Category Archives: Press

Press

NEWS

COMECE received the General Secretaries of the Bishops’ Conferences of the EU

The General Secretaries of the Bishops’ Conferences of the EU gathered today at COMECE in order to exchange on EU key topics, which are of specific interest of Churches in the European Union, as well as for the around 60% of EU citizens that the Catholic Church gathers. The General Secretaries exchanged on practical and technical questions within the field of competence of COMECE. The … Continue reading »

Justice & Fundamental Rights, Policy Areas, Press

NEWS

Pope Francis calls on tackling fake news

Pope Francis released a message condemning “fake news”, saying that it’s a “sign of intolerant and hypersensitive attitudes, and leads only to the spread of arrogance and hatred”. In his message for the World Communications Day, the Holy Father highlighted the importance of Communication as “part of God’s plan for us and an essential way to experience fellowship”. He warned all media operators about the … Continue reading »

Education & Culture, Policy Areas, Press

Invitation

COMECE conference in the European Year of Cultural Heritage. “Promoting the Christian Heritage of Europe”

Following the designation of 2018 as European Year of Cultural Heritage by the EU, COMECE organises the conference “Promoting the Christian Heritage of Europe”. The event will take place at COMECE Secretariat on Wednesday 31st of January 2018 from 9:30 to 16:30. The European Year of Cultural Heritage is a very positive initiative for Europe and it could represent an opportunity for the Church to … Continue reading »

Press

NEWS

Peter Sutherland, former EU Commissioner, dies at 71

Peter Sutherland died in Dublin on Sunday 7 January 2018 at the age of 71. Former EU-Commissioner and Director of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), Mr. Sutherland was a good and close friend of COMECE since his time in Brussels working for the European Commission. He was a member of the COMECE ad-hoc Working Group on Global Governance from 2001-2005. He was also part of … Continue reading »

Migration & Asylum, Policy Areas, Press

NEWS

World Day of Peace: Migration as an opportunity to build peace

In his Message for the World Day of Peace, Pope Francis encouraged to offer «refugees, migrants and victims of human trafficking an opportunity to find the peace they seek». The Holy Father also underlined that political leaders should «by practising the virtue of prudence, […] take practical measures to welcome, promote, protect and integrate» men and women, children, young and elderly people searching for peace. … Continue reading »

Ecology & Sustainability, Ethics, Research & Health, Policy Areas, Press

NEWS

Tackling AMR, the Antimicrobial Resistance

Every year approximately 25,000 people in the EU and about 700,000 in the rest of the world die because of resistance against «antibiotics». What is this phenomenon? How is it possible? What is the EU doing to protect its citizens? What is the contribution of COMECE to counter it? The resistance against antibiotics, or Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR), is a worldwide growing phenomenon due to an … Continue reading »

EU External Affairs, Policy Areas, Press

NEWS

EP Dialogue with Church actors on the External Policies of the EU

On December 6th COMECE participated to “The External Policies of the EU”, an event co-organised with the European Parliament as part of the Dialogue between the EU institutions and representatives of Churches and religious associations and communities. The event focused on the positive contribution that Churches and Church actors can bring to the development of a more coherent EU external policy based on the rule … Continue reading »

Migration & Asylum, Policy Areas, Press

NEWS

COMECE Working Group on Migration and Asylum: focus on the African migration to the EU

COMECE Working Group on Migration and Asylum analysed the situation and challenges related to African migration to the EU, in the context of the new EU–Africa Partnership. Held on the 6th of December, the working group gathered representatives of Catholic organizations, experts from Bishops’ conferences and EU officials. The participants examined main migratory trends in Sub-Saharian countries, as well as some of North African realities, … Continue reading »

EU External Affairs, Policy Areas, Press

NEWS

COMECE contribution on Private Investment and Development

With the recently launched European External Investment Plan, traditional development cooperation seems to move from a donor-recipient relationship towards a fair and mutually beneficial partnership. In this context, COMECE has published its assessment and some concrete policy recommendations. In the context of the recent 5th AU-EU Summit and the upcoming EU-ACP negotiations on the future of their relations, the Secretariat of COMECE elaborated a contribution … Continue reading »

Policy Areas, Press, Social & Economic Affairs

NEWS

COMECE Social Affairs Commission: reflection on the future of work

COMECE Social Affairs Commission and Catholic-inspired organisations exchanged with experts and EU officials on the transformative shift undergoing in the world of work. During the two-days meeting, under the presidency of Bishop Gianni Ambrosio, participants focused on the ways digitalisation and other trends are shaping the European labour market and impacting the dignity of workers. Based on the discussion with the invited speakers – including … Continue reading »