Brussels, 31 January 2025
Member of the European Parliament and co-chair of the European People’s Party (EPP) Parliamentary Group’s Working Group on Intercultural and Religious Dialogue, Željana Zovko, hosted a dinner in Brussels with long-time partners of the working group. Among the guests were representatives of the Catholic and Orthodox Churches, the Islamic Community, the Jewish Community, and organizations dedicated to promoting religious freedoms in Europe and around the world.
In her opening address, Zovko thanked those present for their long-standing cooperation and support for the working group, which has been operating for 25 years as the only working group in the European Parliament dedicated to interreligious dialogue. “In these turbulent times of rising extremism and polarization, it is crucial to have a platform that enables dialogue, promotes peace, and sends a strong message about the importance of mutual understanding and respect”, Zovko emphasized.
This platform allows for the exchange of views on global issues the world is facing and the search for the best solutions. Participants also discussed the impact of global conflicts on the situation of religious minorities in Europe. “Our goal is to remove hate and discrimination from the streets. If someone cannot walk freely through Europe with their religious symbols, then we have a big problem”, they stressed.
Fr. Manuel Barrios Prieto, Secretary General of the Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of the European Union (COMECE), welcomed the re-establishment of this working group, which Zovko initiated during her time as Vice President of the EPP Group. He emphasized that it is extremely important for religious communities to maintain good cooperation with the European Parliament to jointly address the most pressing societal challenges.
Imam Yahya Pallavicini, representative of the Muslim-Jewish Council of Leaders, praised the work of the working group and the EPP, highlighting that it provides a good example of identity based on sacred values adapted to the contemporary social context.
Rabbi Lévi Matusof, Director of European Jewish Public Affairs and the European Union Representative for the Federation of Jewish Communities of Ukraine, stressed the importance of a proactive, rather than reactive, approach: “It is not just about combating anti-Semitism, but about promoting mutual understanding”.
Rabbi Avi Tawil from the European Jewish Congress (EJCC) added that the working group is an important link between the European Parliament and various religious organizations, as well as a bridge for mutual cooperation among religious communities.
Zovko also highlighted the importance of intercultural dialogue not only in conflict resolution but also in conflict prevention, which she emphasized in her report on preventive diplomacy, calling for better understanding of the religious context and skill development among the staff of the European External Action Service working on this topic.
The participants also called for the renewal of the mandate and strengthening the role of the EU Special Envoy for the promotion of freedom of religion or belief, stressing that in addition to the coordinator for combating anti-Semitism and the coordinator for combating Islamophobia, the Commission should also appoint a coordinator for fighting anti-Christian actions.
“By promoting dialogue, we sow the seeds of reconciliation. If you don’t respect someone else’s faith, you cannot respect your own”, concluded Zovko.
