wfn.org | Strengthen voice of marginalised in Europe

["Ruth Gill" <rag@cec-kek.org>]

Conference of European Churches - Office of  Communications
Press Release No. 05-47/e	      25 November 2005
Jointly issued by CEC and Eurodiaconia

CHRISTIANS TO STRENGTHEN THE VOICE OF THE MARGINALISED IN EUROPE

The conference "A common vision for a social Europe: Towards quality of
life for all" concluded its proceedings yesterday with a call for social
policy to be an integral part of all European policies. The conference was
jointly organized by the Church and Society Commission of the Conference
of European Churches (CEC) and Eurodiaconia. It brought together sixty
representatives from European churches and diaconal organizations from
more than thirty European countries, including non-EU countries such as
Romania, Ukraine and Armenia.

"Social policy is a key element of European identity", states the final
message of the conference. "Social policy must not be an addendum to other
politics, but needs to be an integral part of all policies. This is a
precondition for sustainable development in Europe, balancing economic,
social and environmental policies."

The final message highlights the main issues that have been discussed
during the conference, including the identification of the strengths of
the social systems in Europe and the challenges they have to face. The
message concludes by underlining that: "Improvement and development of
health and social systems will require a better distribution of resources
and wealth. New policies should be developed by the political institutions
in cooperation with civil society, diaconal organizations and churches".

The full text of the conference message be found at www.cec-kek.org/pdf/socialconferencefinal.htm

**********

The Conference of European Churches (CEC) is a fellowship of some 125
Orthodox, Protestant, Anglican and Old Catholic Churches from all
countries of Europe, plus 40 associated organisations. CEC was founded in
1959. Its Church & Society Commission has the task to help the churches
study "church and society" questions from a theological and social-ethical
perspective, especially those with a European dimension, and to represent
the member churches of CEC in their relations with political institutions
working in Europe. www.cec-kek.org

Eurodiaconia is a federation of 43 members - churches, non-statutory
welfare organisations and NGOs in Europe - operating at national and
international level. Our members are rooted in Christian faith within the
traditions of the Reformation as well as in the Anglican and Orthodox
traditions. We network diaconal and social work of institutions and church
communities and co-operate with civil society partners. We link our
members to serve for solidarity and justice. Our strategic aims are to
ensure quality of life for all in a social Europe, to link institutions of
diaconia, social initiatives and churches in Europe, to be and to enhance
a network of competence.  www.eurodiaconia.org

For more information:
Donatella Rostagno
CEC Church & Society Commission
Tel +32 2 2346836
Mobile +32 496 074905
Fax +32 2 2311413
e-mail dro@cec-kek.be