As requested by your staff, I am attaching an electronic copy of the hard copy letter delivered to
your office this afternoon on behalf of Bishop Robert Innes, the Archbishop of Canterbury’s
Representative to the EU in relation to the Archbishop’s forthcoming visit to Brussels on
Monday 2nd March and his request for a meeting with you.
Yours sincerely,
Ref. Ares(2015)154384 - 14/01/2015
THE ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY’S REPRESENTATIVE
TO THE EUROPEAN UNION
Rt Rev Dr. Robert Innes Commissioner Frans Timmermans
First Vice-President
European Commission
Rue de la Loi 200
Brussels
12 January 2015
Dear Mr Vice-President,
Request for a meeting on behalf of the Archbishop of Canterbury
Further to the discussions between
I am now writing formally to request a meeting on behalf of the Archbishop
of Canterbury – the Most Reverend and Right Honourable Justin Welby, during his visit to
Brussels on
Monday 2nd March. The preferred time would be late morning, from around
11.30-12.30.
The Archbishop is the spiritual leader of the Church of England and titular head of the
worldwide Anglican Communion, which comprises 41 autonomous provinces spread over
145 countries with a combined following of some 80 million Christians.
The purpose of the meeting would be for you to meet the Archbishop and to exchange views
with him and a small (two or three persons) Anglican delegation. The Archbishop has a good
general knowledge of politics and economics and is a member of the British House of Lords.
Topics for discussion could include:
Office of the Bishop in Europe
rue Capitaine Crespel, 47/49
1050 Brussels,
Belgium
THE ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY’S REPRESENTATIVE
TO THE EUROPEAN UNION
Rt Rev Dr. Robert Innes
•
The Article 17 dialogue and the Anglican Church’s commitment to this process
•
The promotion of human rights: in particular, combatting modern slavery – which is
one of the Archbishop’s interests
•
Regulation: particularly of the banking industry - the Archbishop served on the UK
Parliamentary Commission on Banking Standards.
I look forward to your early response.
Yours sincerely,
Rt Rev Dr Robert Innes
Archbishop of Canterbury’s Representative to the European Union
& Bishop of the Anglican Diocese in Europe
Office of the Bishop in Europe
rue Capitaine Crespel, 47/49
1050 Brussels,
Belgium