Category Archives: Policy Areas

International Religious Freedom, Plenary Assembly, Policy Areas, Press

Press Release

🔴 STATEMENT | European bishops urge appointment of EU Special Envoy for Religious Freedom

The bishops of the European Union concluded their Autumn Assembly, held in Brussels from 1 to 3 October 2025, with a letter addressed to the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, advocating the reinstatement of an EU Special Envoy for Freedom of Religion or Belief outside the European Union. Statement [EN – FR – DE – IT – ES – HU – … Continue reading »

EU External Affairs, Policy Areas, Press

Press Release

ASSEMBLY | Note from the President of COMECE on the crisis in Gaza, Ukraine and Sudan

In the context of the autumn plenary assembly of the bishops of the European Union, taking place in Brussels from 1 to 3 October, the COMECE Secretariat is publishing a note from the President of COMECE, Mgr Mariano Crociata, on the dramatic situation in the Gaza Strip, in Ukraine, Sudan, and in other regions affected by war. Below is the text of the note in … Continue reading »

Migration & Asylum, Policy Areas, Press

Event

EVENT | “AI and Human Trafficking: threats, tools and legal frontiers” – Conference at the European Parliament, 30 September. Registration now open

The Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of the European Union (COMECE) warmly invites you to attend the conference “AI & Human Trafficking: Threats, Tools, and Legal Frontiers”, to be held at the European Parliament in Brussels on Tuesday, 30 September 2025, from 14:00 to 16:00. Participation is open to the public. Registration is required Human trafficking is becoming an increasingly technology-enabled crime. Perpetrators exploit social … Continue reading »

Migration & Asylum, Policy Areas, Press

Press Release

Christian Group on Migration and Asylum expresses concern about EU return proposal

The Christian Group on Migration and Asylum, a coalition of Christian Churches and agencies from across Europe that includes the Secretariat of COMECE, has expressed serious concern about the European Commission’s draft regulation for a new common European system for returns, in a statement released on Thursday, 18 September 2025. Download Statement Representing Anglican, Orthodox, Protestant and Catholic traditions, as well as agencies working directly … Continue reading »

Education & Culture, Policy Areas, Press, Youth Platform, Youth policies

Press Release

DOCUMENT | COMECE submits contribution to EU consultation on the MFF in the fields of Culture, Education and Youth

The Commission of the Bishops’ Conference of the European Union (COMECE) releases its contribution to the European Commission’s public consultation on the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) 2028–2034, focusing on cross-border education, training and solidarity, youth, media, culture, the creative sectors, values and civil society, on Tuesday, 16 September 2025. Download the Contribution [EN] The contribution “Dare and care to invest in the future” has been … Continue reading »

EU External Affairs, International Religious Freedom, Policy Areas, Press

News

COMECE Secretary General participates in SECAM’s 20th Plenary Assembly in Kigali

At the invitation of the Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM), COMECE Secretary General, Fr. Manuel Barrios Prieto, took part in the 20th Plenary Assembly held in Kigali, Rwanda, from 30 July to 4 August 2025. Read SECAM Assembly Final Declaration This offered Fr. Barrios Prieto the possibility of sharing some of the most recent COMECE initiatives concerning Africa, including joint activities with … Continue reading »