Brussels, 11/12/2007 (Agence Europe) - On 4-5 December a delegation of 15 French bishops from all over France visited the European institutions in Brussels. This study visit was organised in partnership with the COMECE secretariat (Commission of the Bishops' Conference of the European Community) and focused on the environment and climate change. A COMECE press release indicated that it was on this theme that exchanges between the bishops and representatives from the European Commission, the Council of Ministers of the EU and MEPs, mainly focused.
During this visit, European Commissioner for Transport Jacques Barrot declared that Europe should develop its reconciling role in the world by drawing on three instruments: the military, technological and humanitarian dimension. He concluded that dialogue between the European institutions and the churches and faith communities (now included in Article 16.c of the Lisbon Treaty) could help provide a boost to the European Commission. The bishops were able hold discussions with French MEPs Jean-Louis Bourlangues, Alain Lamassoure and Françoise Grosstête regarding their ideas about the place of the EU in the world and its action in the field of health policy. MEPs were concerned about the internal disagreements between governments over foreign policy and the investment deficit in the Europe of defence. In its press release COMECE said that this situation creates a disconcerting weakness in the EU's weight on the international scene. Polish MEP, Bronislaw Geremek, discussed the Charter of Fundamental Rights with the French bishops. MEPs also underlined the importance of dialogue between the EU and Churches to meet the challenges of peace and solidarity in Europe and the world.
COMECE is also keen to correct an article that appeared in EUROPE 9551. COMECE writes: “Following an interpretation problem during the press conference after the COMECE bishops' plenary, the quotation attributed to Mgr Van Luyn, president of COMECE, was incorrect. Far from focusing on the articles relating to the dialogue between the institutions of the EU and Churches, Mgr Van Luyn and COMECE bishop members also welcomed, with interest, several innovations in the new European treaty. In particular; the provisions enabling the EU to have a more effective presence in the world appear promising to them. The EU's external action was also the main theme of their autumn plenary session (21-23 November 2007)”. (G.B.)