Category Archives: Policy Areas

EU External Affairs, Policy Areas, Press

NEWS

EU strategy on resilience: a shift towards pre-emptive peace-building?

The EU presented a Joint Communication on how it aims to support states, societies, communities and individuals in adapting to growing and increasingly long-term pressures. COMECE welcomes the EU’s Joint Communication on resilience and encourages the EU to prioritise a people-centered approach in the implementation process. COMECE has actively contributed to the drafting process of the EU’s Joint Communication. We particularly welcome the EU’s intention … Continue reading »

Policy Areas, Press, Social & Economic Affairs

NEWS

Social Affairs Commission statement on the future of work

Under the chairmanship of Mgr. Ambrosio, the COMECE Social Affairs Commission met on Friday in Brussels. Together with EU representatives, the committee of experts exchanged views on the EU reflection paper on the deepening of the Eurozone, the European Solidarity Corps and the European Pillar of Social Rights on Friday. Among the guest speakers were Kai Wynands, Head of Cabinet of the EU Commission Vice-President … Continue reading »

Ecology & Sustainability, Policy Areas, Press

Press Release

Cardinal Marx on US President’s decision to withdraw from the Paris Climate agreement

“Although this decision comes as no surprise, it is a major challenge for climate protection at international level. It erodes the global trust achieved with the agreement of the Paris climate conference. Until the end, we had hoped that the discussions at the G7 and the meeting with Pope Francis would have positively influenced his decision. The Encyclical Laudato Si, offered by Pope Francis to … Continue reading »

Migration & Asylum, Policy Areas, Press

NEWS

Migration: root causes and how to address them

Archbishop François-Xavier Maroy Rusengo from Bukavu (DR Congo) debated with representatives of the European Commission and the European Parliament the root causes of migration in Central and Eastern Africa, and the possible ways to address them. The luncheon debate – organised by COMECE together with Kolping-Netzwerk für Geflüchtete, missio Aachen, and Bertelsmann Stiftung – intended to raise awareness on the root causes of migration, identifying … Continue reading »

Migration & Asylum, Policy Areas, Press

Invitation

Addressing Migration at its roots causes: How can the EU help to improve the prospects of Africa’s youth?

Event organized by COMECE, Kolping-Netzwerk für Geflüchtete, missio Aachen, and Bertelsmann Stiftung with a keynote address of Archbishop François-Xavier Maroy Rusengo (DR Congo) followed by a discussion with MEP Michael Gahler (EPP) and Jean-Louis Ville (EU Commission). A sandwich lunch will be provided at 12:30 hrs. The missio exhibition on the causes of migration and the Kolping Roadshow on integration of refugees will stimulate our … Continue reading »

Migration & Asylum, Policy Areas, Press

NEWS

COMECE debates on the challenge of integration

In cooperation with the Centre for Catholic Social Science (KSZ), COMECE held on 18 and 19 May its social-ethical talks in Mönchengladbach/Germany. At the two-day meeting, about 80 scholars, politicians and representatives of the Church and its organisations exchanged their views on the topic of “Integration as a challenge – Living together in Europe”. Participants stressed the need for political actions and civic engagement in … Continue reading »

Migration & Asylum, Policy Areas, Press

Invitation

The challenge of integration – Living Together in Europe

This year’s social-ethical talks will be held on 18 and 19 May 2017. The theme of the joint meeting of KSZ and COMECE is “The challenge of integration – Living Together in Europe”. Since 2011, KSZ and COMECE have been jointly organising the Mönchengladbach (Germany) social-ethical talks with their orientation on European policies. In 2015 and 2016 more than one million migrants have come to … Continue reading »

EU External Affairs, Policy Areas, Press

NEWS

Churches and faith-based organisations elaborate on resilience

COMECE hosted a meeting on resilience, a notion that has become increasingly important in the discourse on the European peace and security policy. 25 representatives of Churches and faith-based organisations reflected jointly on this concept and on ways of putting it into practice. From COMECE’s perspective, the human being, family and local community should build the primary focus of EU’s resilience-fostering efforts. By pursuing a … 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 »

Ecology & Sustainability, Policy Areas, Press

Press Release

COMECE welcomes EP resolution on Food Waste

Statement of Fr. Olivier Poquillon OP, secretary general of COMECE, on today’s adoption of a resolution by the European Parliament on «Resource efficiency: reducing food waste, improving food safety». In recent years Pope Francis has repeatedly spoken out against the scandal of food waste. He criticized a throwaway culture that “made us insensitive to wasting and throwing out excess foodstuffs, which is especially condemnable when … Continue reading »