Category Archives: Press

Justice & Fundamental Rights, Policy Areas, Press

Press Release

Church-EU Dialogue. Church delegation meets with the Austrian EU Presidency

A delegation of Austrian and European Church representatives met in Vienna on 23 July 2018 with Karoline Edtstadler, Secretary of State for Home Affairs of the Austrian government, to exchange views on the priorities of the Austrian Presidency of the EU Council. Regular meetings of churches with the rotating EU Presidency have been taking place for more than 20 years. They are an expression of … Continue reading »

Migration & Asylum, Policy Areas, Press

NEWS

The Global Compact on Migration adopted at the UN

The Global Compact for Safely, Orderly and Regular Migration was finalised on 13 July and shall be formally adopted during the Intergovernmental Conference that will be held in Marrakesh, Morocco, on 10-11 December 2018. As Fr. Fabio Baggio C.S, Under-Secretary of the Holy See’s Migration & Refugees Section, explained during the recent COMECE-organised meeting, the UN Global Compact on Migration is a non-binding intergovernmental negotiated … Continue reading »

Press

NEWS

COMECE condemns aggression against Church leaders in Nicaragua

COMECE shares the concern expressed by the Holy Father on the situation in Nicaragua after the attack of 9 July against Cardinal Leopoldo Brenes (Archbishop of Managua), Mgr. José Silvio Baez (Auxiliary Bishop of Managua), as well as the Apostolic Nuncio, personal representative of the Pope in Nicaragua. The aggression took place after their arrival outside the San Sebastian Basilica in Diriamba, for a pastoral … Continue reading »

Press

NEWS

COMECE Social Affairs Commission

Work-Life Balance, MFF and Future of work

The COMECE Social Affairs Commission gathered on 21 June 2018 to exchange with EU officials on three current social issues of particular interest for the Church in Europe: the EU Work-life Balance package, the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) for 2021-2027 and the Future of Work. The Commission, chaired by its president Mgr. Antoine Hérouard (France), discussed the state of play on the negotiation of the … Continue reading »

Press

NEWS

Tribute to Cardinal Tauran who died this Friday

It is with great sadness that COMECE became aware of the death of Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran, President of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue. In this role, as well as previously at the Secretariat of State, he has put all his energy into promoting dialogue between men and women throughout the world, while respecting the diversity of their culture and religion. On various occasions, COMECE … Continue reading »

Ethics, Research & Health, EU External Affairs, Policy Areas, Press

NEWS

New Defence Technologies: which legal and ethical implications?

A roundtable debate on “New Defence Technologies” took place at COMECE on June 19th, 2018, to discuss the current developments in this field and reflect on related legal, security and ethical questions. The meeting, organised in the context of the recent proposal of the European Commission on the future European Defence Fund, gathered representatives of the EU, the military, academia and the Church. The 15 … Continue reading »

Ethics, Research & Health, Policy Areas, Press

NEWS

COMECE to publish reflection on “Robotisation of Life”

Following its contribution to a public consultation of the EU Commission on Artificial Intelligence (AI), COMECE will publish the reflection “Robotisation of Life” in order to adress the many ethical questions raised by AI’s effects on our societies. The document, to be published in July 2018, will describe and analyse the phenomena through the lenses of the Catholic social teaching. It was elaborated by the … Continue reading »

Migration & Asylum, Policy Areas, Press

NEWS

Migration and Asylum: focus on the Dublin Regulation recast

The COMECE Working Group on Migration and Asylum examined the status quo of the negotiations concerning the Dublin Regulation recast, that should be adopted by the Council at the end of June 2018. The event was held last week and gathered experts from Bishops’ conferences, representatives of Catholic organizations and EU and UN officials. Participants also discussed the criminalisation of the humanitarian assistance to irregular … Continue reading »

EU External Affairs, Policy Areas, Press

Press Release

Western Balkans: Mgr. Nemet to visit Brussels

In the context of a renewed momentum for the European integration of the Western Balkans, H.E. Mgr. Dr. Ladislav Nemet SVD (Serbia), President of the International Bishops’ Conference of St. Cyril and Methodius, will come to Brussels on 13-15 June 2018. He will meet with high-level EU officials in order to exchange on the necessary steps that can be taken on the side of the … Continue reading »

Ecology & Sustainability, Policy Areas, Press

Press Release

First Laudato Si’ Reflection Day

The first Laudato Si’ Reflection Day took place in Brussels on 6 June with more than 70 representatives of the European Bishops’ Conferences, Catholic organisations and movements. Together they expressed their support for a sustainable financial system in Europe and the Church. Participants discussed the latest EU initiatives on the matter and shared best practises and ideas in order to strengthen the crucial role the … Continue reading »