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

NEWS

Strasbourg: Parliament says yes to negotiation on the Audiovisual Media Service Directive

The Plenary of the European Parliament has approved the CULT Committee decision to enter into negotiations with the Council and the Commission on the revision of the Audiovisual Media Service Directive. COMECE welcomes this vote and encourages the EU institutions to prioritise child protection in the forthcoming negotiations. COMECE considers that the CULT Committee text on which the negotiations will be based could have been … Continue reading »

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

NEWS

COMECE contribution on the legal status of robots

Robotics and artificial intelligence (AI) present new legal and ethical challenges both in terms of liability and responsibility. COMECE welcomes the debate on this theme at the EU level, and cautions against potential risks deriving from according legal personality to robots. The Commission has launched a consultation on the EU Directive on liability for defective products witch guarantees the liability of the producer in case … Continue reading »

Justice & Fundamental Rights, Policy Areas, Press

NEWS

Audiovisual media services: positive steps but stronger child protection still needed

The current EU Audiovisual Media Services Directive governs EU coordination of national legislation on all audiovisual media, both traditional TV broadcasts and on-demand services. In a vote on 25 March, the Culture & Education Committee of the European Parliament voted in favour of maintaining in the revised Directive all references to the “moral” development of minors with regard to contents that may impair it. COMECE … Continue reading »

Justice & Fundamental Rights, Policy Areas, Press

Press Release

Presidents of CEC-COMECE meet, discuss future of Europe and dialogue with President Juncker

Cardinal Marx, president of COMECE, and Rt Rev. Christopher Hill KCVO, DD, president of the Conference of European Churches met on 31 March to strengthen the ecumenical commitment of the Church to the European project, in whatever new ways are appropriate in light of current challenges. They were also received on this day by Mr Jean-Claude Juncker, president of the European Commission, as part of … Continue reading »

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

Press Release

European Court of Human Rights: a key decision on surrogate motherhood

The Grand Chamber Judgment clarifies that there is no obligation to recognise parental ties if there is no biological link. The European Court reaffirms the State’s exclusive competence to recognise a legal parent-child relationship and the State’s prerogatives in safeguarding its public order. The Judgment of the Grand Chamber in the case of Paradiso and Campanelli v. Italy clarifies that the Italian authorities’ withdrawal of … Continue reading »

Justice & Fundamental Rights, Policy Areas, Press

Press Release

Maltese EU Presidency: Revitalizing faith in the European Project

On Friday 6 January, a joint delegation from the Conference of European Churches (CEC) and the Commission of Bishops’ Conferences of the European Union (COMECE) met with the Prime Minister of Malta, Dr Joseph Muscat, and representatives of the government of Malta at the start of their six month Presidency of the Council of the European Union. The meeting was convened to discuss common concerns, … Continue reading »

Justice & Fundamental Rights, Policy Areas, Press

Press Release

Cardinal Marx on the Berlin attack

Cardinal Reinhard Marx, the President of COMECE and of the German Bishops’ Conference, expresses his compassion for the victims and calls for unity after yesterday’s act of violence against the Christmas market in Berlin (19 December 2016): “The news from Berlin have deeply shocked me. The violence on the Christmas market is the opposite of what visitors were seeking. My compassion goes to the relatives … Continue reading »

Justice & Fundamental Rights, Migration & Asylum, Policy Areas, Press

Press Release

Migration and European values Topic of the High-level religious leaders meeting with the EU

Two Bishops of COMECE participated in the High-level religious leaders meeting with the EU. This year it was dedicated to the theme “Migration, Integration, European values: from words to action”. COMECE welcomes the open and constructive dialogue which took place on 29 November at the seat of the EU Commission with the Commission’s First Vice-President Frans Timmermans. The First Vice-President of COMECE, Mgr Jean Kockerols, … Continue reading »