The 2002-2003 Report of the Church and Society Commission (CSC) was presented to the plenary assembly of Kek-Cec, the Conference of the European Churches held at El Escorial, in Spain from 12 to 16 March 2003. Eight points are listed in the report, reflecting the issues currently being tackled by the Commission: the Convention and the future of Europe, European integration, sustainable development, agriculture, globalization, bioethics and biotechnologies, human rights and religious freedom. Regarding the task of the Convention on the future of Europe, the CSC Report describes the contributions it has made to the Convention’s work, some of them jointly proposed with Comece, the Commission of the Episcopates of the European Community; they concern, in particular, the request that respect be shown for the ‘status’ of the Churches and that provision be made for institutionalized dialogue. Again at the European level, the Commission recalled the importance of the process of enlargement and encouraged the Churches to take initiatives at the local level. No less importance was attached to the need to ensure a sustainable development for the planet. A document with the title “Sustainable Development and the European Union. The need to develop new strategies and new lifestyles” was also published. Agriculture and globalization were prominently on the agenda at a meeting held at Vilemov (Czech Republic) and were also tackled in a discussion paper “European social market economy an alternative model for globalization”. Activity in the field of human rights and the defence of life, with particular regard to bioethical and biotechnological issues, is also intensive, according to the Report. A consultation of the Churches is planned for November this year. But it is to religious freedom that the Commission has dedicated much of its effort. The report notes ongoing contacts with the European Institutions, including, for example, the group of political advisers of Romano Prodi and close cooperation with Comece.
