Secretariat of COMECE (Commission of the Episcopates of the European Union)

Participation to an informal ecumenical group of Christian organisations working on migration and asylum issues

None declared

Jan 2018 - Dec 2018

1,125,000€

It should be noted that in this section the word ‘members’ is meant to refer to the members of COMECE

none

Extreme Poverty and Human Rights Intergroup; Freedom of religion and belief and religious tolerance Intergroup.

Events: Event on the future of Europe at the German Catholic Day "In diversity divided" (11 May 2018); Dialogue meeting between religious actors and policy-makers on “The renewed EU-ACP partnership” (16 May 2018); Seminar on "Integration and Extremism” (16 May 2018); First Laudato Si’ Reflection Day (6 June 2018); Public debate on “The Western Balkans and the EU: next steps…?” (14 June 2018); Roundtable debate on “New Defence Technologies: which legal and ethical implications?” (19 June 2018); Seminar on "Populism and re-nationalism – a test for Europe and its democracies" (14–15 June 2018); Event on “Making the Global Compact on Migration Work” (7 September 2018); Event on “Religious freedom and development cooperation to reduce the causes for migration” (17 September 2018); Lunch event on “Amazonia’s indigenous peoples: How can the EU promote their rights?” (20 September 2018); EP breakfast event on “The peace process in Colombia and the respective roles of the EU and the Church” (11 October 2018); Roundtable on “EU response to the crisis in religious freedom worldwide” (5 November 2018); Conference on "Shaping the future of work – a faith-based contribution to the ILO Centenary Initiative" (27 November 2018); EP Dialogue Seminar on “Religion and Human Rights within the EU: A Shared Responsibility” (4 December 2018); Event on "Universal Declaration of Human Rights: FoRB and the contribution of religious voices and civil society" (4 December 2018); Dialogue meeting between religious actors and policy-makers on “How to support development through investments?” (4 February 2019); Roundtable meeting with MEPs and EU election candidates "Ahead of the EU elections – what is next for work-free Sunday?" (18 February 2019); EP Seminar “Catholic Action against Trafficking in Human Beings” (19 February 2019); EP Dialogue Seminar on "Artificial Intelligence - Ethical concerns (19 March 2019); EP Seminar “The next day in Syria” (3 April 2019); Lunch debate "Synod on Youth continues: a socio political reading" (11 April 2019); Meetings of Bishops delegations from Italy (April and November 2018) and France (December 2018) with EP, Commission and Council actors; Meetings of the COMECE Legal Affairs Commission (2), Social Affairs Commission (2), External Affairs Commission (1), Working group on migration and asylum (1), Working group on ethics (1).

Publications: “Western Balkans’ EU integration: ‘a promise of peace and a source of development’?” (May 2018); Bulgarian Presidency of the Council of the EU - A Catholic Church reflection on the Priorities of the Bulgarian EU Presidency (May 2018); COMECE Recommendations for humane return policies in Europe (May 2018); Contribution to the EEAS consultation on the Non-discrimination Guidelines (June 2018); Austrian Presidency of the Council of the EU - "Reflections and Recommendations of the Christian Churches in Europe” (July 2018); Contribution to the public consultation on Digital Ethics (July 2018); Joint statement on climate justice by all continents Bishops’ Conferences (October 2018); "Shaping the future of work" (November 2018); COMECE President's Statement on the support of the Catholic Church to the UN Global Compact on Migration (December 2018); Statement on the 70th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (December 2018); Standing Committee call to EU Member on migrants in distress at sea (January 2019); Romanian Presidency of the Council of the EU - "A Catholic Church Reflection on the priorities of the Romanian Presidency of the Council of the European Union" (January 2019); Contribution to the consultation on the EP implementation of Article 17 TFEU (January 2019); Reflection on "Robotisation of life" (February 2019); Elections Statement "Rebuilding community in Europe" (February 2019).

