Metropolitan Athenagoras of Belgium taking part at meetings in the framework of the Romanian Presidency of the EU

His Eminence Metropolitan Athenagoras of Belgium took part at a delegation of Churches in Europe that met in Bucharest on 28 January 2019 with His Excellency M. Teodor-Viorel Meleșcanu, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Romania, to exchange views on the priorities of the Romanian Presidency of the EU Council.

The delegation was composed by representatives of COMECE (Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of the European Union), CEC (Conference of European Churches) and CROCEU (Committee of Representatives of the Orthodox Churches to the European Union), who shared their perspectives on the four priorities of the RomanianPresidency: 1) Europe of convergence; 2) A safer Europe; 3) Europe, as a stronger global actor; 4) Europe of common values.

Romania holds the EU Presidency in a time of transformative changes impacting on the institutional future of the EU, and the lives of millions living in the EU.

The delegation enjoyed dialogue with the Romanian Presidency about the importance of putting the human person at the center of increasingly digitalized societies. They also emphasized the importance of a comprehensive view of security, environmental concerns, and improving religious literacy through education.

The open and transparent dialogue between Churches and the respective EU Council Presidencies is part of a long-standing practice now supported by the Article 17(3) TFEU.

As part of their time in Romania, the delegation participated in an audience with His Beatitude Daniel, Patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church, and exchanged views on the Churches’ role in the EU with His Excellency M. Victor Opaschi, State Secretary for Religious Affairs.

COMECE delegation:
• H.E. Mgr. Cornel Damian, Auxiliary Bishop of Bucharest
• Fr. Olivier Poquillon, O.P., General Secretary ofCOMECE

CEC delegation:
• H.G. Bishop Reihandt Guib, Church of the Augsburg Confession in Romania
• Fr. Heikki Huttunen, General Secretary of CEC

CROCEU delegation:
• H.E. Metropolitan Athenagoras of Belgium, Ecumenical Patriarchate
• Fr . Sorin Selaru, Director of Permanent Office the Romanian Patriarchate in Brussels