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29 June 2026
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STATEMENT | COMECE President reacts to European Parliament vote on the Return Regulation
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17 June - COMECE has published a statement by its President, H.E. Mgr. Mariano Crociata, in response to the recent vote of the European Parliament on the new EU Return Regulation, which complements the recently implemented Pact on Migration and Asylum.
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In his statement, bishop Crociata acknowledged the legitimate responsibility of public authorities to manage migration, ensure the integrity of borders and combat human trafficking. At the same time, he expressed serious concern regarding elements of the new framework that may undermine the effective protection of fundamental rights and the dignity of vulnerable persons.
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“Migration is not merely a matter of procedures, statistics or border management. It concerns human beings: women, men and children, each possessing an inviolable dignity that must remain at the centre of every policy decision”, the statement reads. Press Release | Statement (EN)
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OPINION ARTICLE | Mgr Hérouard's opinion article on the EU migration and asylum policies
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11 June - On the occasion of 12 June, when the legislative acts of the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum became fully applicable in the Member States, COMECE First Vice-President Mgr Antoine Hérouard authored an opinion piece for the French daily newspaper La Croix. The article can be read here.
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STATEMENT | Catholic bishops from G7 countries and COMECE issue joint appeal ahead of G7 Summit in France
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12 June - The Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of the European Union (COMECE), together with the Catholic Bishops’ Conferences of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Great Britain and the United States, published a joint statement ahead of the G7 Summit, which took place in France from 15 to 17 June 2026.
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In their common appeal to G7 Heads of State and Government, the bishops reaffirmed that the dignity of every human person must remain the foundation of political and economic action at a time marked by armed conflicts, geopolitical tensions, growing inequalities, climate challenges and rapid technological change.
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The initiative called on G7 countries to renew their commitment to multilateralism, respect for international law and the pursuit of peaceful solutions to conflicts. As the bishops note, “in a world marked by war and instability, it is more necessary than ever to strengthen international institutions, protect civilian populations and uphold fundamental rights, particularly religious freedom and the dignity of the most vulnerable.” Read the Press Release | Download the Declaration: EN – FR | Summary : EN | FR
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NEWS | President of COMECE Mgr Crociata at MED26 in Barcelona: "Churches and civil society must work together for peace in the Mediterranean”
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13 June - The President of COMECE, Mgr Mariano Crociata, took part in the Med26 – Mediterranean Encounters in Barcelona, Spain, together with the Holy Father Pope Leo XIV, young people, bishops and representatives of civil society from across the Mediterranean. The gathering aimed to foster dialogue, cooperation and peace throughout the region.
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In his address, Mgr Crociata stressed that the Mediterranean is not merely a geopolitical frontier but a shared space of encounter, dialogue and peace, where Churches and civil society must work together to overcome conflict and division. He also called on the European Union and its Member States to renew their commitment to human dignity, solidarity and the common good as essential foundations for building a just and peaceful future for the Mediterranean region. Read the Speech (EN)
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NEWS | “Artificial Intelligence must serve the human person”, COMECE stresses at Article 17 TFEU Seminar
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9 June - COMECE participated in the Article 17 TFEU Seminar, “Health and Well-being in the Age of Artificial Intelligence: Communities Tackling Isolation and Digital Risks”, held at the European Parliament.
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Hosted by MEP Antonella Sberna, Vice-President of the European Parliament and responsible for Article 17 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU), the seminar brought together representatives of Churches, religious communities, civil society organisations and EU institutions to reflect on the ethical and social implications of artificial intelligence.
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COMECE was represented by Rev. Prof. Emmanuel Agius, theologian and moderator of the COMECE Commission on Ethics, presenting an ethical and anthropological perspective on artificial intelligence in the light of Magnifica Humanitas, the first encyclical letter of Pope Leo XIV and the most comprehensive magisterial reflection to date on artificial intelligence and human dignity.
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In his intervention, COMECE highlighted that artificial intelligence should “serve the human person, not the other way around”, and that digital environments should strengthen authentic human relationships rather than replace them.
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Prof. Agius also stressed that technical regulation alone is not sufficient to address the challenges posed by AI. Effective AI governance, he argued, must be guided by a robust understanding of human dignity and a firm commitment to the common good. Read the News | Read Prof. Agius’ speech
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NEWS | Ukrainian Church leaders visit COMECE to discuss peace and Ukraine’s European future
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23 June - COMECE welcomed a high-level delegation of the Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organisations (UCCRO) to its Secretariat in Brussels. The meeting provided a valuable opportunity to listen to the testimonies of Church leaders representing the diverse religious communities of Ukraine and to reaffirm COMECE’s unwavering solidarity with Ukraine and its people as they continue to endure the consequences of Russia’s ongoing war of aggression.
