Category Archives: Plenary Assembly

The Assembly of COMECE is formed by the Bishops delegated by the Episcopates of each Member State of the European Union. Its main function is to take the decisions necessary to pursue, in a spirit of collegiality, a closer collaboration among the Bishops’ Conferences, to address the pastoral questions connected to the development of the competences and activities of the Union.

2018 Autumn COMECE Plenary Assembly. (Credit: EEAS)

The Assembly also provides an effective platform for exchange and concertation among the EU Bishops’ Conferences, engages in a dialogue with high-level EU representatives on current and future EU policies, and sets out the main lines of the activity of the COMECE Secretariat.

A single Bishop represents the Episcopates of the Kingdom of Denmark, the Kingdom of Sweden, and the Republic of Finland. The Assembly also includes observers from the Episcopates of Serbia, Switzerland, Scotland, England and Wales.

The Apostolic Nunciature to the European Union, the Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the Council of Europe, and a representative of the Council of the Bishops’ Conferences of Europe (CCEE) and of Justice and Peace Europe are invited to take part in the Assembly.

The Assembly elects COMECE’s President and four Vice-Presidents from among its members ensuring that they are representative of the geographical distribution of the Episcopates of the European Union. The Assembly also elects the Presidents of the COMECE Commissions on Social Affairs, Legal Affairs and External Action.

The Assembly gathers twice per year (during the Spring and Autumn). A seminal issue of the European integration process provides the core theme for each meeting.

Plenary Assembly, Press

Press Release

Re-thinking Europe: Bishops to launch joint reflection with high-level political representatives in Rome

At the opening of the Spring Plenary, COMECE President Cardinal Marx reaffirmed the strong support of the Catholic Church for the European project: “There is no suitable alternative to cooperation in Europe, because working together is the best way to maintain peace in Europe, to meet the economic and social challenges of globalization, and to become again a point of reference for humanity, as Pope … Continue reading »

Plenary Assembly, Press

Press Release

COMECE 2016 Autumn Plenary Assembly: The plight of Europe’s poor

119 millions Europeans, almost a quarter of the European population, are at risk of poverty and social exclusion. The plight of Europe’s poor was the main topic of the plenary session of the Bishops of COMECE on 26-28 October in Brussels. During this meeting, the bishops representing the Catholic Church in the 28 EU member states dialogued with Caritas Europe, the humanitarian arm of the … Continue reading »

Plenary Assembly, Press

NEWS

COMECE Autumn 2016 Plenary Assembly: “Looking forward with confidence”

In his opening speech to the COMECE Autumn Plenary Assembly, the President of COMECE, Cardinal Reinhard Marx, said that the Church wanted to make a contribution to help the European Union to overcome the multiple crises it faces: ‘In this existential crisis of the EU, COMECE is more important than ever’. Regarding the consequences of the decision of the United Kingdom to leave the EU, … Continue reading »

Plenary Assembly, Press

Press Release

The Plight of Europe’s poor COMECE 2016 Autumn Plenary Assembly

The autumn Plenary Assembly of the 27 Bishops’ Conferences of COMECE will be held in Brussels from 26 to 28 October on the topic ‘The Plight of Europe’s poor & EU Strategies to eliminate poverty’. The COMECE Bishops will meet local associations in Brussels, which provide help to the poor. As in every plenary assembly, experts and EU officials will be invited to exchange with … Continue reading »

Plenary Assembly, Press

NEWS

Mass for Europe: On the occasion of the start of the working year of the European Institutions under the Slovak Presidency

On wed 7 September, about 400 participants took part at the church of Notre-Dame au Sablon, Brussels, in the Mass for Europe which was organised by COMECE on the occasion of the resumption of work by the European institutions. The Mass was presided by Bishop Jozef De Kesel, Archbishop of Mechelen-Brussels and concelebrated by Mgr Jozef Hal’ko, Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Bratislava together … Continue reading »

Plenary Assembly, Press

Press Release

COMECE cordially invites you to participate in the Mass for Europe

The Mass will be presided by Bishop Jozef De Kesel, Archbishop of Mechelen-Brussels and concelebrated by Mgr Jozef Hal’ko, Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Bratislava together with Mgr Jean Kockerols, Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Mechelen-Brussels, vice-president of COMECE. The Mass for Europe is organised by the Commission of Bishops’ Conferences of the European Community (COMECE) in partnership with the Diocese of Malines-Brussels … Continue reading »

Plenary Assembly, Press

Press Release

Europe’s vocation to promote peace in the world COMECE 2016 Spring Plenary Assembly

This spring, the Plenary Assembly of the 27 Member Bishops of COMECE will be held in Brussels. The main theme for this meeting will be “Europe’s vocation to promote peace in the world”. The COMECE Bishops will be briefed by experts on the geopolitical situation at EU’s Eastern and Southern borders and new security challenges. They will also hear a theological and ethical reflection on … Continue reading »

Migration & Asylum, Plenary Assembly, Policy Areas, Press

News

Mass for Europe. Archbishop Hollerich: “It is our duty as Christians to welcome the refugees”

Archbishop Jean-Claude Hollerich, member Bishop of COMECE and Archbishop of Luxembourg, the Member State currently holding the presidency of the Council of the EU, was invited to deliver the homily during the Mass for Europe, celebrated in Brussels on 23 September. At the very moment when an extraordinary European Council was being held in Brussels on the refugee crisis, Archbishop Hollerich urged Christians to show … Continue reading »

Plenary Assembly, Press

NEWS

The TTIP on the Agenda of the COMECE Autumn Plenary Assembly

The COMECE Autumn Plenary Assembly opens on Wednesday 12 November. 20 Bishops from all over Europe will attend the 2 days closed meeting. The Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) will be the main topic of the Plenary. The Plenary Assembly of COMECE will be held from Wednesday 12 to Thursday 13 November 2014 in the Secretariat of COMECE (Square de Meeûs, 19 – 1050 … Continue reading »

Plenary Assembly, Press

Press Release

COMECE 2014 Spring Plenary Assembly

The COMECE Spring Plenary Assembly opens today. 20 Bishops from all over Europe will attend the 3 day closed meeting, whose main theme is ‘the EU seen from the outside’. The lull in legislative activity during the elections and the resulting period of change and adjustment in the EU institutions offers an opportunity to take a look at the European Union from a fresh angle. … Continue reading »