Category Archives: Press

Migration & Asylum, Policy Areas, Press

News

Lampedusa: this is not the Europe we want

In a meeting today with the President of the European Commission José Manuel Barroso, Cardinal Reinhard Marx, COMECE President, expressed his deep concern for the situation of refugees and asylum seekers, especially after the tragedy off Lampedusa, where an estimated 280 people died whilst attempting to reach the shores of Europe. In the light of this tragedy, Cardinal Marx has urged the Europeans to act: … Continue reading »

Ethics, Research & Health, Policy Areas, Press

News

COMECE’s Opinion on Medical Devices: Not safe enough

In an Opinion published today, the COMECE Reflection Group on Bioethics, while welcoming the ongoing revision of European legislation on Medical Devices, warns against some ethical shortcomings and proposes improvements to Proposals which will be voted in the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety Committee of the European Parliament on 18 September. There are currently around half a million medical devices (MDs) on the market … Continue reading »

Education & Culture, Policy Areas, Press, Social & Economic Affairs, Youth policies

News

Youth Policies, Education and unemployment. The young claim: ‘we are the solution !’

Young people have great expectations where the EU decisions makers are concerned, especially after the promises of the 28 EU Heads of States to put together an EU youth employment package. But is this a reliable long term solution to youth unemployment? Young people want the EU to tackle unemployment and education not FOR them but WITH them because they see themselves as the solution … Continue reading »

Press

Press Release

“It is time to capture again the spirit of Robert Schuman” Statement of Cardinal Marx on the occasion of 50th anniversary of the death of Robert Schuman

Today marks the fiftieth anniversary of the death of Robert Schuman. A great deal of history has been made in Europe in the half century since his death. The peace between nation states which had so frequently been enemies, the prosperity enjoyed by an unprecedented number of ordinary citizens, and the constructive and co-operative way in which politics are done within the European family of … Continue reading »

International Religious Freedom, Policy Areas, Press

News

Religious Freedom Guidelines: a welcome step forward

Press 25/06/2013: COMECE welcomes the adoption today by the Council of Foreign Affairs Ministers of the EU of New “EU Guidelines on the promotion and protection of freedom of religion or belief“. This new instrument provides the staff in the EEAS (External Action service), EU Delegations, Representations and Embassies with an operational set of tools to be used in relations with third-countries. It is designed … Continue reading »

Justice & Fundamental Rights, Policy Areas, Press

News

European Citizenship: we need a sense of belonging to a community

EU citizenship is an issue central to our European identity and promises to feature prominently in the debates preceding the 2014 European Parliamentary elections. In the context of the European Year of Citizens 2013, the EU Commission has sought the views of the Churches on this theme in the frame of the Dialogue Seminar on 20 June. From the perspective of the EU Commission, Ms … Continue reading »

Justice & Fundamental Rights, Policy Areas, Press

News

Towards active involvement: the spiritual dimension of European citizenship

This year’s annual EU high-level meeting of religious leaders took place on 30 May at the Commission’s headquarters in Brussels, under the motto ‘Putting citizens at the heart of Europe in times of change’. The meeting was hosted by José Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission, and co-chaired by Herman Van Rompuy, President of the European Council, and László Surján, Vice-President of the European … Continue reading »

Press

Press Release

Pope Francis receives COMECE in private audience

This morning His Holiness Pope Francis received in private audience the Standing Committee of the Commission of Bishops’ Conferences of the European Union (COMECE). The COMECE delegation was led by its President Reinhard Cardinal Marx, Archbishop of Munich and Freising. During their half an hour together the Pope, the bishops and their General Secretary discussed the current economic crisis in Europe, its social impact and … Continue reading »

Ethics, Research & Health, Policy Areas, Press

News

Clinical trials on medicinal products for human use in the EU: A sound ethical framework is essential

Clinical trials are necessary before any new medicine is put on the market. However, many people who are unable to give consent as well as people from less-developed countries often participate in such trials. So how can we better protect these people and vulnerable populations against abuse? The European Commission has proposed a regulation which will be submitted to a vote of the European Parliament … Continue reading »

Press

News

Re-reading the Schuman Declaration

On the eve of Europe day, COMECE General secretary Fr Patrick H. Daly, made the following statement: ‘On this 9 May is celebrated across our continent as Europe Day. It offers us an occasion to recall the beginnings of the great adventure which has grown the nations of Europe closer together. On the 9 May 1950, France suggested to Germany the opening up of a … Continue reading »