Brussels, 28/11/2003 (Agence Europe) - The Italian Presidency would like to have adopted, on Friday, a declaration on inter-religious dialogue, but Sweden and Denmark maintain reservations over the draft text discussed at length within the JHA Council. The draft declaration would underline that religion must not be used as a pretext for hate and violence, and would raise the issue of the importance of diversity in terms of language, culture, ideas and religions in Europe. Through this declaration, Italy proposes that the member states underline the importance of an open and continuous dialogue with the various philosophical and religious communities in Europe.
Sweden and Denmark requested addition time for consultation with their governments and their parliaments, without presently issuing reservations over the basis. The Italian Minister for the Interior Giuseppe Pisanu felt that these reservations should be rapidly overcome.
During the JHA Council, Mr Pisanu announced a European charter for inter-religious dialogue and the European Commission proposal for a Euro-Mediterranean forum for dialogue between cultures (EUROPE of 8 November, p. 11). These initiatives follow on from a seminar on the dialogue between religions organised by the Italian Presidency at the end of October.