Category Archives: Press

Press

NEWS

COMECE on EU elections results: “Citizens voted: it is time to rebuild community in Europe”

COMECE expresses deep appreciation for the increased participation of EU citizens in the election of the European Parliament. With a turnout of 50.97%, the highest in 20 years, Europeans gave a strong signal to the MEPs they elected, thereby taking back control of their common destiny. “People saw the importance of European politics and took their responsibility in going to vote”,commented Mgr. Jean-Claude Hollerich, S.J., … Continue reading »

Justice & Fundamental Rights, Press

NEWS

COMECE gathers Church data protection experts

Following a demand of its Legal Affairs Commission, COMECE organised on 21 May 2019 an expert meeting to discuss the implementation of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and its impact on Church activities after one year of application. In dialogue with the European Commission, some of the main challenges in the field were identified and discussed. The protection of personal data, being a long-term … Continue reading »

EU External Affairs, International Religious Freedom, Press

Press Release

COMECE accompanies Chaldean Patriarch of Baghdad to the EU

COMECE accompanied His Beatitude Cardinal Louis Raphaël Sako I, Patriarch of the Chaldean Catholic Church, in his 2-day visit to Europe addressing EU representatives and policy makers on the reconstruction of Iraq and the challenge of reconciliation among Iraqis. Although major military operations concluded in late 2017, the humanitarian crisis in Iraq is far from being over. According to recent statistics, 8.7 million people – … Continue reading »

EU External Affairs, Press

NEWS

COMECE recalls the need for a rights-based approach in EU External Action

COMECE contributed to a consultation launched by the European External Action Service providing recommendations on EU priority actions to promote Human Rights and Democracy in the world. The COMECE contribution was elaborated in view of the renewal of the EU Action Plan on Human Rights and Democracy (2020-2024). Recalling that human rights are universal, inviolable, inalienable, indivisible, interdependent, interrelated and non-hierarchised, COMECE proposed to include … Continue reading »

Ethics, Research & Health, Press

NEWS

EU Guidelines promote a Human-centred Artificial Intelligence

COMECE welcomes the human-centric approach to Artificial Intelligence (AI) adopted in the “Ethics Guidelines for Trustworthy AI” published by the European Commission on Tuesday 9 April 2019. In February 2019 COMECE contributed to the public consultation carried out by the EC High-Level Expert Group on Artificial Intelligence, reaffirming the primacy of the human person and promoting a right-based approach in reviewing the main principles that … Continue reading »

Press, Youth policies

Invitation

Synod on Youth continues: a socio-political reading

In October 2018, on the occasion of the “Synod on Youth, Faith and Vocational Discernment”, Pope Francis urged youth and Church representatives to discuss the involvement of young people in society. Rather than working for the youth, Pope Francis highlighted, it is necessary to work with the youth, allowing them to fully realise their talents and aspirations in their local communities, and to empower them … Continue reading »

EU External Affairs, Press

NEWS

Military Bishops in dialogue with the EU on human security

In the context of an increased attention to security concerns of European citizens, COMECE organised on Monday 8 April 2019 a first meeting between Military Bishops from across the European Union and EU military officials to enhance the cooperation towards a shared strategic culture across Europe. This meeting allowed them to exchange on their respective military realities and on the EU’s response to current geopolitical … Continue reading »

EU External Affairs, International Religious Freedom, Press

NEWS

COMECE calls the EU to promote long term resilience in Syria

COMECE urges the EU to support Syrian people to overcome their immediate humanitarian needs and to promote their long term resilience. The call came on Wednesday 3 April 2019 during the conference “The next day in Syria: a path towards the resilience of Syrian people” co-organised at the European Parliament by COMECE and its ecumenical and political partners. After six years of war, people in … Continue reading »

Migration & Asylum, Press

NEWS

COMECE on Roma inclusion: “working with them, not for them”

In view of the upcoming EU elections and on the occasion of the “2019 Roma Week”, COMECE calls future EU leaders to adopt a post-2020 EU Framework for National Roma Integration Strategies and to relaunch EU institutions’ commitment to enhance Roma inclusion. The 2018 EC report on the evaluation of the EU Framework for National Roma Integration Strategies up to 2020 shows improvements in the … Continue reading »

Ecology & Sustainability, Press

NEWS

COMECE President in Washington DC to promote “Integral Ecology”

Mgr. Jean-Claude Hollerich, S.J., President of COMECE participated in an international conference on “Integral Ecology” organised at the Georgetown University (USA) in preparation of the Pan-Amazon Synod scheduled on 6-27 October 2019. Mgr. Hollerich called for ensuring accountability of the private sector with regard to legal, social and environmental standards. Promoting the messages carried out by Pope Francis’ Encyclical Letter Laudato Si’, Church leaders from … Continue reading »