International

Yesterday saw the launch by a number of MEPs, including the SP’s own Dennis de Jong and fellow Dutchman Peter van Dalen of the Christian Union, of the European Parliament Working Group on freedom of religion and philosophical belief. Commenting on the move, De Jong said: ‘This freedom is one of the fundamental human rights and forms an important touchstone for other human rights in a society. It encompasses the right to follow a religion but also the right not to believe. Christian Union MEP Peter van Dalen added that ‘the EU has in all of its treaties with third countries taken the stance that freedom of religion and philosophical belief will be respected. It’s now up to the EU to call countries that abuse human rights to account over the responsibilities that they take on as a result of these treaties.’

Euro-MPs at the inaugural meeting of the Working Group on freedom of religion and philosophical belief

The working group was established to provide a contact point for the EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs Catherine Ashton and her services, the European Commission, the member states and international organisations and networks. It is concerned only with external policy and will not involve itself directly in situations within the EU itself. Its core task will be contributing to the annual report of the European Parliament on human rights globally, writing the section dealing with abuses of freedom of religion and philosophical belief. The working group will also provide a commentary on the guidelines on these freedoms for EU member states’ embassies expected to appear shortly.

During the inaugural meeting of the working group the EU’s Special representative on human rights, Stavros Lambrinidis, stressed the group’s importance for Ashton’s services. Not only is the freedom of religion and philosophical belief a complex issue in itself given the wide variety of ways in which these things are expressed, but the services are often confronted by complicated dilemmas. These principally involve the relationship to other human rights, such as the general freedom to express one’s opinions. Lambrinidis said that he was counting on the working group to come up with good ideas and solutions. The MEPs in the group intend also to organise public meetings. ‘In the past it was often the case that Euro-MPs would organise meetings on the same subject or even at the same time,’ said De Jong. ‘Soon this will no longer be the case.’