Future within the European Union and the Treaty of Lisbon, the financial crisis, and the presence of Christian minorities in the world: those are some of the subjects tackled in Paris today, during a meeting of the current European Union presidency and the representatives of Churches in Europe (the Episcopate Commission of the European Community and the Conference of the European Churches). The meeting took place in the presence of the Secretary of State for European affairs, Jean-Pierre Jouyet. "The representatives of the Churches it is written in a note by COMECE recalled their hope for a better defence of the right to Sunday holiday, in both national legislations and the review of the EU directive on working hours". "In our societies, and in our economies explained the bishops, in which efficiency has become the crucial judgment criterion, the holiday rest enables us to put man at the heart of society again". They recalled that "man is not slave to his work". During the meeting, they also talked about the situation of refugees and immigrants in various countries, while the representatives of the Churches raised the question of Christian minorities in the world (especially in situations of persecution, as happens in Iraq). Moreover, other global themes were faced, including climate changes.
