November 25, 2005

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 http://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. http://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. http://www.eurodiaconia.org/.

Conference of European Churches