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

Paris attacks: Statement of the General Secretary of COMECE

“The attacks perpetrated on the people of Paris yesterday evening fill us all with revulsion. They are beyond contempt. My thoughts and prayers go to the victims of these senseless acts of violence and their families. France cannot give in to campaigns of terror or violent attack, nor can Europe. Barbarism such as we have witnessed in Paris calls for a response from the civilised … Continue reading »

Justice & Fundamental Rights, Policy Areas, Press

Press Release

The message of religion teaches us to use freedom responsibly and to respect diversity

Today’s eleventh High-Level Religious Leaders’ Meeting with the EU institutions was dedicated to the theme: ‘Living together and disagreeing well.’ After the attacks in Paris and Copenhagen earlier in the year, the EU Commission wanted to devote its dialogue with the Religious Leaders to the enormous challenges being currently faced by European society. On the occasion of this annual meeting, the President of COMECE, His … Continue reading »

Justice & Fundamental Rights, Policy Areas, Press

News

European Citizenship: we need a sense of belonging to a community

EU citizenship is an issue central to our European identity and promises to feature prominently in the debates preceding the 2014 European Parliamentary elections. In the context of the European Year of Citizens 2013, the EU Commission has sought the views of the Churches on this theme in the frame of the Dialogue Seminar on 20 June. From the perspective of the EU Commission, Ms … Continue reading »

Justice & Fundamental Rights, Policy Areas, Press

News

Towards active involvement: the spiritual dimension of European citizenship

This year’s annual EU high-level meeting of religious leaders took place on 30 May at the Commission’s headquarters in Brussels, under the motto ‘Putting citizens at the heart of Europe in times of change’. The meeting was hosted by José Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission, and co-chaired by Herman Van Rompuy, President of the European Council, and László Surján, Vice-President of the European … Continue reading »