# CE2004088EN.01021501.xml

| 8.4.2004 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | CE 88/215 |
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8.4.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

CE 88/215

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(2004/C 88 E/0222)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0777/04

by Maurizio Turco (NI) to the Commission

(11 March 2004)

Subject:   Violation of religious freedom in Hungary

Subject:

In view of the following:

| — | Article 6 of the EU Treaty; |
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Article 6 of the EU Treaty;

| — | Articles 10 and 22 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the EU concerning religious freedom and cultural and religious diversity; |
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Articles 10 and 22 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the EU concerning religious freedom and cultural and religious diversity;

| — | the European Convention on Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms of 1950 (in particular Article 9); |
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the European Convention on Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms of 1950 (in particular Article 9);

| — | the International Religious Freedom Report for 2003 issued by the US Department of State; |
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the International Religious Freedom Report for 2003 issued by the US Department of State;

| — | the Commission's report of 19 February 2003 on the application for accession to the EU submitted by the Czech Republic, Estonia, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Hungary, Malta, Poland, Slovenia and Slovakia; |
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the Commission's report of 19 February 2003 on the application for accession to the EU submitted by the Czech Republic, Estonia, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Hungary, Malta, Poland, Slovenia and Slovakia;

| — | the Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament and the Council ‘The Commission's Legislative and Work Programme for 2004’ of 29 October 2003 (1); |
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the Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament and the Council ‘The Commission's Legislative and Work Programme for 2004’ of 29 October 2003 (1);

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| — | the Copenhagen political criteria regarding the right to religious freedom; |
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the Copenhagen political criteria regarding the right to religious freedom;

and the fact that:

| — | the Hungarian Government has shown its determination to treat majority or long-established religions more favourably than minority religious communities; |
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the Hungarian Government has shown its determination to treat majority or long-established religions more favourably than minority religious communities;

| — | several laws and government decrees guarantee ‘traditional’ religions rights and privileges that are not granted to other religious groups, such as in the decree on the military chaplain's service; |
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several laws and government decrees guarantee ‘traditional’ religions rights and privileges that are not granted to other religious groups, such as in the decree on the military chaplain's service;

| — | there are reports that the Government has unlawfully delayed and in some cases denied authorisation for minority and recently established religions to run schools, whilst it has not subjected applications for authorisation from ‘traditional’ religions to the same scrutiny; |
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there are reports that the Government has unlawfully delayed and in some cases denied authorisation for minority and recently established religions to run schools, whilst it has not subjected applications for authorisation from ‘traditional’ religions to the same scrutiny;

Hungary is one of the countries due to join the EU on 1 May 2004:

| — | can the Commission say whether it is fully aware of all these facts and, if so, what view it takes of them; |
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can the Commission say whether it is fully aware of all these facts and, if so, what view it takes of them;

| — | since religious freedom and freedom of association are among the priority issues for the Union and since the Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament and the Council ‘The Commission's Legislative and Work Programme for 2004’ of 29 October 2003 states that the legal obligations of the European Union and the new Member States vis-à-vis the ‘acquis communautaire’ must be fulfilled from the first day of accession, can the Commission say whether it intends to inform the authorities of these countries of its intentions to this effect? In other words, how will the Commission ensure that these countries comply with the ‘acquis’ from the first day of their membership of the EU if at the same time there is an infringement of the very rights, respect for which is strictly necessary for their accession; |
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since religious freedom and freedom of association are among the priority issues for the Union and since the Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament and the Council ‘The Commission's Legislative and Work Programme for 2004’ of 29 October 2003 states that the legal obligations of the European Union and the new Member States vis-à-vis the ‘acquis communautaire’ must be fulfilled from the first day of accession, can the Commission say whether it intends to inform the authorities of these countries of its intentions to this effect? In other words, how will the Commission ensure that these countries comply with the ‘acquis’ from the first day of their membership of the EU if at the same time there is an infringement of the very rights, respect for which is strictly necessary for their accession;

| — | since the political criteria laid down in the Commission's report of 19 February 2003 require the applicant States to ensure the stability of institutions guaranteeing democracy, the rule of law, human rights and respect for and protection of minorities, does the Commission not consider the facts mentioned above as an obstacle in the context of these countries' accession to the EU and hence contrary to the acquis, and that the countries where these events have occurred are totally failing to comply with the criteria; |
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since the political criteria laid down in the Commission's report of 19 February 2003 require the applicant States to ensure the stability of institutions guaranteeing democracy, the rule of law, human rights and respect for and protection of minorities, does the Commission not consider the facts mentioned above as an obstacle in the context of these countries' accession to the EU and hence contrary to the acquis, and that the countries where these events have occurred are totally failing to comply with the criteria;

| — | will the Commission consider using all the means at its disposal to put an end to this infringement of religious freedom and freedom of worship? |
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will the Commission consider using all the means at its disposal to put an end to this infringement of religious freedom and freedom of worship?

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(1)  COM(2003) 645 final.

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