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Press Release No. 12/1211.07.12 10:46 The role of Church Actors in the European Cohesion Policy On Tuesday, 10 July, the Church and Society Commission of the Conference of European Churches (CEC) together with the Commission of Bishops’ Conferences in the European Community (COMECE) and other Ecumenical partners, presented to Mrs Danuta Hübner MEP, President of the Committee on Regional Development, the joint document on the role of Church Actors in the revised European Cohesion Policy. “It is important that relevant bodies and partners such as the churches in Europe are involved in shaping regional policy”, highlighted MEP Hübner. The European Cohesion Policy is, at this stage, under discussion in the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union. The regional policy was from the start an expression of European solidarity between EU member states. The statement emphasises that: “For Christians, solidarity is a natural expression of their faith”. The document analyses the contributions of churches to regional policy in Europe on different levels and in various areas like education, culture, social inclusion and trans-regional relations. At this occasion, the Director of the Church and Society Commission of CEC, Rev. Rüdiger Noll stated: “The churches are convinced that especially in times of a severe economic and financial crisis in Europe, the European regional policy is an important instrument for the cohesion and solidarity in Europe”. For more information about this issue please read the statement
The Conference of European Churches (CEC) is a fellowship of some 120 Orthodox, Protestant, Anglican and Old Catholic Churches from all countries of Europe, plus 40 associated organisations. CEC was founded in 1959. It has offices in Geneva, Brussels and Strasbourg. The Church and Society Commission of CEC provides a platform for the CEC membership to reflect on socio-ethical issues ecumenically and to involve them in common action and advocacy in relation to the European Union, the Council of Europe, the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe and the United Nations (in European matters). CSC operates as a forum for action, dialogue and ecumenical training in European affairs. For more information please contact: |
