On 21 April 2026, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe adopted a resolution on “Combating discrimination on grounds of religion and protecting freedom of religion and belief in Europe”.
The members of parliament reported on the increasing manifestations of religiously motivated exclusion and intolerance across Europe. They emphasised that freedom of religion and belief is “not only a fundamental right, but also an essential component of every democratic system”.
The members of parliament reported on the increasing manifestations of religiously motivated exclusion and intolerance across Europe. They emphasised that freedom of religion and belief is “not only a fundamental right, but also an essential component of every democratic system”.
By adopting a resolution based on the report by Francesco Verducci, the Parliamentary Assembly called on member states to ensure that religious communities and their members can exercise their right to freedom of religion “without hindrance or discrimination, in accordance with Article 9 of the Convention”.
“States must step up their efforts to prevent and combat all forms of racism and intolerance, particularly against minority groups in European countries.
The Protestant churches in Europe support the document’s fundamental concern that religion must not be misused for political purposes, especially as Protestants in many European countries have suffered for centuries from such exploitation of religion by the state.
“States must step up their efforts to prevent and combat all forms of racism and intolerance, particularly against minority groups in European countries.
The Protestant churches in Europe support the document’s fundamental concern that religion must not be misused for political purposes, especially as Protestants in many European countries have suffered for centuries from such exploitation of religion by the state.
Strong criticism came from the Protestant Churches in Austria and the Evangelical Church in Germany regarding the stipulation that “religious education should not be denominational” (§8). The CPCE was able to forward the statements from both churches directly to the German and Austrian members of parliament, who took the floor and introduced the statements into the debate: denominational religious education is secular, constitutional and relevant to education.
Although the text remained unchanged, the views of the CPCE member churches were expressed. The Parliamentary Assembly also emphasised the importance of religious education and religious instruction, and the respect for different religions as a cornerstone of democracy.
Although the text remained unchanged, the views of the CPCE member churches were expressed. The Parliamentary Assembly also emphasised the importance of religious education and religious instruction, and the respect for different religions as a cornerstone of democracy.
Sibylle Klumpp, who is responsible for the CPCE’s work with the Council of Europe, was able to attend the parliamentary session in person.
Reverend Sibylle Klumpp is General Secretary of the Conference of Churches on the Rhine (KKR) and also heads the Department of Mission and International Solidarity at the UEPAL in Strasbourg. A native of Germany, she has lived in France for three decades and has held various leadership roles within the church, most recently in Marseille as Chair of the Regional Council of the United Protestant Church of France in the PACCA region.
