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

COMECE Autumn Plenary 2011 – More Europe, Not Less

Economic and Political Causes of the Debt Crisis in Europe Speech given by Emmanuel van der Mensbrugghe, Director of the IMF Offices in Europe, to the COMECE Bishops Good morning. It’s great to be back in Brussels, among such a distinguished group. Europe, of course, has a great legacy of economic cooperation and coordination. The process of European integration—culminating in economic and monetary union among … Continue reading »

Plenary Assembly, Press

Press Release

2011 COMECE Spring Plenary Assembly

COMECE Spring Plenary starts today with 23 Member Bishops participating. The main topic of the Assembly is “Christian Churches in Maghreb and Mashriq”. COMECE hosts a public evening debate tonight with Cardinal Naguib at 19:30. More information to the event here. The following experts and institutional representatives will address the bishops’ plenary Assembly tomorrow: – Mrs Véronique ARNAULT, Director of the Human Rights & Democracy … 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 »

Plenary Assembly, Press

News

Message of Rome: COMECE European Congress Values and Perspectives for Europe 50 years of the Treaties of Rome

On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Rome, more than 400 delegates of Bishops’ Conferences, religious orders and congregations, Catholic organisations and movements, and members of other Churches met in Rome from 23 to 25 March 2007. At the invitation of the Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of the European Community they took part in a European Congress, … Continue reading »

Plenary Assembly, Press

News

Congress of COMECE in Rome, 23rd-25th march 2007: Values and Perspectives for Europe’s future

COMECE – the Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of the European Community – will organise a Congress in Rome to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the signature of the Treaties of Rome, which founded the European Communities. Some 400 participants from all over Europe will attend. During the meeting, Christians will identify their own key values and confirm those values which have defined the European … Continue reading »

Plenary Assembly, Press

Press Release

COMECE outlines its willingness to engage in Plan D

In order for the EU to seriously communicate locally with European citizens, then it should not overlook the Churches’ capacity to act as an interlocutor. This was the principle message from the Bishops of COMECE at their Autumn Plenary Meeting held from 16-18 November 2005 in Brussels. Mindful that this plenary takes place at a time when the European Union is experiencing profound uncertainties as … Continue reading »

Ethics, Research & Health, Plenary Assembly, Policy Areas, Press

Press Release

EU-Research Funding and Ethics Brussels, 2005 Autumn Plenary

In the context of the Lisbon Strategy the member states have agreed to significantly increase expenditure for research and development by the year 2010. The EU’s institutions are currently in the process of adopting the 7th Research Framework Programme and its complementary specific research programmes. • Support for research We Bishops of COMECE strongly support the plan to give more support to research and development. … Continue reading »

Plenary Assembly, Press

Press Release

President Barroso and COMECE Bishops committed to unity in diversity in the European Union

The COMECE Bishops and the European Commission President, José Manuel Barroso, shared an exchange on the role of the Church in consolidating the new European Union in a meeting, which took place during COMECE’s Spring Plenary in Brussels from 9-11 March 2005. • Meeting with Barroso The highlight of the plenary was the first meeting between the Bishops and Commission President Barroso. A wide range … Continue reading »

Plenary Assembly, Press

News

COMECE Bishops to meet with Commission President Barroso

The role of the EU in their pursuit of the Millennium Development Goals will be the principal theme of the Spring Plenary meeting of the Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences in the European Community from 9-11 March 2005 in Brussels. During the Plenary meeting the Bishops will have an exchange with European Commission President José Manuel Barroso. The Bishops will focus on the renewal of … Continue reading »