European Parliament Platform for Secularism in Politics (EPPSP) is a forum for Members of the European Parliament and civil society. We work to give a voice to secularism in Europe.Europe is a community of values. All 500 million European citizens must be heard and represented equally, including secularists, humanists, atheists, agnostics, and liberal religious communities within or without official religious organisations, civil rights movements, and so many individual European citizens with their own values and beliefs. The EU institutions must remain secular, so as to ensure that all religions and life stances are treated equally and have equal possibilities to influence EU policy making.The Platform defends and promotes Fundamental Rights, with special focus on freedom of religion (including freedom from religion), freedom of conscience and freedom of speech. Freedom of religion is an individual fundamental right, and the Platform will stand up against attempts to use it as a pretext to restrict other fundamental rights.The Platform is open for all those who support a free, secular Europe.The work of the Platform is led by Sophie in ‘t Veld MEP, Chair, and four Vice-Chairs. For more information on our work and our priorities, see here.

News

(08 December 2011)

Today we received an anwser of the President of the European Parliament, Jerzy Buzek, to the letter sent to him by Sophie in ‘t Veld (EPPSP chair) on 12 July 2011 (read here).

Sophie in ‘t Veld reacted to the letter: “The reply of President Buzek is very disappointing. The fact that we had to wait for 6 months, well beyond the statutory 3 weeks deadline for reply, and exercise considerable pressure in order to get any reply at all, is offensive. President Buzek leaves unanswered our question how the European Parliament will ensure an inclusive, representative and transparent dialogue with religions and secular life stances. President Buzek states he has no intention to appoint a Vice President in charge of relations with non-confessional organisations before the end of his term.

We hope that the reply of the candidates for the EP Presidency, Mr Schulz (S&D), Mrs Wallis (ALDE) and Mr Deva (EPP), to our letter  will be more promising for secularism in the European Parliament during the second half of this term of office. The European Parliament can only have democratic legitimacy if it represents all 500 million citizens, in all their diversity.”

We received a letter from Mrs Wallis (ALDE) candidate for the EP Presidency answering the letter sent by EPPSP which can be read here

(30 November 2011) The third annual “summit” meeting of “philosophical and non-confessional” organisations with the three EU Presidents under Article 17 was held on November 30 2011.
The theme for the meeting was the role of the EU as a “partnership for democracy and shared prosperity” with particular reference to the “Arab spring” countries and other EU neighbouring states. EPPSP’s Advisory Board members David Pollock (EHF president) and Keith Porteous Wood (President of the UK’s National Secular Society) both spoke at the meeting.  The full report of the meeting can be found on the website of the European Humanist Federation. 

(30 November 2011)
Following the Seminar on “European Parliament implementation of Article 17 Lisbon Treaty” organised by the President of the European Parliament, Jerzy Buzek, Sophie in ‘t Veld (EPPSP chair) addressed an open letter to the President expressing her strong disapproval of the way Article 17 of the Treaty, calling for a regular, transparent and open dialogue with churches and non-confessional organisations, is organised. “I have to protest against the way this meeting was organised. I am afraid it does not qualify as an open and transparent dialogue, as required by Art 17 of the Treaty. I am appalled at the lack of respect for, and recognition of secular voices in Europe. The seminar does not reflect European values such as the freedom of conscience and freedom of religion and belief.” Read the open letter here, and an earlier unanswered letter of 12 July here. An extensive report of the meeting, including the exchange between Sophie in ‘t Veld and Vice-President Tökés, can be found on the website of the European Humanist Federation.

(1 December 2011)
Today EPPSP sent letters to all three candidates for the next Presidency of the European Parliament. The next President of the European Parliament takes office at a defining moment in European integration. In our view, this is a historic opportunity to build a political union. We would therefore be very interested to hear your proposals as a candidate for the implementation of Article 17 in a representative, inclusive and transparent way, doing justice to the diversity of religion, belief and life stance in Europe.
Please read the letter here.

(13 August 2011) Sophie in ‘t Veld receives the International Humanist Award in the Norwegian capital Oslo. The prize is awarded by the International Humanist and Ethical Union, an organisation dedicated to spreading humanist ideas. Previous recipients of the International Humanist Award include Nobelprize winners Amartya Sen (India) and Russian dissident and nuclear scientist Andrei Sakharov, and Alexander Dubcek, the Slovak politician leader of Czechoslovakia (1968–1969), famous for his attempt to reform the communist regime during the Prague Spring.

Sophie in ‘t Veld is very honoured with being awarded the prestigious prize. “This is a beautiful surprise. Humanism offers the right answers for many problems in society.”   read more ….
Sophie in ‘t Veld’s speech on ‘The Role of the EU in conflict prevention” here.

Earlier this year in the UK, Sophie in ‘t Veld was proclaimed ‘Secularist of the year 2011′ by the National Secular Society.

(14 July 2011) Following the EPPSP meeting on 29 June with President Buzek on the implementation of Art 17 in the European Parliament, EPPSP Chair Sophie in ‘t Veld adressed an open letter to President Buzek, calling for a more inclusive approach of the implementation of Art 17 and the appointment of a second Vice-President in charge of contacts with secular organizations. Read more…

(06 May 2011) Following the Lautsi judgment of last March, the RTBF (Radio télévision belge de la communauté française) paid attention to the recent controversial ruling of the ECHR. In a broadcast, Sophie in ´t Veld, Chair of the European Parliament Platform for Secularism in Politics, debated with several academics on the consequences of this judgment (in French).

