Brussels, 14/09/2011 (Agence Europe) - The European Humanist Federation (EHF) met the Polish Presidency in Warsaw on 13 September. It discussed several issues involving humanist and secular values that it regards as being under threat in the European Union and in Poland. There was the question of: (1) the lack of separation of church and state in Poland, which is reflected by the existence of the Joint Government and Episcopal Committee in Poland and the explicit reference to Catholic values in laws on education and the media; (2) the status of women in Polish society (domestic violence, the lack of abortion rights); (3) the extension of the opt-out by Poland from the European Charter of Fundamental Rights; (4) religious objections to certain fields of research in the Common Strategic Framework for Funding Research and Innovation in the EU, Horizon 2020. At the end of the meeting, the EHF welcomed the fact that the Polish Presidency had said that it would not raise any political objections to the application of the Charter of Fundamental Rights in Poland. With regard to future ethical orientations in European research, the EHF took note that the Polish Presidency's position would not be dictated by the Church but by “common sense”. This is the second meeting between secular organisations and representatives from the rotating presidency of the Council. The first meeting was organised under the Hungarian Presidency. For many years, the rotating presidencies of the Council have met up with churches on a regular basis but have not devoted any time to listening to the views of secular organisations. (I.L./transl.fl)