Recalling that

• All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights, whatever their race, colour, sex, language, religion, opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status.
• The freedom to chose one’s religion and beliefs belongs to fundamental human rights
• All religions have, to different extent, contributed to Europe’s Identity

Notes with concern that

• The events of September, 11^th 2001 have put the religious issue in the foreground of world politics and international relations.
• Some confusion, social tensions and restriction of human rights have resulted from the unacceptable stigmatisation of some religions compared to others
• Some European politicians were tempted to assimilate Europe’s identity (including the liberal-democrat heritage) to Christianity, by opposition to other "civilisations".

Reasserts

• The non sense of comparing religions and civilisations one with another, as well as of identifying certain religions to certain geographic areas
• The danger of a too strong political influence of Churches on the State
• The universalism of the liberal-democrat philosophy and its independence from any religious belief

Concludes to the necessity

• To build a clear separation between the Religious Institutions & the State
• To fight against religious intolerance and all religious extremisms, whatever their nature and origins.

ENDS