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The delegation was received by H.E. Mgr. Kieran O’Reilly, President of the COMECE Commission on EU External Relations, together with Rev. Fr. Manuel Barrios Prieto, General Secretary of COMECE, Alessandro Calcagno, Assistant General Secretary, and Marek Mišák, Policy Adviser for EU External Affairs. Read the News
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SPEECH | COMECE President Mgr Crociata addressed the 33rd General Assembly of the IAO in Finland
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18 June - The President of COMECE, Mgr Mariano Crociata, participated in the 33rd General Assembly of the Interparliamentary Assembly on Orthodoxy (IAO) in Helsinki, Finland, addressing the participants on the issue of minority Christian populations in times of crisis. Read Mgr Crociata's speech (EN) | Read final IAO's declaration (EN)
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NEWS | What is the role of religion in the EU accession process?
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23 June - COMECE and the Brussels office of the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung hosted a discussion on the role of religion in the EU accession process. It featured the participation of a delegation from the Ukrainian Council of Churches & Religious Organisations (UCCRO), as well as representatives of the European Commission. Read more
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NEWS | High-level conference reflects on “outer space as a new frontier of the common good”
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9 June - COMECE, in cooperation with the Caritas in Veritate Foundation hosted a High-level Conference on the theme: “Outer space: A New Frontier of the Common Good”. Bringing together representatives of the Catholic Church and EU institutions, diplomats, academics and experts, the event provided an opportunity to reflect on the ethical, political and strategic implications of outer space governance and sustainability in an increasingly interconnected world.
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The Conference took place in the context of a rapidly evolving global space sector. In recent years, outer space has become an increasingly prominent area of strategic, economic and scientific interest. Alongside the growing ambitions of established space powers, an increasing number of countries are seeking to develop or expand their presence in space.
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The Conference then featured the presentation of the Caritas in Veritate Foundation’s publication “Outer Space and Humanity at a Crossroads: Reflections on a New Frontier of the Common Good”, by one of its authors, Prof. Dominique Lambert, from the University of Namur and Member of the Royal Academy of Belgium.
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The presentation was followed by a high-level roundtable discussion moderated by H.E. Mr. Thomas Antoine, Honorary Ambassador of Belgium. It featured notable contributions from Mr. Giancarlo Granero, Head of Unit “Space Economy” at the Directorate-General for Defence Industry and Space (DEFIS) of the European Commission, Mr. Jean-Pol Poncelet, former Belgian Minister of Defence, Prof. Annick Castiaux Rector of the University of Namur and Ms. Maria-Gabriella Sarah, expert at the Joint Research Centre of the European Union, seconded by the European Space Agency. Read the Press Release | Read the Publication by the Caritas in Veritate Foundation
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NEWS | COMECE Commission on EU External Affairs gathers in Brussels to discuss on the Middle East strategy, rearmament and arms control, EU policy trade
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24 June - Mgr Kieran O’Reilly presided over the spring meeting of our Commission on EU External Action, with dialogue sessions btw delegates from Bishops' Conferences and EU representatives on EU Middle East Strategy, rearmament and arms control in Europe and the EU trade policy.
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NEWS | COMECE Youth Net gathers in Brussels to discuss youth participation, European values and current policy challenges
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23 June - Young delegates of the COMECE Youth Net, nominated by the Bishops’ Conferences of the European Union, gathered in Brussels for a meeting dedicated to dialogue, exchange and reflection on key challenges affecting young people across Europe.
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Over the course of three days, delegates discussed a wide range of issues from local, national and European perspectives, including the role of young people in public debates, opportunities available to youth and the challenges facing younger generations in contemporary society.
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The meeting also provided participants with the opportunity to visit the European institutions and engage directly with some of their representatives. Read the News | Photo Gallery
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NEWS | Fr Barrios Prieto in Belgrade to participate in the CCEE annual meeting of the General Secretaries of the European Bishops’ Conferences
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17 June – Fr. Manuel Barrios Prieto, General Secretary of COMECE, participated in the annual meeting of the General Secretaries of the European Bishops’ Conferences, organised by the CCEE and held this year in Belgrade, Serbia. The meeting focused on the vocation and formation of Catholic priests in today's Europe.
