European bishops" "

A "community of values"” “

The plenary assembly of COMECE, the Commission of the episcopates of the European Community, has preceded governments and already enlarged itself to the bishops of the new countries that will become part of the Union in 2004. Meeting in Brussels on 28 and 29 November, COMECE expressed deep satisfaction about the forthcoming enlargement of the […]

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A sustainable agriculture ” “

The plenary assembly of the Commission of the episcopates of the European Community (COMECE), meeting in Brussels on 28 and 29 November, drafted a declaration on the reform of the common agricultural policy (CAP) which follows up a similar document in March 2001. We give a brief summary of it below. In the view of […]

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What is the CAP?

The main objectives of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) are increased agricultural yield; the achievement of satisfactory living standards for workers employed in agriculture; the stabilization of markets; the achievement of agricultural self-sufficiency in Europe; and the availability of farm produce at an affordable price for the consumer. In January 1962, the Council adopted the […]

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enlargement

” “The hopes and fears of the Churches

In view of the European Council in Copenhagen that will sanction EU enlargement from 15 to 25 countries, we have gathered the comments of the episcopal conferences of the ten new members, which we will publish beginning with the present number. Below we provide a résumé of the next stages that will lead to the […]

di Gian andrea Garancini - Brussels" "

Czech Republic

“Co-responsible for the future face of Europe”. In the mind of Bishop Vaclav Maly, delegate of the Episcopal Conference of the Czech Republic for relations with the European Union (EU), there are no doubts: “Entry will involve economic and political union with Europe, but at the same time it will mean becoming co-responsible for the […]

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Lithuania

Annexed to the Soviet Union in 1940, it regained its independence on 9 February 1991. Today, its population looks to Europe with mingled fears and hopes. We discussed the matter with Father Gintaras Grusas, general secretary of the country’s Episcopal Conference. Together with Poland, Lithuania is one of the two countries of the former Soviet […]

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Hungary

General confidence in the “European” future with some concerns about questions involving the ethical sphere: such is the basic attitude of the Hungarian Church to EU membership. The Hungarian bishops are currently preparing a pastoral letter on Europe, that will soon be published: “We are conscious that the months ahead represent a very important turning […]

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Slovenia

“ Slovenia’s entry into the EU will be the fulfilment of a dream lasting a thousand years and confirm her own sovereignty, her own independence and her own desire to embrace Western culture“. This event, so long awaited, thus has a significance for Slovenia that far transcends the economic and political aspect. “Slovenia – says […]

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Cyprus

“It’s easy to say what Cypriots’ hopes for the forthcoming Copenhagen summit are: that of being accepted in Europe”. That’s how Father Umberto Barato, Latin patriarchal vicar of Cyprus, sums up the island’s hopes in the imminent Council meeting that will decide on EU enlargement. “Of the 10 nations that are about to join the […]

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Malta

Malta’s entry into the EU is welcomed, so long as it does not have “any negative effect on the heritage of Christian values of our people”. That’s the recommendation of the Maltese bishops who have devoted a document to the question, as well as a pastoral letter with the title “The Maltese heritage of Christian […]

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