On January 14, 2025, the Committee of Representatives of Orthodox Churches to the European Union (CROCEU) held a working meeting at the “Orthodox Centre Ambiorix” in Brussels. The meeting was chaired by Metropolitan Athenagoras of Belgium and Exarch of the Netherlands and Luxembourg.
Attendees included Bishop Apostolos of Tanagra (Church of Greece), Fathers Sorin Selaru and George Valcu (Patriarchate of Romania), Father Stoyan Berbatov (Patriarchate of Bulgaria), and Fathers Konstantinos Kenanidis and Pawel Cecha (Ecumenical Patriarchate).
Participants exchanged New Year greetings and discussed the agenda items. Metropolitan Athenagoras commended the collaborative spirit among the representatives of the delegations.
The meeting reviewed the committee members’ visit to the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Phanar, Istanbul, and their interactions with Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew and the European Affairs Committee. Gratitude was expressed for the warm hospitality, participation in the Divine Liturgy, and the visit to the Halki Theological School.
Key topics included meetings with prominent members of the new European administration to advance the committee’s agenda priorities within the European Parliament and Commission.
The meeting ended with the scheduling of the next session.
Translated by: Konstantinos Menyktas