Category Archives: Press

Plenary Assembly, Press

NEWS

COMECE Autumn 2016 Plenary Assembly: “Looking forward with confidence”

In his opening speech to the COMECE Autumn Plenary Assembly, the President of COMECE, Cardinal Reinhard Marx, said that the Church wanted to make a contribution to help the European Union to overcome the multiple crises it faces: ‘In this existential crisis of the EU, COMECE is more important than ever’. Regarding the consequences of the decision of the United Kingdom to leave the EU, … Continue reading »

Migration & Asylum, Policy Areas, Press

Press Release

Migrants: from fear to compassion

Mass migration prompted by global conflict and ecological crises has stirred up unresolved fears in European societies. Understanding and responding to this was the central theme of a dialogue seminar that took place on 24 October between churches and the European Commission. Participants in the seminar identified two widely experienced types of fear. The first is the fear of rejection, violence, and exclusion many migrants … Continue reading »

Plenary Assembly, Press

Press Release

The Plight of Europe’s poor COMECE 2016 Autumn Plenary Assembly

The autumn Plenary Assembly of the 27 Bishops’ Conferences of COMECE will be held in Brussels from 26 to 28 October on the topic ‘The Plight of Europe’s poor & EU Strategies to eliminate poverty’. The COMECE Bishops will meet local associations in Brussels, which provide help to the poor. As in every plenary assembly, experts and EU officials will be invited to exchange with … Continue reading »

EU External Affairs, Policy Areas, Press

NEWS

Europe’s Security: which responsibilities, which freedom?

This years’ International Workshop and General Assembly of Justice & Peace Europe held under the chairmanship of its President Mgr Jean-Claude Hollerich in Luxembourg explored the challenges of security facing Europe today in dialogue with representatives of politics, the military, EU institutions, civil society and the Church, including the General Secretary of COMECE. In their final declaration, the participants called to “build bridges of justice … Continue reading »

Ethics, Research & Health, Policy Areas, Press

NEWS

Surrogacy: Council of Europe rejects draft recommendation

The Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly voted against the adoption of a recommendation on ‘Children’s rights related to surrogacy’, based on a report by Petra De Sutter (Belgium, SOC). The report was recommending to draw up European guidelines to safeguard children’s rights in relation to surrogacy arrangements. Read the COMECE Opinion on ‘Gestational Surrogacy – The question of European and international rules’.

Ecology & Sustainability, Policy Areas, Press

Press Release

Paris Agreement on Climate Change: the practical implementation begins

COMECE welcomes the ratification by the European Union of the climate agreement signed last year in Paris. Following the deposit of the instruments of ratification to the United Nations on Friday in New York, the climate agreement can now enter into force. This raises hopes that the international community will be able to act quickly and responsibly in the fight against climate change. Now that … Continue reading »

Migration & Asylum, Policy Areas, Press, Social & Economic Affairs

NEWS

Catholic Church and the European Solidarity September

The sixteenth edition of the conference on the role of the Catholic Church in the process of European integration co-organised by COMECE together with partners in Cracow, on September 21-22, 2016 focused this time on four specific issues imperatively necessitating solidarity in the EU, namely the solidarity in security and defence policy, solidarity towards the challenges of migrations and asylum, solidarity in reference to the … Continue reading »