The Catholic Church in the European Union
Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of the European 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, and Ukraine.
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.
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.
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
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
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
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
The Commission of European Bishops’ Conferences of the European Community (COMECE) will focus on the challenges and priorities that face the European Union in a new union of 25 member states at their Autumn Plenary Meeting in Brussels on 18-19 November 2004. The Bishops will concentrate particularly on the Lisbon Strategy, consolidation of the enlarged Union, Turkey’s candidacy, and the Constitutional Treaty. They will also … Continue reading