Category Archives: International Religious Freedom


COMECE supports an ambitious and coherent human rights’ policy based on the transcendent dignity of every human being.
While embracing the vision that the fundamental and inalienable right to religious freedom is the cornerstone of all human rights, it supports the view that EU decision-makers and officers should pay special attention to this fundamental right, in particular in its external relations.
To promote religious freedom and more generally, peace, justice and liberty, COMECE is also involved in ecumenical, intercultural and interreligious dialogues.
EU External Affairs, International Religious Freedom, Press

Press Release

COMECE accompanies Chaldean Patriarch of Baghdad to the EU

COMECE accompanied His Beatitude Cardinal Louis Raphaël Sako I, Patriarch of the Chaldean Catholic Church, in his 2-day visit to Europe addressing EU representatives and policy makers on the reconstruction of Iraq and the challenge of reconciliation among Iraqis. Although major military operations concluded in late 2017, the humanitarian crisis in Iraq is far from being over. According to recent statistics, 8.7 million people – … Continue reading »

EU External Affairs, International Religious Freedom, Press

NEWS

COMECE calls the EU to promote long term resilience in Syria

COMECE urges the EU to support Syrian people to overcome their immediate humanitarian needs and to promote their long term resilience. The call came on Wednesday 3 April 2019 during the conference “The next day in Syria: a path towards the resilience of Syrian people” co-organised at the European Parliament by COMECE and its ecumenical and political partners. After six years of war, people in … Continue reading »

International Religious Freedom, Press

NEWS

EP gives new impetus to Freedom of Religion outside the EU

The European Parliament adopted on 15 January 2019 the resolution on the EU guidelines and the mandate of the EU Special Envoy on Freedom of Religion outside the European Union. COMECE welcomes the adoption of this resolution as it enhances the community dimension of the fundamental right to religious freedom, including the recognition of legal personality to communities in the framework of International Law (Art. … Continue reading »

International Religious Freedom, Policy Areas, Press

NEWS

COMECE: “freedom of religion is a cornerstone of human rights”

COMECE reaffirmed the fundamental right to Freedom of Religion (FoRB) during a meeting at the EU Parliament on 5 November, highlighting the problem of religious illiteracy and the need to reinforce the EU mechanism for its protection. Organised by MEP Andrzej Grzyb (EPP), the event gathered Mairead McGuinness, Vicepresident of the EU Parliament, Jan Figel, EU Special Envoy on FoRB, and representatives of Churches, religious … Continue reading »

International Religious Freedom, Policy Areas, Press

NEWS

COMECE urges the EU to better protect and promote Freedom of Religion

Statistics show that more than 70% of the global population suffers from restrictions on Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB). COMECE urges the EU to intensify its external action to promote the fundamental right of freedom of religion and full citizenship for all members of the communities where freedom of religious minorities are restricted. The European Parliament analysed the issue of Freedom of Religion or … Continue reading »

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

NEWS

DRC, calling on all actors to achieve peace and democracy

Six people were killed in Kinshasa on 21 January during demonstrations against delayed elections and the continuation of President Kabila’s mandate. Other 57 people were injured, and 111 were arrested across the country. According to the United Nations (UN), most of the victims were Catholic faithful who peacefully protested after attending Sunday Masses. Pope Francis appealed to authorities in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) … Continue reading »

International Religious Freedom, Policy Areas, Press

NEWS

Syriac-Catholic Patriarch visits COMECE

A high-level delegation of bishops from the Middle East visited COMECE and met with Christian organisations to talk about the condition of Christian minorities in Syria and Iraq. His Beatitude Ignatius Joseph III Younan, Syriac-Catholic Patriarch of Antioch, together with Mgr. Antoine Chahda, Archbishop of Aleppo, highlighted the dramatic situation of Syrian and Iraqi people, shattered since many years with widespread violence. The two bishops … Continue reading »

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

NEWS

National Council of Churches of Kenya visits COMECE

COMECE received a delegation from the National Council of Churches of Kenya (NCCK) led by its General Secretary Rev. Canon Peter Karanja. The delegation came to Brussels to draw attention to the fragile political situation in Kenya ahead of the upcoming national elections In cooperation with the Catholic Church in Kenya, NCCK is closely monitoring the political processes during and after the elections slated for … Continue reading »

International Religious Freedom, Policy Areas, Press

Invitation

“EU Guidelines on Freedom of Religion or Belief. What’s next?”

COMECE and the EPP Group organise a Conference in the European Parliament titled “EU Guidelines on Freedom of Religion or Belief. What’s next?” The main objective of the event is to provide a platform to discuss religious and intercultural aspects of different EU policy areas. In June 2013, the Council adopted the “EU Guidelines on the promotion and protection of freedom of religion or belief” … Continue reading »

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

NEWS

African Bishops´ Conference visits COMECE

Africa and Europe are bound together by history, geography and a common destiny. They also share a community of values on which the Bishops from Africa and Europe wish to build. To mark this close relationship, COMECE received a delegation from the Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM) led by its President, H.E. Gabriel Mbilingi, Archbishop of Lubango (Angola). The Vice-President of … Continue reading »