Category Archives: Policy Areas

Justice & Fundamental Rights, Policy Areas, Press

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 »

Policy Areas, Press, Social & Economic Affairs

Press Release

European Bishops call for an integrated approach to combat poverty

119 million Europeans are at risk of poverty and social exclusion. Among them, children and families are still the most affected. The Catholic Church in Europe is particularly involved in the fight against this plague. Convinced of the urgent need for an integrated approach at European level, COMECE puts forward a series of proposals. As the European Commission develops a European Pillar of social rights, … Continue reading »

Policy Areas, Press, Social & Economic Affairs

NEWS

Youth Unemployment: ‘Church plays vital role’, say MEP and EU Commission

40 participants took part in a COMECE-Don Bosco international debate on Tackling Youth Unemployment in Europe – A Catholic Church’s Perspective. Mgr. Adrianus van Luyn, representatives from EU institutions and the European Youth Forum discussed with Iván Toscano, expert on Vocational Education and Training at Don Bosco (Italy), the effectiveness of the EU instruments to tackle youth unemployment. Panellists encouraged the EU to strengthen the … Continue reading »

Policy Areas, Press, Social & Economic Affairs

Invitation

Tackling Youth Unemployment in Europe a Catholic Church’s Perspective

In October, the European Commission presented a first evaluation of its measures aimed at reducing youth unemployment. The communication acknowledged that the Youth Guarantee and the Employment Initiative contributed to the decrease of youth unemployment since 2013. Evening debate – Tuesday 6 December 2016, 18.30 Organised by Don Bosco International and COMECE Venue: COMECE Secretariat, 19, Square de Meeûs, B-1050 Brussels In a joint evening … Continue reading »

EU External Affairs, Policy Areas, Press

NEWS

What are the priorities for funding peace-building in 2017?

COMECE participated in a consultation of the civil society with the EU Commission organised by The European Peacebuilding Liaison Office, a platform of NGOs on the 2017 programming of the EU financial Instrument contributing to Stability and Peace. The discussion mainly focused on preventing violent extremism, strengthening the role of civil society in the security sector and the importance of peace education. With regard to … Continue reading »

Justice & Fundamental Rights, Migration & Asylum, Policy Areas, Press

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 »

EU External Affairs, International Religious Freedom, Policy Areas, Press

NEWS

Sudan: Visit of Bishop Gassis to the EU

COMECE received H.E. Macram Max Gassis, Bishop emeritus of the Diocese El Obeid in Sudan. The Bishop came to Brussels to draw attention to the suffering of the Nuba people. He called on the EU to contribute to a peaceful and just settlement of the ongoing conflict. In concrete terms, Mgr Gassis demanded the cessation of aerial bombings, the opening of relief corridors and that … Continue reading »

International Religious Freedom, Policy Areas, Press

NEWS

COMECE advocates rights of Christians in the Middle East at UN meeting

In the Middle East, many women and men belonging to religious minorities, in particular Christians, are expelled from their homeland and become asylum seekers or are internally displaced. They have a right to return to their homes. This was the main message delivered by COMECE at the United Nations Global Summit on “Religion, Peace and Security” in Geneva on 23 – 25 November. COMECE Legal … Continue reading »

Justice & Fundamental Rights, Policy Areas, Press

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 »