The Executive Committee of COMECE wish to offer their sincere condolences, support and prayers to the British people following the terrorist attacks on the London transport system on Thursday morning. Europe has once again fallen victim to perpetrators of fear and destruction who have targeted vulnerable, ordinary people seeking to live their everyday lives in a free and fair society. Yet the values and spirit … Continue reading »

During the Executive Committee of COMECE which gathered in Rome from 9-10 June, the Bishops reflected upon the current situation in the European Union and subsequently issued a statement which will be sent to Prime Minister Juncker in the run up to the European Council gathering from 16-17 June in Brussels. Following on from an initial statement issued by Mgr Treanor, COMECE Secretary General, on … Continue reading »

In historical terms the work delivered by the European Convention and the subsequent Intergovernmental Conference (IGC) which produced the Treaty Establishing a Constitution for Europe can be described as qualitatively significant and a real achievement. What resulted was the product of a finely negotiated compromise and hard won consensus. As such, the final Treaty can be viewed as both relatively good or indeed lacking. Throughout … Continue reading »

Church representatives today welcomed the inclusion of respect for human dignity and prospects for increased solidarity in the EU Constitutional Treaty during a meeting with the Prime Minister of Luxembourg and President-in-Office of the European Council, Jean-Claude Juncker held in Brussels. A delegation representing the Church and Society Commission of the Conference of European Churches (CEC) and the Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of the … Continue reading »

The Executive Committee of the Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of the European Community today tendered their contribution on the renewal of the European Union’s Lisbon Strategy in anticipation of the Spring European Council, to be held from 22-23 March 2005. In this discussion paper, the Executive Committee highlights the integral nature of the European social model in the drive to increase the competitiveness of … Continue reading »

Values such as freedom and solidarity, democracy, human rights and human dignity must form the basis of the European project. The churches have an important role in reminding societies and governments about these values as well as in promoting their implementation – such were the sentiments expressed by the Dutch Deputy Prime Minister Gerrit Zalm concluding the discussion on European values with the churches’ representatives … Continue reading »