In the run-up to the EU-CELAC Summit taking place next week, COMECE, together with CELAM, Caritas Europa and Caritas LAC, launches on Tuesday 11 July 2023 a series of short videos advocating for a people-centered and just partnership between the two regions. COMECE President Mgr. Crociata: “The Summit should be also an opportunity to promote a culture of encounter and peace.”
In view of the Summit between the political leaders of the European Union (EU) and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), which will take place on 17-18 July 2023 in Brussels, COMECE encourages the decision-makers to work towards a renewed partnership that brings concrete benefits to all people and communities of the two regions, as well as promotes a more peaceful and fraternal world.
In a series of short video messages, COMECE and its partners articulate their vision on the EU-CELAC partnership and make concrete recommendations on integral human development and social justice, integral ecology and a just energy transition, human mobility and peace.
This video campaign follows up on the joint contribution entitled “A partnership of hope for the good of our peoples and a more fraternal world” elaborated in April 2023 by COMECE, CELAM, Caritas Europa, Caritas Latin America and the Caribbean.
In the first video of the campaign, the President of COMECE, H.E. Mgr. Mariano Crociata, stated: “The Church looks to the upcoming EU-CELAC Summit also as an opportunity to foster a partnership for peace – globally, regionally and locally. We hope that decision-makers will not only agree on important steps for renewing multilateral cooperation, but also support local initiatives that address the root causes of violence and organised criminality. It is equally our hope that the future EU-LAC partnership will prioritise human encounters, promote personal exchanges and bring new opportunities for inter-cultural and inter-religious dialogue and cooperation. We stand ready to contribute to a partnership for peace and a culture of encounter between the people of our regions”.
H.E. Mgr. Jaime Spengler OFM, President of CELAM, stated: “The religious heritage of our peoples is one of the pillars of our culture and identity. We therefore hope that the renewed cooperation between the European Union (EU) and Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) will allow us to strengthen policies aimed at its promotion and protection. Intercultural and interreligious dialogue can be a privileged instrument to promote social cohesion and build bridges within and between the two regions. In this regard, we encourage EU and LAC policymakers to promote actions that contribute to creating a favourable environment for inclusive interfaith encounters and upholding the fundamental right to religious freedom. This also implies allowing equal and non-discriminatory access to EU funding instruments for projects of religious and faith-based organisations.”
Each day until the Summit, COMECE will share a new video message on its YouTube channel, as well as on its social media platforms – follow COMECE on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. We invite you to share these video messages and participate in promoting a vision of the future EU-CELAC partnership that is inspired by the Church’s grassroots experience in supporting people facing situations of vulnerability on both sides of the Atlantic.