9 April 2009
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 »
16 October 2008
The European Parliament’s Working Group on Separation of Religion and Politics held a meeting yesterday on Religion and Education. EHF vice-president Rob Buitenweg described the position in the Netherlands and other speakers covered the UK, Spain and France. Working Group chair Sophie in’t Veld MEP foresaw clashes over exemptions for religious schools when the new EU directive banning discrimination in fields wider than employment was debated. Read a full report here.
15 October 2008
October 2008 meeting of Working Group on Separation of Religion and Politics With Veronique de Keyser, the Belgian socialist MEP, in the chair, the meeting on 15 Ocotber 2008 heard from Keith Porteous Wood, of the UK’s National Secular Society, about the problem of religious schools within the British system of public schools. By being selective (he said) these schools attracted middle class parents who were prepared to pretend a religious belief and to go… read more »
13 October 2008
In the morning before the General Assembly, EHF held a seminar on its work in the main European institutions. Vera Pegna spoke on our work in the OSCE. Georges Liénard spoke on the Council of Europe. David Pollock spoke on the EU and the European Parliament. OSCE – Vera Pegna This morning you will hear reports on EHF activity in three European organisations: OSCE, CoE and the EU. I am going to report on our… read more »
10 October 2007
October 2007 meeting of Working Group on Separation of Religion and Politics Georges Liénard and Jenoff van Hulle attended this meeting on behalf of EHF. The invited speakers were Andrew Duff MEP and Baron Crespo MEP, representatives of the European Parliament at the IGC negotiations. Baron Crespo underlined that no changes were made in the new Reform Treaty concerning the position of and dialogue with religions and non-confessional organisations, except that Article 52 has moved… read more »
12 September 2007
September 2007 meeting of Working Group on Separation of Religion and Politics The All Party Group was addressed on 12 September 2007 by three courageous ex-Muslims – all women.Loubna Berrada, Co-founder of the Central Committee for Ex-Muslims in the Netherlands, spoke of the threats she had received to herself and her family from radical Islamists who used religion for political ends. Ultimately, she said, they threaten anyone who criticises them.Maryam Namazie, President of the Council… read more »
3 July 2007
July 2007 meeting of Working Group on Separation of Religion and Politics There was a large audience of MEPs and representatives of NGOs including the EHF to hear the President of the Parliament, Hans Gert Pottering, when he addressed the All Party Working Group on Separation of Religion and Politics on 3 July 2007. Sophie in ’t Veld, chair of the Group, set out a series of questions for Mr Pottering to address. In reply,… read more »
27 February 2007
February 2007 meeting of Working Group on Separation of Religion and Politics The Brussels Declaration was launched at a meeting of the All Party Group on 27 February 2007 when it was handed to a representative of the German Presidency of the EU. The Declaration is a manifesto for liberal, secular values in Europe , drawn up by a group including humanists, Christians and a Muslim. It was promoted by the EHF, IHEU, Catholics for… read more »