The Christian Institute » EU Directive

Under-fire EU Directive mired in disagreement

Sam Wylie — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 13:11:16 +0000

A controversial EU Directive, which Christians fear will undermine free speech and freedom of religion, is being held up in negotiations between European member states. The Directive seeks to outlaw discrimination on grounds including sexual orientation and religion in the provision of goods and services, and includes a harassment provision which threatens free speech. The [...]

RC leaders: “unacceptable” EU Directive dictates on faith

Matt Jess — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 14:40:38 +0000

Britain’s Roman Catholic leaders have branded a proposed EU Equal Treatment Directive an “instrument of oppression”. The Bishops are concerned that the Directive could limit freedom of religion and freedom of expression. They warn that if the Directive were implemented “the EU would effectively be dictating to religious bodies what their faith does or does [...]

EU Directive ‘may hit troubled businesses’

Jen Davis — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 16:36:05 +0000

The EU has been urged to drop plans to impose a burdensome new Directive on businesses at a time of economic crisis. The employers’ group Business Europe said the planned Equal Treatment Directive would put extra strain on struggling firms. The Directive has already raised significant concerns for religious liberty, and MEPs recently voted for [...]

Irish RC bishops fear new EU law

Jen Davis — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 09:25:03 +0000

Roman Catholic bishops in the Republic of Ireland have raised concerns about a planned EU Directive which could threaten religious liberty. The President of the Bishops’ Commission on Education, Bishop Leo O’Reilly, said he was worried about the implications of the new law for faith schools and other religious organisations. The Church of England raised [...]

MEPs’ wishlist is threat to churches and faith schools

Jen Davis — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 10:05:27 +0000

UK churches could be sued for refusing to give communion, baptism or church membership to a non-Christian if plans voted for by the European Parliament are adopted by the EU. The Church of England said it wants to raise concerns with the Government about religious liberty after MEPs put forward a ‘wishlist’ of worrying changes [...]

Committee of MEPs reports on discrimination Directive

Mike Judge — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 13:24:27 +0000

An influential committee of MEPs has finalised its report on a controversial Directive which threatens religious liberty. The Parliament’s Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE) approved the final version of its report by 34 votes to seven with four abstentions. The committee was scrutinising a proposed EU Directive which would outlaw discrimination [...]

Concern over suggested changes to EU Directive

Jen Davis — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 13:41:38 +0000

An EU Directive which threatens the religious liberty of Christians does not go far enough, an influential MEP has said. Kathalijne Buitenweg MEP wants to delete wording which limits the Directive to ‘professional or commercial’ spheres. She also wants to delete wording which protects member states from having gay adoption forced upon them. However, she [...]

European ministers meet about discrimination law

Mike Judge — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 16:09:49 +0000

Government ministers from around Europe are meeting this week to discuss the progress of a draft EU Directive which may infringe the religious liberty of Christians. The draft Directive aims to outlaw discrimination in the provision of goods and services. Protected grounds will include sexual orientation and religion. Similar laws are already operating in the [...]

Czech Senate blasts EU equality Directive

Mike Judge — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 11:22:08 +0000

The Czech Senate has passed a resolution slamming a proposed anti-discrimination Directive which could threaten the religious liberty of Christians. Senators say the Czech domestic law is adequate and feel further discrimination law of this nature is best dealt with at a national level. They also raised serious concerns about the workability of laws against [...]

Sexual Orientation back in draft EU discrimination law

Mike Judge — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 16:18:48 +0000

The European Commission has accepted calls for sexual orientation and religion to be included in a draft anti-discrimination Directive. The move could damage the religious liberty of Christians. The draft Directive aims to outlaw discrimination in the provision of goods and services. It was originally intended only to cover age and disability. In April the [...]

MEPs demand re-think on equality Directive

Mike Judge — Tue, 20 May 2008 18:48:13 +0000

The European Parliament has called for sexual orientation and religion to be reinserted into a planned anti-discrimination Directive on the provision of goods and services. In a report adopted by a majority of MEPs today the Parliament has demanded that the Commission acts against the wishes of those nation states who would rather resolve the [...]

EU drops ‘sexual orientation’ from discrimination directive

Dave Hewer — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 15:00:53 +0000

Plans to introduce sweeping anti-discrimination laws across Europe which could have threatened UK religious liberties have been dropped because some countries do not want them. Germany is among those countries which have indicated that they will oppose a EU directive that would force all member states to put in place laws against discrimination on grounds [...]