Press Release

24/09/2003

Hans-Gert Poettering for inclusion of the Christian heritage in draft European Constitution

"We regret that the European Parliament rejected the EPP-ED Group's amendment proposal to include the phrase 'in particular the Judao-Christian roots' in the EU Constitution," EPP-ED Group Chairman Hans-Gert Poettering said following the plenary vote on a report about the proposed European Constitution and the setting up of an Intergovernmental Conference. (211 Members voted for the amendment, 283 against with 15 abstentions).

Poettering, who proposed the amendment in the name of his Group, conceded that the draft constitution in its present form did already contain important references to Europe's Christian heritage. For instance, the Preamble already referred to Europe's religious traditions, and with the integration of the Charter on Fundamental Rights the Christian conception of mankind became fundamental to the Constitution.

Beyond that, Article 51 of the draft specifically recognised the status of the church and of communities sharing a common faith. The draft Constitution therefore contained key elements of Europe's religious heritage. The intention of the EPP-ED Group, said Poettering, was to accentuate these. It was now up to the IGC and the Member States to take up this proposal and to make appropriate changes to the draft Constitution, he said.

Further information from Katrin Ruhrmann, Tel, +32 475 493357