2 February 2024
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INTERVIEW | Pope Francis receives COMECE President Mgr. Crociata to discuss about Europe
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29/01 - H.E. Mgr. Mariano Crociata, President of COMECE, had an audience with Pope Francis. Their discussions encompassed various topics including European integration, peace, the recently agreed EU Pact on Migration, and the role of youth in our societies.
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Bishop Crociata further elaborated on these discussions in an interview with AgenSIR. Read the interview below for insights into the key points addressed during the audience.
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STATEMENT | COMECE on the Artificial Intelligence Act: “It does justice to the ethical foundations of the EU”
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02/02 - COMECE issued a statement titled “A European Call for Responsibility – Ethical Demands for a Human-Centric Artificial Intelligence,” welcoming the recent adoption of the EU regulation on Artificial Intelligence (AI). Bishop Jamnik: “It is the first robust EU regulatory framework for AI that does justice to the ethical foundations of the European Union.”
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STATEMENT | COMECE on farmers' protests: “A sustainable future of our food system and a secure and flourishing future for farmers can coexist”
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30/01 - While major farmer protests are taking place across the European Union, COMECE issued a statement showing solidarity with farmers and calling on the policymakers to put the human person in the centre of political considerations on agriculture. COMECE: “a sustainable future of our food system and a secure and flourishing future for farmers can coexist”.
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NEWS | Ukraine Facility deal welcomed by COMECE
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01/02 - COMECE welcomed the agreement on the Ukraine Facility, a key element of continued EU solidarity efforts with war-torn Ukraine consisting of €50-billion plan to support Ukraine. COMECE encouraged EU leaders to "maintain their unity and to remain committed to the European project".
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EVENT | What is the role of Churches and faith-based organisations in fighting human trafficking?
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31/01 - COMECE invites you to the conference “The role of Churches and faith-based organisations in fighting trafficking in Human Beings: Catholic Initiatives”, to be held at the European Parliament, Brussels, on Wednesday, February 14, 2024, at 10:00-12:00 (CET)
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This event aims to foster dialogue and collaboration in the fight against human trafficking, as well as discover the invaluable insights and experiences of Catholic actors in combating this heinous crime both in Europe and around the globe.
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The conference is co-organised by COMECE and the Santa Marta Group, and hosted by Spanish MEP Juan Ignacio Zoido Álvarez.
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NEWS | COMECE urges EU Council to formally adopt the Due Diligence Directive
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02/02 - In view of the vote on the EU Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive, COMECE urged the EU Council to formally adopt the text agreed in the Trialogue. It would be “an important step towards a sustainable economy that serves people/cares for Creation”.
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The EU Commission, Council and Parliament had reached on 14 December 2023 a provisional agreement on the “EU Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive”, which aims to foster sustainable and responsible corporate behaviour throughout global value chains. For it to enter into force, the EU Parliament and the Council still have to formally approve it. The vote in the Council is expected to take place next week. Over the last years, COMECE has engaged in a series of advocacy actions highlighting the need for a binding EU due diligence legislation to hold companies accountable for environmental damage and human rights abuses and to provide the victims of such abuses with effective access to justice.
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OPPORTUNITY | Church-run Universities in Rome launch a new online joint Diploma in Integral Ecology
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31/01 - Church-run Universities in Rome launch a new online joint Diploma in Integral Ecology, aiming to respond to “the unprecedented challenge facing the planet.” Admissions open up to 31/03/2024.
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NEWS | A group of young Italian students visit the Secretariat of COMECE
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30/01 - We are grateful to the Salesian students from Veneto (Italy) for visiting our Secretariat last week accompanied by TGS Eurogroup, Don Bosco International, Don Bosco Youth-Net, the European Youth Forum and the Centre for European Volunteering (CEV). The exchange provided important inputs for our advocacy on EU youth policies!
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OPPORTUNITY | Web Academy on the ecological challenge
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30/01 - The University Institute Sophia Web Academy organises the interdisciplinary course “The ecological challenge–Towards a new person-nature pact”. The course consists of 7 classes held in English to present the environmental problem as the result of an anthropological crisis.
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OPPORTUNITY | COMECE launches its 2024 internship programme
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12/12 - COMECE launched its Internship Programme for Fall 2024, aiming to offer participants a comprehensive understanding of the European Union policy and decision-making processes, along with honing their advocacy skills.
