Photo: EPPGroup/RDiazGuzman

Press Release No: 17/24
22 November 2024
Brussels

The Governing Board of the Conference of European Churches (CEC) met with Mr Vangelis Meimarakis, Member of the European Parliament (MEP) and Co-Chair of the European People’s Party (EPP) Working Group on Intercultural and Religious Dialogue. The meeting, held on 21 November 2024 at the European Parliament in Brussels, provided a platform to discuss the role of European churches in addressing urgent social and political challenges. 

CEC President H.E. Archbishop Nikitas of Thyateira and Great Britain expressed deep gratitude to Meimarakis and emphasised CEC’s commitment to fostering dialogue, peace, and reconciliation. Highlighting the diversity of CEC’s membership and Christianity’s contributions to European history, culture, and society, Archbishop Nikitas remarked: 

“For a stronger Europe, we must work together towards just peace. The beauty of Christianity lies in its diversity, which unites churches and communities beyond differences.” 

Meimarakis underscored the strategic importance of churches in addressing critical European issues, such as migration, human rights, interfaith dialogue, and climate change. He called for ongoing collaboration between churches and European institutions to promote peaceful coexistence and mutual respect in multicultural societies. 

“Christian values are essential in tackling key challenges, from the war in Ukraine to migration, freedom of religion, and climate change,” he said. 

During the meeting, the CEC Governing Board, representing churches from across Europe, engaged in an in-depth dialogue with Meimarakis. They also shared updates on CEC’s Pathways to Peace initiative, launched in response to the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine. This initiative fosters justice, reconciliation, and peace, encouraging collaboration among churches and institutions while amplifying Ukrainian voices in global discussions. 

This meaningful exchange reaffirmed the shared commitment of CEC and the EPP to advancing dialogue, unity, and justice across Europe, particularly during these turbulent times.

The CEC Governing Board meeting is currently underway in Brussels, where the board will review CEC's programmatic activities, and provide guidance for the organisation's present and future work.

Learn more about Pathways to Peace 

Full list of CEC Governing Board Members

For further information or an interview, please contact:

Naveen Qayyum
Communication Officer
Conference of European Churches
Rue Joseph II, 174 B-1000 Brussels
Tel. +32 486 75 82 36
E-mail: naveen@cec-kek.be
Website: www.ceceurope.org
Facebook: www.facebook.com/ceceurope
Twitter: @ceceurope
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