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Politics and Religion
Islam
Joint Seminar on Christianity and Islam
EPP-ED Group in the European Parliament and EPP Group in the Council of Europe
26 - 27 September 2002
European Parliament, Strasbourg
Faith in democracy
The impact of religion on civil society
JOINT PRESIDENCY DECLARATION AND CONCLUSIONS
The participants, Members of the Parliamentary Group of the European People's Party in the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, and Members of the Parliamentary Group of the European People's Party (Christian Democrats) and European Democrats in the European Parliament, met 26-27 September 2002 in Strasbourg, in order to consider "Faith in Democracy" - establishing European political priorities to avoid tensions between civilisations of differing religious values, in particular through pluralism and democracy
The participants recalled with great sadness the tragedies of 11 September 2001, expressing their sympathy at the loss and suffering among the people of New York and Washington.
The participants observed that, while Muslims share some Christian religious ideals (concern for the family, a respect for tradition and for individual development and prosperity), most Islamic countries have yet to accept the best means to deliver these personal goals, democracy itself.
The participants saw a model of forgiveness, reconciliation and co-operation in Europe as a vital branch with which to reach out in dialogue towards the Muslim world. Europe must draw on its experience in promoting human values, civil society and pluralism and extend this to the Islamic states, where these concepts are necessary for the harmonious development of society and of relations between the Muslim and non-Muslim populations.
The participants, whilst recognising that Christianity is the main religion in Europe, nonetheless acknowledged that Islam is now one of the religions in Europe.
The participants note that the cornerstone of human values on which societies in Europe were built should be used as an example to foster such values in Islamic states working towards a world of mutual acceptance of people of other faiths.
The participants drew attention to the manner in which Muslim religious rights were safeguarded in member states of the European Union. The participants felt that the rigour with which Muslim spiritual and political leaders engaged in offering and ensuring freedoms for minority religious groups in their states is a measure of the image of Islam in the world.
Conclusions
The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe and the European Parliament stressed the importance of promoting intercultural and interreligious dialogue for mutual understanding.
As to the EU, the participants supported the promotion of a 15-Year Political Action Programme on religious issues in Europe and asked that more attention be given to Europe's influence on states with an Islamic tradition. While many policies already embrace in a general way the "Islamic dimension" the conference resolved to use all appropriate mechanisms available to the EU in order to maximise consensus with other faith communities and political forces.
1. The participants called for the religious dimension to be taken into account in the formation of policies on human rights, inclusion, the equal treatment of men and women, tolerance, immigration and asylum, employment, justice, regional and social policies, and economic development.
2. The participants called for a study of the EU external relations policy with Islamic states and their impact on the EU Common Foreign and Security Policy and its trade and development aspects.
3. The participants uphold the freedom of all religions and emphasised the importance of balanced education, both secular and religious, in achieving mutual understanding and tolerance between the different faith communities and condemned those who preach hatred and violence in the name of religion.
4. The participants called for further use of EU external instruments for eradicating poverty and persecution as a means of reducing religious tensions, where they occur. They also wished to see programmes such as EuropeAid, EIDHR, MEDA, TACIS and LINGUA better utilised in promoting social, economic and political progress, in the interests of internal social stability and for constructive relations between such regions and the European Union.
5. The participants emphasised the important role of the EU external offices and delegations in building closer ties between Europe and the Islamic world.
6. The participants recognised the importance of and the need for support from religious communities, political parties, local, regional and national governmental institutions and non-governmental organisations in promoting reconciliation among people.
7. The participants expressed a desire to see Islamic states and organisations included in the civil society programmes of the Council of Europe, including the encouragement of cultural and academic exchanges and co-operation and more use of twinning between European and Islamic communities.
8. The participants called upon their respective parliamentary groups to organise similar joint activities for the exchange of information on policy initiatives and programmes mounted by the European Union and by the Council of Europe to improve Christian/Muslim relations in Europe and in the world.
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