The EU has organised its fifth annual top-level consultation with religious eminences on general policy topics – this year, ethics and economics - without inviting the EHF. For the third year running we had asked to be included. We have protested to the Presidents of the Commission and Parliament, who will be jointly chairing the meeting.
The following is the EU announcement of the May 11 meeting with top Christians, Jews and Muslims: Monday 11 May: The Commission and the Parliament bring together the three monotheistic religions to discuss the economic and financial crisis The news: Around twenty senior figures from the Christian, Jewish and Muslim religions from twelve Members States (France, United Kingdom, Germany, Belgium, Italy, Spain, Finland, Sweden, Denmark, Netherlands, Czech Republic, Romania) and from Russia, will meet in… read more »
[Version française] A new European Parliament is to be elected at the start of June. We want your help so as to make an impact – both to influence individual candidates and also to gather information about which elected Members of the Parliament (MEPs) support us or are sympathetic. Please write to as many candidates in your constituency as possible. The vital question to ask is: Do you agree that religion and politics should be… read more »
The EHF has written to the Presidents of the EU Council, Parliament and Commission seeking to be invited to this year’s top-level meeting between them and senior religious leaders from the Jewish, Christian and Muslim religions. We take the view that there should be no discrimination on grounds of religion or belief in such invitations. The meetings – we have been excluded from similar meetings in 2006, 2007 and 2008 – deal with ‘secular’ topics… read more »
April 2009 meeting of Working Group on Separation of Religion and Politics On Tuesday April 14 the Working Group on Separation of Religion and Politics held its last meeting before the European election. The EHF was represented by its president, David Pollock, acting general secretary Georges Liénard, and treasurer Suzy Mommaerts. The topic for discussion was a major project on religion and democracy in Europe being run by NEF – the Network of European [grant-giving]… read more »
The EHF is asking all its members and supporters to write to all the candidates in the elections in June asking “Do you agree that religion and politics should be kept separate in the EU?” – see details here in English and here in French.