THE EUROPEAN UNION'S AWKWARD EMBRACE OF RELIGIOUS FREEDOM

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Notes

1. The EPWG's website can be found at http://www.religiousfreedom.eu (accessed February 11, 2014).

2. It is important to note that Judaism has not been included in this discussion. Its omission is deliberate and based upon two factors: first, that although Jews have been present on the continent for over a millennium, their numbers in Western Europe have been small and their cultural influence in terms of religion in the public square has not been felt. Second, although there are unquestionably Jews in powerful positions within Europe, assessing their influence in the EU is very difficult.

3. It was arguments over the acknowledgment or otherwise of the place of Christianity in the heritage of Europe in the same Lisbon Treaty which highlighted the extent to which many EU officials and ministers desired to keep religion out of the constitutional arrangements of the EU. The most recent of these meetings took place on July 12, 2012. President of the European Commission José Manuel Barosso met with senior representatives of major faith groups. A list of participants and the record of their discussions can be found at http://ec.europa. eu/commission2010–2014/president/news/archives/2012/07/20120712_2_en.htm (accessed January 18, 2013).

4. The increase of global Christian populations in Latin America, Asia, and Africa as well as issues of international Islamic terrorism is a reminder that the EU needs to understand religion if it is to engage effectively in the global arena.

5. The EU is concerned about growing radicalization, particularly within educational institutions, and internal security concerns, along with the response to them, could have a direct bearing on religious freedom issues. EP is particularly concerned: Olle Schmidt held an event at the EP on November 15, 2012, on this very issue, as reported in www.theparliament.com the same day.

6. The case of Christian persecution in the EU was highlighted at an EP event on October 2, 2012, in which several MEPs spoke, including Anna Zaborska (Hungarian, EPP) who cited Lillian Lidele's case. As reported in Banks 2012.

Additional information

Sean Oliver-Dee (Ph.D., London School of Theology) has served as the Interreligious Advisor to the Archbishop of Canterbury's Representative at the European Union. He has published two books, both on British historical and contemporary approaches to Muslim minorities, and has published chapters in two books. He is also one of the contributing authors to “Article 18: An Orphaned Right” (2013), the first report of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on International Religious Freedom.