Protecting and promoting religious freedom in EU external policy – between unity and divisions in the European Parliament
Patrycja Laszuk
p.laszuk@uksw.edu.plCardinal Stefan Wyszynski University in Warsaw (Poland)
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0339-8013
Abstract
Since 2010, the European Union has intensified its efforts to protect and promote freedom of religion or belief globally as part of its external policy. These efforts have aimed to promote stability and security in its external environment and strengthen the EU's position as a normative actor in the international arena. However, recent years have seen growing political tensions surrounding the place of FoRB on the EU's international agenda, clearly reflected in debates and initiatives undertaken by the European Parliament. The aim of this article is to analyze the impact of divisions between conservative and liberal-left groups on the shaping and implementation of selected EU external policy instruments in the area of FoRB. Research indicates that conservative factions in the EP demonstrate significantly greater support for EU actions to protect and promote FoRB globally than liberal-left factions. Moreover, it was pointed out that difficulties in reaching a compromise between these two sides lead to a weakening of the potential of the EU's external policy in this area.
Keywords:
European Union, freedom of religion or belief, EU external policy, European Parliament, polarizationReferences
Annicchino, P. (2013). The new guidelines on freedom of religion and LGBTI rights in the external action of the European Union. European Human Rights Law Review, 6, 624–630.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2380011
Google Scholar
Agenzia Nova (2023). Meloni: “It is everyone’s duty to defend religious freedom”. Pozyskano z: https://www.agenzianova.com/en/news/meloni-e-dovere-di-tutti-difendere-la-liberta-religiosa/ (dostęp: 4.07.2025).
Google Scholar
Annual Report (2017). Pozyskano z: http://www.religiousfreedom.eu/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/RS_report_v6_digital.pdf (dostęp: 28.04.2020).
Google Scholar
Council of the EU (2012). EU Strategic Framework and Action Plan on Human Rights and Democracy, Luxembourg, 11855/12. Pozyskano z: https://www.consilium.europa.eu/uedocs/cms_data/docs/pressdata/en/foraff/131181.pdf (dostęp: 1.07.2025).
Google Scholar
Council of the EU (2013a). EU Guidelines on the promotion and protection of freedom of religion or belief, Luxembourg. Pozyskano z: https://www.eeas.europa.eu/sites/default/files/137585.pdf (dostęp: 1.07.2025).
Google Scholar
Council of the EU (2013b). Guidelines on the promotion and protection of the enjoyment of all human rights by lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) persons, Luxembourg. Pozyskano z: https://www.consilium.europa.eu/uedocs/cms_data/docs/pressdata/en/foraff/137584.pdf (dostęp: 1.07.2025).
Google Scholar
Council of the EU (2024). Council conclusions on the alignment of the EU Action Plan on Human Rights and Democracy 2020–2024 with the Multiannual Financial Framework 2021–2027, Brussels. Pozyskano z: https://data.consilium.europa.eu/doc/document/ST-9508-2024-INIT/en/pdf (dostęp: 3.07.2025).
Google Scholar
EEAS (2024). EU special envoy on freedom of religion or belief concludes official visit to Pakistan. Pozyskano z: https://www.eeas.europa.eu/delegations/pakistan/eu-special-envoy-freedom-religion-or-belief-concludes-official-visit-pakistan_en (dostęp: 2.05.2025).
Google Scholar
Euronews (2021). Greece appoints former EU commissioner to lead new climate ministry after wildfires. Pozyskano z: https://www.euronews.com/2021/09/06/greece-appoints-former-eu-commissioner-to-lead-new-climate-ministry-after-wildfires (dostęp: 2.06.2025).
Google Scholar
European Commission (2019). The mandate of the Special Envoy for the promotion of freedom of religion or belief outside the European Union: activities and recommendations (May 2016–November 2019). Pozyskano z: https://docs.wixstatic.com/ugd/7dce12_6da28c5629094424bdd18cc9961d3f91.pdf (dostęp: 3.07.2025).
Google Scholar
European Commission (2023). Joint staff working document on the mid-term review of the EU Action Plan on Human Rights and Democracy 2020–2024, SWD(2023) 201 final. Pozyskano z: https://data.consilium.europa.eu/doc/document/ST-10580-2023-INIT/en/pdf (dostęp: 3.07.2025).
Google Scholar
European Parliamentary Forum for Sexual & Reproductive Rights (2020a). List do Ursuli von der Leyen w sprawie mandatu Specjalnego Wysłannika UE ds. Wolności Religii lub Przekonań. Pozyskano z: https://www.epfweb.org/sites/default/files/2020-09/EU%20Special%20Envoy%20on%20FoRB-%20Final%20version%20EC%20President.pdf (dostęp: 2.06.2025).
Google Scholar
European Parliamentary Forum for Sexual & Reproductive Rights (2020b). List do Margaritisa Schinasa w sprawie mandatu Specjalnego Wysłannika UE ds. Wolności Religii lub Przekonań. Pozyskano z: https://www.epfweb.org/sites/default/files/2020-09/EU%20Special%20Envoy%20on%20FoRB-%20Letter%20to%20Vice%20President.pdf (dostęp: 2.06.2025).
