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

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 »

EU External Affairs, Migration & Asylum, Policy Areas, Press

News

COMECE meets with EU Commissioner Várhelyi: “the Mediterranean as a place of peaceful encounters”

A COMECE delegation met with Mr. Olivér Várhelyi, EU Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement, on Monday 18 January 2021, to offer policy recommendations on a people-centred and fair future Southern Partnership. The document presented to the EU Commissioner was elaborated by COMECE in dialogue with local Church authorities. Last year, on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the Union for the Mediterranean, the EU … Continue reading »

EU External Affairs, Policy Areas, Press

NEWS

Future EU-Africa partnership: Local communities play a key role in building resilience and human security

“The human dimension could still be further strengthened in the actions put forward by the European Union in its partnership with Africa, on peace and security in particular”, stated Fr. Manuel Barrios Prieto, General Secretary of COMECE, on the occasion of the Webinar on the role of local communities in fostering human security and resilience in the future EU-Africa partnership, held on Thursday 15 October 2020. The report is available here. In view … Continue reading »

Ecology & Sustainability, EU External Affairs, Policy Areas, Press

NEWS

COMECE calls for a people-centred, sustainable and multilateral EU Arctic policy

COMECE contributed to the EU public consultation  on the future EU Arctic policy, highlighting the EU’s responsibility to ensure a sustainable and peaceful  Arctic  that puts its  people at the cemtre. The contribution was jointly elaborated with Justice & Peace Europe in dialogue with regional Church actors. In the context of the current developments impacting the Artic region, the European Union is reviewing its 2016 policy … Continue reading »

EU External Affairs, Policy Areas, Press

Press Release

Nagorno-Karabakh, EU Bishops appeal for intensifying multilateral peace efforts

COMECE calls on the European Union to actively engage for peace in the Nagorno Karabakh region and provide concrete assistance to communities affected by recent flare-up of violence between Armenia and Azerbaijan. Since the end of September 2020, the Nagorno Karabakh has been repeatedly experiencing renewed waves of violence, leading to the loss of lives of many civilians and to the destruction of homes, basic infrustructures and … Continue reading »