Press Release: The Commission, the Council and the Parliament debate the future of the European Union with religious leaders

Author (Corporate)
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Series Details IP/14/650 (10.06.14)
Publication Date 10/06/2014
Content Type

High-level representatives from Christian, Muslim, Jewish, Hindu, Sikh and Mormon communities on 10 June 2014 met with the leaders of the European Union to exchange views on, amongst others, current societal developments in and outside the EU, on Europe's role in the world and in the immediate neighbourhood, and on the part religions can play in this context. The participants observed a minute's silence in respect of the victims of the tragic attack in the Jewish museum in Brussels on 24 May and adopted a joint declaration regarding Meriam Ibrahim, a Sudanese Christian sentenced to death for apostasy.

The high-level meeting – the tenth of its kind – was hosted by José Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission, and co-chaired by Herman Van Rompuy, President of the European Council, and László Surján, Vice-President of the European Parliament, representing EP President Martin Schulz.

The open, transparent and regular dialogue between the European Commission and churches, religious communities, as well as philosophical and non-confessional organisations, is enshrined into primary law by the Lisbon Treaty (Art 17 TFEU). Beyond regular seminars with the different interlocutors, there is one annual high-level meeting with religious leaders and one with philosophical and non-confessional representatives.

Source Link Link to Main Source http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-14-650_en.htm
Related Links
European Commission: RAPID: MEMO/14/407: The Commission, the Council and the Parliament debate the future of the European Union with religious leaders – List of participants http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_MEMO-14-407_en.pdf
European Commission: RAPID: STATEMENT/14/186: Statement on Meriam Yahya Ibrahim, a Sudanese believer sentenced to death for apostacy http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_STATEMENT-14-186_en.pdf
European Commission: BEPA: Activities: Outreach team: Dialogue http://ec.europa.eu/bepa/activities/outreach-team/dialogue/index_en.htm
European Commission: RAPID: SPEECH/14/446: Remarks by President Barroso at the 10th High Level meeting of religious leaders http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_SPEECH-14-446_en.pdf

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