The European Commission has resumed the tradition of ‘high-level meetings’ with religious, philosophical and non-denominational organisations, which had been put on hold due to COVID. The most recent meeting with non-denominational and philosophical organisations took place on 1 December 2025 at the Berlaymont.

Commissioner Magnus BRUNNER, who is responsible for the dialogue, was accompanied by Vincent DEPAIGNE, a Commission official and the official contact for the organisations involved in the dialogue established under Article 17 of the TFEU.

The speakers were:

1. Monica BELITOIU, Board Member of Humanists International and Executive Director of the Romanian Secular Humanist Association (ASUR)
2. Patrick CAUWERT, Grand Master of the Grand Orient of Belgium
3. Martine CERF, General Secretary of EGALE – Equality and Secularism in Europe
4. Gisèle DETAILLE, President of the Organisation for the Contribution of Non-Dogmatic and Liberal Masonic Orders to European Integration (COMALACE)
5. Gary McLelland, Chief Executive of Humanists International Gary McLelland
6. Ms Liliane MIRVILLE, Grand Mistress of the Women’s Grand Lodge of France
7. Claude WACHTELAER, President of the AEPL-EU

At the meeting, the AEPL defended the following principles; the full text of our position statement can be downloaded below.

• The European Association for Free Thought (AEPL-EU) regrets the lack of direct dialogue with religious partners at the annual high-level meeting on Article 17 TFEU, believing that this undermines mutual understanding.
  • AEPL deplores the trend towards «victimisation competition» between religious groups, notably COMECE’s call for greater protection for Christians, and points out that non-believers have historically been the most persecuted.
  • The organisation has expressed reservations about the concept of «religious literacy», fearing that it may be used for indoctrination rather than pluralistic education.
  • In light of the growing polarisation of European societies, AEPL believes that increasing the number of coordinators for each religious group is a strategy doomed to failure and advocates an approach based on scientific research in social psychology.
  • The organisation warns against the risk that the fight against hate speech could be used to restrict freedom of expression and thought.
  • AEPL advocates that the State must remain impartial in order to guarantee pluralism and tolerance, and that respect must be shown to people, not to beliefs.
  • AEPL proposes that posts relating to freedom of religion or education on secularism should not necessarily be reserved for religious people, but should be open to all in order to promote dialogue and social cohesion.

Summary of the meeting

AEPL position statement: 20251201 HLM position paper (French)