Communication and public relations: Webnews/press releases/press conferences; COMECE website; Social media; COMECE Annual Report 2018; videos.

Participation and contribution to: 12th European Forum on the Rights of the Child (2-3 April 2019); EP consultation meeting on the implementation of Article 17 TFEU (19 February 2019); EU Annual gathering with high-level religious leaders (8 October 2018); European Platform for Roma Inclusion (9 October 2018); Fundamental Rights Forum, FRA Agency (25-27 September 2018); EEAS Stakeholders consultation meeting on the EU Guidelines on Non-discrimination (19 June 2018); EEAS Stakeholders meeting with the UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of religion or belief (13 June 2018); Stakeholders meetings of the European Roma Platform, DG Justice (22 May and 17 September 2018, 31 January 2019).

20 meetings found. Download meetings

The list below only covers meetings held since November 2014 with commissioners, their cabinet members or directors-general at the European Commission; other lobby meetings with lower-level staff may have taken place, but the European Commission doesn't proactively publish information about these meetings. For more information about which commissioner is responsible for which portfolio, check out this link: https://commissioners.ec.europa.eu/index_en All information below comes from European Commission web pages.

• Date	11 Sep 2023	Location	Brussels
  Subject	Enlargement policy
  Cabinet	Cabinet of Commissioner Olivér Várhelyi
  Portfolio	Neighbourhood and Enlargement
  Attending	Ildikó Voller-Szenci (Cabinet member)

• Date	28 Feb 2023	Location	Brussels
  Subject	Social Economy
  Cabinet	Cabinet of Commissioner Nicolas Schmit
  Portfolio	Jobs and Social Rights
  Attending	Santina Bertulessi (Cabinet member)

• Date	19 Sep 2022	Location	Online
  Subject	Social Economy and the SEAP implementation
  Cabinet	Cabinet of Commissioner Nicolas Schmit
  Portfolio	Jobs and Social Rights
  Attending	Santina Bertulessi (Cabinet member)

• Date	15 Jun 2022	Location	VTC
  Subject	Celebrating the European Year of Youth
  Cabinet	Cabinet of Commissioner Olivér Várhelyi
  Portfolio	Neighbourhood and Enlargement
  Attending	Olivér Várhelyi (Commissioner) Szabolcs Horvath (Cabinet member)

• Date	14 Jan 2022	Location	virtual conference
  Subject	Article 17 dialogue
  Cabinet	Cabinet of Vice-President Margaritis Schinas
  Portfolio	Promoting the European Way of Life
  Attending	Margaritis Schinas (Vice-President) Vangelis Demiris (Cabinet member)
  Other Lobbyists	Committee of the Representatives of the Orthodox Churches in European Union Unie Vrijzinnige Verenigingen EGALE Egalité-laïcité-Europe The PR Office European Buddhist Union Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland, Church Council Conference of European Churches EKD-Büro Brüssel / EKD-Office Brussels Office of the Anglican Bishop in Europe association européenne de la pensée libre The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints - European Union and International Affairs Office

• Date	25 Nov 2021	Location	video-call
  Subject	Interfaith Convention on the European Green Deal
  Cabinet	Cabinet of Executive Vice-President Frans Timmermans
  Portfolio	European Green Deal
  Attending	Frans Timmermans (Executive Vice-President)

• Date	29 Jun 2021	Location	VTC
  Subject	Exchange of views on the future of Lebanon
  Cabinet	Cabinet of Commissioner Olivér Várhelyi
  Portfolio	Neighbourhood and Enlargement
  Attending	Olivér Várhelyi (Commissioner)

• Date	24 Jun 2021	Location	Brussels
  Subject	social policies and inclusion
  DG	Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion
  Attending	Joost Korte (Director-General)

