We present the main European events involving the Catholic Church and the other Christian Churches in April. 2 Formal membership of the Atlantic Alliance of seven new member countries: the three Baltic States, Slovenia, Slovakia, Romania and Bulgaria, in Brussels Meeting of the Finance Commission of the CCEE, in St. Gallen – First round of the presidential elections and referendum on early parliamentary elections, in Slovakia. 4 Possible referendum on the construction of a mosque, at Ljubljana in Slovenia. 5 State Visit to France by Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain and the Duke of Edinburgh (5-7). 9 Congress of the Union of Islamic Organizations in France (UOIF) (9-12), on the theme “What place for religious freedom in contemporary society?”, at Le Bourget. 15 Meeting of the secretaries of the ‘National Councils of the Churches’ (15-18), sponsored by CEC/KEK, in Finland 16 1st anniversary of the signing in Athens of the Treaty of membership of the European Union by ten new States: Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia and Hungary. 17 Pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela (17-21), promoted by the Commission of the Episcopal Conferences of the European Community (COMECE), on the occasion of the Compostelan Holy Year and the entry into the European Union of ten new nations. 20 Study Day of the Conference of Swiss Bishops, at St. Niklausen (Obwalden) – Referendum on the United Nations plan for the reunification of Cyprus. 22 European Congress of COMECE (Commission of the Episcopates of the European Community) (22-23), on the theme “European Union: hope and responsibility. Theological readings of the future of united Europe”, at Santiago de Compostela. 23 International Symposium (23-25), as part of the Central European Katholikentag (MEKT) on the theme “The family: at the centre of the Church and of society? New challenges for the ministry of married couples and the family”, at Zagreb. 24 Spring Plenary Assembly of COMECE, at Santiago de Compostela. 25 Presidential elections in Austria 26 Plenary Meeting of the Conference of the Catholic Bishops of England and Wales (26-29), at Durham (Ushaw College). 28 International Conference against antisemitism (28-29), promoted by the German government together with the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), in Berlin.
