EP hosts dialogue with faith leaders on the future of Europe
The future of the European project will be the key theme of a Parliament seminar with representatives of Europe’s main religious communities on Tuesday.
As part of a series of inter-faith dialogues with religious and philosophical organisations, Parliament’s next seminar will focus on “The Future of Europe - Reflections for the EU by 2025”. After introductory remarks from Parliament’s First Vice President (EPP, IE) and Commission First Vice President Frans Timmermans, Members will hear from two panels consisting of representatives of Europe’s main religious communities.
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EP First Vice-President Mairead McGuinness: “The Parliament has issued its reports on the Future of Europe and the Commission has brought out its White Paper. Now we are in a phase of consultation with civil society about what kind of EU we want to see by 2025, against the backdrop of a rapidly-changing globalised and digitalised world. It is important to listen to what the churches and other religious communities have to say about the challenges ahead. They are very much part of the fabric of our societies and actively engaged on the local level”.
Invited guests include Jean-Claude Hollerich (Catholic Archbishop of Luxembourg), Albert Guigui (Chief Rabbi of Brussels), Khalid Hajji (Secretary-General of the European Council of Moroccan Ulema), and Tamas Fabiny (Evangelical Lutheran Church in Hungary).
The seminar will start at 15.00 in the Paul-Henri Spaak building in Brussels, room PHS 6B01, and be closed at 17.40 by Vice-President McGuinness.
Panel 1: “Realising the untapped potential of the current EU Treaty framework”. Moderator Danuta Hübner (EPP, PL), Chair of Committee on Constitutional Affairs.
Panel 2. “Exploring treaty change needed to build an EU fit for purpose in 2025”. Moderator Mercedes Bresso (S&D, IT), co-rapporteur on the Future of Europe, Committee on Constitutional Affairs.
The meeting will be web-streamed live
Quick facts
In line with its obligations under Article 17 TFEU, the Parliament organises regular dialogues with representatives of Europe's churches and religions on the one hand, and philosophical and non-confessional organisations on the other. Last week, the Commission brought together a group of non-confessional organisations to discuss “The Future of Europe: a values-based and effective Union”.
The purpose of this dialogue set out in the Treaty is to consult and engage an important part of European society on EU policies. The next seminar is being organised in liaison with Parliament's Constitutional Affairs Committee (AFCO), a number of whose members will take part in the event. A starting point for reflections will be the recent work by the European Parliament on the future of Europe, as well as the Commission's White Paper on the topic.
EP First Vice-President Mairead McGuinness
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Gecreëerd: 26-06-2017 - 15:59