Category Archives: Policy Areas

Justice & Fundamental Rights, Policy Areas, Press

NEWS

Freedom of religion at stake in the context of fighting against Covid-19

“The reopening of churches must be implemented by civil authorities in dialogue with ecclesial institutions”, states Fr. Barrios Prieto, General Secretary of COMECE, thereby expressing a widespread feeling within the Church in many EU Member States. “Freedom of religion, including freedom of worship, is a fundamental right and a real necessity for many people – states Fr. Barrios Prieto. “The reopening of churches, in compliance … Continue reading »

EU External Affairs, Policy Areas, Press

NEWS

New EU Action Plan on Human Rights and Democracy: a stronger Europe in the world?

COMECE welcomes the EU’s priority actions proposed for the next five years in the global promotion of human rights and democracy, and calls on the EU institutions to increase their ambition in the protection of religious freedom and in the area of business & human rights. Elaborated by the European Commission and the European External Action Service, the EU draft policy document follows the expiration … Continue reading »

Migration & Asylum, Policy Areas, Press

Press Release

COMECE calls the EU and its Member States for a common response to forced migration

“The pandemic should not be an excuse to let human beings die in the Mediterranean Sea”, states COMECE General Secretary Fr. Barrios Prieto. Referring to the many migrants who were not promptly and safely disembarked at the closest EU port over the last days, COMECE calls for “a predictable solidarity mechanism agreed among EU member states”. COMECE shares the concerns recently expressed by the Maltese … Continue reading »

Ethics, Research & Health, Policy Areas, Press

NEWS

Covid-19, COMECE welcomes EGE call for vigilance of restrictive measures

COMECE welcomes the statement recently released by the European Group on Ethics in Science and New Technologies (EGE), calling the EU and its Member States to be vigilant on the “necessity and proportionality of any policy and technological intervention that – taken in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic – suspends, even temporarily, fundamental rights”. Since late February 2020 the EU and its Member States … Continue reading »

Migration & Asylum, Policy Areas, Press

NEWS

Refugees in Europe: human dignity is not in quarantine

COMECE calls EU members states to show generosity in accepting the relocation of asylum seekers from Greek islands, minimising the risk of Covid-19 infection among them and providing adequate health treatment to those already infected. “We are in our homes, afraid. I also think of the most vulnerable: how it must feel for those who are in refugee camps, who have nothing, not even medicine … Continue reading »

Ethics, Research & Health, Policy Areas, Press

Press Release

“Light a candle on Easter Eve”: European Bishops call faithful to give a sign of hope

In view of the upcoming Easter Sunday celebrations, H. Em. Card. Jean-Claude Hollerich SJ and H. Em. Card. Angelo Bagnasco, respectively Presidents of the Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of the European Union (COMECE) and of the Council of the Bishops’ Conferences of Europe (CCEE), invite all Catholics to spread a message of hope by lighting a candle at their window on Easter eve. “It … Continue reading »

Ethics, Research & Health, Policy Areas, Press

Press Release

New technologies, “Rome call for Artificial Intelligence ethics”

“The scope and acceleration of the transformations of the digital era have in fact raised unforeseen problems and situations that challenge our individual and collective ethos”, stated Pope Francis in his message addressed to the participants of the international workshop “The ‘good’ algorithm? Artificial Intelligence, Ethics, Law, Health”, organised on 26-28 February 2020 at the Vatican on the occasion of the 26th General Assembly of … Continue reading »

Justice & Fundamental Rights, Policy Areas, Press

News

COMECE Legal Affairs Commission: focus on new EU dossiers

The COMECE Legal Affairs Commission gathered experts from EU Bishops’ Conferences on Thursday 5 March 2020 in order to address current EU legal matter of particular relevance for the Church. Legal advisors updated each other and reflected on the continued impact of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) on the Catholic Church in the Member states. This topic will be the focus of the upcoming … Continue reading »

Policy Areas, Press, Youth Platform, Youth policies

Press Release

COMECE presents recommendations for a more inclusive EU Youth & Education Programmes

COMECE presented its recommendation paper on “Inclusive Youth and Education Programme” during a working lunch held in Brussels on Wednesday 4 March 2020 and organized by the COMECE’S Youth Platform member, Don Bosco Youth-Net, together with Caritas Germany and the Bavarian Youth Council. On the occasion of the ongoing negotiations on Erasmus and the European Solidarity Corp (2021-2027), the document provides technical recommendations to the … Continue reading »

Migration & Asylum, Policy Areas, Press

News

Cardinal Hollerich calls EU Bishops’ Conferences to launch relocation projects for refugees in Greece

“An invitation for the whole Church to awaken new evangelical energies of welcome in each of the member countries of the European Union”. With these words, three leading Cardinals of the Catholic Church outline in a letter to EU Episcopal Conferences a strong call for relocation projects concerning refugee families stuck indefinitely in Lesbos and other reception camps in Greece. In the letter, H. Em. … Continue reading »