Google Scholar
Evangelical Focus (2020). EU responds to pressure, announces new appointment of Special Envoy for Freedom of Religion or Belief. Pozyskano z: https://evangelicalfocus.com/europe/6952 (dostęp: 2.02.2021).
Google Scholar
Foret, F. (2017). How the European External Action Service deals with religion through religious freedom. EU Diplomacy Papers, 7. Pozyskano z: https://www.coleurope.eu/sites/default/files/research-paper/edp_7_2017_foret_0.pdf (dostęp: 2.06.2025).
Google Scholar
Foret, F., Markoviti, M. (2023). Fundamental right or political value? Journal of Contemporary European Studies, 31, 199–213.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/14782804.2021.1965555
Google Scholar
Fundacja Konrada Adenauera (2021). Einsatz für Religionsfreiheit – gestern, heute, morgen. Berlin. Pozyskano z: https://www.kas.de (dostęp: 3.07.2025).
Google Scholar
Garraud, J.-P. (2022). Parliamentary question: Indifference of the EU to Christianophobia. Pozyskano z: https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/E-9-2022-002316_EN.html (dostęp: 25.05.2025).
Google Scholar
Garraud, J.-P. (2023). Parliamentary question: Special Envoy for the promotion of freedom of religion or belief outside the EU. Pozyskano z: https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/E-9-2023-002093_EN.html (dostęp: 25.05.2025).
Google Scholar
Gierycz, M. (2021). Mała pochwała katolicyzmu. Warszawa: Teologia Polityczna.
Google Scholar
Griset, C., Vicsek, A. (2025). Parliamentary question on Serbian Orthodox religious sites in Kosovo. Pozyskano z: https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/E-10-2024-002519_EN.html (dostęp: 23.06.2025).
Google Scholar
Hirschberger, B., Voges, K. (2024). Commitment to religious freedom at the level of the European Union. W: Religious Freedom and Populism (s. 165–180). Bielefeld.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/9783839468272-014
Google Scholar
Human Rights Without Frontiers (2024). EU: European Parliament re-establishes Intergroup on Freedom of Religion or Belief. Pozyskano z: https://hrwf.eu (dostęp: 2.07.2025).
Google Scholar
Insight EU Monitoring (2023). EU Commission VP Schinas in the Middle East. Pozyskano z: https://ieu-monitoring.com (dostęp: 2.03.2025).
Google Scholar
Intergroup FORB. Our Mission. Pozyskano z: https://religiousfreedom.eu/ (dostęp: 23.06.2025).
Google Scholar
Intergroup FORB (2025). Pismo do Ursuli von der Leyen i Magnusa Brunnera. Pozyskano z: https://religiousfreedom.eu (dostęp: 23.06.2025).
Google Scholar
Komisja Spraw Zagranicznych Parlamentu Europejskiego (2018). Sprawozdanie A8-0449/2018. Pozyskano z: https://www.europarl.europa.eu (dostęp: 12.07.2025).
Google Scholar
Laszuk, P. (2023). Specyfika polityki wyznaniowej Unii Europejskiej. Warszawa: UKSW.
Google Scholar
Legutko, R. (2017). Odpowiedź na zapytanie ws. specjalnego przedstawiciela UE ds. wolności religii. Pozyskano z: https://rlegutko.pl (dostęp: 28.04.2020).
Google Scholar
Lexmann, M., Ruissen, B.-J. (2025a). List do Ursuli von der Leyen i Magnusa Brunnera. Pozyskano z: https://religiousfreedom.eu (dostęp: 25.05.2025).
Google Scholar
Lexmann, M., Ruissen, B.-J. (2025b). Pismo do Olafa Skooga. Pozyskano z: https://religiousfreedom.eu (dostęp: 23.06.2025).
Google Scholar
Parlament Europejski (2013). Zalecenia Parlamentu Europejskiego P7_TA(2013)0279. Pozyskano z: https://www.europarl.europa.eu (dostęp: 25.05.2025).
Google Scholar
Parlament Europejski (2016). Rezolucja P8_TA(2016)0051. Pozyskano z: https://www.europarl.europa.eu (dostęp: 25.05.2025).
Google Scholar
Traktat o Unii Europejskiej. Dz. Urz. UE C 202 z 7.06.2016.
Google Scholar
Authors
Patrycja Laszukp.laszuk@uksw.edu.pl
Cardinal Stefan Wyszynski University in Warsaw Poland
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0339-8013
Patrycja Laszuk PhD – holds a PhD in social sciences in the field of political science and public administration, and is an assistant professor at the Institute of Political Science and Administration, Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński University in Warsaw (1/3 Wóycickiego Str., 01-938 Warsaw, Poland); e-mail: p.laszuk@uksw.edu.pl.
Statistics
Abstract views: 19PDF downloads: 5
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Patrycja Laszuk
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
