Category Archives: Press

EU External Affairs, Press

NEWS

COMECE meets with indigenous leader ahead of the Pan-Amazon Synod

On Friday 5thJuly 2019 COMECE welcomed Mr. Adriano Karipuna, indigenous leader from the Brazilian Amazon region, to discuss the challenges faced by local communities and to gather views ahead of the Bishop’s Synod for the Amazon, which will take place in Rome on 6-27 October 2019. Accompanied by Mr. Cleber César Buzatto – Executive Secretary of the Indigenous Missionary Council of Brazil (CIMI) – Mr. … Continue reading »

Ecology & Sustainability, Press

NEWS

Laudato Si‘: good practices of a spiritual and ecological conversion

In Spring 2019 COMECE and its partners organised the Second European Laudato Si’ Reflection Day to sharpen the view on what is necessary and possible to do in order to facilitate the ecological conversion described in Pope Francis’ Encyclical Letter “Laudato Si’”. The required conversion is key to maintain «our common home, the Earth», and goes beyond the «spiritual change», also including a change of … Continue reading »

Press, Youth policies

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COMECE encourages the EU to empower young people

On the occasion of the 2019 International Youth Day, COMECE calls the EU to implement youth policies reducing the forms of youth exclusions, and empowering young people at all levels of economic, social and political life. Young people represent around 1/3 of the population in the European Union. Many of them experience uncertainty, frustration and marginalisation due to the high unemployment rate, which deprives them … Continue reading »

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

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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

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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

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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

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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 »