Introduction of the Comité des Sages called together by the EU-Bishops

In view of the 50th Anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Rome, which will take place on 25 March 2007, the Bishops of the Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of the European Community (COMECE) have called together a Comité des Sages and assigned it with the preparation of a report on the significance of ethical values for the European unification. The Bishops hope the report will give a new impulse to developing a civic sense of Europe as a community of values.

The Comité des Sages, which meets on 11 September 2006 for the first time, will present its conclusions at the European Congress on 23 – 25 March 2007 in Rome. The Congress will be hosted by the bishops of the COMECE together with a number of Catholic laity organisations and with representatives of religious orders and congregations.

In preparation for this Congress, the Secretariat of the COMECE and the IXE network “Initiative of Christians for Europe” will hold a seminar on 9 – 11 October 2006 in Clermont-Ferrand/ France. The seminar will deal with the historical context which led to the signing of the Treaty of Rome, with its content and with the abiding relevance of this founding document for European unification.

Context: On the occasion of the 50th Anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Rome, the EU leaders will adopt a political declaration in Berlin on 25 March 2007, setting out Europe’s values and ambitions and confirming their shared commitment to deliver them. The COMECE as well as the European catholic movements will contribute to the debate and hope so to re-energise the process of European integration. This contribution will find its culmination at the Congress 2007 in Rome.

Mgr Noël Treanor, Secretary General of COMECE, invites the press correspondents on 11 September at 11 a.m. to a Press Conference at the COMECE Secretariat, Rue Stévin 42. The Comité des Sages will be represented by the following members:
• PhilippedeSchoutheete, former permanent Representative at the EU for Belgium
• StephenWall, former permanent Representative at the EU for UK