News

EU leaders to cooperate more actively with religious organizations

Brussels, July 20 Interfax - European Union leaders state they are ready to a closer dialogue with religious organizations, especially in settling social problems.

Speaking at the meeting of the EU leaders with religious leaders held in Brussels, President of the European Parliament Jerzy Buzek said that they appointed vice-president of the European Parliament responsible for interaction with religious organizations.

Besides, Buzek will soon discuss concrete mechanisms of interaction with representatives of different churches and decide on setting up a special service responsible for religious dialogue.

Buzek pointed out that the Lisbon Treaty foresees in its Art 17 that the Union maintains an "open, transparent and regular dialogue" with religion, churches and communities of conviction.

"Churches and religious communities are important providers of social services in EU member states. If we want to combat poverty effectively, it is essential to draw from their long standing and wide raging experience," President of the European Commission Jose Manuel Barroso said.

Herman Van Rompuy, the President of the European Council said Churches initiatives in social sphere should be considered. According to him, the main issue of combating poverty "is also, in essence, willing to restore human dignity, the dignity of both men and women and that is why societal, cultural and ethical questions should also be taken into account."

Acting representative of the Russian Church to European International Organizations Antony Ilyin mentioned that United Europe should became a dialogue based community, based on partnership between EU institutions and traditional religious organizations.

He put his particular attention to the importance of fighting against poverty and social exclusion in the context of EU neighborhood policy especially regarding countries which belong to the so-called Eastern Partnership and asked EU leadership to take into account Orthodox identity of those counties and their people who are spiritually linked to the Moscow Patriarchate.

The Brussels meeting was the sixth in a series of annual meetings launched by President Barroso in 2005. Over twenty senior representatives from the Christian, Jewish, Muslim and other religions from 14 European countries participated in it. They discussed effective ways of combating poverty and social exclusion as an imperative for European governance.

Print this page

Home

News

.	Customize latest news

• Al-Assad asks for Russian language teachers in Syria to counter Western culture and Wahhabism - Russian MP 20 August 2019, 15:28
• Ukraine has made a great contribution to combating antisemitism - Netanyahu 19 August 2019, 18:19
• Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church ceases to exist 14 August 2019, 20:12
• Over 60% of Russians identify as Orthodox, 1 out of every 6 is atheist - poll 14 August 2019, 13:51
• Russian Orthodox Church offers "Russian exarchate" to join it preserving its statute and traditions 12 August 2019, 15:33
• Gay couple with adopted children can't return to Russia yet - rights activists 12 August 2019, 14:53
• Zelensky discusses Crimea, Donbass with Patriarch Bartholomew 09 August 2019, 11:58
• Ukrainian Orthodox Church sees good signal in Zelensky's remarks at meeting with Patriarch Bartholomew 08 August 2019, 20:25
• Zelensky promises Patriarch Bartholomew: state won't interfere in church affairs 08 August 2019, 16:51
• Russian Jewish community leader calls news of Vilnius Synagogue closure frightening 08 August 2019, 14:31
• Vilnius synagogue closes due to local Jews' safety fears 07 August 2019, 20:39
• The battles of Stalingrad, Moscow to be depicted at facades of the main church of Russian military forces 07 August 2019, 17:25
• The Russian Orthodox Church criticizes the project of 'futuristic' church in Moscow 07 August 2019, 17:23
• Patriarch Kirill sends condolences to Trump over deadly shootings in Texas, Ohio 06 August 2019, 13:18
• U.S. consul general denies Washington's involvement in Yekaterinburg protests 05 August 2019, 18:47
• Zelensky planning to meet with Erdogan, Patriarch Bartholomew during Turkey visit 05 August 2019, 11:48
• Vatican embassy describes reports on pontiff's visit to Russia on May 9, 2020, as rumors 01 August 2019, 16:21
• Patriarch Kirill sees the threat of restricting human freedom in digital technologies 01 August 2019, 15:52
• Baikal shamans bring sheep and vodka to their gods to help extinguishing fire 01 August 2019, 15:50
• 300,000 Ukrainian Orthodox Church believers participate in the procession with cross on the Day of Russia’s Baptism 29 July 2019, 10:59
• Ukrainian Orthodox Church hopes Zelensky's anti-raiding decree will affect religious sphere 24 July 2019, 17:22
• Pope Francis of Rome congratulates Russian opera singer Svetlana Kasyan on her birthday 24 July 2019, 16:29
• Court of Appeal recognized illegal the Ukrainian state’s attempt to rename the Ukrainian Orthodox Church 24 July 2019, 13:56
• Religion section editor of Dagestani newspaper charged with financing terrorism 24 July 2019, 13:22
• The Russian Church warns that Trump's taxes on Chinese goods may lead to crisis of Christian mission in the USA 22 July 2019, 16:35
• Sagrada Familia and Notre Dame listed among five most frequently photoed sights 22 July 2019, 13:56
• "Contemporary" church to be built in the Setun valley in Moscow 22 July 2019, 11:38
• Georgian campaigners for gay propaganda ban hand out treats for signatures 22 July 2019, 11:34
• Icons presented to Putin and Lukashenko at Konevets monastery near St. Petersburg 18 July 2019, 11:58
• Russian Church hopes authorities will not impede Christianization Day procession in Ukraine 18 July 2019, 11:13

Other news