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, Press

Press Release

70th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Statement of the President of the COMECE Legal Affairs Commission

On the date marking the 70th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Mgr. Theodorus C.M. Hoogenboom, President of the COMECE Legal Affairs Commission, recalls its legal and political significance for the Church. In this context, during the year 2018, COMECE organised and participated in various high-level events on the topic of Fundamental Rights, including: – Criminalisation of circumcision: putting the fundamental rights’ system … Continue reading »

Justice & Fundamental Rights, Policy Areas, Press

NEWS

COMECE recalls core human rights principles in major EP Dialogue Seminar

“The hierarchisation of human rights is a grave obstacle to their promotion and protection”, reaffirmed COMECE during the Article 17 TFEU Dialogue Seminar on “Religion and Human Rights within the EU: A Shared Responsibility”, held at the European Parliament on 4 December with representatives of churches and religious communities. The event took place on the occasion of the 70th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of … Continue reading »

Justice & Fundamental Rights, Policy Areas, Press

NEWS

Legal Affairs Commission: data protection and non-discrimination still high on the agenda

The COMECE Legal Affairs Commission, presided b H.E. Mgr. Hoogenboom, met on 15 October 2018 and exchanged views on EU and Church priority topics. In dialogue with European Commission representatives, experts discussed the significance of the Egenberger and IR judgments for Church structures and the implications of the Coman judgment for national legal systems. Experts also reflected on the actions carried out by the Church … Continue reading »

Justice & Fundamental Rights, Policy Areas, Press

NEWS

COMECE contribution to the 2018 Fundamental Rights Forum

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 »

Justice & Fundamental Rights, Policy Areas, Press

NEWS

70th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. COMECE at the Holy See’s high-level Colloquium at the Council of Europe

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 »

Justice & Fundamental Rights, Policy Areas, Press

Press Release

Church-EU Dialogue. Church delegation meets with the Austrian EU Presidency

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 »

Justice & Fundamental Rights, Policy Areas, Press

Press Release

COMECE meets with the Bulgarian EU Presidency

Church-EU Dialogue

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 »

Justice & Fundamental Rights, Policy Areas, Press

NEWS

Cardinal Bassetti’s first official visit to the EU: a sign of courage and hope

“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 »