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Dennis de Jong speaks at meeting on freedom of religion or belief Broad support for first annual report of EP working group on freedom of religion or belief

13 February 2014

Dennis de Jong speaks at meeting on freedom of religion or belief Broad support for first annual report of EP working group on freedom of religion or belief

Freedom of religion and conviction are under pressure throughout the world, but the European Parliament, the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) and the UN intend to work more closely together to turn the tide. That was the message today at the presentation in the European Parliament of the first annual report of the working group on freedom of religion or belief organised by SP Euro-MP Dennis de Jong and Peter van Dalen of the Dutch party the Christian Union. ‘Both the UN Special Rapporteur on the issue Heiner Bielefeldt and Vice-Chair of USCIRF Dr Katrina Swett see the report as a good basis for more intensive cooperation with the EP working group,’ says De Jong. ‘Amongst the more than two hundred participants from numerous religious and non-religious organisations there was a lot of support for the report’s recommendations. The contribution from a delegation of religious leaders from Iraq was particularly impressive. These leaders promote interreligious dialogue, especially among young people, sometimes putting their own lives in danger. This sort of initiative should be supported wherever possible by the EU and the member states.’

Dr Katrina Swett addresses the working group on freedom of religion or belief

The report not only includes recommendations regarding policy in relation to the twenty-five countries where the situation is particularly bad, but also calls for more practical cooperation between the working group and EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Catherine Ashton’s European External Action Service (EEAS). ‘The working group can play an important role in realising EU guidelines on this matter for embassies and EU delegations,’ argues De Jong. ‘Now in addition we can discuss the toolkit for applying these guidelines, and I would also like to enter into a dialogue about the various country-specific recommendations. The EU and the member states must not be afraid of putting countries like Egypt under pressure by making the many billions of euros which go there via the cooperation programme dependent on the protection of human rights.’

The EP working group on freedom of religion or belief was formally established last year and consists of MEPs from all of the Parliament’s major political groups. The working group organises many activities within the European Parliament and contributes to the EP’s human rights reporting.

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