Ecology & Sustainability, Policy Areas, Press

Press Release

Church worldwide calls for ambitious and urgent climate action

In the context of a recent UN report on the urgent need to develop policies that limit global warming to 1.5 degrees, Mgr. Jean-Claude Hollerich SJ, President of COMECE, together with all the other presidents of continental Bishops’ Conferences, calls politicians to work towards an ambitious implementation of the Paris Agreement. They ask for COP24 to prove a milestone in the path set out in … Continue reading »

Plenary Assembly, Press

Press Release

COMECE Assembly “Autumn 2018”. 2019 Elections: EU Bishops call their fellow citizens to discernment and responsibility

On 24-26 October 2018 Bishops of the European Union gathered in Brussels for the Autumn Assembly focusing on the 2019 European elections. Participants reflected on future EU challenges in dialogue with high-level officials of the Union, in particular with Federica Mogherini, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Luca Jahier (EESC) and Michel Barnier (European Commission). The three-days Assembly started with … Continue reading »

Plenary Assembly, Press

Press Release

COMECE Assembly “Autumn 2018”. Commemorating WWI, EU Bishops pray for Peace in Ypres

European Bishops commemorated all victims of the First World War in a major event held today, 24 October 2018, in the city of Ypres (Belgium) in the context of the COMECE Assembly “Autumn 2018” dedicated to the upcoming European elections. On the occasion of the centenary of the end of World War I, COMECE bishops urged all persons of good will to work together in … Continue reading »

EU External Affairs, Policy Areas, Press

NEWS

COMECE Commission on the External Relations of the EU

The COMECE Commission on the External Relations of the EU gathered on 9-10 October 2018 under the presidency of Mgr. Rimantas Norvila (Lithuania). It exchanged with EU officials on the challenges and opportunities for the EU External Action in the fields of Peace and Security, EU Southern Neighbourhood and Trade policy. Distinguished representatives of the European institutions, including Stefano Grassi and Gilles Bertrand (EU External … Continue reading »

EU External Affairs, Policy Areas, Press

NEWS

Colombian Church delegation: “the EU contribution strengthened the legitimacy of the peace process”

The president of the Colombian Catholic Bishops’ Conference officially met with high-level EU officials on 10-11 October 2018 and exchanged views on the ongoing peace process in Colombia addressing the next steps towards the reconciliation of the country. Following the Colombian elections and in view of the ongoing implementation of the peace agreement, COMECE, together with CIDSE, Caritas Germany, Brot für die Welt and Diakonie … Continue reading »

Migration & Asylum, Policy Areas, Press

NEWS

Migration, addressing its root causes while protecting migrants

During the international conference on “Religious freedom and development cooperation to reduce the causes for migration” on 17 September 2018, COMECE stressed the primary right of every human person to live in dignity in his home country without being forced to move. Participants debated the ways to address the root causes of migration through the European development cooperation, which, emphasised COMECE, “should neither be based … Continue reading »

EU External Affairs, Policy Areas, Press

Invitation

Colombian Church delegation to visit Brussels to exchange on peace process

The presidency of the Colombian Catholic Bishops’ Conference will officially visit Brussels on 10-11 October 2018 to exchange with high-level EU officials on the current situation in Colombia. A press point will be held at COMECE on 11 October 2018 at 15:00. Following the Colombian elections and in view of the ongoing implementation of the peace agreement, COMECE, together with CIDSE, Caritas Germany, Brot für … Continue reading »

Justice & Fundamental Rights, Policy Areas, Press

NEWS

COMECE contribution to the 2018 Fundamental Rights Forum

In the Fundamental Rights Forum organised by EU Agency for Fundamental Rights on the topic of “Belonging”, COMECE emphasised the specific contribution of Churches in the human rights domain. In its contribution to the preparatory consultation and expert meeting, COMECE stressed the close link between “belonging” and the possibility for each human person to live alone and in community in accordance with one’s faith. Referring … Continue reading »

EU External Affairs, Press

NEWS

Pan-Amazon Church delegation met with EU officials

In preparations for the 2019 Pan-Amazon Synod, a Church delegation from the region met on 20 September 2018 in Brussels with high-level EU officials to promote Amazonia’s indigenous peoples’ dignity and rights. COMECE and its partners organised bilateral meetings and a dialogue event on the current situation in the region, with a particular emphasis on the respective role the Church and the EU could play … Continue reading »

Ethics, Research & Health, Policy Areas, Press

NEWS

Road Safety, COMECE launches video campaign

On the occasion of the European Day Without A Road Death, Catholic bishops launch a video campaign promoting responsibility on the road in order to reduce the number of accidents in the EU. More than 30,000 people lost their lives on European roads in 2017. Another estimated 100,000 people were seriously injured. These numbers tend to repeat every year, transforming our roads in battle fields … Continue reading »