European Union
14 June 2013
The European Parliament adopted on Thursday 13 June 2013 a Recommendation on the draft EU Guidelines on the Promotion and Protection of Freedom of Religion or Belief prepared by the European External Action Service. The European Humanist Federation welcomes the explicit mention of need to protect the rights of non-believers and the recommendation to oppose any attempt to criminalise freedom of expression on religious grounds. EHF further welcomes the amendments adopted during the plenary which… read more »
31 May 2013
Press release, 31 May 2013 Irish Council Presidency shows clear bias in favor of churches Under Article 17 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, European institutions must maintain an “open, transparent and regular” dialogue with churches and non-confessional organisations. Long before the Lisbon Treaty, rotating presidencies of the EU Council have been accustomed to meet with churches representatives. It was only since the Belgian presidency in 2010 that the European Humanist… read more »
17 May 2013
On the occasion of the 2013 International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia, the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) publishes the results of the EU’s largest LGBT hate crime and discrimination online survey ever conducted. The survey asked LGBT people whether they had experienced discrimination, violence, verbal abuse or hate speech on the grounds of their sexual orientation or gender identity. They were also asked to identify where such incidents took place, such as at… read more »
19 March 2013
European institutions keep astonishingly silent to the worsening of the political situation in Hungary. Sonja Eggerickx, President of the International Humanist and Ethical Union and Pierre Galand, President of the European Humanist Federation addressed EU Presidents (Mr Barroso, Mr Schulz and Mr Van Rompuy) in an open letter. “Dear Presidents, As humanists, we want to express our deep concerns on Hungary’s new breach on democracy and to call for a… read more »
25 January 2013
On 18 October 2011, the European Humanist Federation (EHF) submitted a complaint to the European Ombudsman arguing that the European Commission was refusing to comply with the Article 17:3 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU (TFEU) which requires the EU to conduct a “regular, open and transparent dialogue with churches, religious communities as well as philosophical and non-confessional organisations.” A few month earlier, in March 2011, the EHF had proposed a dialogue… read more »
10 January 2013
EU Commissioner Reding responsible for justice, fundamental rights and citizenship, answered Parliamentary Questions on blasphemy laws within the European Union Questions : By MEPS Sophia in ‘t Veld (ALDE) , Joanna Senyszyn (S&D) , Cornelis de Jong (GUE/NGL) , Marietje Schaake (ALDE) “The recent wave of violence in the Muslim world following the online posting of a video depicting Mohammed has led numerous EU leaders to defend freedom of expression and opinion against accusations of blasphemy. At… read more »
22 November 2012
On 14 November 2012, the European Parliament President met several representatives of churches and non-confessional organizations, including the European Humanist Federation (EHF) and the Belgian Centre d’Action Laïque (CAL) for a dialogue meeting on “intergenerational solidarity”. This meeting took place within the framework of Article 17 of the Treaty of the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU), which provides an open, regular and transparent dialogue between the EU institutions, churches, religious communities and non-confessional organizations…. read more »
15 November 2012
On 13 November 2012, Tonio Borg was heard by the members of the European Parliament’s Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety. Prior to this hearing, the European Humanist Federation together with other NGOs, had made clear it had serious concerns regarding Mr Borg’s nomination as the new Commissioner responsible for Health and Consumer Policy. This hearing has not convinced us that Tonio Borg is a suitable candidate for the Health and Consumer… read more »
12 November 2012
“Tonio Borg is not suitable to be the next EU Health Commissioner” Civil society organisations are calling on the European Parliament to reject the nomination of Tonio Borg as the next EU Health Commissioner and on EU Commission President Barroso to withdraw the nomination of Tonio Borg. On 13 November 2012, the European Parliament’s Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety will be questioning Tonio Borg, Malta’s new nominee for the post of… read more »
9 November 2012
On 6 November 2012, the EHF met with Mr George Zodiates, Deputy Permanent Representative of the Republic of Cyprus to the EU, to express its views on several European issues. Read here below what we asked for. 1/ Horizon 2020 and the European funding for human embryonic stem cells research The new Framework Programme for Research and Innovation in Europe (2014-2020) is still being discussed in the European Parliament and in the Council. In the Council,… read more »