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Interns will have the chance to immerse themselves in the dynamic world of EU policy, gaining insights into the complexities of decision-making and contributing to the advocacy efforts of COMECE.
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The placement is designed for a flexible duration, allowing interns to engage for a minimum of 3 months and up to a maximum of 5 months. The internship is set to begin in September 2024. Applications will be accepted until 16 February 2024.
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EVENT | Presentation of a book of spiritual poems to be hosted at the COMECE Secretariat
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02/02 - The Secretariat of COMECE will host the presentation of the Spanish translation of the book 'Permanece en vela', collecting a series of spiritual poems written by Gilles Baudry. The translation was realised by Mari Sol Pérez Guevara. The event is open to the public and it will include a poetry recital and a Spanish wine tasting. Fr. Manuel Barrios Prieto, General Secretary of COMECE, will participate in the event.
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Next at COMECE
4 February
Fr. Barrios Prieto will celebrate the Mass with the Italian community at the Church of St. Alix (Brussels) at 11.30.
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Fr. Manuel Barrios Prieto, General Secretary of COMECE, will be in Strasbourg (France) for the Plenary Session of the European Parliament.
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COMECE General Secretary and Adviser on Article 17 will meet with representatives of the EU Council of Regions.
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Online meeting between representatives of COMECE, CEC and the Interparliamentary Assembly on Orthodoxy (IAO).
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Adviser José Luis Bazán will participate in the High-Level Policy Forum on Migrants Integration organised by the Belgian EU Presidency.
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12-13 February
Adviser Marek Mišák will participate in the Symposium “Challenges of Russia’s War against Ukraine and the Ethical Principles of Sustainable Peace in Europe” to be held in Munich, Germany. The event is organised by the Ludwig Maximilian University (Munich), the Ukrainian Catholic University (Lviv) and the University of Notre Dame (USA).
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13 February
Secretary General Fr. Manuel Barrios Prieto will participate in an Article 17 TFEU dialogue meeting to be held at the European Parliament. The meeting will focus on disinformation and foreign interference in view of the EU elections.
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COMECE will host a meeting co-organised with CEC and the Interparliamentary Assembly on Orthodoxy (IAO) with policymakers, EU officials and Christian entities to discuss Christian values and the coming European elections.
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14 February
COMECE organises the event “The role of Churches and faith-based organisations in fighting trafficking in human beings” to be held at the European Parliament (Room A5F385). The conference is sponsored by MEP Juan Ignacio Zoido Alvarez (EPP – Spain). Info & Registration
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H.E. Mgr. Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury and President of the worldwide Anglican Communion, will visit the Secretariat of COMECE to exchange on COMECE mission of dialogue with the institutions of the European Union. The meeting will also include the participation of H.E. Mgr. Noël Treanor, Apostolic Nuncio to the EU.
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16 February
H.E. Mgr. Mariano Crociata will preside over the monthly Standing Committee meeting.
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19-21 February
H.E. Mgr. Aegidius Zsifkovics, Bishop of Eisenstadt, will visit Brussels to meet with various EU representatives. The visit will also be an occasion to meet with the staff of the Secretariat of COMECE. He will be accompanied by a group of Austrian journalists.
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Adviser Alix de Wassaige will participate in the Conference "Future of work: rethinking workers' rights in the digital age" to be held by the European Trade Union Institute (ETUI).
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COMECE will host the presentation of the Spanish translation of the book 'Permanece en vela' collecting a series of spiritual poems written by Gilles Baudry. The event is open to the public and it will include a poetry recital and a Spanish wine tasting.
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23-25 February
Adviser Emilio Dogliani will participate in the Congress on Catholic Education to be held in Madrid, Spain.
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26 February
COMECE will host the yearly meeting of the Brussels-based Catholic organisations working with the EU institutions.
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Adviser Alessandro Calcagno will participate in and contribute to the final conference "Shield Project" dedicated to the protection of places of worship in Europe.
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29 February-1 March
H.E. Mgr. Theodorus C.M. Hoogenboom will preside over the COMECE Legal Affairs Commission. On this occasion, the members of the Commission will also visit the EU Court of Justice, Luxembourg, and exchange with some of its judges.
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