What’s its role?” “

Accompanying, in a critical and constructive spirit, the process of European integration; raising the Church’s awareness about developments in EU legislation and policies; and supporting the commitment of believers, based on the teaching of the Church, to the construction of a united Europe: these are the three major objectives that COMECE has been pursuing for 25 years. It’s a fruitful but often “silent” role, whose value will be underlined during the plenary assembly (Brussels, 9-11 March). REFLECTING ON 25 YEARS OF SERVICE. The meeting with the president of the European Commission, José Manuel Durao Barroso, will form one of the most important moments during this session of COMECE (Commission of the Episcopates of the European Community), composed of bishop delegates of the Bishops’ Conferences of EU member countries. Discussion with the head of the Executive will focus on the “Millennium Objectives” and the programme of the Commission’s work for the next five years. Another key event during the plenary assembly will be the evening dedicated to celebrating the 25th anniversary of COMECE, which was founded in Brussels on 3 March 1980, following the first popular vote for the election of the European Parliament. The evening of 10 March will in fact be dedicated to a public debate on the theme: “Church in Europe: what’s its role in public life?”. The main speakers will include Cardinal Peter Erdo, archbishop of Budapest (Hungary), Stefan Wilkanowicz, president of the “Znak” Foundation for Christian culture (Poland) and Sister Gisela Happ, general secretary of the Alliance between monasteries (France). The other issues on the agenda of the plenary assembly, which will be chaired by the German Bishop Josef Homeyer include “the renewal of the Lisbon Strategy, the process of ratification of the EU Constitutional Treaty, and the strategic objectives and programme of the European Commission”. As for the Lisbon Strategy, COMECE has published a series of proposals in recent days. They indicate the need to “reinforce the social model”. The bishops “will also discuss the relations between the EU and its ‘new neighbours’ – explains Homeyer – and its responsibility to the poorest countries. It will then turn to an evaluation of the continuing debate on euthanasia within the Council of Europe”. The assembly should, lastly, make a theological contribution to the process of continental integration. AssemblY, seCRETARIAT, “Europe Infos”. The need to create a means of coordination between the Bishops’ Conferences and the EU institutions had been posed as early as the 1970s. The European Catholic Pastoral Information Service was founded in 1976. It was replaced four years later by COMECE, which works in close liaison with the other Church organizations engaged on the international scene. Its member bishops meet in plenary session twice each year, while an executive committee, composed of a president, two vice-presidents and a general secretary, ensure operational continuity. The permanent structure of COMECE also consists of a secretariat in Brussels. COMECE also runs its own bulletin: “Europe Infos”, a monthly with articles and documentation on COMECE activities and on the current political and legislative process in the EU. The last three years have been particularly fruitful. John Paul II’s apostolic exhoration “Ecclesia in Europa” dates to 2003. It is a document on which the bishops have reflected; the results of this debate are collected in the document “Let us open our hearts”. PronOUNCEMENTS AND PILGRIMAGE TO Santiago. A document on the family and family policies was published in 2004 (March), immediately followed by a pronouncement on the enlargement of EU frontiers (April). This latter document, with the title “Solidarity is the soul of the European Union”, insisted on the need to equip the Twenty-Five with a proper financial framework “to foster the economic and social development of the new member states and the more backward regions”, “support cultural policy” and “help the more underprivileged social classes”. In the run up to the elections for the European Parliament (June), a communiqué was issued urging Christians to contribute to democratic life in the continent. It emphasized in particular “the centrality of the role of the European Parliament within the common institutional and political system, alongside the Council and Commission”, as “guarantor of democracy” and as “voice of the 450 million European citizens”. The documents on the Constitutional Treaty and on the negotiations for Turkey’s accession to the EU should also be mentioned. Another event in 2004 was the pilgrimage “Along the road of hope” to Santiago de Compostela, followed by the conference “EU: hope and responsibility – Theological readings of the future of united Europe”.