8,921
edits
Changes
no edit summary
The European Constitution was signed in October 2004, but was rejected in referendums by France and the Netherlands in 2005. After a two year period, on the 23rd of June 2007 the EU leaders agreed on a detailed mandate for a new Intergovernmental Conference. The task of this Intergovernmental Conference was to draw up a Reform Treaty by the end of 2007. The details of the 'Reform Treaty' still need to be agreed upon, with the Portuguese Presidency hoping to clinch an agreement in October 2007, however many parts of the original Constitution of 2004 are set to be included.
The Orthodox Church in Europe along with other european churches petitioned the Union for the inclusion of a clause recognizing Europe's Christian heritage, and this was included in the original treaty of 2004 (Article I-52), albeit in a modified form from the wording that the Inter-Orthodox consulatation had requested. It remains to be seen if this will be carried over into the 2007 treaty.
==Conclusions of the Inter-Orthodox Consultation on the Draft Constitutional Treaty of the European Union (Herakleion, Crete, 18–19 March 2003)==
Made in Herakleion of Crete, on 19 March 2003.
==Actual Wording of the Draft Constituional Treaty of 2004==
* TITLE VI: The Democratic Life of the Union
* Article I-52
* Status of churches and non-confessional organisations
''1. The Union respects and does not prejudice the status under national law of churches and religious associations or communities in the Member States.''
''2. The Union equally respects the status under national law of philosophical and non-confessional organisations.''
''3. Recognizing their identify and their specific contribution, the Union shall maintain an open, transparent and regular dialogue with these churches and organisations.''
===Why No Reference to God===
In an official press release the Union answered various questions about the Constitution including the reason why the reference to God was not included in the final text of the Constitution:
"In some countries, the national constitution traditionally contains a reference to God. When the “Constitution for Europe” text was being drafted and negotiated, some governments said they wanted it to include a reference to God or to the Christian tradition of the Union. Others, defending the secular nature of the State and its neutrality with regard to different religions, didn’t want any specific religion to be named in the text of the European Constitution.
In its preamble, the Constitution recognises that the EU draws inspiration from Europe’s cultural, religious and humanist inheritance. This wording is neutral and appropriate. Indeed, any reference to individual religions could be seen as causing division between European citizens.
In addition, Article I-52 of the Constitution obliges the Union to engage in an open, transparent and regular dialogue with churches and religious associations, just as it does with civil society.
Finally, the Charter of Fundamental Rights now enshrined in the Constitution lays down that everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion (Article II-70). ([http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=MEMO/05/112&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en 1])
* Russian Orthodox Church Representation to the European Institutions. "[http://orthodoxeurope.org/print/14/10.aspx Conclusions of the Inter-Orthodox Consultation on the Draft Constitutional Treaty of the European Union (Herakleion, Crete, 18–19 March 2003)]" (orthodoxeurope.org)
* [http://eur-lex.europa.eu/JOHtml.do?uri=OJ:C:2004:310:SOM:EN:HTML Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe]. 16 December, 2004 (2004/C 310/01). Full text of the Draft Constiutional Treaty of the European Union.
* EUROPA Rapid Press Releases. "[http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=MEMO/05/112&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en Questions & answers on the Constitution]"
