Brussels, 22/12/2010 (Agence Europe) - With just a few days to go before coming to the end of its term of office, the Belgian Presidency of the European Union Council of Ministers, in the person of Prime Minister Yves Leterme, received a secular delegation on Wednesday 22 December, an unprecedented event in the annals of rotating presidencies. With entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty, which establishes open, transparent and regular dialogue with the churches and non-confessional organisations, the representatives in Europe of the Roman Catholic Church (COMECE) and of orthodox and protestant churches (CEC) have had an opportunity to meet every rotating presidency. These meetings were criticised by the laity who felt churches were given a privileged position compared to other components of civil society. The Centre d'Action Laïque (CAL), the Unie Vrijzinnige Verenigingen (UVV) and the European Humanist Federation (EHF) told the Belgian Presidency of their contribution to society, in particular in the context of solidarity and the fight against social exclusion. They defended the need to maintain the states and institutions in an impartial position compared to beliefs and religion, and to persevere in the fight against discrimination and in defence of fundamental rights. (I.L./transl.jl)