• Date	10 Jun 2021	Location	Brussels - video conference
  Subject	European Green Deal presentation and discussion
  Cabinet	Cabinet of Executive Vice-President Frans Timmermans
  Portfolio	European Green Deal
  Attending	Aleksandra Tomczak (Cabinet member)
  Other Lobbyists	Conference of European Churches Alliance Maçonnique Européenne EKD-Büro Brüssel / EKD-Office Brussels European Buddhist Union Office of the Anglican Bishop in Europe Unie Vrijzinnige Verenigingen Committee of the Representatives of the Orthodox Churches in European Union EGALE Egalité-laïcité-Europe HINDU FORUM EUROPE association européenne de la pensée libre Grande Loge Féminine de France (Institut Maçonnique Européen) European Union for Progressive Judaism

• Date	18 Jan 2021	Location	VTC
  Subject	The state of play on the Southern Neighbourhood policy
  Cabinet	Cabinet of Commissioner Olivér Várhelyi
  Portfolio	Neighbourhood and Enlargement
  Attending	Olivér Várhelyi (Commissioner)

• Date	07 Sep 2020	Location	Brussels
  Subject	Green Paper on Ageing
  Cabinet	Cabinet of Vice-President Dubravka Šuica
  Portfolio	Democracy and Demography
  Attending	Astrid Dentler (Cabinet member)
  Other Lobbyists	Federation of Catholic Family Associations in Europe

• Date	10 Jul 2020	Location	Brussels - video conference
  Subject	Discussion on the European Green Deal with the Catholic Youth
  Cabinet	Cabinet of Executive Vice-President Frans Timmermans
  Portfolio	European Green Deal
  Attending	Aleksandra Tomczak (Cabinet member)

• Date	16 Jun 2020	Location	Brussels - video conference
  Subject	Preparation of youth dialogue meeting
  Cabinet	Cabinet of Executive Vice-President Frans Timmermans
  Portfolio	European Green Deal
  Attending	Aleksandra Tomczak (Cabinet member)

• Date	04 Feb 2020	Location	Brussels
  Subject	EU Enlargement and opening of accession talks with Albania
  Cabinet	Cabinet of Commissioner Olivér Várhelyi
  Portfolio	Neighbourhood and Enlargement
  Attending	Olivér Várhelyi (Commissioner)

• Date	25 Oct 2018	Location	Brussels, Belgium
  Subject	Meeting with the Task Force for the Preparation and Conduct of the Negotiations with the United Kingdom under Article 50 TEU
  DG	Task Force for Relations with the United Kingdom
  Attending	Michel Barnier (Head of Task Force)

• Date	08 Feb 2018	Location	Brussels, Belgium
  Subject	Agriculture
  Cabinet	Cabinet of Commissioner Phil Hogan
  Portfolio	Agriculture & Rural Development
  Attending	Phil Hogan (Commissioner)

• Date	14 Sep 2017	Location	Brussels
  Subject	Dialogue selon l’Art. 17
  Cabinet	Cabinet of First Vice-President Frans Timmermans
  Portfolio	Better Regulation, Interinstitutional Relations, the Rule of Law and the Charter of Fundamental Rights
  Attending	Bernardus Smulders (Cabinet member)

• Date	02 Jun 2017	Location	Brussels
  Subject	EMU reflection paper
  Cabinet	Cabinet of Vice-President Valdis Dombrovskis
  Portfolio	Euro and Social Dialogue, also in charge of Financial Stability, Financial Services and Capital Markets Union
  Attending	Kai Wynands (Cabinet member)

• Date	12 Oct 2016	Location	Comece Secretariat
  Subject	European Pillar of Social Rights and its role in ensuring good working conditions and account for the changes on the labour market.
  Cabinet	Cabinet of Commissioner Marianne Thyssen
  Portfolio	Employment, Social Affairs, Skills and Labour Mobility
  Attending	Ruth Paserman (Cabinet member)

• Date	10 Nov 2015	Location	Brussels
  Subject	social issues – including youth unemployment, the impact of austerity policies on citizens and child poverty
  DG	Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion
  Attending	Michel Servoz (Director-General)