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, Social & Economic Affairs

NEWS

EU funds: Churches are eligible actors

The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) is expected to adopt an opinion that might answer to some of the concerns raised up by Churches and civil society organisations on the topic of access to EU Funding. Complex administrative procedures, language barriers, short time-frames, cash-flow problems, as well as the difficulty for funding small-medium projects, are some of the issues that the non-binding EESC document … Continue reading »

Justice & Fundamental Rights, Policy Areas, Press

NEWS

Estonian EU Presidency: COMECE meets with Prime Minister Jüri Ratas

A delegation from COMECE met in Tallinn on August 18 with the Estonian Prime Minister, Jüri Ratas, and the Minister of Internal Affairs, Andres Anvelt, in order to discuss common concerns as well as the most urgent priorities of the Estonian presidency of the Council of the European Union. COMECE was represented by Mgr. Philippe Jourdan, Apostolic Administrator of Estonia and first Catholic Bishop to … Continue reading »

Justice & Fundamental Rights, Policy Areas, Press

NEWS

Cardinal Marx’s statement on terror attacks in Catalonia

President of COMECE, Cardinal Marx, conveyed his heartfelt condolences to the Archbishop of Barcelona, Cardinal Juan José Omella, and to the relatives of the victims of the shocking terror attacks that took place yesterday in the region of Catalonia, Spain, injuring more than 100 people and killing 14 people. In his message, Cardinal Marx shared his deepest sympathy with the families of the victims, “people … Continue reading »

Justice & Fundamental Rights, Policy Areas, Press

NEWS

Churches to the EU: “Our future depends on common values”

On 27 June, the European Parliament, under the patronage of President Antonio Tajani, convened a dialogue with representatives of Jewish, Muslim, and Christian communities on the future of Europe. The high-level dialogue was inspired in part by recent European Parliament resolutions on improving its various treaties and on the 2017 European Commission White Paper on the future of Europe. Churches are equally invested in these … Continue reading »

Justice & Fundamental Rights, Policy Areas, Press

NEWS

COMECE contributes to the theme of the Fundamental Rights Forum 2018

COMECE Secretariat expressed its position concerning the chosen topic of “belonging” in the context of the consultation launched by the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights in view of the Fundamental Rights Forum 2018. The consultation of the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights was questioning the meaning of “belonging” for each participating organization. COMECE highlighted the link between belonging to a community and being able to … Continue reading »

Justice & Fundamental Rights, Policy Areas, Press

NEWS

Strasbourg: Parliament says yes to negotiation on the Audiovisual Media Service Directive

The Plenary of the European Parliament has approved the CULT Committee decision to enter into negotiations with the Council and the Commission on the revision of the Audiovisual Media Service Directive. COMECE welcomes this vote and encourages the EU institutions to prioritise child protection in the forthcoming negotiations. COMECE considers that the CULT Committee text on which the negotiations will be based could have been … Continue reading »

Ethics, Research & Health, Justice & Fundamental Rights, Policy Areas, Press

NEWS

COMECE contribution on the legal status of robots

Robotics and artificial intelligence (AI) present new legal and ethical challenges both in terms of liability and responsibility. COMECE welcomes the debate on this theme at the EU level, and cautions against potential risks deriving from according legal personality to robots. The Commission has launched a consultation on the EU Directive on liability for defective products witch guarantees the liability of the producer in case … Continue reading »