Fifth dialogue between the Orthodox Church
and the Group of the European People’s Party (Christian Democrats) and European Democrats

07-08 June 2001

Press release

Greek version

   Conclusions

Working Languages: English, Greek, Italian, French, German

Themes:

• I. Fundamental and Human Rights and Civil Society
  
• II. The Role of the Church and of the State
  

First Session - Thursday 07 June 2001 - Start 5.30 p.m. end. 8.55 p.m.

Part 1 - 5.30 p.m. until 6.45 p.m.

• Opening Worship and Blessing by His Eminence Metropolitan Eirinaios of Kissamos and Selinon, President of the Orthodox Academy of Crete
  

Introduction to the Fifth dialogue, presided by the Ecumenical Patriarchate

• Opening remarks by a Speaker of the Ecumenical Patriarchate
  
• Welcome by Professor Hans-Gert Poettering MEP, Chairman of the EPP-ED Group, and by Professor Antonios Trakatellis MEP, Head of the Greek Delegation
  
• Welcome by HE Mr Constantine Mitsotakis
  
• Message from Mr Wilfried Martens, President of the European People's Party
  

6.15-6.30 p.m. Allocution by Mr Kostas Karamanlis MP, Chairman, New Democracy

Break - 6.30 - 6.40 p.m.

Part 2 - 6.40 p.m. until 8.55 p.m.

Fundamental and Human Rights and Civil Society, presided by Professor Hans-Gert Poettering MEP, Chairman of the EPP-ED Group

• Introduction by Mr Wim van Velzen MEP, Group Vice Chairman
  
• Allocution by Professor Gregorios Larentzakis, University of Graz; His Eminence Cardinal Achille Silvestrini, Representative of the Holy See
  
• Allocution by a Speaker of the Lutheran Church
  
• Allocution by a Speaker of the Reformed Church
  
• The Charter of Fundamental Rights - Professor Reinhard Rack MEP
  
• Evolution of the Charter of Fundamental Rights - Mr Konstantinos Hatzidakis MEP
  
• Fundamental Rights & the Role of Women in Modern Society - Mrs Rodi Kratsa MEP
  

Discussion

Second Session - Friday 08 June 2001 - Start 9 a.m. – end 12.30 p.m.

8 a.m.: Divine Worship

Part 1 - 9 a.m. - 10.30 a.m.

The role of the Church and of the State, presided by Mr Wim van Velzen MEP - Group Vice Chairman

• Presentation of the Orthodox Academy of Crete by Dr Alexandros Papaderos, Director General of the Academy
  
• Address by Professor Vlassios Phidas, University of Athens
  
• Address by the Rev. Fr. Anton Ilyin, Moscow Patriarchate
  
• Address by Mr Horst Langes, President of the Robert Schuman Foundation
  

Discussion

Break 10.30 a.m. - 10.45 a.m.

Part 2 - 10.45 a.m. - 12.30 p.m.

The role of the Church and of the State - continuation

presided by Very Rev. Grand Protopresbyter Fr George Tsetsis, Ecumenical Patriarchate

• Allocution by His Grace Mgr Casian Craciun, Bishop of Galati and Lower Danube, Pariarchate of Romania
  
• Address by Mrs Marietta Giannakou-Koutsikou MP
  
• Address by Mr Ioannis Marinos MEP
  

Discussion

Third Session - Friday 08 June 2001 - 4 p.m. until 7.30 p.m.

Part 1 - 4 p.m.- 5.00 p.m.

The role of the Church and of the State - continuation

Discussion

5.00-5.15 p.m.: The Special Contribution of the Church in the Application of the Charter on Fundamental Rights - His Beatitude Anastasios, Archbishop of Tirana, Orthodox Church of Albania

Break - 5.15 p.m.- 5.30 p.m.

Part 2 - 5.30 p.m.-7.30 p.m.

Conclusions and adoption of a Joint declaration of the Ecumenical patriarchate and the EPP-ED Group

Group Presidency
Closure - Speaker of the Ecumenical Patriarchate