Archives

Justice & Fundamental Rights, Policy Areas, Press

News

Shift of ECHR finally acknowledges the diversity of approaches in Europe regarding religious symbols in the public square

COMECE welcomes the sound judgment of the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg in the case Lautsi vs Italy. The Grand Chamber of the ECHR stated on 18 March 2011 that the presence of crucifixes in Italian State-school classrooms is not contrary to the right to education. This decision clearly refutes the previous 2009 judgment of the ECHR Chamber. COMECE sees in this decision … Continue reading »

International Religious Freedom, Policy Areas, Press

News

Persecution of Christians finally given the attention it deserves. Concrete political action is now needed

COMECE greatly values today’s EU Council’s Conclusions on “intolerance, discrimination and violence on the basis of religion or belief” as a good step in the right direction. The fusion of ‘common sense’ and ‘political will’ has prevailed to secure the strong statement urgently needed to stop the widespread acts of terrorism and sectarianism against Christians worldwide. In paragraph 2 the Council condemns the acts of … Continue reading »

International Religious Freedom, Policy Areas, Press

News

Persecution of Christians: a most regrettable wavering on a strong diplomatic EU commitment

COMECE very much regrets that the 27 Foreign Ministers of the EU failed yesterday to agree on a joint declaration condemning religious persecution. This diplomatic wavering is all the more incomprehensible as innocent lives are being cut short in atrocious attacks against Christians and other minorities all over the world. The agreement failed due to internal wrangling among the Ministers over a specific reference to … Continue reading »

Press

Press Release

“Bringing Europe Closer to its People” Churches meet with the Hungarian EU Presidency

As part of the series of regular encounters between churches and the incoming EU Presidencies, a delegation of Hungarian and European church representatives was received by the Hungarian Prime Minister Victor Orbán on Monday, 17 January 2011 in Budapest. The Prime Minister was accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister Zsolt Semjén and the Secretaries of State Mihály Varga, Peter Szíjjárto, Zoltán Balog and László Szászfalvi as … Continue reading »

Press

News

Europe infos, a Christian perspective on the European Union

COMECE and the Jesuit European Office are pleased to introduce a new version of Europe infos, in a new online format in colour. Europe Infos is a monthly journal produced over the last fourteen years by the Commission of Bishops’ Conferences of the European Union (COMECE) and the Jesuit European Office (also known as OCIPE). This joint publication was preceded by two separate journals: L’Europe … Continue reading »

Plenary Assembly, Press

Press Release

Autumn Plenary Assembly of the Bishops of COMECE: The external action of the EU: current challenges and perspectives

Considering the desperate situation of Iraqi refugees – in particular Christians who are described as “most vulnerable” by the UNHCR – the Bishops of COMECE call upon the EU and its Member States to agree as soon as possible on the admission of more Iraqi refugees in the next two years. Furthermore, they asked, as a priority, that diseased children of refugees from the region … Continue reading »

Plenary Assembly, Press

Press Release

Autumn Plenary Assembly of COMECE: The External action of the EU

The Bishops of COMECE (Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of the European Community) will hold their Autumn Plenary Assembly from 21 to 23 November in Brussels. This plenary Assembly will be mainly dedicated to ‘The external action of the EU – current challenges and perspectives’. On Wednesday 21 November, a public evening debate will take place on the crisis in Iraq “Refugees- What is Europe … Continue reading »

Ethics, Research & Health, Policy Areas, Press

News

Family policy – chance and challenge for Europe COMECE proposes a new strategy

On November 5th the Secretariat of COMECE will present a further contribution for a family strategy on the EU level. The document ‘Proposal for a Strategy of the European Union for the Support of Couples and Marriage’ draws attention to challenges for families in Europe. It suggests political initiatives (labour law, tax policy, housing policy, etc.) through which European institutions can support families. Stable couples … Continue reading »

Press

News

Adoption of the Reform Treaty: Hope for the continuation of European construction

COMECE’s Secretary General Mgr Treanor greets the announcement of an agreement on the new treaty for the European Union. The agreement, reached by the 27 Heads of States and Governments at the European Council of Lisbon last night, brings an end to four years of difficult endeavours and to the institutional crisis following the rejection of the EU constitutional Treaty in France and the Netherlands … Continue reading »

Press

News

COMECE Secretariat welcomes the outcome of the Summit of EU Heads of State and Government

The COMECE Secretariat welcomes the fact that the Heads of State and Government have agreed to give a clear mandate to an Intergovernmental Conference (IGC) to proceed towards an institutional reform of the EU. We salute the success of the European Council in its effort to resolve the institutional crisis. We congratulate the German Presidency and Chancellor Angela Merkel on this hard-won outcome. The mandate … Continue reading »