Category Archives: Press

EU External Affairs, Press

NEWS

COMECE reflects on future priorities for the Eastern partnership

In the context of the 10th anniversary of EU’s partnership with its six Eastern neighbouring countries, COMECE will address the future priorities of this policy framework during the Autumn meeting of its Commission on EU External Affairs, discussing ways to empower youth, families and local communities. Following the June 2019 European Council, the European Commission and the European External Action Service are supposed to present … Continue reading »

Migration & Asylum, Press

NEWS

COMECE advocates for humane treatment in irregular migrants’ return process

In the context of the reform of the EU Return Directive, COMECE calls for human-centered policies including the fundamental rights protection of irregular migrants at all stages of their return, the implementation of alternatives to detention, the full respect of the principle of non-refoulment and the prioritisation of voluntary return. According to recent statistics, more than 1/3 of the return decisions were effectively implemented in … Continue reading »

Ethics, Research & Health, Press

NEWS

Will the EU face AI’s ethical, legal and political challenges?

The High-Level Expert Group on Artificial Intelligence (AI) set up by the European Commission published on 26 June 2019 the document “Policy and investments recommendations for trustworthy AI”. The publication highlights some of the recommendations expressed by COMECE in its previous contribution to the “Ethics Guidelines for Trustworthy AI”. COMECE welcomes the emphasis on the protection on “humans, sustainable growth, […] education and appropriate governance … Continue reading »

Migration & Asylum, Press

NEWS

COMECE calls for people-centred asylum policies

COMECE welcomes the publication of the 2019 Asylum Office report and calls EU Member States to respect international law obligations with regards to anyone looking for international protection in their territories. The report contains an overview of key indicators regarding the situation of refugees in Europe. While the number of applicants for international protection diminished in 2018, the report shows that 39% of them got … Continue reading »

Press

COMECE and CEC meet with Finnish EU Presidency

Churches-EU Dialogue

An ecumenical delegation composed of representatives from the Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of the European Union (COMECE) and the Conference of European Churches (CEC) met in Helsinki on Friday 12 July 2019 with Mr. Pekka Haavisto, Finnish Minister of Foreign Affairs, to exchange on the priorities of the Finnish Presidency of the EU Council. This meeting is part of a long-standing tradition supported by … Continue reading »

Justice & Fundamental Rights, Press

NEWS

Religions strengthen their relations with the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights

On July 3, 2019, COMECE co-organised together with Don Bosco International and the Baha’i International Community a dialogue meeting on “Human Rights & Religion” with the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) and the participation of Churches and religious communities (Article 17 TFEU), as well as of faith-based organisations (Article 11 TEU). Following the expert meeting of September 2017 and the integration of religions’ role … Continue reading »

Press, Social & Economic Affairs

NEWS

The COMECE Social Affairs Commission explore future priorities

Experts of EU Bishops’ Conferences gathered in Brussels on Wednesday 26 June 2019 to participate in the COMECE Social Affairs Commission. They exchanged views on future Church’s contributions to EU social policies in the renewed institutional setting following the May 2019 elections of the European Parliament. Participants analysed the results of the elections across the EU, addressed the challenges of political fragmentation to a more … Continue reading »

EU External Affairs, Press

Press Release

COMECE reflections on “uncrewed armed systems”

COMECE publishes a contribution to the ongoing discussion on the development and use of increasingly sophisticated armed technologies. This reflection, entitled “Technology at the service of peace”, provides recommendations to the EU and its Member States on how to address the (mis-)use of force through “uncrewed armed systems”. Produced by a COMECE ad-hoc working group led by Prof. Dominique Lambert, the reflection comes at a … Continue reading »

Press

Press Release

Fr. Barrios Prieto appointed as future General Secretary of COMECE

Following the 13-15 March 2019 COMECE Assembly, Bishops’ Conferences of the EU elected Fr. Manuel Enrique Barrios Prieto as future General Secretary of COMECE. Fr. Barrios Prieto will succeed fr. Olivier Poquillon o.p. as General Secretary on the 1st of September 2019. His mandate, according to the new statute of COMECE, will last four years. Rev Barrios Prieto graduated from the Pontifical Gregorian University as … Continue reading »

EU External Affairs, Press

NEWS

How can the Church and the EU support Human Rights defenders in the Amazon?

In preparation for the October 2019 Synod of Bishops for the Pan-Amazon Region, COMECE held on 19 June 2019 a dialogue meeting between EU policy makers and Church and civil society representatives on human rights defenders in the Amazon region. Discussing the respective roles of the Church and the EU in addressing the environmental, social and human rights concerns in the region, this event allowed … Continue reading »