Ref. Ares(2019)3387279 - 23/05/2019
GENSEC-2015-026
Commissioner
Marianne Thyssen
Employment, Social Affairs, Skills and Labour Mobility
European Commission
Rue de la Loi / Wetstraat 200
B – 1049 Bruxelles
19 February 2015
Dear Commissioner,
Dear Ms Thyssen,
On behalf of the Conference of European Churches we would like to congratulate you on your
appointment as Commissioner of the new European Commission.
The challenges of the European Union are manifold and complex. For many people in Europe the
topics of your portfolio are the most important, challenging and decisive ones. The Conference of
European Churches is convinced that the European Union and the European unification process is a
gift and a desirable task for Europe, its people and societies. Therefore, we wish God’s blessing on
your responsibilities and work.
The Conference of European Churches was founded after the World War II as a bridge-building
initiative of the churches in Europe to overcome the tensions and the Iron Curtain in Europe.
Today it brings together 114 member churches from all over Europe – Protestant, Anglican,
Orthodox, and also Methodist, Baptist and Old-Catholic churches. In this spirit as a bridge-builder the
Conference of European Churches has been in dialogue with the European Institutions from the
beginning.
The question of how to shape the social dimension of the European unification process was and is a
core issue for the Conference of European Churches. Coming from the different traditions of its
member churches CEC addresses the balance and interdependence between economic, social and
Conference of European Churches - Conférence des Églises européennes - Konferenz Europäischer Kirchen - Конференция Европейских Церквей
Brussels
Strasbourg
(General Secretariat)
(Church & Society Commission)
Rue Joseph II, 174
8, rue du Fossé des Treize
BE – 1000 Brussels, Belgium
FR – 67000 Strasbourg, France
Tel. +32 2 230 17 32
Tel.: +33 3 88 15 27 60
Fax +32 2 231 14 13
Fax: +33 3 88 15 27 61
E-mail: xxx@xxxxxxx.xx
E-mail: xxx@xxxxxxx.xx
www.ceceurope.org
2
environmental policy to place human and social interests the centre of European policy. Therefore
CEC engaged in the last years in the Europe 2020 strategy for example, and is also reflecting on the
significance of the Working Time Directive.
Therefore, we hold your work in high esteem. We would appreciate meeting you in Brussels to
present the engagement of the Conference of European Churches in the field of employment, social
affairs and education. We would appreciate learning in dialogue with you about the direction the
new Commission will take on your policy area.
We kindly ask you to communicate your response to the office of the Conference of European
Churches (+32 2 234 6834, xxx@xxxxxxx.xx).
We would like to express our respect for the tasks and commitments you are undertaking. We are
looking forward to a fruitful, constructive dialogue and relationship with the European Commission.
Yours sincerely,
Rev Dr Guy Liagre
General Secretary
Conference of European Churches
Electronically signed on 23/05/2019 15:54 (UTC+02) in accordance with article 4.2 (Validity of electronic documents) of Commission Decision 2004/563