Category Archives: Press

Policy Areas, Press, Social & Economic Affairs

NEWS

European Day for a Work-Free Sunday: Call for Action!

In Europe, the proportion of workers reporting working Sundays increased between 2010 and 2015. COMECE believes that a work-free Sunday is an essential pillar of the European social model. Together with the European Sunday Alliance, we launch a call for action to show the need for a common EU-wide regulation. Sunday is of great importance because it allows families to spend time together, employees to … Continue reading »

Press

NEWS

Dutch Bishops mark their support to European project

«We came to Brussels to express our commitment with the European Union» said Mgr Hoogenboom on the occasion of the visit of the Dutch Bishop’s Conference to the European Institutions and to COMECE in Brussels, on 20-21 February. The delegation was led by His Excellency Mgr Van den Hende, Bishop of Rotterdam and President of the Dutch Bishops’ Conference. The Bishops met at the European … Continue reading »

Policy Areas, Press, Social & Economic Affairs

NEWS

World Day of Social Justice: towards an integrated approach to combat poverty

This 20 February marks the United Nations World Day of Social Justice, an underlying principle for peaceful and prosperous coexistence within and among nations. The COMECE Bishops recall that “Care and respect for the poorest and most vulnerable persons in a society are the basic criterion for social justice.” Social Justice is a major challenge for the EU. Today, almost 24% of Europeans are at … Continue reading »

Education & Culture, Policy Areas, Press

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The participation of COMECE in the “Summer School” renewed until 2020

Since 2006, students from all over the world attend the Graz-Seggau International Graz University (Austria), organized by COMECE, the University of Graz and the Diocese of Graz-Seggau. Students and teachers work in an interdisciplinary manner on topical subjects, particularly those related to the European Union and its relations with “the Americas” (Canada, USA, Caribbean and Latin America). The next session will take place from 2 … Continue reading »

Policy Areas, Press, Social & Economic Affairs

NEWS

Europe needs more unity in the respect of social rights

COMECE and Caritas Europa welcome the request of the Secretary General of the Council of Europe (CoE) Thorbjørn Jagland to include the Council of Europe’s European Social Charter in the EU proposal of the European Pillar of Social Rights. It is only through a coherent approach in European social policy that the growing divergence between Member States can be resolved. In a few weeks’ time, … Continue reading »

Migration & Asylum, Policy Areas, Press

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Proposals to improve EU’s integration of third country nationals

COMECE and other members of the Christian group on migration have published their comments on the Action Plan on the integration of third country nationals proposed by the European Commission. The Plan aims at supporting Member States in the integration of third-country nationals in the EU. COMECE and other Christian organisations welcome the intention to establish a common policy framework and supporting measures to help … Continue reading »

EU External Affairs, Policy Areas, Press

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Whose Security? Whose Defence?

COMECE participated in a conference on “The European Defence of Europe?” organised by Egmont – Royal Institute for International Relations. The objective of the conference was to discuss with EU policy-makers, NATO representatives and academics the strategic questions of European defence cooperation and the development of appropriate capabilities. COMECE supports the view that reinforced security and defence measures can only be considered a partial response … Continue reading »

Policy Areas, Press, Youth policies

NEWS

Young Catholics discovering EU institutions

COMECE hosted a 4-days-visit of 20 young people from the UK to the EU institutions and to Church organisations. Meeting EU Officials from the European Commission, the European Council and its UK Task Force as well as MEP Jean Lambert. They got the opportunity to deepen their knowledge about the EU and its policies, about burning issues like Brexit and about EU-topics that are of … Continue reading »

Migration & Asylum, Policy Areas, Press

NEWS

Solving migration with countries of origin and transit?

The EU is moving to a migration policy that reinforces its external dimension. After the EU-Turkey “deal” and Partnerships with some African countries, a new agreement between Italy and Libya, endorsed by EU leaders, has been signed last 2 February, to help the UN-backed Libyan government curb migration. In fact, the Central Mediterranean corridor is currently the main entry point for migrants and refugees, especially … Continue reading »

EU External Affairs, Policy Areas, Press

NEWS

Colombia: from child soldiers to peace-builders

The armed conflict in Colombia has persisted for more than 50 years. The result is: 260.000 people killed and 8 Mio. victims, most of them civilians. Moreover, many children have been forcibly recruited as soldiers and suffered serious physical and psychological harm. The Salesians of Don Bosco are helping them to re-integrate into society. They shared this example of good practice of placing the human … Continue reading »