Brussels, 28/06/2004 (Agence Europe) - The Executive Committee of COMECE (Commission of Bishops' Conferences of the EU Member States), meeting in Rome last week, welcomed the adoption of the European Constitution, particularly the fact it respects human dignity as a priority EU value. Josef Homeyer (Hildesheim), Adrianus van Luyn (Rotterdam) and Hippolyte Simon (Clermont in France), President and Vice-Presidents respectively of COMECE, comment in a statement that the new positions of President of the European Council and European Foreign Minister should make it easier in future to identify European politicians.
The bishops see the recognition of the identity and contribution of churches and other religious communities in Article 1-51 of the Constitution as a significant step forward for the EU, but they regret the lack of any reference to Christian heritage, which they think could be interpreted as lack of respect to the strong ideas of a significant number of citizens in all Member States, feeling that the EU should ask itself more questions about its heritage and identity.