Churches

: Church in Malta (Photo: Lisbeth Kirk)

The Conference of European Churches (CEC) has 123 member churches and negotiates on various topics with the Commission.

The churches are linked to Jacques Delors’ project, "Give Europe a Soul".

In a non-binding declaration to the Treaty of Amsterdam, it stated that the EU respects national churches.

The Lisbon Treaty repeats the statement of respect for national churches and also includes a new commitment of the Union – its dialogue with churches (Art. 17.3 TFEU). Furthermore, the preamble of the Lisbon Treaty now states that the Union shall also draw inspiration from ".... the religious inheritance of Europe… "

By including the churches in the treaties it is up to the European Court in Luxembourg to decide on conflicts of interpretation.

It may also be legal to establish a Council of Ministers for religion and religious affairs.

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