Delegates of the Bishops’ Conferences of the European Union will participate in the COMECE Spring Assembly to be held in a digital format on 17-18 March 2021 with the participation of European Commission’s Vice President Margaritis Schinas. The focus of the Assembly will be: Covid-19 recovery, Migration and Asylum policies, Freedom of Religion inside the EU.
Screenshot of a COMECE Assembly online. (Credit: COMECE)
In the context of the first anniversary of the Covid-19 pandemic, which has caused the death of more than 2,5 million people across the globe, the Bishops of the European Union will exchange on the current status of the recovery process in the EU and its Member States.
Bishops will also discuss on how to better promote a people-centred and value-based approach in EU policies, which has become even more urgent due to the socio-economic impact deriving from Coronavirus.
EU Commissioner Schinas. (Credit: European Commission)
The participation of European Commission’s Vice President Margaritis Schinas will allow the EU Bishops to analyse the state of play of the “open, transparent and regular dialogue” between Churches and EU institutions as enshrined in Article 17 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU).
The meeting will also be an occasion for the Bishops to restate some concrete policy recommendations to be considered in view of the future negotiations on the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum. These recommendations are contained in a statement elaborated by the COMECE Working Group on Migration and Asylum in December 2020.
In the light of various national concerns towards the promotion and protection of Freedom of Religion inside the EU, the Bishops of the European Union will also reflect on how to address future challenges to this fundamental right.
Journalists and media operators interested in conducting remote interviews with the Bishops are strongly encouraged to contact COMECE Media and Communication Officer.