On the occasion of the event Europe of values organized by the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland on 3-4 March in Brussels, the delegation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland, led by Archbishop Kari Mäkinen, visited the office of the Church and Society Commission of the Conference of European Churches. The main topic of the discussion with staff was the upcoming European elections for which the CEC Governing Board issued its statement Europe as a place of peace, solidarity and cooperation during its last meeting. “It is important for each citizen of the European Union to raise their concerns and to exercise their fundamental right to vote because building a Europe of peace is our common task and responsibility” said General Secretary of CEC, Rev. Dr Guy Liagre.

The Archbishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland underlined in his address: “Today we can observe in the EU, that economic questions prevail over people’s needs. We believe that in view of the upcoming European elections, European values such as solidarity, democracy and human rights should be strengthened.”

The Secretary General Rev. Dr Guy Liagre and Archbishop Kari Mäkinen agreed that in the future joint efforts should focus on the development of a Europe where there is no place for political extremism, but a Europe that embraces all people and all nations.

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The Conference of European Churches (CEC) is a communion of 115 Orthodox, Protestant, Anglican and Old Catholic Churches from all European countries, and 40 organisations in partnership. It was founded in 1959 and the CEC has offices in Geneva, Brussels and Strasbourg.

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