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

COMECE Presidency: “Brexit will not succeed in shattering EU-UK fraternal relations”

In the context of the exit of the United Kingdom from the European Union, the COMECE Standing Committee has elaborated a declaration on the topic. Although saddened by this event, the COMECE Standing Committee respect the will expressed by the British citizens during the 2016 Referendum and assure that, “even though the UK will no longer be part of the EU, it will still continue … Continue reading »

EU External Affairs, Policy Areas, Press

News

Integral human development: how can the EU enhance partnerships with religious actors?

On Thursday 23 January 2020 COMECE hosted a dialogue meeting between Churches, faith-based actors, as well as international and European policy-makers, on how to enhance the cooperation among actors working in the field of integral and sustainable human development. Co-organised with Caritas Europa in the context of on-going negotiations on the 2021-2027 Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), the meeting highlighted the important role of Churches and … Continue reading »

EU External Affairs, Press

News

How can the EU promote a fair and people-centered Eastern Partnership?

COMECE contributed to the EU public consultation on the future of the Eastern Partnership, providing recommendations addressing some of the key challenges in EU’s cooperation with its six neighbours. On the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the Eastern Partnership, COMECE elaborated its contribution on the future EU policy objectives with Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine. In dialogue with local Church authorities from … Continue reading »

EU External Affairs, Press

NEWS

How can the EU promote sustainable peace and human development?

COMECE EU External Relations Commission

The COMECE Commission on the EU External Relations gathered on 30 September-1 October 2019 to discuss the future Foreign and Security Policy agenda of the renewed European institutions. In dialogue with EU representatives, COMECE reiterated the Church’s will to contribute to Europe’s global role for sustainable peace and integral human development. Under the chairmanship of H.E. Mgr. Rimantas Norvila (Lithuania), the experts delegated by the … Continue reading »

EU External Affairs, Press

NEWS

COMECE meets with indigenous leader ahead of the Pan-Amazon Synod

On Friday 5thJuly 2019 COMECE welcomed Mr. Adriano Karipuna, indigenous leader from the Brazilian Amazon region, to discuss the challenges faced by local communities and to gather views ahead of the Bishop’s Synod for the Amazon, which will take place in Rome on 6-27 October 2019. Accompanied by Mr. Cleber César Buzatto – Executive Secretary of the Indigenous Missionary Council of Brazil (CIMI) – Mr. … Continue reading »

EU External Affairs, Press

NEWS

COMECE reflects on future priorities for the Eastern partnership

In the context of the 10th anniversary of EU’s partnership with its six Eastern neighbouring countries, COMECE will address the future priorities of this policy framework during the Autumn meeting of its Commission on EU External Affairs, discussing ways to empower youth, families and local communities. Following the June 2019 European Council, the European Commission and the European External Action Service are supposed to present … Continue reading »

EU External Affairs, Press

Press Release

COMECE reflections on “uncrewed armed systems”

COMECE publishes a contribution to the ongoing discussion on the development and use of increasingly sophisticated armed technologies. This reflection, entitled “Technology at the service of peace”, provides recommendations to the EU and its Member States on how to address the (mis-)use of force through “uncrewed armed systems”. Produced by a COMECE ad-hoc working group led by Prof. Dominique Lambert, the reflection comes at a … Continue reading »

EU External Affairs, Press

NEWS

How can the Church and the EU support Human Rights defenders in the Amazon?

In preparation for the October 2019 Synod of Bishops for the Pan-Amazon Region, COMECE held on 19 June 2019 a dialogue meeting between EU policy makers and Church and civil society representatives on human rights defenders in the Amazon region. Discussing the respective roles of the Church and the EU in addressing the environmental, social and human rights concerns in the region, this event allowed … Continue reading »