Commission of the Bishops' Conferences of the European Union

The Commission of the Bishops' Conferences of the European Union,[3] formerly the Commission of the Bishops' Conferences of the European Community, (Latin: Commissio Episcopatuum Communitatis Europaeae; COMECE) is the association of Catholic Church episcopal conferences in member states of the European Union (EU) which officially represents those episcopal conferences at EU institutions.[1][4] COMECE holds two meetings of the Plenary Assembly each year, which set out the main lines of its work. The Apostolic Nuncio to the European Communities participates in these meetings. A seminal issue of the European integration process provides the core theme of each meeting. [5]

Not to be confused with Council of the Bishops' Conferences of Europe.

Commission of the Bishops' Conferences of the European Community
Commissio Episcopatuum Communitatis Europaeae
AbbreviationCOMECE
PredecessorEuropean Catholic Pastoral Information Service
Established3 March 1980 (1980-03-03)
TypeAssociation without lucrative purpose
PurposeRepresent episcopal conferences of EU member states at EU institutions
HeadquartersBrussels, Belgium
Region served
European Union
Membership
Bishops delegated by episcopal conferences of EU member states
President
Bishop Mariano Crociata
Main organ
Secretariat
Websitecomece.eu
[1][2]

COMECE bishops are delegated by Catholic episcopal conferences in EU member states and has a permanent Secretariat in Brussels, Belgium.[1][6] It was established in 1980 and replaced the European Catholic Pastoral Information Service (SIPECA, 1976–1980). Discussions during the 1970s about creating an episcopal conferences' liaison organization to the European Community led to the decision, on the eve of the 1979 European Parliament election, to establish COMECE.[2]

Objectives

The objectives of COMECE are to:

  • monitor EU "political processes" and "legal developments"[7]
  • communicate "opinions and views" about "European integration in the light of" Catholic social teaching[7]
  • communicate "concerns and opinions" of bishops about "the construction of a peaceful and prosperous Europe for all" to EU institutions[7]
  • offer "the co-operation and the service of the Church" to EU institutions[7]
  • respond to "questions and problems" of EU institutions[7]
  • maintain "transparent and regular dialogue with the EU Institutions"[7]
  • "inform and raise awareness among" episcopal conferences in EU member states and Catholics about topics of "common interest dealt with by the different institutions of the EU"[7]
  • assist episcopal conferences in EU member states with understanding "the challenges posed by" European integration[7]
  • "foster collegiality" between episcopal conferences in EU member states "in developing specific actions" with respect to European "social and ethical problems"[7]

COMECE issues news bulletins and reports in the following "policy areas":[8] Ecology, Energy & Agriculture; Ethics, Research & Health; EU External Affairs; Education & Culture; Justice, Fundamental Rights & Article 17 TFEU; Migration & Asylum; International Religious Freedom; Social & Economic Affairs; and Youth Policies.

Organisation

COMECE's is managed by a standing committee of five, the president, currently Bishop Mariano Crociata of Latina, Italy, first vice president Archbishop Antoine Hérouard of Dijon, France, and three vice presidents: Bishops Nuno Brás da Silva Martins of Funchal, Portugal, Rimantas Norvila of Vilkaviškis, Lithuania, and Czeslaw Kozon of Copenhagen, Denmark.[9] The official who runs the office on a day-to-day basis is the General Secretary, currently Fr. Manuel Barrios Prieto. The General Secretary is appointed for a three-year term renewable term.

Its standing committees include: Commission on Social Affairs; Legal Affairs Commission; Commission on EU External Relations; Working Group on Migration and Asylum; Working Group on Ethics; Working Group on Education and Culture.

COMECE is funded by the episcopal conferences in EU member states.[1] Its secretariat is currently made of 10 people.[1]

Leadership
Presidents[10]
General Secretaries[10]
  • Msgr. Paul Huot-Pleuroux, France (1980 – 1989)[12]
  • Fr. Paul Schaeffer, France (1989 – 1993)
  • Msgr. Noël Treanor, Ireland (1993 – 2008)[13]
  • Msgr. Piotr Mazurkiewicz, Poland (2008 – 2012)
  • Msgr. Patrick Daly, Ireland (2012 – 2016)
  • Fr. Olivier Poquillon O.P., France (2016 – 2019)
  • Fr. Manuel Barrios Prieto, Spain (2019 – present)

See also

References
  1. "Secretariat of COMECE (Commission of the Episcopates of the European Community)". ec.europa.eu. European Commission. Joint Transparency Register Secretariat. 12 April 2016. Transparency Register id: 47350036909-69. Archived from the original on 2 May 2016. Retrieved 2 May 2016.
  2. "Our history". comece.eu. Brussels, BE: Commission of the Bishops' Conferences of the European Community. Archived from the original on 3 May 2016. Retrieved 3 May 2016.
  3. COMECE, the Catholic Church in the European Union, Who we are, accessed 27 June 2021
  4. Turner, Frank (2013). "The Roman Catholic Church and the European institutions: dialogue and advocacy at the European Union". In Leuştean, Lucian N. (ed.). Representing religion in the European Union: does God matter?. Routledge studies in religion and politics. London [u.a.]: Routledge. pp. 77, 82–83. ISBN 9780415685047.
  5. comece.eu. "Structure". The Catholic Church in the European Union Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of the European Union. Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of the European Union (COMECE). Retrieved 17 November 2022.
  6. "Who we are". comece.eu. Brussels, BE: Commission of the Bishops' Conferences of the European Community. Archived from the original on 1 April 2016. Retrieved 3 May 2016.
  7. "Our mission". comece.eu. Brussels, BE: Commission of the Bishops' Conferences of the European Community. Archived from the original on 4 May 2016. Retrieved 3 May 2016.
  8. comece.eu. "Policy Areas". The Catholic Church in the European Union Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of the European Union. Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of the European Union (COMECE). Retrieved 17 November 2022.
  9. "Monsignor Mariano Crociata è il nuovo presidente della Comece". Vatican News (in Italian). 22 March 2023. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
  10. "History". COMECE. Retrieved 28 November 2022.
  11. "Monsignor Crociata è il nuovo presidente della Comece". Avvenire (in Italian). 22 March 2023. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
  12. "Tribute to former COMECE General Secretary". COMECE. 17 April 2013. Retrieved 27 November 2022.
  13. "Rinunce e Nomine, 28.02.2008" (Press release) (in Italian). Holy See Press Office. 22 February 2008. Retrieved 27 November 2022.
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