Mr President, I can sympathise a little with Commissioner Patten who has to listen to one speech after another without being able to make comments after any of the speakers. Perhaps this type of debate or, rather, series of monologues that we have in the European Parliament could be a touch more lively. As one of the last speakers, I hope that the Commissioner will nonetheless manage to listen to one more speaker. I wish, in fact, to refer to two things mentioned by the Commissioner for External Relations in his speech. The first thing he emphasised was that we must improve relations between Europe and the Islamic world. We must develop more stable, more secure and more pluralistic countries in the Middle East and around the Mediterranean. The second thing the Commissioner said concerned the links between our financial support and behaviour at what he called grass roots level, that is to say how matters appear out in the cities, towns and villages when it comes to observing human rights. I want to talk about a subject that is almost taboo from a political point of view. It concerns the interplay between religion and politics. As the Commissioner said, our relations with the Islamic world are an extremely sensitive area, both internally in the European Union and in our various Member States. I mean that religion and freedom of religion are of fundamental significance for the development of human rights and, ultimately, of democracy. Religion must not, of course, take over the political system, but nor can religious life be kept completely separate from the rest of society. I believe that the types of solutions that exist in certain countries, for example in Iran where an Islamicist Council of Guardians says who may stand in elections and who may not, is completely unreasonable. Nor am I convinced that the French or Turkish solution, in which religious symbols are to be banned in schools, is the right one. I wish, therefore, to refer to what Commissioner Patten has said about our relations with the Islamic world and about Mr van den Bos’s report on human rights, adopted by Parliament in July 2003. A number of amendments were approved, emphasising every person’s right to seek their own faith, the right to change religion and the right not to belong to any religion. The value of being free to conduct missionary work, irrespective of whether the country concerned is predominantly Christian, Muslim or Jewish, was also emphasised. The fundamental principles are that of the equal value of human beings, irrespective of religion, gender or ethnicity, the principle of non-discrimination and the principle whereby religion stands for non-violence, love and reconciliation. The equal value of human beings, irrespective of their religious affiliation, is emphasised. I believe that the conversation about the significance of religion for the good society and for combating the misuse of religion itself to issue threats, perpetrate violence and oppression and justify terrorism and discrimination against people is an important and fundamental part of our relations with the Islamic Mediterranean countries. Let the dialogue about religion and the good use of religion in the proper sense of the word be an important part of our relations with countries around the Mediterranean.

Political group: PPE-DE