Tuesday, June 28, 2011

EU call to keep Sunday special

European Church leaders and trade unionists are uniting in a new campaign to restore Sunday as a 'day of rest' across European Union (EU) member states. 

The Commission of the Bishops' Conferences of the European Community (COMECE) is sponsoring a Brussels-based conference next month to promote what it describes as ''the added value of synchronised free time'' across the continent.

The conference brings together experts from different academic and professional backgrounds. 

It aims to inform the discourse of European policy makers on the importance of synchronised quality time, not only as a cultural aspect of the European heritage, but as an important factor in shaping social Europe -- an EU aware of the needs of its citizens.

The campaign aims to help restore life and work balance and to bring reconciliation of professional and family life. 

The European Sunday Alliance was officially launched in Brussels on June 20 with the publication of a founding statement. 

Groups and communities around Europe are encouraged to sign.