Commission president Barroso holds meeting with representatives of differents faiths

Brussels - 12-Jul-05

Jewish leaders see active role for religious groups in educating young people in Europe

Representatives of various religions met with the President of the European Commission (EC), José Manuel Durão Barroso, in Brussels today. Jewish leaders proposed that the EU take a bigger role in improving the education of children and young people. Addressing the gathering, Maram Stern, Deputy Secretary-General and European representative of the World Jewish Congress (WJC), asked the Commission to become more involved in education policy to ensure that adequate instruments be deployed across the EU to acquaint young people with the various faiths and their traditions. Different religious calendars and customs should be respected in all member states.

Stern’s comments were supported by Rabbi Aba Dunner, Executive Director of the Conference of European Rabbis, who said that European integration went hand in hand with the recognition of European diversity. “The recognition and respect for Jewish culture and tradition in Europe is no more than Europe recognising an integral part of its own history,” Dunner said.

For Stern, religious associations and institutions should play a more prominent role, alongside the family and state actors, to overcome prejudices and stereotypes, foster a climate of mutual respect in society and to reduce misunderstandings and social conflict in the European Union.

The meeting with Barroso was attended by representatives of the Anglican, Catholic, Orthodox and Protestant churches as well as of the Muslim and Jewish communities in Europe. Albert Guigui, Chief Rabbi of the Belgian Consistoire, was also present at the meeting.