Cooperation beyond borders of the European Union

Europe is larger than the European Union. This statement is reflected in the actions of the Churches of the Polish Ecumenical Council. That is the subject of cooperation with countries east of Poland, beyond the borders of the European Union.

The Churches of PEC maintain partnership relations with Churches and ecumenical organizations in all of Europe. During the Polish Presidency in the European Union we want to especially emphasize a close cooperation between countries in Eastern and Western Europe. Our priority is cooperation beyond the boundaries of the European Union, with Ukraine, Belarus and Russia.

The project “Reconciliation in Europe. The task for Churches in Ukraine, Belarus, Poland and Germany” was established in 1996 as part of cooperation within the Contacts Committee between the Polish Ecumenical Council and the Lutheran Church in Germany. A close cooperation within this project has developed since the Second European Ecumenical Assembly in Graz in 1997.

The main goal of the project is to build mutual understanding and ecumenical cooperation above all denominational, cultural and national divisions. This goal is achieved through meetings, conferences, seminars, study trips and consultations.

A special asset of the “Reconciliation in Europe” project is not only its ecumenical but also international character. The participants are Lutheran, Orthodox, Roman Catholic and Greek Catholic Churches from four countries: Ukraine, Belarus, Germany and Poland.

During the Polish Presidency in the European Union, as part of the on-going project the Polish Ecumenical Council plans to establish closer cooperation with Churches in Russia, especially the Moscow Patriarchate Orthodox Church.

In October 2011, the Polish Ecumenical Council in cooperation with the Christian Theological Academy will organize a symposium on the subject of “Reconciliation of nations in Central Eastern Europe in the perspective of Church history”.

In November 2011, the Polish Ecumenical Council will organize in Minsk, Belarus an international, ecumenical conference on the subject of “Relations of Churches with non-church organizations”.

While developing the cooperation and endeavouring for reconciliation in the east we maintain a constant dialogue with our partners in other parts of Europe. Amongst many others the Polish Ecumenical Council takes part in on-going talks regarding the rising Centre Against Expulsions in Berlin.