Category Archives: Press

EU External Affairs, Policy Areas, Press

News

Faith leaders and EU Institutions are ready to join forces to advance democratisation and peace in the southern Mediterranean

The Arab Spring was at the heart of this year’s annual summit meeting of European Faith leaders with the Presidents of the EU Institutions. This was the seventh such high-level meeting which took place at the invitation of President José Manuel Barroso and was co-chaired by Jerzy Buzek, President of the European Parliament and Herman Van Rompuy, President of the European Council. Having experienced a … Continue reading »

Justice & Fundamental Rights, Policy Areas, Press

News

COMECE welcomes the new Transparency Register as a positive signal which deserves full support

Today, the European Parliament endorsed the setting-up of a common Commission/Parliament ‘Transparency Register’, creating the conditions for its official launch next June. This decision affects thousands of organisations, which liaise with the EU Institutions. COMECE welcomes this common Register as an instrument that will make the legislative and policy-making process more transparent at the EU level. Transparency is valued by the Catholic Church as an … Continue reading »

EU External Affairs, Policy Areas, Press

News

The COMECE Bishops welcome the Arab Spring as a sign of hope

After decades of diplomatic deadlock and conflicts in the Middle East and North Africa, the COMECE Bishops now see in the Arab Spring a clear sign of hope. The popular uprisings in Tunisia, Egypt, Libya and other Arab countries represent a legitimate claim for freedom and human dignity for millions of people. This is the main message of the Spring Plenary Assembly of COMECE, which … Continue reading »

International Religious Freedom, Policy Areas, Press

Event

“Christian Churches in Maghreb and Mashriq”

How can we understand the current developments in the Middle East and Northern Africa from an Indigenous (native) Christian Perspective? What are the effects of the “Arab Revolution” for religious freedom in the Middle East? Within the context of its Spring Plenary Assembly from 6-8 April, the Commission of Bishops’ Conferences of the European Community (COMECE) is pleased to invite you to an EVENING DEBATE … Continue reading »

Plenary Assembly, Press

Press Release

2011 COMECE Spring Plenary Assembly

COMECE Spring Plenary starts today with 23 Member Bishops participating. The main topic of the Assembly is “Christian Churches in Maghreb and Mashriq”. COMECE hosts a public evening debate tonight with Cardinal Naguib at 19:30. More information to the event here. The following experts and institutional representatives will address the bishops’ plenary Assembly tomorrow: – Mrs Véronique ARNAULT, Director of the Human Rights & Democracy … Continue reading »

Justice & Fundamental Rights, Policy Areas, Press

News

Shift of ECHR finally acknowledges the diversity of approaches in Europe regarding religious symbols in the public square

COMECE welcomes the sound judgment of the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg in the case Lautsi vs Italy. The Grand Chamber of the ECHR stated on 18 March 2011 that the presence of crucifixes in Italian State-school classrooms is not contrary to the right to education. This decision clearly refutes the previous 2009 judgment of the ECHR Chamber. COMECE sees in this decision … Continue reading »

International Religious Freedom, Policy Areas, Press

News

Persecution of Christians finally given the attention it deserves. Concrete political action is now needed

COMECE greatly values today’s EU Council’s Conclusions on “intolerance, discrimination and violence on the basis of religion or belief” as a good step in the right direction. The fusion of ‘common sense’ and ‘political will’ has prevailed to secure the strong statement urgently needed to stop the widespread acts of terrorism and sectarianism against Christians worldwide. In paragraph 2 the Council condemns the acts of … Continue reading »

International Religious Freedom, Policy Areas, Press

News

Persecution of Christians: a most regrettable wavering on a strong diplomatic EU commitment

COMECE very much regrets that the 27 Foreign Ministers of the EU failed yesterday to agree on a joint declaration condemning religious persecution. This diplomatic wavering is all the more incomprehensible as innocent lives are being cut short in atrocious attacks against Christians and other minorities all over the world. The agreement failed due to internal wrangling among the Ministers over a specific reference to … Continue reading »

Press

Press Release

“Bringing Europe Closer to its People” Churches meet with the Hungarian EU Presidency

As part of the series of regular encounters between churches and the incoming EU Presidencies, a delegation of Hungarian and European church representatives was received by the Hungarian Prime Minister Victor Orbán on Monday, 17 January 2011 in Budapest. The Prime Minister was accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister Zsolt Semjén and the Secretaries of State Mihály Varga, Peter Szíjjárto, Zoltán Balog and László Szászfalvi as … Continue reading »

Press

News

Europe infos, a Christian perspective on the European Union

COMECE and the Jesuit European Office are pleased to introduce a new version of Europe infos, in a new online format in colour. Europe Infos is a monthly journal produced over the last fourteen years by the Commission of Bishops’ Conferences of the European Union (COMECE) and the Jesuit European Office (also known as OCIPE). This joint publication was preceded by two separate journals: L’Europe … Continue reading »