25/04/2017
COMECE contribution to consultation on the Rules on liability caused by a defective product (EN)
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.
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
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
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
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
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
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
NEWS
How to ensure media pluralism?
COMECE participated to the second edition of the “Fundamental Rights Colloquium”, organised on a yearly basis by the European Commission. The topic was “Media Pluralism and Democracy”. The COMECE Secretariat had contributed to the relevant consultation with a detailed submission. COMECE supports the view that media cannot be analysed under the reductive lenses of commercial and market perspectives, being they closely and vitally linked with … Continue reading
NEWS
EU Transparency Register: rules on Churches confirmed
Five years after its launch, the Commission proposes to make the Transparency Register mandatory for all actors interfacing with EU institutions on policies and legislation. According to the text, whereas their EU representations should register, Churches as such are exempted from this obligation.
NEWS
COMECE Legal Affairs Commission: data protection‘s impact on Churches
Chaired by Mgr Hoogenboom, COMECE Legal Affairs Commission’s second meeting of the year had a fruitful exchange with the EU Commission on the impact of new General Data Protection Regulation on Churches. The meeting especially gathered legal experts from 10 European Bishops‘Conferences.