online!
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26 June - Initially released in print last March 2025 during the COMECE Plenary Assembly in Nemi (Italy), the COMECE 2024 Annual Report is now accessible in digital format as well.
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The report opens with an introduction by H.E. Mgr Mariano Crociata, who shares insights into our activities throughout 2024 – a year shaped by the European Parliament elections and marked by tragic events in Ukraine and the Holy Land.
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The Annual Report offers a comprehensive overview of COMECE’s work across its various areas of competence, summarising the most significant initiatives undertaken in the context of its mission of dialogue with the institutions of the European Union. Read the News | Download the 2024 Annual Report
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REFLECTION PAPER | Ahead of the European Summit, COMECE urges relaunching EU’s peace and development mission
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23 June - COMECE published the Reflection Paper entitled “The European Union’s Role in a Changing World: From Founding Vision to Global Mission”. With this paper, COMECE called on the EU “to remain faithful to its vocation to be a project of peace that promotes sustainable human development and practices solidarity”. Prepared by the COMECE Commission on EU External Relations, the document contributed to the debate on the European Union’s global role ahead of the meeting of the European Council to take place on 26–27 June. The reflection paper also serves as a compass orienting the ongoing discussions about the post-2027 Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) towards relaunching the EU as a major peace and development actor. Read the Press Release | Download the Reflection Paper | Executive Summaries [EN – IT – ES – FR – DE]
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PUBLICATION | Articles by the COMECE President on solidarity/subsidiarity, and by the Adviser on Artificial Intelligence, featured in scientific journal La Società"
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9 July - "La Società", scientific journal on the Church's social doctrine, features articles by COMECE President Mgr. Mariano Crociata on solidarity and subsidiarity in the EU and by Adviser Friederike Ladenburger on AI regulation and COMECE’s inputs. The articles can be found in issue no. 5 (Sept–Dec 2024). Visit the website of La Società
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DOCUMENT | Bishops from the global south publish bold document on climate justice
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11 July - Bishops from Asia, Africa and Central and South America, in coordination with the Pontifical Commission for Latin America, have issued “A call for climate justice and the common home: ecological conversion, transformation and resistance to false solutions” in view of #COP30. Read the document
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ANNIVERSARY | 40 years anniversary of the EU flag!
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29 June - The EU institutions celebrated the 40 years anniversary of the EU flag! Adopted in 1955 by the Council of Europe (CoE), it became the flag of the European Economic Community in 1985 - now the European Union. A symbol of unity and peace, it feels like home to millions across Europe and beyond. More info
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TRIP | COMECE Staff Team-Building Visit to the Abbey of Maredsous
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4 July - Ahead of the summer break, the staff of the COMECE Secretariat undertook a trip to the Benedictine Abbey of Maredsous, Belgium. The group was warmly welcomed by François Lear, who has been abbot of the monastery since 2024.
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A guided tour was offered of the Abbey, founded in 1872 and raised to the status of abbey in 1878 by Pope Leo XIII. The Abbot invited the COMECE group to lunch. Following an informal exchange on COMECE’s mission, the staff enjoyed local food products, renowned throughout Europe.
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