Vice-President Schinas hosts high-level meeting with European religious leaders

Tomorrow, at the request of President von der Leyen, Vice-President for Promoting our European Way of Life, Margaritis Schinas, will hold an extraordinary high-level meeting with leaders of major European religions and organisations. The aim of the meeting is to reaffirm the Commission’s commitment to the dialogue with churches and religious organisations and their important role in the European project. Vice-President Schinas said: “Respect for all religions and beliefs is a core value of the European Union. Our common values and identity should be based on the recognition of different identities and diversity, including religious ones, which constitute our Union. Religious traditions can and must be seen as part of our cultural life. Religious festivals are moments of sharing and opening to others and must be seen as a moment where different people of faith - as well as people without affiliation - can be brought together.” Representatives from seven major European communities will participate in the meeting: Catholics, Protestant, Orthodox, Muslim, Jewish, Hindu and Buddhist. The meeting takes please online and in the framework of the Article 17 dialogue, which  serves as a platform for dialogue with churches, religious associations or communities, philosophical and non-confessional organisations on the EU policies.