07/12/2022 (Agence Europe) – Belgian Frans van Daele is the new Special Envoy for the protection and promotion of religious freedom outside the EU, the European Commission announced on Wednesday 7 December. Reporting to the Vice-President of the institution, Margarítis Schinás, its role is to support intercultural and interreligious dialogue, particularly in countries suffering from discrimination based on religion or belief. It is also responsible for developing measures to prevent religious extremism in third countries. At the October plenary session, MEPs had called on the Commission to appoint a new Special Envoy, as the post had remained vacant since the departure of Cypriot Chrístos Stylianídis in 2021 (see EUROPE 13035/8). (HS)