Today, the European Commission appointed Christos Stylianides
as Special Envoy for the promotion of freedom of religion or
belief outside the EU. Stylianides was the European
Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management from
2014 to 2019. Since 2020, he has served as special advisor on
education in emergencies, migration and inclusion to the
current Vice-President of the European Commission, Margaritis
Schinas.
“Nobody should be persecuted because of their faith. The
reappointment of a Special Envoy for the promotion of freedom
of religion or belief outside the EU is an important step in
showing real commitment to this fundamental right. We lament
that this position has been vacant for almost two years. We
hope that the new Special Envoy will quickly get to work
focusing on the needs of the most persecuted worldwide. We
urge the European Commission to strengthen the position of the
Special Envoy and build on the important work already
achieved. The victims on the ground are in dire need of a
decisive response from the EU. With its Special Envoy, the EU
can lead in the international response. That leadership is
needed now more than ever,” said Adina Portaru, Senior Counsel
for ADF International in Brussels.
Role of the Special Envoy
The Special Envoy for the promotion of freedom of religion or
belief outside the EU was introduced in 2016 in order
to protect freedom of religion or belief on behalf of the EU
worldwide. The European Parliament called for the ‘EU to
establish a permanent Special Representative for Freedom of
Religion or Belief’ in its Resolution of 4 February 2016 on the
systematic mass murder of religious minorities by the so-called
‘ISIS/Daesh’. Part of the mandate included visits to countries
with some of the most violent religious persecution in the
world in order to help address the situation and develop
response plans. The Special Envoy played a decisive role in
helping Asia Bibi safely
leave Pakistan after she was acquitted of blasphemy charges.
There has been robust support for the continuation of the
mandate, voiced by the European Parliament
Intergroup on Freedom of Religion or Belief and Religious
Tolerance, national special
envoys, scholars,
and civil society. A
Report on EU Guidelines and the mandate of the EU Special
Envoy, adopted by the European Parliament on 16 January 2019
with overwhelming support (576 votes for), stressed the need
for the Council and the Commission ‘to adequately support the
institutional mandate, capacity and duties, by exploring the
possibility of a multi-year term subjected to annual review’.
“The Special Envoy has played a crucial role in bringing the
horrors of religious persecution to light at the European
level. The role has created awareness around some of the worst
and most persistent violations of fundamental rights around the
world and helped focus EU efforts to counter them. The EU
should not only continue, but intensify efforts to protect
freedom of religion or belief around the world,” said Robert
Clarke, Deputy Director of ADF International.
