Category Archives: Policy Areas

News

Shaping a framework for future-proof Social and Healthcare Services. A Contribution of the Churches and Church Organisations

Churches and church-related Organisations, such as Caritas and Diaconia, are major providers of social and healthcare services in the European Union. In a Dialogue Seminar with the European Commission they underlined their particular commitment to provide social and healthcare services in order to serve European citizens and the common good of the EU. In accordance with a long-established practice, the European Commission, together with the … Continue reading »

News

Set Back for the Protection of Embryos: The European Union faces a Major Bioethical Challenge

The Secretariat of COMECE has followed the preparation of the 7th Framework Research Programme for the period 2007-2013. It expresses its profound deception regarding the decision of the European Council of Ministers on 24 July 2006. The Catholic Church recognises the importance of developing an economy based on knowledge, research and innovation in the European Union. To this end the 7th Framework Research Programme is … Continue reading »

Press Release

Churches meet with Finnish Presidency

As Finland assumes the Presidency of the European Union for the coming six months, a Delegation on behalf of the Churches met on Friday 30th June with the Finnish Foreign Affairs Minister Mr.Erkki Tuomioja and officials from the Ministries of Education and Labour. The Delegation was led by the Archbishop of Turku, his Excellency Jukka Paarma (Head of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland). Other … Continue reading »

News

COMECE dismayed that the European Parliament promotes the instrumentalisation and destruction of human embryos

On 15 June 2006, the European Parliament voted in first reading on the 7th Research Framework Programme and called for EU funding of research with human embryos and human embryonic stem cells. Mgr Noel Treanor, Secretary General of the Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of the European Community (COMECE), made the following statement: COMECE is supportive of an effective EU research policy in the service … Continue reading »

News

Catholic bishops for a just and social Europe

On invitation by the Commission of Bishops’ Conferences of the European Community (COMECE) bishops and representatives of twelve episcopates in the EU met on May 30th for a study day and an exchange on priorities of the socioethical debate in the EU Bishops’ Conferences. During the day, organised by COMECE for the first time in this format and held under the main theme « Lisbon … Continue reading »

News

COMECE Bishops encourage politicians and citizens to create a framework for a just society in Europe

Today the COMECE Executive Committee issues a statement in view of Europe Day (9 May 2006) in which they welcome the reflection on the future of Europe and the positive elements of Plan D of the European Commission whilst calling for renewed efforts to revive the debate on the future of Europe. In welcoming the initiatives to reflect upon the future of the European Union, … Continue reading »