The European Commission First Vice-President Frans Timmermans hosted the 13th annual high-level meeting with religious leaders from across Europe, alongside European Parliament First Vice-President Mairead McGuinness.
The annual high-level meeting is part of the regular dialogue with churches, religious communities, philosophical and non-confessional organisations foreseen by Article 17 of the Lisbon Treaty, and entrusted to First Vice-President Timmermans by President Juncker.
This year’s meeting took place against the background of the ongoing debate on the Future of Europe, launched by the Commission’s White Paper on 1 March 2017. First Vice-President Frans Timmermans said: “The future of Europe is in the hands of its citizens. Shaping that future is our collective responsibility, our shared values our compass. The regular dialogue with confessional organisations, like the one with non-confessional organisations, allows us to address the issue of our common future from different perspectives. It is through inclusive dialogue that we can chart the best course for our common future.”
The participants discussed the human dimension of Europe, in particular its social and environmental dimensions and the principles of solidarity, social justice and sustainability. The leaders present were invited to work with the Commission throughout the reflection process on the future of Europe and to bring their respective communities into the debate.
