Brussels, 24/05/2007 (Agence Europe) - If one wants citizens to recognise a positive and promising political project in Europe, then they must feel more secure and confident in the future precisely because Europe is there. The strengthening of the social dimension in Europe is therefore just as essential as reforms of EU institutions. Such are the main conclusions reached by a meeting of the social affairs commission of the Commission of the Bishops' Conferences of the European Community (COMECE), which was held in Berlin on 22 May. During a meeting with the German vice-chancellor and minister for labour and social affairs, Franz Müntefering, the bishops and the minister stressed the need for the EU to have a social model adapted to the challenges of globalisation and population ageing. This need should also be taken into account during the next IGC that is due to negotiate the future EU treaty, COMECE stresses in a press release. The bishops also exchanged views with Roger Liddle, a member of the European Commission's office of policy advisors who drafted a paper on the “social reality of Europe” at the Commission's request. Mr Liddle invited the Church to play an active part in the discussions on the future of European society. COMECE will make its contribution in coming months to the consultation opened by this document, a contribution that will tackle the question of the role of the Church in social life, promotion of the family and justice in the working world, the COMECE press release concludes. Information: http://www.comece.org (gb)