Press Release No: 20/08 issued jointly with the Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of the European Union
2 April 2020
Brussels

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As COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact Europe and the world, presidents of the Conference of European Churches (CEC) and the Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of the European Union (COMECE) have issued a joint call stressing the importance of unity, calling all churches, communities and political leaders to show their “commitment to European values”.

The joint statement titled “Let Us Remain United” issued on 2 April 2020, urges a demonstration of “joint commitment to common European values of solidarity and unity” encouraging political decision-makers to establish “measures alleviating social, economic and financial shocks”.

COMECE President H. Em. Card. Jean-Claude Hollerich SJ and CEC President Rev. Christian Krieger express their deep gratitude for those “who serve their fellow human beings with empathy and warmth” and welcome the “individual and collective initiatives that are reinventing new forms of solidarity”.

The statement acknowledges that the COVID-19 pandemic and its dire consequences have hit Europe and the entire world with great strength. “Putting to the test every person, family and community, the present crisis has exposed the vulnerabilities and apparent certainties of our politics, economics and societies,” the statement reads.

“Instead of capitulating to fear and nationalism,” they say, it is time to reinforce international cooperation and humanitarian assistance to support weaker health systems and regions in need.

The two presidents praise “the numerous policy actions” carried out by the EU and its Member States, encouraging political leaders to act in a “determined, transparent, empathic and democratic way” while battling with the virus.

Read here CEC resources on COVID-19

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For more information or an interview, please contact:

Naveen Qayyum
Communication Officer
Conference of European Churches
Rue Joseph II, 174 B-1000 Brussels
Tel. +32 2 234 68 42
E-mail: naveen@cec-kek.be
Website: www.ceceurope.org
Facebook: www.facebook.com/ceceurope
Twitter: @ceceurope