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, Press

NEWS

Pan-Amazon Church delegation met with EU officials

In preparations for the 2019 Pan-Amazon Synod, a Church delegation from the region met on 20 September 2018 in Brussels with high-level EU officials to promote Amazonia’s indigenous peoples’ dignity and rights. COMECE and its partners organised bilateral meetings and a dialogue event on the current situation in the region, with a particular emphasis on the respective role the Church and the EU could play … Continue reading »

EU External Affairs, Policy Areas, Press

Invitation

Amazonia’s indigenous peoples. How can the EU promote their rights?

Thursday, 20 September 2018, 12.00-14.00 COMECE office, Sq. de Meeûs 19, B-1050 Brussels This event will give you the opportunity to engage in a dialogue with a high-level delegation of the Pan-Amazonian Ecclesial Network (REPAM) and representatives of the European institutions on the current situation of the Amazonian region. The delegation will be composed by H. Em. Cardinal Claudio Hummes (Brazil), H.Em. Cardinal Pedro Barreto … Continue reading »

EU External Affairs, Policy Areas, Press

NEWS

COMECE to contribute to Pan-Amazon Synod

In view of the Synod on the Pan-Amazon region convoked by Pope Francis for October 2019, COMECE will host a high-level delegation from the Amazon region on Thursday 20 September 2018. The delegation of the Pan-Amazonian Ecclesial Network (REPAM) is due to be led by its President, H.Em. Cardinal Claudio Hummes (Brazil) and its Vice-President, H.Em. Cardinal Pedro Barreto Jimeno (Peru), and will include representatives … Continue reading »

Ethics, Research & Health, EU External Affairs, Policy Areas, Press

NEWS

New Defence Technologies: which legal and ethical implications?

A roundtable debate on “New Defence Technologies” took place at COMECE on June 19th, 2018, to discuss the current developments in this field and reflect on related legal, security and ethical questions. The meeting, organised in the context of the recent proposal of the European Commission on the future European Defence Fund, gathered representatives of the EU, the military, academia and the Church. The 15 … Continue reading »

EU External Affairs, Policy Areas, Press

Press Release

Western Balkans: Mgr. Nemet to visit Brussels

In the context of a renewed momentum for the European integration of the Western Balkans, H.E. Mgr. Dr. Ladislav Nemet SVD (Serbia), President of the International Bishops’ Conference of St. Cyril and Methodius, will come to Brussels on 13-15 June 2018. He will meet with high-level EU officials in order to exchange on the necessary steps that can be taken on the side of the … Continue reading »

EU External Affairs, Policy Areas, Press

Invitation

Western Balkans and the EU: next steps…?

Lunch Debate

Following the recent EU-Western Balkans Summit and in view of the upcoming meeting of the European Council, COMECE and the European Office of the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung invite you to join a discussion entitled “Western Balkans and the EU: next steps…?”. This lunch event will take place at the COMECE Secretariat on Thursday, the 14th of June 2018 from 12:00 to 14:00. Representatives of the Church, youth … Continue reading »

EU External Affairs, Policy Areas, Press

NEWS

EU-ACP partnership, COMECE gathers religious actors and policy-makers

COMECE hosted a dialogue meeting between faith-based actors and policy-makers in preparation of the upcoming negotiations on the future cooperation between the EU and the ACP countries. Stakeholders from the European External Action Service, European Commission, European Parliament, as well as faith-based actors from the field, discussed ways of shaping the future relations between the EU and African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries. The event … Continue reading »

EU External Affairs, Policy Areas, Press

NEWS

COMECE contribution in view of the EU-Western Balkans Summit

Following the recently published “EU Strategy for the Western Balkans”, the EU perspective of the Western Balkans seems to be gaining new momentum. The political representatives of the 28 Member States will meet their Western Balkans counterparts at the Summit in Sofia on 17 May 2018, the first of its kind in 15 years. In view of this Summit, COMECE elaborated a contribution in dialogue … Continue reading »

EU External Affairs, Policy Areas, Press

NEWS

President of Burundese Bishops’ Conference visits COMECE

Mgr. Joachim Ntahondereye, Bishop of Muyinga (Burundi) and President of the Burundese Bishops’ Conference, visited COMECE in order to draw the attention of the European institutions to the political, social and economic challenges his country is currently facing. During his meeting with COMECE General Secretary, Mgr. Ntahondereye expressed his concern for the situation of young people in Burundi. According to the Bishop, the European Union … Continue reading »