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 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 »

Justice & Fundamental Rights, Policy Areas, Press

News

New EU guidance on protection of places of worship: a first step in the right direction

The Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of the European Union (COMECE) welcomes the adoption by the European Commission of the Quick Guide to support the protection of places of worship. COMECE: “It is a good first step. The Catholic Church is ready to further contribute to its enrichment and improvement”. The European Commission has finalised a new Quick Guide to support the protection of places … Continue reading »

Justice & Fundamental Rights, Policy Areas, Press

Press Release

COMECE on the European Commission’s Digital Services Act package

The Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of the European Union (COMECE) participated in a consultation of the European Commission commenting on the recently proposed regulations on Digital Services Act (DSA) and Digital Markets Act (DMA) and calling on the EU to make sure that fundamental rights of all people are respected. COMECE welcomed the two proposals for regulations, the Digital Services Act (DSA) and the … Continue reading »

Ethics, Research & Health, Justice & Fundamental Rights, Policy Areas, Press

Press Release

Matić Report: COMECE calls on MEPs to be aware of the importance and complexity of the issue and to vote with responsibility

The Secretariat of the Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of the European Union (COMECE) released a position paper on the ‘Matić Report’ on Thursday 17 June 2021, ahead of its final submission to the upcoming EU Parliament Plenary session. The Catholic Church recognises the importance of protecting the health and rights of women and calls on all MEPs to take into account the sensitive and … Continue reading »