Brussels, 25/06/2013 (Agence Europe) - On 24 June, the Foreign Affairs Council adopted guidelines on the promotion and protection of freedom of religion or belief. The European Union does not promote any specific religion or belief - the idea is to anchor religious freedom within European diplomacy, that of the European institutions, like that of each of the member states, as has been done for condemning the death penalty or torture. In these guidelines, the Council recalls the necessary distinction between criticism of religions and beliefs and incitement to hatred, reiterating that religious freedom “protects individuals and not a religion or belief in itself”. COMECE (Commission of Bishops' Conferences of the European Union) has welcomed this instrument aimed at protecting believers and religious communities. “Actions and more effective mechanisms were urgently needed, given the systematic and increasing violations of freedom of religion by some governments and non-state actors in a number of countries in the world”, stated COMECE. (IL/transl.fl)