EPP-ED Group:

Politics and Religion

Islam

Strasbourg, 27 September 2002

Conclusions of the Conference "Faith in Democracy" - The Impact of Religion on Civil Society

The establishment of European political priorities to avoid tensions between civilisations of different religious values, is the main message from the conclusions of a conference that took place in Strasbourg on 26 and 27 September at the initiative of the Centre-Right groups in the European Parliament and the Council of Europe.

The conference concentrated its work on the role of Islam within Europe and the influence Europe can bring to bear on countries of Islamic tradition. Prominent Members of the EPP-ED Group of the European Parliament and the Council of Europe, as well as distinguished speakers from the Islamic and other faiths, actively participated in the meeting.

The participants stressed the importance of promoting intercultural and interreligious dialogue for mutual understanding. Whilst recognising that Christianity is the main religion in Europe, they nonetheless acknowledged that Islam is now one of the religions in Europe. They noted 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.

In the presidency declaration by Mr Edward McMillan-Scott MEP (UK, Conservative) EPP Group Co-ordinator on Islamic Affairs and Lord Kilclooney, President of the Working Group Christianity-Islam of the EPP Group in the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, and conclusions adopted, the main points are the following :

a. call 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.

b. call 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.

c. uphold the freedom of all religions and emphasise the importance of balanced education, both secular and religious, in achieving mutual understanding and tolerance between the different faith communities and condemn those who preach hatred and violence in the name of religion.

d. call for further use of EU external instruments for eradicating poverty and persecution as a means of reducing religious tensions, where they occur.

e. emphasise the important role of the EU external offices and delegations in building closer ties between Europe and the Islamic world.

f. recognise 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.

g. express 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.

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.

For further information, please contact : Mr Edward McMillan-Scott tel. +32 2 2845959 or Mr Robert Fitzhenry tel. +32 475 493356