# CE2004088EN.01040501.xml

| 8.4.2004 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | CE 88/405 |
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8.4.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

CE 88/405

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(2004/C 88 E/0411)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2361/03

by Maurizio Turco (NI) to the Commission

(17 July 2003)

Subject:   Violation of religious freedom in Belarus by means of a new concordat conferring greater power on the Orthodox Church

Subject:

Given that:

| — | a concordat was signed between the Orthodox Church and the State on 12 June 2003, enhancing the influence of the Orthodox Church in State bodies and allowing it to develop cooperation programmes with all influential sectors; |
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a concordat was signed between the Orthodox Church and the State on 12 June 2003, enhancing the influence of the Orthodox Church in State bodies and allowing it to develop cooperation programmes with all influential sectors;

| — | by virtue of the concordat the State accepts the designation of Belarus as a ‘canonical territory’ of the Orthodox Church; |
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by virtue of the concordat the State accepts the designation of Belarus as a ‘canonical territory’ of the Orthodox Church;

| — | previously, Georgia was the only former Soviet republic to have concluded a high-level concordat with a local Orthodox church – the ‘constitutional agreement’ signed by the President Eduard Shevardnadze with the Patriarch-Catholicos Ilya II on 14 October 2002; |
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previously, Georgia was the only former Soviet republic to have concluded a high-level concordat with a local Orthodox church – the ‘constitutional agreement’ signed by the President Eduard Shevardnadze with the Patriarch-Catholicos Ilya II on 14 October 2002;

| — | the provisions of that document, however, such as exemption from tax and restitution of church property, broadly correspond to those in existing laws on religion in Russia, but the new Belarusian concordat goes much further by introducing into the legal terminology of the State several key concepts vigorously promoted by the Moscow Patriarchate since the break-up of the Soviet Union. |
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the provisions of that document, however, such as exemption from tax and restitution of church property, broadly correspond to those in existing laws on religion in Russia, but the new Belarusian concordat goes much further by introducing into the legal terminology of the State several key concepts vigorously promoted by the Moscow Patriarchate since the break-up of the Soviet Union.

In view of the excellent economic and commercial cooperation relations between the European Union and Belarus can the Commission say:

| — | whether it is aware of the facts outlined above; |
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whether it is aware of the facts outlined above;

| — | what steps it will take, in the context of cooperation relations, as a serious and effective means of inducing Belarus to respect religious freedom? |
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what steps it will take, in the context of cooperation relations, as a serious and effective means of inducing Belarus to respect religious freedom?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(12 September 2003)

(12 September 2003)

As regards relations with Belarus, it must be kept in mind that the Union and Member States actions with Belarus are strictly defined, in compliance with the September 1997 Council Resolution establishing a number of restrictions on political contact. In this framework economic and commercial relations between the Community and Belarus cannot be described as being ‘excellent’.

The Commission would like to reiterate that it attaches great importance to the rights of freedom of religion, belief and expression. The Union has repeatedly affirmed that human rights and democratisation must form an integral part of all political dialogues with third countries. Religious freedom, as one of the fundamental human rights, as well as the rights of religious minorities are thus addressed through the Union's bilateral political dialogues, and, when appropriate, through démarches and public declarations, as well as through Union action in fora such as the United Nations (UN) Commission on Human Rights or the Third Committee of the UN General Assembly.

The Commission remains engaged to support freedom of religion and Human Rights in Belarus, in close co-operation with Member States, the Council of Europe, Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and the United Nations.

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