The Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of the European Union (COMECE) has urged the European Commission to reinstate the position of Special Envoy for Freedom of Religion or Belief outside the Union.
The position, created in 2016 as a diplomatic instrument to give voice to persecuted communities, has been fundamental in denouncing and monitoring violations of this human right around the world. In their statement, the bishops lament that the position has remained vacant for months and warn that this omission sends a signal of indifference towards millions of believers who suffer attacks and discrimination because of their faith, especially Christian communities that endure systematic persecution in Africa, the Middle East, and Asia.
A Fundamental Right Forgotten by Brussels
The COMECE reminds that freedom of thought, conscience, and religion is enshrined in Article 10 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union and constitutes a cornerstone of human dignity. However, this principle continues to be attacked in many regions, where religious minorities are treated as second-class citizens and live under permanent threat. For the prelates, leaving vacant a position created precisely to defend this cause weakens Brussels’ credibility and contradicts its proclaimed commitment to human rights.
The Chronology of the Position and Its Lack of Continuity
The position was first occupied in 2016 by the Slovak Jan Figel, who served until 2019. After a long vacancy, in May 2021 the European Commission appointed the Cypriot Christos Stylianides, but his tenure ended after just a few months when he accepted another political responsibility. Since then, the position has once again been left vacant, which reflects, as the bishops denounce, a worrying lack of priority for the Union at a time when the defense of religious freedom is more urgent than ever.
An Urgent Call to Action
In light of this situation, the European bishops demand that the European Commission immediately appoint a new Special Envoy, strengthen their mandate, and assign the necessary resources to act effectively. They insist that this is not a symbolic gesture, but a moral and political obligation of the European Union, founded on the values of human dignity and freedom. The Church, they assure, is willing to collaborate on this task within the framework of Article 17 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU.
Between Ideological Agendas and Persecuted Christians
The COMECE’s call highlights an uncomfortable contrast: while Brussels vigorously promotes progressive policies on gender and abortion, it neglects the defense of faith and persecuted Christians, who continue to be the most harassed religious minority on the planet. For the bishops, relegating this essential cause is to betray Europe’s identity and abandon those who need protection the most.