Intercultural dialogue

Religious institutions play a fundamental role in resolving conflicts and contribute to social peace by helping to create, communicate and protect societal values. They exert a significant amount of direct and indirect influence on society; when we speak about churches, we are also speaking about the hundreds of millions of believers.

We, as a political group, need to understand the thoughts and activities of various religious organisations on issues such as social tensions, migration and education. We must engage with the representatives of religious groups while mutually acknowledging each other’s independence. We are the only political group in the European Parliament with a long-standing dialogue with Orthodox, Catholic, Protestant, Islam and Jewish.

Nektarios Ioannou, Representative of Orthodox Churches in the European Union, talks to Emmanuel Pisani, Director of the Institute for Sciences and Theologies of Religions at the Catholic Institute of Paris


Freedom of religion is a basic right. We believe we must defend that right and openly discuss issues around it. We must seek opportunities for dialogue and cooperation with the religious communities involved.

Several hundred people, including MEPs, religious leaders, government representatives, NGOs, guests and the interested public participate in our annual conferences on religious dialogue. These discuss current issues pertinent to intercultural dialogue and the dialogue between religion and politics.

In addition, we continuously widen our engagement with highly-respected experts from churches through other public and internal meetings.

Related Position

Foreign affairs

Related Publications

No result

Monthly reviews

monthly_reviews 15.02.2022 - 10:15
monthly_reviews 15.02.2022 - 10:15
POLITICAL AND CULTURAL RELATIONS

Intercultural & Religious Dialogue Activity Report 2021

The EPP Group Intercultural and Religious Dialogue activities aim to promote mutual...

Intercultural & Religious Dialogue
monthly_reviews 25.03.2021 - 18:00
monthly_reviews 25.03.2021 - 18:00
POLITICAL AND CULTURAL RELATIONS

Intercultural & Religious Dialogue Activity Report 2020

Despite the numerous difficulties caused by the pandemic in 2020, the EPP Group managed to be...

Intercultural & Religious Dialogue
monthly_reviews 27.03.2020 - 13:00
monthly_reviews 27.03.2020 - 13:00
POLITICAL AND CULTURAL RELATIONS

Intercultural & Religious Dialogue Activity Report 2019

The EPP Group Intercultural and Religious Dialogue activities aim to promote mutual...

Intercultural Dialogue with Churches and Religious Institutions
monthly_reviews 11.03.2020 - 12:15
monthly_reviews 11.03.2020 - 12:15
POLITICAL AND CULTURAL RELATIONS

XXIII Annual EPP Group Intercultural Dialogue with Churches and Religious Institutions

  The XXIII. Annual EPP Group...

Load more +

Other related content

Symbols of christianity, islam and judaism
podcast 01.08.2023 - 10:05
podcast 01.08.2023 - 10:05
POLITICAL AND CULTURAL RELATIONS

Intercultural and religious dialogue: 25 years of dedication

25 years of intercultural and interreligious dialogue in the EPP Group. That's what this...

Group photo in the Vatican
video 30.06.2023 - 11:30
video 30.06.2023 - 11:30
EVENTS IN MEMBER STATES EPP GROUP HAPPENINGS POLITICAL AND CULTURAL RELATIONS

Build a better Europe with Christian Democratic values

Join us on a journey to the Vatican, where EPP Group Parliamentarians gather to pray and reflect...

Champagne, Village of Sermiers
opinion 16.06.2023 - 9:51
opinion 16.06.2023 - 9:51
POLITICAL AND CULTURAL RELATIONS

A Europe without Christian values would be a Europe without a soul

The world has been in crisis management mode for more than a decade: we...

Rome Tiber and St Peters Basilica Vatican Italy
news 08.06.2023 - 8:55
news 08.06.2023 - 8:55
LEGAL AND HOME AFFAIRS EPP GROUP HAPPENINGS POLITICAL AND CULTURAL RELATIONS

EPP Group to discuss future of Europe in Rome

The EPP Group will travel today to the Vatican and Rome to discuss the future of Europe and the role of...

Load more +