To support the Eu policy

The Comece’s ( Commission of the Bishop’s Conferences of the European Community) autumn plenary session will be held on 21 to 23 November in Brussels. The meeting is scheduled a month after the launch in Lisbon, last 19 October, by the Heads of State and government leaders of the 27 Member States of the new reform Treaty, that will be signed on 13 December and ratified in 2008. SIR Europe ha met mgr. NOEL TREANOR , Comece’s secretary general. FOREIGN POLICY . “Comece’s specific mission is to support the Eu policy through the dialogue with the Community institutions in behalf of Members States of the Episcopal Conferences,” the secretary general pointed out. “In line with the following mission, during the opening of the plenary session, msg. Adrianus van Luyn, will hold an inaugural speech on the status quaestionis of the Eu policy. The foremost topic is the reform Treaty. The president will highlight the importance of dialogue between Church and politics, in enforcing art.15b of the Treaty, which states the statute’s respect for Churches and religious communities in virtue of individual National laws. Acknowledging the identity and specific contribution of these churches, the Eu commits itself in developing a transparent dialogue enabling Christians to effectively participate in the European building process”. According to msg. Treanor, “the reform Treaty is the assembly’s framework and starting point and will be presented to the bishops on the second day (on the 22nd), during the information-formation session, by a European Commission official and the European MP Elmar Brok, one of the Parliament’s representatives at the last intergovernmental Conference. The main subject-matter will be the Eu’s foreign action and how the new Treaty’s provisions can strengthen its foreign policy, enabling it to become more consistent and effective on the world scenario. A session will be dedicated to Africa; another to Kosovo. THE PRIORITIES . “Subsequently- msg. Treanor adds- the bishops will receive the document on matrimony and family presented by the Comence secretary last week; a summary of Comece’s Conference in Rome (March 2007); the Sibiu Assembly and the Pope’s visit to Mariazell (September); The Social week of Italian Catholics and the Sant’Egidio Community’s meeting in Naples (October).The issues raised will be addressed. The General Secretary of Ccee, mgs. Aldo Giordano will talk about Sibiu, the Ccee general assembly (Fatima, October 2007) and the Ccee-Secam (Episcopal conference symposium of Africa and Madagascar) that just ended in Ghana”. “Migration- including the illegal one- of North African Countries to Malta and Southern Italy, and possible common asylum policies, a common issue for Comece will also be addressed . A representative of the Holy See at the European Council will be present at the meeting.”Also research and bioethics, the Year of the intercultural dialogue (2008), and the Commission’s Social Affaires activity – some of Comece’s secretariat workshops – will be presented during the press conference on November 28. THE CHURCH AND THE NEW TREATY. How will Comece contribute to the debate when the Treaty will be ratified? “This is one of the member bishops’ task- Treanor replied – and strictly linked to every country’s situation and different ratification procedures: by referendum as in Ireland or through parliament. The quality for the relations of the Church and State will play a vital role. Overall, however, I believe bishops will highlight the need for Eu and member States’ governments to foster in its nationals’ trust in the European project. In order to do so, Eu’s policy must be consistent and rooted in a system of values. The European Institutions must commit themselves in making the values cited in the Treaty credible. Religion’s positive role must also be acknowledged internationally: it can lead to a more coherent society, but also to a better understanding among peoples through inter-religious dialogue”. Ecumenism is a another important priority for European bishops: “Since my visit in 1994 together with the former Comece chairman Homeyer to the Patriarchs of the Greek Churches of Constantinople, Moscow, Sofia and Bucharest good relations and a fruitful dialogue with orthodox churches started. There is a mixed Committee Comete-Comission of Kek Church and society for the reformed Churches looking for issues on the Eu policies where common action is possible”.