Conference of European Churches calls on EU not to become a military alliance

On July 12, the Conference of European Churches (CEC) called on the European Union "to avoid opening way for the militarization of its budget and structures", reports Radio Vatican.

A special message calls for the European Union to strengthen its role as a champion of peace and reconciliation by non-military means.

CEC opposes the EU Commission’s communication on the European Defense, a proposal for the regulation of financial support for the European arms industry, as this could lead to "transforming the EU into a military alliance".

In its commitment to peacebuilding and reconciliation, CEC opposes the diversion of such significant funding from the civilian EU budget to the defense industry. "Such increases in military funding has adverse effects on security. Moreover, similar levels of investments in other sectors in fact helps increase reconciliation, stability, and prosperity—the very basis of security," reads the message.

“We urge the EU to gather all human and financial capacities for peacebuilding as the basis for shared security,” remarked CEC General Secretary Fr Heikki Huttunen. “The European project, in its various manifestations, stands as an example of what can be done through non-military means to build up a peaceful, stable, and prosperous Europe.”

The Conference of European Churches calls on Europe "to critically discuss with the national governments their role in the further development of the defense policy of the European Union".

The Conference of European Churches is a Christian ecumenical organization that unites the churches of Europe: Protestant, Orthodox and Catholic.