Press Releases

Federal Chancellor Schüssel, the President in office of the European Council, and Commission President Barroso to have discussions with representatives of world faiths

On 30 May from 15.00 to 18.00, Federal Chancellor Schüssel, President in office of the European Council, and Commission President José Manuel Barroso will, for the first time together, discuss 'fundamental rights and mutual respect' with leading representatives of world faiths.

The discussion will centre on the issue of the contribution faith communities can make in a common Europe. The meeting will take place in the European Commission (Berlaymont).

Press schedule

Salle de Presse:

15.00: Group photo

15.10: Press briefing with Chancellor Schüssel, President Barroso and representatives of the faith communities

Salle Hebdo:

15.30: Tour de table at the beginning of the conference

VIP Corner:

18.10: Photo and film opportunity as Chancellor Schüssel and President Barroso bid farewell to each representative of the faith communities

18.20: Press statements by Chancellor Schüssel and President Barroso

Participants from the faith communities

Anglican Church

Richard Chartres, Bishop of London

Buddhism:

His Holiness the Dalai Lama

Islam:

Anas Shakfeh, President of the Islamic Community in Austria
Imam Abduljalil Sajid, Muslim Council for Religious and Racial Harmony
Ayatollah Seyyed Abbas Ghaemmaghami, Head of the Islamic Centre in Hamburg

Judaism:

Joseph Sitruk, Chief Rabbi of France
Albert Guigui, Chief Rabbi of Brussels
René Gutman, Chief Rabbi of Strasbourg et du Bas-Rhin

Orthodox Churches:

His Eminence, Emmanuel, Metropolit of France
Bishop Athanasios of Achaia

Protestant Churches:

Jean Arnold de Clermont, President of the Conference of European Churches
Bishop Wolfgang Huber, Charirman of the Council of the EKD

Roman Catholic Church:

José Cardinal da Cruz Policarpo, Patriarch of Lisbon
Christoph Cardinal Schönborn, Archbishop of Vienna
Adrianus van Luyn, President of the Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of the European Community

Participants from the European Commission:

Franco Frattini, Vice-President of the Commission and Commissioner for Justice, Freedom and Security
Margot Wallström, Vice-President of the Commission and Commissioner for Institutional Relations and Communication Strategy
Ján Figel', Commissioner for Education, Training, Culture and Multilingualism
Vladimír Špidla, Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities

Queries to:

Verena Nowotny
Spokesperson of the Chancellor
Tel.: (01) 531 15 / 2922