European Commission Meets With Religious Leaders

According to a European Commission press release, yesterday the Commission sponsored the 12th annual high-level meeting with religious leaders from across Europe to discuss Migration, Integration and European Values. European Commission First Vice-President Frans Timmermans who hosted the meeting said:

Religious leaders play a pivotal role to spur the integration and participation of all their members in Europe as full Europeans, no matter the place of their cradle, no matter their creed. Through these dialogues we identify those common fundamental values that bind us, instead of harping on the issues that divide us.

Article 17 of the Treaty of Lisbon calls for the European Union to maintain open, transparent and regular dialogue with churches and with philosophical and non-confessional organizations. The meeting included Catholic, Orthodox, Protestant, Mormon, Muslim, Jewish, and Hindu religious leaders. In June, the Commission held a similar conference with philosophical and non-confessional organizations. [Thanks to Law & Religion UK for the lead.]