WRITTEN QUESTION E-0778/04 by Maurizio Turco (NI) to the Commission. Violation of religious freedom in Lithuania.
Date: 2004-03-11
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Catholicism, Community acquis, Lithuania, accession criteria, accession to the European Union, denominational education, discretionary power, freedom of religious beliefs, public education, religious discrimination

C 88 E/216

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

8.4.2004

(cid:1) 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:

(cid:1) can the Commission say whether it is fully aware of all these facts and, if so, what view it takes of

them;

(cid:1) 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 commun-
autaire’ 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
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;

these countries comply with the ‘acquis’

from the first day of

(cid:1) 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;

(cid:1) 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?

(1) COM(2003) 645 final.

(2004/C 88 E/0223)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0778/04

by Maurizio Turco (NI) to the Commission

(11 March 2004)

Subject: Violation of religious freedom in Lithuania

In view of the following:

(cid:1) Article 6 of the EU Treaty;

(cid:1) Articles 10 and 22 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the EU concerning religious freedom and

cultural and religious diversity;

(cid:1) the European Convention on Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms of 1950 (in particular

Articles 9 and 14);

(cid:1) 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;

(cid:1) 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);

(cid:1) the International Religious Freedom Report for 2003 issued by the US Department of State;

(cid:1) the Copenhagen political criteria regarding the right to religious freedom;

8.4.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 88 E/217

and the fact that:

(cid:1) in Lithuania, according to the Constitution, State and local teaching and educational establishments are

secular;

(cid:1) despite this, in February 2003 the Deputy Minister for Education admitted that as a result of an
agreement with the Holy See Catholic priests have the final word regarding the employment of
teachers giving religious instruction in State schools;

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

(cid:1) can the Commission say whether it is fully aware of all these facts and, if so, what view it takes of

them;

(cid:1) 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 commun-
autaire’ 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
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;

these countries comply with the ‘acquis’

from the first day of

(cid:1) 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;

(cid:1) 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?

(1) COM(2003) 645 final.

(2004/C 88 E/0224)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0779/04

by Maurizio Turco (NI) to the Commission

(11 March 2004)

Subject: Violation of religious freedom in Poland

In view of the following:

(cid:1) Article 6 of the EU Treaty;

(cid:1) Articles 10 and 22 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the EU concerning religious freedom and

cultural and religious diversity;

(cid:1) the European Convention on Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms of 1950 (in particular

Article 9);

(cid:1) the International Religious Freedom Report for 2003 issued by the US Department of State;

(cid:1) 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;

(cid:1) 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);

(cid:1) the Copenhagen political criteria regarding the right to religious freedom;