Category Archives: Press

EU External Affairs, Migration & Asylum, Policy Areas, Press

News

COMECE meets with EU Commissioner Várhelyi: “the Mediterranean as a place of peaceful encounters”

A COMECE delegation met with Mr. Olivér Várhelyi, EU Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement, on Monday 18 January 2021, to offer policy recommendations on a people-centred and fair future Southern Partnership. The document presented to the EU Commissioner was elaborated by COMECE in dialogue with local Church authorities. Last year, on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the Union for the Mediterranean, the EU … Continue reading »

Justice & Fundamental Rights, Policy Areas, Press

Press Release

COMECE addresses the EU Commission on Covid-19 strategy – “It is crucial to maintain the dialogue with Churches”

On the occasion of the last 2020 meeting of the COMECE Standing Committee on Tuesday 15 December 2020, the Bishops also addressed the European Commission Strategy on “Staying safe from Covid-19 during winter”. While welcoming the efforts for a coordinated and sustainable EU approach against the current pandemic, COMECE urges the European institutions to consult with Churches and religious communities especially when considering recommendations that … Continue reading »

Migration & Asylum, Policy Areas, Press

Press Release

COMECE assesses the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum: “put Human dignity and Common Good at the centre of the future negotiations”

In view of the International Migrants Day, the Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of the European Union (COMECE) calls upon the EU and its Member States to put the human dignity and the common good at the centre of the future negotiations on the recently proposed EU Pact on Migration and Asylum. The statement, published on Wednesday 16 December 2020, includes policy recommendations elaborated by … Continue reading »

Justice & Fundamental Rights, Policy Areas, Press

NEWS

COMECE Legal Affairs Commission: children and their rights as a EU priority

The  COMECE Legal Affairs Commission  met on Thursday 3 December 2020 to exchange on current EU and national initiatives in the area of fundamental rights. The event took place by video conference due to the ongoing Covid-19 crisis under the chairmanship of H. E. Mgr. Theodorus C. M. Hoogenboom, Auxiliary Bishop of Utrecht. The meeting prioritesed the situation of children in the Europea Union. In … Continue reading »

Policy Areas, Press, Social & Economic Affairs

NEWS

Social Affairs Commission: “Towards a just social and green recovery”

The EU strategies for recovery from the ongoing Covid-19 and climate crisis was the main focus of discussion of the COMECE Social Affairs Commission, which was held online on Monday 30 November and Tuesday 1st December 2020, under the chairmanship of H.E. Mgr. Antoine Hérouard. Building on its May 2020 statement “Let Europe recover through justice”, the Social Affairs Commission dedicated its work on the … Continue reading »

Ecology & Sustainability, Policy Areas, Press

Invitation

Webinar – “Faith, Science and Youth: A call for an ambitious climate summit”

On the occasion of the 5th anniversary of the Paris Agreement and in view of the upcoming Climate Ambition Summit 2020, the Vatican Covid-19 Commission and its partners, including the Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of the European Union (COMECE), invite you to participate in the webinar “Faith, Science and Youth: A call for an ambitious climate summit”, to be held on Wednesday 9 December … Continue reading »

Ethics, Research & Health, Policy Areas, Press

Press Release

COMECE-FAFCE reflection on the role of the elderly in times of demographic change

“Elderly people are a gift and a resource, […] they cannot be seen as separated from communities”, states the Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of the European Union (COMECE) together with FAFCE in the reflection paper “The Elderly and the Future of Europe”, jointly published on Thursday 3 December 2020. COMECE-FAFCE General Secretaries: “Let’s transform the Covid-19 crisis into an opportunity for a shift of … Continue reading »

Justice & Fundamental Rights, Policy Areas, Press

NEWS

COMECE participates in the high level EU-religious leaders’ meeting

H. Em. Card. Jean-Claude Hollerich SJ and H.E. Mgr. Youssef Soueif, respectively President of COMECE and delegate of the Maronites in Cyprus to COMECE, participated in the 15th annual high-level EU-religious leaders’ meeting on the theme “European Way of Life” on Friday 27 November 2020, with the Vice Presidents of the European Commission and Parliament, Margaritis Schinas and Roberta Metsola, in charge of Article 17 … Continue reading »

EU External Affairs, Policy Areas, Press

NEWS

Future EU-Africa partnership: Local communities play a key role in building resilience and human security

“The human dimension could still be further strengthened in the actions put forward by the European Union in its partnership with Africa, on peace and security in particular”, stated Fr. Manuel Barrios Prieto, General Secretary of COMECE, on the occasion of the Webinar on the role of local communities in fostering human security and resilience in the future EU-Africa partnership, held on Thursday 15 October 2020. The report is available here. In view … Continue reading »

Ecology & Sustainability, Policy Areas, Press

NEWS

COMECE commits to divest from fossil fuels

In the context of the 5th anniversary of Pope Francis’ 2015 Encyclical Laudato Si, the Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of the European Union (COMECE), together with other faith-based institutions, commits to divest from fossil fuels, following the Vatican’s guidelines on ethical investment. COMECE: “We encourage others to join us and support the European Green Deal as a way of implementing the Paris climate agreement”. … Continue reading »