Brussels, 21/01/2011 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday 20 January, the European Parliament asked for the EU to take measures "to ensure the safety and protection of Christian communities under threat, wherever in the world they may be". It calls on the Foreign Affairs Council to discuss the issue at its next meeting on 31 January, and to create concrete results (EUROPE 10297 on the plenary debate).
In its adoption of the resolution tabled by the main political groups, the EP is calling on the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs, Catherine Ashton, to create a European strategy as soon as possible on the application of the law to the freedom of religion, "including a list of measures against States which consciously fail to protect religious denominations". The EP condemns recent attacks on Christian communities in various countries and expresses its grave concerns at the increasing number of episodes of intolerance and repression, as well as manifestations of violence, against Christian communities, notably in countries of Africa, Asia and the Middle East.
Lastly, Lady Ashton is called upon to create a permanent capability within the directorate the human rights of the European External Action Service (EEAS) to "monitor the situation of governmental and social restrictions on the freedom of religion and related rights, and to report back to the Parliament every year". (L.C./trans.fl)