European institutions "more open than ever" to church co-operation

Warsaw, Poland (ENInews)--A senior ecumenist has welcomed growing
co-operation between leaders of European institutions and churches, and predicted a
growing advisory role for religious communities. 

"I think we're seeing a greater openness today than ever before," said
Rudiger Noll, director of the Church and Society Commission of the Conference
of European Churches (CEC). "Our latest meeting was triggered by the Arab
uprisings and European response, and by Europe's financial and economic
crisis, and in both areas the institution presidents were very clear. What's
needed is a new value-based, community approach in Europe, rather than just
an economic system. They're turning to the churches for this."

The United Church of Westphalia pastor was speaking after a Brussels
meeting on 30 May between 20 religious leaders and the Portuguese president of
the European Union's governing commission, Jose Manuel Barroso, as well as
the European Council's Belgian president, Herman van Rompuy, and the Polish
president of the European Parliament, Jerzy Buzek.