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Fr. Barrios Prieto's participation provided an opportunity to present COMECE's advocacy work with the European Union institutions and to exchange views with the General Secretaries of the Bishops' Conferences from across Europe.
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COMECE is grateful to the CCEE, its President, General Secretary and staff for their warm welcome, fruitful collaboration and the opportunity to strengthen cooperation in the service of the Church in Europe. Read the News
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EVENT | ELSiA event at the European Parliament: Land, food and the common good. A dialogue for Europe's future
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22 June - The European Laudato Si' Alliance (ELSiA) and the Jesuit European Social Centre (JESC) held a conference on “Food security, climate protection and social justice in EU agriculture” that took place at the European Parliament to analyse the defining structural transition facing the European agriculture.
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During the event, participants presented the core findings of a 2025 study on land use and global food systems, and compared normative, policy and practical perspectives on agricultural transition, identifying points of convergence and tension between ethics, policy feasibility and farming realities. Read the News
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NEWS | Cardinal Kambanda (Rwanda) visits COMECE and presents the fundamental role of the Church in promoting access to quality education in Africa
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26 May - Honoured to welcome H.Em. Cardinal Antoine Kambanda, Archbishop of Kigali (Rwanda), to COMECE for a fruitful exchange on education in Africa, the role of the Church in promoting access to quality education + the potential contribution of the EU in supporting these efforts.
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EU ADVOCACY IN ACTION
On 3 June last, COMECE organised the annual expert meeting of Bishops’ Conferences data protection experts, with discussions and reflections focused on the ongoing EU Court case concerning erasure from baptism records. COMECE will attend the court hearing to be held on 30 June next in Luxembourg.
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The Secretariat of COMECE welcomed the Communication on Humanitarian Aid recently published by the European Commission and the European External Action Service (EEAS). COMECE especially praises the emphasis on 'localisation', which promotes the involvement of local actors in shaping and implementing policies on humanitarian action. In this context, COMECE recalled the January 2026 resolution of the European Parliament recognising the unique role Churches and religious organisations play in crisis response, thanks to their presence in hard-to-reach areas and their long-term and holistic commitment for building resilience and lasting peace.
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CALENDAR OF UPCOMING ACTIVITIES
29 June
COMECE will participarte in the ELSiA Assembly.
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29 June-3 July
European Summer School to be held in the historic monastery Oude Abdij Drongen (Ghent, Belgium), organised by COMECE in collaboration with the University Francisco de Vitoria (UFV) and the Institute for the Global Common Good (IBCG).
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29 June
Adviser José Luis Bazán will deliver a lecture on “Catholic Social Teaching, Hope, and Integral Formation. A Call to Action for Change” in the context of the European Summer School to be held in Ghent.
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Adviser José Luis Bazán will participate in the Roundtable & Debate “Who will Europeans be tomorrow? Family, Demography and the Future of Europe” in the context of the European Summer School to be held in Ghent.
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30 June
Adviser Alessandro Calcagno will attend the EU Court hearing on C-12/25, Bisdom-Gent on the erasure from baptism records.
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1 July
COMECE will organise a webinar on “Values and interests in EU-Africa relations”. It will feature contributions from Africa-based faith communities. The event is co-orginised together either AEFJN, Caritas Europe, Pax Christi International.
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2 July
European Leadership Programme (ELP)’s graduation ceremony.
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2 July
Adviser José Luis Bazán will contribute to the consulation on “Civil Society Consultation Shaping the Next EU Action Plan on Human Rights” to be organised by the European Union External Action (EEAS).
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6-8 July
General Secretary Fr. Manuel Barrios Prieto will be in Strasbourg for the Plenary Assembly of the European Parliament.
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8 July
Meeting of the Christian Group on Migration.
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9 July
COMECE-CEC delegation will be received by Micheál Martin, Taoiseach (Prime Minister) of the Republic of Ireland in the context of the Irish EU Presidency.
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13-16 July
Adviser Marek Mišák will coordinate a working group within the “Conference on nuclear weapons and AI” to be organised by the Global Nobel Laureates Assembly on Artificial Intelligence and Nuclear War in the Castel Gandolfo, Italy.
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14 July
Online meeting of the Standing Committee, to be presided by Mgr. Mariano Crociata.
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Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences
of the European Union
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