The Presidents of the Commission, the Parliament and the European Council will meet philosophical and non-confessional organisations to discuss the promotion of democratic rights and liberties, Brussel - Hoofdinhoud

Around fifteen leading representatives of philosophical and non-confessional organisations will meet at the headquarters of the European Commission in Brussels to discuss "A partnership for democracy and shared prosperity: a common willingness to promote democratic rights and liberties". As President Barroso wrote in his invitation letter: Building a future based on democracy, pluralism, the rule of law, human rights and social justice is a task and ambition of the European Union, and much still remains to be done, not only in the neighbourhood of the European Union, but in our own countries, too.

Among the representatives are:

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  Vassilios PATKAS, Président du Conseil de l'Ordre Maçonnique International "Delphi"

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  David Pollock, President of the European Federation of Humanists

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  Rüdiger TEMPLIN, Vorsitzender der Vereinigten Großlogen von Deutschland

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  Denise OBERLIN, Grande Maîtresse de la Grande Loge Féminine de France

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  Jean-Michel QUILLARDET, Président de l'Observatoire Internationale pour la Laïcité

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  Pierre Galand, Senior Vice-President of the European Federation of Humanists and President of the Centre d’Action Laïque

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  Alan FROMMER, Président de l'Association Européenne de la Pensée Libre

The meeting will be hosted by José Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission, and co-chaired by Jerzy Buzek, President of the European Parliament, and Herman van Rompuy, President of the European Council.

The Treaty of Lisbon explicitly introduces the idea of a dialogue between European institutions and churches, religious communities and philosophical non-confessional organisations (Article 17 of the Treaty on the functioning of the European Union). This meeting follows the same pattern of the meetings with religions and church leaders, the latest of which took place on 30th May 2011 (IP/11/658)

President Barroso met leading representatives of philosophical and non-confessional organisations on several occasions since his first mandate. The latest of these meetings took place on 15 October 2010 (IP/10/1335) to discuss how to combat poverty and social exclusion.

The meeting will be held in the Berlaymont building, rue de la Loi 200, from 11h30 to 14h30.

The press conference and the group photo will take place in the Berlaymont press room from 14h10 to 14h30.

For the provisional list of participants, please contact jenni.kinnunen@ec.europa.eu

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  Available on EbS

President Barroso's website:

http://ec.europa.eu/commission_2010-2014/president/index_en.htm

The Commission's site about this dialogue:

http://ec.europa.eu/bepa/activities/outreach-team/dialogue/index_en.htm

Pia Ahrenkilde-Hansen +32 2 2 953 07 pia.ahrenkilde-hansen@ec.europa.eu

Jens Mester +32 2 2963973 jens.mester@ec.europa.eu