An ecumenical delegation representing the Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of the European Union (COMECE) and the Conference of European Churches (CEC) met with Hungarian Deputy Prime Minister Zsolt Semjén on Monday 24 June 2024 in Budapest to discuss their concerns and perspectives for the upcoming Hungarian EU Presidency. READ THE COMECE-CEC CONTRIBUTION
The meeting was an opportunity to present Contributions of the churches to the main political priorities of the Hungarian Presidency of the Council of the EU to start on July 1st, 2024. These policy recommendations were developed in a reflection paper and handed over to the Vice-President. Hungarian Prime Minister Zsolt Semjén.
The EU Churches stressed the need to reaffirm their commitment to the founding values of the European Union, with a particular emphasis on unity and solidarity as guiding principles for the next steps of the EU strategic agenda.
The members of the delegation shared their concern about the growing social and political polarisation in EU Member States, as well as the tendencies to abuse and instrumentalise religion. HE Mgr. Mariano Crociata, President of COMECE, called on the new Hungarian EU Presidency to “promote social cohesion and address the problem of polarisation”, considered a dangerous phenomenon that divides our societies through the spread of reductive ideologies, disinformation, populism, xenophobia, radicalisation and violent extremism.
Mgr. Crociata also expressed the hope that the next EU Council Presidency would give priority to the protection and care of the most vulnerable,
“help those suffering from different forms of poverty and exclusion and address demographic challenges by promoting policies at EU level that recognize the central role of the family in society, notably through increased investment in parenthood” .
The ecumenical delegation also addressed the issue of peace, emphasizing the need to establish peace and stability on the European continent and beyond. “As peace in Europe can no longer be taken for granted, peacebuilding efforts must be constantly renewed based on the principles of truth and justice, with full respect for international law. », declared H. Em. Mgr Nikitas, president of CEC.
“We encourage the Hungarian Presidency of the EU Council to act as a united, confident and integrated force and as a credible peace broker amidst violent conflicts and tensions in the EU’s neighbourhood, in the Middle East, in the Caucasus region and in other parts of the world,” he continued.
During the meeting, COMECE and CEC representatives urged the Hungarian EU Presidency to support a citizen-centered, credible and fair EU enlargement process with the Western Balkans as well as with the countries of Eastern Europe.
Appreciating the recognition of the special contribution of the Churches to the official programme of the Hungarian Presidency of the Council of the European Union, the Ecumenical Delegation expressed the hope that the EU-Churches dialogue under Article 17 would be strengthened during this Presidency and beyond.
Alongside Deputy Prime Minister Zsolt Semjén, the ecumenical delegation also met with Miklós Soltész, State Secretary for Churches, and Tristan Azbej, State Secretary for Support Programs for Persecuted Christians and the Hungary Aid Program.
Together, COMECE and CEC represent around 380 million citizens across all EU member states. They are firmly committed to accompanying and supporting the process of European integration on the basis of Christian values such as human dignity, respect, justice, peace and the integrity of creation.
The meetings with the EU Presidencies are part of a long-standing tradition supported by Article 17 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU) which provides for an open, transparent and regular dialogue between the EU and the Churches, associations or religious communities.
The CEC-COMECE delegation was composed of:
HE Mgr. Mariano Crociata, president of COMECE and bishop of Latina; H. Em. Archbishop Nikitas of Thyateira and Great Britain of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, President of CEC; Rev. OKR. Frank Kopania, Protestant Church of Germany, vice-president of CEC; HE Mgr. Gábor Mohos, auxiliary bishop of Budapest-Esztergom, bishop delegate to COMECE; Mgr Péter Kondor, World Council of Churches of Hungary; The Rev. Manuel Barrios Prieto, Secretary General of COMECE; Mgr. Tamás Tóth, secretary general of the Hungarian Catholic Bishops’ Conference; Dr Vilmos Fischl, general secretary of the World Council of Churches of Hungary; Rev. Peter Pavlovič, head of the CEC theology and studies program; Mr. Marek Mišák, COMECE Political Advisor for EU External Relations.
Originally published in The European Times.
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