Ahead of the upcoming European Council meeting, COMECE, the Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of the European Community, have prepared a report entitled ‘Europe’s vocation to promote peace in the world’. Released on Tuesday 14 June, the report makes 21 recommendations from the European bishops towards establishing an authentic European Peace Policy.
Welcoming the news that European Heads of State will examine a ‘Global Strategy on Foreign and Security Policy’ prepared by EU High Representative Federica Mogherini at their summit at the end of June, COMECE have taken the opportunity to support the EU in its ‘unique vocation to promote peace in its neighbourhood and worldwide.’
COMECE expressed that ‘an arc of instability has surrounded the European Union and violent attacks even hit its core’, highlighting the need for an authentic European Peace Policy. Pre-emptive Peace Building, Peace through Justice and Peace through Security are identified by the report as three pillars of an authentic European Peace Policy. The text contains 21 policy recommendations addressed to the EU institutions.
‘It is our hope that the present report will be of assistance to the policy makers’ said Bishop Jean Kockerols, COMECE Vice-President, who presented the report , expressing his hope that the 28 EU Heads of State and Government will endorse ‘a robust and ambitious Global Strategy providing a good basis for an authentic European Peace Policy’.
Brigadier General Heinz Krieb, a member of the European Union Military Staff (EUMS), said: ‘We appreciate the COMECE contribution and we fully support it’, underlining that without the endorsement and ownership by the 28 member States, the strategy cannot be properly and effectively implemented.
The report has been submitted to High Representative Mogherini. She welcomed the proposals and highlighted the specific contribution which the Catholic Church with its worldwide networks and a broad societal outreach can make to EU’s peace-building mission.
COMECE is made up of bishops delegated by the Catholic Bishops’ Conferences of the 28 Member States of the European Union. Bishop Noel Treanor, Bishop of Down and Connor, is the COMECE representative from the Irish Bishops’ Conference. For more information on COMECE visit www.comece.eu.
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