Category Archives: EU External Affairs


The EU started to develop a Common Foreign and Security Policy with the Maastricht Treaty (1992). Moreover, in recent years, the EU intensified efforts to promote Human Rights outside its borders and it has played a major role in International Trade and Development Aid.
EU Enlargement continues to be an important pillar of EU’s External Policy. Since 2004 a specific Neighborhood Policy was elaborated to establish good relations with neighboring countries.
In the hope that a united Europe can take a stronger role on the world stage, COMECE together with Justice and Peace Europe aims to assist the EU in its vocation to promote global peace and assume its responsibility for supporting sustainable development and social justice across the world. COMECE is assisted in this mission by a Commission on the External Relations of the European Union.
EU External Affairs, Policy Areas, Press

Press Release

Bishops call for a renewed transatlantic partnership ahead of the EU-US Summit

Bishops from both sides of the Atlantic have released on Monday 7 June 2021 a joint declaration towards a renewed transatlantic relationship ahead of the June 2021 EU-US Summit. They encourage European and American policy-makers to work together for a stronger partnership at the service of a more just, peaceful and sustainable world. In view of the upcoming June 2021 EU-US Summit gathering political leaders … Continue reading »

EU External Affairs, Policy Areas, Press

Press Release

The Church calls on the EU to support Lebanese people amid crisis

The Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of the EU (COMECE) calls on the European Union to support the Lebanese population in their struggle for the preservation of Lebanon’s identity and social fabric in the face of the ongoing multi-faced crisis. The COMECE appeal builds upon the concerns recently expressed by the Lebanese Church in a letter sent to the Bishops of the EU. The Assembly … Continue reading »

EU External Affairs, Policy Areas, Press

News

COMECE External Relations Commission: “towards more peace and human development in the EU Neighbourhood”

The COMECE Commission on the EU External Relations gathered to discuss the issues of EU’s Eastern and Southern borders on 20 April 2021. In dialogue with EU representatives, the Commission highlighted the important role of the EU in promoting lasting peace and sustainable human development in its neighbourhood. Under the chairmanship of H.E. Mgr. Rimantas Norvila (Lithuania), the experts delegated by the Bishops’ Conferences of … Continue reading »

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

Invitation

Webinar: Religious and political implications of Pope Francis’ historic journey to Iraq

The Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of the European Union (COMECE) and Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS) are pleased to invite you to join a webinar on the political and religious implications of Pope Francis’ Apostolic Journey to Iraq. The webinar, under the theme “You are all brothers” will take place on Monday 15 March 2021, from 18:00 to 19:30 (CET). Pope Francis’ historic visit to Iraq was … Continue reading »

EU External Affairs, Policy Areas, Press

News

COMECE contributes to EU consultation on mandatory due diligence

COMECE welcomes EU’s proposed initiative to hold businesses liable for human rights violations and environmental harm throughout their supply chains, and calls for an ambitious approach in providing victims of corporate abuses with effective access to justice. The contribution (summary available here) was jointly elaborated with CIDSE, Pax Christi International and Justice & Peace Europe. In their joint response to the recent EU consultation on … Continue reading »