Press Release No. 14/32
3 November 2014

The Conference of European Churches congratulates the newly appointed European Commission, President Jean-Claude Junker and the Commissioners, and wishes God’s blessing and accompaniment for the start of their work on 1 November 2014.

“The Conference of European Churches is very much aware”, states CEC General Secretary Rev Dr Guy Liagre, “that the new Commission assumes its duties in difficult times for Europe and beyond. It seems that the raison d’être of the European Union to build peace, enable a process of reconciliation, to seek prosperity and safeguard welfare is back on the European Agenda and as an obligation for the EU.” The deep economic crisis with its dramatic consequences, especially for young people, is not overcome yet. Social imbalances between countries, but also within societies, have been growing over the last years. Climate change and energy policy, the need for a reform of the EU asylum and migration policy are further demands on the European programme which the new Commission should address.

“In this perspective we appreciate that the new Commission would like to be a more political and social oriented Commission,” explains Guy Liagre. 100 years after World War I violence is back on European borders. The war in Middle East is frightening. Peace building has to be a core element of the policy of the new Commission. Therefore, its policies should not only assess the internal consequences within the European Union but also reflect the global EU responsibility.

“The Conference of the European Churches is committed to the European integration process and is a dialogue partner with the European Commission. We confirm our readiness and willingness to contribute to constructive European debates which seek ways and solutions for the most urgent problems of the continent”, concludes Guy Liagre.

CEC General Secretariat
Phone: +41 22 791 6228
Fax: +41 22 791 627
Email: GenSecretariat@cec-kek.org

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 national council of churches and organisations in partnership. CEC was founded in 1959. It has offices in Geneva, Brussels and Strasbourg.www.ceceurope.org

The Church and Society Commission of CEC links member churches, national council of churches and organisations in partnership of CEC with the European Union’s institutions, the Council of Europe, the OSCE, NATO and the UN (on European matters). Its task is to help the churches study church and society questions from a theological and social-ethical perspective, especially those with a European dimension, and to represent common positions of the member churches in their relations with political institutions working in Europe.