COMECE-CEC: meeting with EU Presidency” “

The Lisbon Strategy and social policies, immigration, enlargement, the process of ratification of the Constitutional Treaty, Turkey’s bid for EU membership, the negotiations with Croatia, and relations with China, are just some of the questions discussed by the delegation of the European Churches – representatives of COMECE (Commission of European Episcopates) and of CEC (Council of the European Churches) – during its recent meeting with the President of the European Council, the Prime Minister of Luxembourg, Jean-Claude Juncker. The delegation expressed its appreciation of “the definition of European values in the draft Constitutional Treaty, and also its inclusion of the Charter of Fundamental Rights”. It also declared that it “would be favourable to the revival of the Lisbon Strategy at the spring summit of the EU” and urged that “greater attention we paid to the social challenges”. “Creating a new dynamic for a European society conceived as a coherent whole – says a COMECE communiqué – ought to imply a greater support for families at all levels. The emphasis that the European Council has placed on the reconciliation between professional and family life was welcomed as an encouraging signal”. With regard to the question of “immigration”, the delegation underlined the need for Europe “to maintain a culture of hospitality”: “The lack of consistency in this political field could pose risks for democracy in Europe”. The delegation also appreciated “the positive efforts” made by the Turkish government, though at the same time emphasizing the importance of respect for human rights – as also in relations with China –, and urged a “positive attitude” to Croatia’s entry into the EU, “a very important matter in South-East Europe”.