In the Fundamental Rights Forum organised by EU Agency for Fundamental Rights on the topic of “Belonging”, COMECE emphasised the specific contribution of Churches in the human rights domain. In its contribution to the preparatory consultation and expert meeting, COMECE stressed the close link between “belonging” and the possibility for each human person to live alone and in community in accordance with one’s faith. Referring … Continue reading »

On September 10th, 2018, COMECE participated in a high-level Colloquium celebrating the 70th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights organised by the Holy See at the Council of Europe. Among the contributions of particular note were the ones of Mgr. Paul Richard Gallagher, His Excellency Guido Raimondi, and Prof. Emmanuel Decaux. Read their contributions below:   Media Photo Gallery Video – Introduction by … Continue reading »

A delegation of Austrian and European Church representatives met in Vienna on 23 July 2018 with Karoline Edtstadler, Secretary of State for Home Affairs of the Austrian government, to exchange views on the priorities of the Austrian Presidency of the EU Council. Regular meetings of churches with the rotating EU Presidency have been taking place for more than 20 years. They are an expression of … Continue reading »

A delegation from COMECE, together with CEC, met in Sofia on 8 May with the Bulgarian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister, Ekaterina Zakharieva, to exchange views on the priorities of the Bulgarian EU Council Presidency. On this occasion, the COMECE delegation led by H. E. Mgr. Christo Proykov, Bishop delegate from Bulgaria, presented a joint reflection elaborated with his Bishops’ Conference on the … Continue reading »

“I dream of a new Europe based on solidarity and courage, capable of being a common home for everyone”, stated H. Em. Cardinal Gualtiero Bassetti during his first official visit to the EU institutions as President of the Italian Bishops’ Conference (CEI) on 22-25 April. As a sign of the great interest of the Italian Church for the European project, Cardinal Bassetti, together with Mgr. … Continue reading »

COMECE President, Archbishop of Luxembourg Jean-Claude Hollerich S.J., met yesterday, 18 April 2018, with Jean-Claude Juncker, President of the EU Commission. During their first official meeting since the election of Mgr. Hollerich in March 2018, the two leaders exchanged on current European challenges and explored ways to strengthen the dialogue between the Church and the EU in order to put back the human person at … Continue reading »

A delegation led by H. Em. Cardinal Gualtiero Bassetti, President of the Italian Bishops’ Conference (CEI), will come to Brussels on 22-25 April 2018 in order to exchange with high-level officials on the realities of the EU from the perspective of the Italian Church. Cardinal Bassetti’s visit shows the European dimension of the Italian Church, strongly committed to face current challenges and work for the … Continue reading »

“Criminalising male circumcision might endanger the whole system of fundamental rights, as well as the Rule of Law”, stated COMECE General Secretary fr. Olivier Poquillon op during the conference on “Religious rituals and fundamental rights” held last Tuesday 10th of April 2018 at the European Parliament. The event is a reaction to the legislative initiatives proposed in Iceland and Denmark in order to criminalise circumcision … Continue reading »