European Commission
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 »
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 »
31 October 2012
By Raphael Vassallo, journalist for Malta Today Secular groups plan to protest against the Commissioner-designate Candidacy is ‘certainly very bad for the image of Malta in Europe’ says secularists who will protest Borg nomination. Tonio Borg. The nomination of Foreign Affairs Minister Tonio Borg to replace John Dalli on the Commission has not gone down well with NGOs representing Europe’s secular liberal interests, and protests are planned to coincide with his screening by the European… read more »
30 October 2012
Tonio Borg has been nominated by Malta to replace former Commissioner for Health and Consumer Protection John Dalli after his resignation on 16 October 2012. Despite Tonio Borg’s well-known stands against women’s, LGBT’s and migrants’ rights, President José Manuel Barroso approved his nomination. It still has to be agreed by the European Parliament and European Council. We believe that this candidacy is clearly damaging for Europe and seriously concerning for the quality of health services enjoyed… read more »
1 October 2012
The signatories of this petition ask the Council of Human Rights of the UN and the European Commission to promulgate international and European laws for the protection of freedom of thought, conscience and exercise of religion and belief without discrimination and to remove any items outlawing blasphemy in national constitutions and laws. The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (57 countries) requires that blasphemy is considered a defamation of religions and criminally sanctioned. Freedom of expression is… read more »
3 June 2012
Changes to Bylaws Apart from the regular business of the General Assembly (approving the annual report and accounts, budgets and plans), this year we also approved some significant changes to our bylaws. These will be included in the Bylaws on this website once they have received official approval by the Belgian authorities. (a) Membership categories The General Assembly agreed to abolish the category of Consultative Member: all organisations that pay the minimum membership fee of… read more »
13 May 2012
The EHF has written to the Ombudsman with firm comments on the EU Commission’s response to our complaint about their approach to the Article 17 dialogue with us and in particular their treatment of our request for a dialogue seminar. Our covering letter is here. It attaches our detailed comments, which have three enclosures: a letter from BEPA to the EHF dated 16 November 2011; an email from BEPA to the EHFdated 5 May 2011 and a letter… read more »