WORKING GROUP ON EUROPEAN COMMUNITY LEGISLATION

Last update: November 2000
Next Meeting: 1-2 June 2001

The main task of the Working Group is to follow developments in European Community legislation which may have an impact on the life and activities of Member Churches. In the past twelve months it has co-ordinated the activities of the Church and Society Commission on the European Union Charter of Fundamental Rights and on Anti-Discrimination Legislation under Article 13 of the European Community Treaty. Its current work programme is as follows:

1. European Community Directive on Discrimination on the grounds of Racial or Ethnic Origin: to monitor the transposition of the directive into national law in the Member States and to see, in close co-operation with the Churches' Commission for Migrants in Europe, whether this poses any particular problems for the churches or presents any particular opportunities for action against racism.

2. European Community Directive establishing a General Framework for Equal Treatment in the field of Employment and Occupation: to monitor the transposition of the directive into national law in the Member States, especially in relation to the operation of the article providing an exemption for certain activities of religious organisations.

3. European Union Charter of Fundamental Rights: to follow and comment on the discussions on possible incorporation of the Charter into the European Union treaties with binding legal effect. See submission of April 2000 to the Convention

4. Case law of the European Court of Justice: to follow up any cases of particular interest to the churches.

5. Declaration No. 11 on the Amsterdam Treaty: Considering whether any steps should be taken in the time before the next Intergovernmental Conference to promote a review or development of the declaration relating to the status of churches and non-confessional organisations.