EUROPE: CEC AND COMECE, "THE EUROPEAN UNION NEEDS SHARED VALUES"

” “The European Union needs shared values. This is advocated in a joint statement released today by the Council of European Churches (Cec) and by the Commission of the EU Bishops Conferences (Comece) that on January 15th met the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Germany, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, as the German president of the EU. He stated that "the Churches are entitled to play a special role in the European integration process, because of their many ecumenical contacts and representative bodies across Europe. They are an important part to the discussion about shared European values". A principle which has also been reasserted in the run-up to the adoption of the Berlin Declaration by the heads of state and government of the EU member states on March 25th. On their part, the Churches have drawn again to the Minister’s attention some urgent matters that the German presidency is due to address over these six months: "peace, security, the energy policy, protection of the environment and migratory policies".” “