An International Seminar of European Parliament with the participation of
H.E. Metropolitan Ignatius of Demetrias (Orthodox Church of Greece)
On Tuesday June 26, 2018, an
international seminar on the theme “Implementing the European Social
Pillar: The Role of Churches and Religions” hosted by the First Vice
President Mrs. Mairead McGuinness, responsible by the European
Parliament for the Article 17 of the Lisbon Treaty on the dialogue with
churches, religious and non-confessional organisations was successfully
held at the European Parliament. Mrs. Mairead McGuinness along with Mr.
Luca Jahier (President of the European Social and Economic Committee)
opened the meeting with some introductory thoughts. During the meeting
two panels took place on the topics: “Human Dignity in work” chaired by
Enrique Calvet Chambon, Member of the European Parliament and Member of
the Commission on Labor and Social Affairs; and “Fostering an Inclusive
and Caring European Society,” chaired by Georgi Pirinski, Member of the
European Parliament and Member too of the Commission on Labor and Social
Affairs, where representatives from European charity organizations and
the major monotheistic religious traditions (Christianity [Orthodoxy,
Catholicism, Methodism, etc], Judaism and Islam) participated, while
enough time for discussion was made available to the audience.
H. E. Metropolitan Ignatius of Demetrias and Almyros,
the only Orthodox Christian speaker at the seminar, joined the first
panel. In his talk Metropolitan Ignatius stressed the theological
significance of the human person, irrespective of gender and religion,
as an “image” of God and the claim for decent working conditions arising
from this approach, while he welcomed the importance of the European
Pillar of Social Rights, moving in the right direction and asked for the
later not to be just a theoretical vision. He also underlined the
social work that the Orthodox Church of Greece is currently performing
through its dioceses throughout Greece.
The meeting closed with the President of
the European Parliament, Mr. Antonio Tajani, who welcomed the
representatives of the Churches and Religions, while he insisted on the
positive role played today by the religions in Europe for the social
integration of all European citizens.
The European Pillar of Social Rights was
jointly proclaimed and signed by the European Commission, the European
Parliament and the European Council at the Gothenburg Social Summit in
November 2017. The 20 principles and rights that make up the Social
Pillar build on the existing social acquis, i.e. social mandate
contained in binding provisions of EU law, and should serve as a
“compass” for the renewal of current labour markets and welfare systems
across the European Union (EU). Their implementation is largely the
responsibility of the Member States in cooperation with the social
partners and with the support of the European Union.
To read H.E. Metropolitan Ignatius’ presentation click here
To read the Seminar’s program please click here
This press release draws from the
chronicle issued by Rev. Dr. Georgios Lekkas, representative of the
Director of the Office of the Representation of the Orthodox Church of
Greece in the European Union, which has been published online here.