Top margin 1 - European Humanist Federation

IP/09/1046
Brussels, 26 June 2009
Presidents of Commission and Parliament meet
European
philosophical
non-confessional
organisations
Today the President of the European Commission, José Manuel Barroso, and
the President of the European Parliament, Hans-Gert Pöttering, will have a
meeting with philosophical non-confessional organisations.
Commission President Barroso said: "Our institutions maintain an open, transparent
and regular dialogue with all associations of conviction: churches, religious
communities and philosophical non-confessional organisations. Today we would like
to focus our discussions on how the humanist cultural tradition of enlightenment can
help strengthening European values in times of financial and economic crisis."
EP President Pöttering stated: "The European Union is a community of values the
basis of which is the defence of human dignity. Just as our European values,
enshrined in the Lisbon Treaty and Charter of Fundamental Rights, owe a debt to
Europe's Judaeo-Christian heritage; non-confessional humanist organisations, which
emerged in the Enlightenment, have also made their contribution to shaping modern
European thought. For this reason, it is important for the EU to maintain a regular
dialogue with these groups in our common search for an ethical underpinning to
European policy. "
From the Commission side Louis Michel, Commissioner for Development and
Humanitarian Aid, and Ján Figel', Commissioner for Education, Training, Culture and
Youth, will also participate in the meeting.
Participants:
FEDERATION HUMANISTE EUROPEENNE
M. David Pollock – Président
M. Rob Buitenweg – Vice Président
ASSOCIATION EUROPEENNE DE LA PENSEE LIBRE
M. Alan Frommer – Président
M. Tony van der haegen – Vice Président
CENTRE D’ACTION LAIQUE (Belgique)
M. Pierre-Arnaud Perrouty – directeur de la Cellule Europe et International
GRAND ORIENT DE BELGIQUE
M. Jef Asselbergh – Grand Maître Adjoint
FEDERATION ESPAGNOLE DU DROIT HUMAN
M. Manuel Lopez Alvarez – Président
M. Gonzalo Tapia Suarez – Vice Président
GRANDE LOGE SYMBOLIQUE ESPAGNOLE
M. Eddy BONTE – Grand Conseiller
GRAND ORIENT DE FRANCE
M. Pierre Lambicchi – Grand Maître
M. Patrice Billaud – Grand Officier pour les Affaires Extérieures
GRANDE LOGE FEMININE DE FRANCE
Mme Yvette Nicolas – Grande Maîtresse
Mme Catherine Charles
FEDERATION FRANÇAISE DU DROIT HUMAIN
M. Michel Payen – Président
Mme Denise Thessier – Vice Présidente
ORDRE MAÇONNIQUE INTERNATIONAL DELPHIE (Grèce)
M. Vassilios Patkas – Grand Maître
M. Ina Piperaki – Affaires Extérieures adjointe
GRANDE LOGE D'ITALIE
Prof. Luigi Pruneti – Grand Maître
Mme Lina Rotondi – Grande Chancelière Adjointe
GRANDE ORIENTE LUSITANO (PORTUGAL)
Prof. António Reis – Grand Maître
NATIONAL SECULAR SOCIETY (UK)
M. Keith Porteous Wood – Executive Director
M. Stephen Evans – Administrator
Contacts:
Johannes Laitenberger
+32 2 296 57 45
Jens Mester
+32 2 29 639 73
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