Category Archives: Justice & Fundamental Rights


Respect for human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law and human rights are the values on which the European Union is founded.
The Charter of Fundamental Rights of the EU is the fundamental text of reference for Union policies and initiatives.
COMECE closely follows policies related to justice and fundamental rights in areas such as equality and non-discrimination, data protection, family matters, rights of the child, child protection and EU citizenship.
COMECE is of the view that fundamental rights must have a clear and objective concept of human dignity as their basis, that the focus must be on the ethical implications of EU policies and legislation, and that considerations must be given to the way these latter may impact on the activities of the Church.
COMECE is assisted in this mission by a Legal Affairs Commission.
Justice & Fundamental Rights, Policy Areas, Press

Press Release

COMECE and CEC Presidents meet with EP President Metsola to discuss key European issues

H. Em. Cardinal Jean-Claude Hollerich SJ and Rev. Christian Krieger, Presidents of the Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of the European Union (COMECE) and of the Conference of European Church (CEC) met with the President of the European Parliament Roberta Metsola on Wednesday 29 June 2022 to discuss the final report of the Conference on the Future of Europe (CoFoE), as well the ongoing war … Continue reading »

Justice & Fundamental Rights, Policy Areas, Press

Invitation

Webinar | Is the EU as a community of shared legal principles in a crisis?

The process of European integration is often described as a history of crises. At the same time, however, the EU is a unique project for peace and democracy, based on jointly established and consistently observed law. In recent years, this framework has been increasingly called into question and appears less amenable to consensus. Is the EU in crisis? What is the validity of European values … Continue reading »

Justice & Fundamental Rights, Policy Areas, Press

Press Release

COMECE reacts on European Commission ‘inclusive language’ guidelines: “Respecting diversity cannot lead to suppressing religion from public discourse”.

COMECE welcomes the withdrawal of the European Commission’s internal guidelines on inclusive communication on Tuesday 30 November 2021. The draft text contained several terminological recommendations to the staff of this EU institution on how to have more inclusive internal and external communication. While respecting the right of the European Commission to model its written and verbal communication, and appreciating the importance of equality and non-discrimination, COMECE cannot help being concerned about the impression that an anti-religious bias characterised some passages of the draft document. The draft guidelines, for … Continue reading »

Justice & Fundamental Rights, Policy Areas, Press

Press Release

Slovenian EU Presidency: European Church delegation meets with Prime Minister Janez Janša

An ecumenical delegation, representing the Commission Bishops’ Conferences of the European Union of the (COMECE) and the Conference of European Churches (CEC), met with the Slovenian Prime Minister Janez Janša on Friday 5 November 2021 in Ljubljana, to discuss the implementation of the Slovenian EU Presidency’s priorities. In a joint contribution to the Slovenian EU Council Presidency Programme, COMECE and CEC stressed the importance of pursuing a people-centred … Continue reading »