lidiacommunication, Author at The Catholic Church in the European Union

NEWS

Will the EU face AI’s ethical, legal and political challenges?

The High-Level Expert Group on Artificial Intelligence (AI) set up by the European Commission published on 26 June 2019 the document “Policy and investments recommendations for trustworthy AI”. The publication highlights some of the recommendations expressed by COMECE in its previous contribution to the “Ethics Guidelines for Trustworthy AI”. COMECE welcomes the emphasis on the protection on “humans, sustainable growth, […] education and appropriate governance … Continue reading »

Migration & Asylum, Press

23 July 2019

NEWS

COMECE calls for people-centred asylum policies

COMECE welcomes the publication of the 2019 Asylum Office report and calls EU Member States to respect international law obligations with regards to anyone looking for international protection in their territories. The report contains an overview of key indicators regarding the situation of refugees in Europe. While the number of applicants for international protection diminished in 2018, the report shows that 39% of them got … Continue reading »

Press

15 July 2019

COMECE and CEC meet with Finnish EU Presidency

Churches-EU Dialogue

An ecumenical delegation composed of representatives from the Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of the European Union (COMECE) and the Conference of European Churches (CEC) met in Helsinki on Friday 12 July 2019 with Mr. Pekka Haavisto, Finnish Minister of Foreign Affairs, to exchange on the priorities of the Finnish Presidency of the EU Council. This meeting is part of a long-standing tradition supported by … Continue reading »

Justice & Fundamental Rights, Press

9 July 2019

NEWS

Religions strengthen their relations with the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights

On July 3, 2019, COMECE co-organised together with Don Bosco International and the Baha’i International Community a dialogue meeting on “Human Rights & Religion” with the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) and the participation of Churches and religious communities (Article 17 TFEU), as well as of faith-based organisations (Article 11 TEU). Following the expert meeting of September 2017 and the integration of religions’ role … Continue reading »

EU External Affairs, Press

1 July 2019

Press Release

COMECE reflections on “uncrewed armed systems”

COMECE publishes a contribution to the ongoing discussion on the development and use of increasingly sophisticated armed technologies. This reflection, entitled “Technology at the service of peace”, provides recommendations to the EU and its Member States on how to address the (mis-)use of force through “uncrewed armed systems”. Produced by a COMECE ad-hoc working group led by Prof. Dominique Lambert, the reflection comes at a … Continue reading »

Press

25 June 2019

Press Release

Fr. Barrios Prieto appointed as future General Secretary of COMECE

Following the 13-15 March 2019 COMECE Assembly, Bishops’ Conferences of the EU elected Fr. Manuel Enrique Barrios Prieto as future General Secretary of COMECE. Fr. Barrios Prieto will succeed fr. Olivier Poquillon o.p. as General Secretary on the 1st of September 2019. His mandate, according to the new statute of COMECE, will last four years. Rev Barrios Prieto graduated from the Pontifical Gregorian University as … Continue reading »

EU External Affairs, Press

21 June 2019

NEWS

How can the Church and the EU support Human Rights defenders in the Amazon?

In preparation for the October 2019 Synod of Bishops for the Pan-Amazon Region, COMECE held on 19 June 2019 a dialogue meeting between EU policy makers and Church and civil society representatives on human rights defenders in the Amazon region. Discussing the respective roles of the Church and the EU in addressing the environmental, social and human rights concerns in the region, this event allowed … Continue reading »

Press

14 June 2019

NEWS

The COMECE Presidency meets with Pope Francis

Following the May 2019 elections of the European Parliament, the COMECE Presidency met with Pope Francis on Thursday 6 June 2019 to discuss on future challenges for the Church’s dialogue with the EU. Recalling their statement “Rebuilding community in Europe”, inviting European citizens to responsible participation, EU Bishops exchanged with Pope Francis their assessment of the coming challenges for the EU and the role it … Continue reading »