(19 March 2011) Sophie in ‘t Veld receives Secularist of the Year award. Chair of the EPPSP received the Secularist of the Year Award today in London. The British National Secular Society award her the prestigious Irwin Prize for her continuing efforts to promote secularism in European politics. As the chairperson of the European Parliament Platform for Secularism in Politics, Sophie in ´t Veld strives to give a voice to secularism in Europe. Mrs In ´t Veld says: ´I feel very honored to receive this prize. I consider it as encouragement to continue the battle for the complete separation between church and state in Europe.´

Mrs In ‘t Veld received the award one day after the ruling of the Strasburg court, allowing for the compulsory presence of religious symbols in state schools. ‘This ruling demonstrates the need for secularists to get organized around Europe, and make their voices heard. Although the constituencies of churches are shrinking, their grip on public institutions is still disproportionately strong.’

The liberal politician stresses the importance of the secular voice being heard in European politics. In many policy areas, religious groups are gaining more and more influence. They affect decision making on vital subjects such as gay and lesbian rights, freedom of speech, healthcare and scientific research. Mrs In ‘t Veld says: ‘Europe is based on shared values and fundamental rights for all. All 500 million European citizens must be heard and represented equally, religious people and secularists alike. True freedom of religion can only exist if the state doesn’t favor one dominant religion over the other.’ According to the Dutch MEP the EU institutions must remain secular to ensure that all religions and secular convictions are treated the same and have equal opportunities to influence EU policy making.

Each year, the National Secular Society awards the Irwin Prize to a person who has contributed significantly to the secular cause over the previous year. Past winners have included Professor Steve Jones for his work on promoting evolution and resisting creationist claims; Maryam Namazie for her work in opposing the oppression of women in Iran; British liberal politicians Evan Harris and Lord Avebury for their work in abolishing the blasphemy law. Mrs In ‘t Veld says: ´I see it as a great honor to join this impressive list of winners´. Please see here for a video of the event and the National Secular Society’s website for an account of the event in London.

(18 March 2011) Lautsi ruling: Heavy blow to separation of church and state. In the case of Lautsi and Others v. Italy, which concerned the presence of crucifixes in Italian State-school classrooms, the Court found no violation of Art 2 (Right to Education) of the Convention. “This ruling is effectively scrapping the separation of church and state. The Grand Chamber apparently accepts that governments may impose a particular religion on its citizens. It is shocking that such a medieval practice gets the backing of the Grand Chamber. After centuries of enlightenment, we still have to fight against theocracy “, says Dutch Liberal Sophie in ‘t Veld, Chair of the cross party European Parliament Platform for Secularism in Politics. “Europe is a community of shared values and fundamental rights for all. Not a religious club”.

“This ruling is a slap in the face for those who are striving to curb the sometimes excessive power of the church over public institutions. Public institutions belong to all, not to a religious majority”, says Polish Socialist Vice Chair Joanna Senyszyn. French Christian Democrat Vice Chair Jean-Marie Cavadaadds: “the ruling of the Grand Chamber completely ignores the separation of church and state and fundamental rights. True freedom of religion cannot exist if the state favours one dominant religion”.

The European Parliament Platform for Secularism in Politics is disappointed that the Grand Chamber did not confirm the 2009 ruling of the Strasburg court, condemning the compulsory presence of crucifixes in classrooms of public schools. The compulsory presence of crucifixes was based on a law dating back to the fascist regime of Mussolini in the ’20s. It was challenged by an Italian-Finnish couple, who insisted their children are entitled to public education free from religious symbols. After a long march through the Italian judicial system, with many courts refusing to take on their case, the Strasburg Human Rights court ruled unanimously in 2009 that crucifixes in Italian public school classes are contrary to parents’ right to educate their children in line with their convictions and to children’s right to freedom of religion. The Italian government had appealed against the ruling. The Grand Chamber’s judgement is available in English and in French.

Please also read the statements and press releases from Advisory Board members European Humanist Federation, National Secular Society and European Network Church on the Move. For more information, see the special EPPSP section on the Lautsi cause.

(3 March 2011) Plenary session European Parliament not a podium for religious messages. Sophie in ‘t Veld, Chair of the European Parliament Platform for Secularism in Politics, requested the European Parliament’s President Buzek to reconsider his invitation for an address by the Pope to the Plenary session of the European Parliament. According to In ‘t Veld, the Plenary session of the European Parliament is not the right podium to convey religious messages. Please find the original question here.

(7 February 2011) Commission answers questions on Vatican’s financial transparency. Sophie in ‘t Veld MEP, Chair of the European Parliament Platform for Secularism in Politics, tabled a question to the European Commission asking for more transparency within the Vatican City State financial structures. In its answer the Commission acknowledged that the Vatican indeed had to ensure transparency with regard to its financial activities and that meanwhile the Vatican authorities adopted a law to that effect. Please find the original question here and the European Commission’s answer here.

(28 January 2011) We Don`t do God (article in Dutch by Sophie in `t Veld, please click for English, French or Polish version of the article). Religie is steeds meer aanwezig in de Europese politiek. ‘Er ontstaat een Europese pendant van de ‘Religious Right’ in de Verenigde Staten’, betoogt Europarlementslid Sophie in ‘t Veld. In ‘t Veld is Nederlands Europarlementslid voor D66 (ALDE). Ze is tevens voorzitter van de EPPSP (European Parliamentary Platform for Secularism in Politics), het platform voor secularisme in de politiek.