A group of freethinkers in favour of the European Union
Encourage the process of European construction, by integrating the values of freethought
Creating a freethought skills centre
AEPL is a think tank that has been taking action and achieving results since 2008.
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AEPL represents the interests of European freethinkers
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Various planetary limits have been, or may soon be, exceeded. What can we do about it?
Economic developments are affecting EU citizens. In-depth reform is needed
Fundamental pillar of liberal democracies and keystone of the EU's legal architecture
The EU must develop as a geopolitical power and international security player
Objective of creating climate refugee status
Putin's Russia invaded Ukraine in early 2022.
What are the implications for EU member states?
We are trying to contribute to peace.
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EAFT reports shared with European institutions
The AEPL has taken a stand against the sanctions that the United States wishes to impose on certain members of the ICC. Our statement has been sent to several European Commissioners and several Members of the European Parliament. Europe must move…
Seminar on 9 June 2026 organised by Ms SBERNA, Vice-President of the European Parliament responsible for dialogue under Article 17 of the TFEU. The AEPL was invited, along with other non-denominational and religious organisations, to a seminar…
Following its 2020–2025 action programme against racism, the EU has decided to launch a new programme for the period 2026–2029. The dialogue partners under Article 17 of the TFEU were invited on 9…
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…
Religion and the EU’s external policies. A critical analysis. Abstract. The European Association for Free Thought has noted with interest the document drawn up by the European Parliament’s Research Service concerning the links between external policies…
For better European governance of Artificial Intelligence. The European Union wants: AI that puts people and citizens first; technologies that are reliable and therefore trustworthy; to put these technologies at the service of a society...
EUROPEAN UNION: DIGITAL TRANSITION, WORK, EMPLOYMENT AND NEW FORMS OF SOLIDARITY. Claude WACHTELEAR and Eric MAERTENS, coordinators of the Working Group The spread of digital technologies and its effects cover various fields: ethics, education, culture, work. AEPL is well aware that there are links...
Public lecture: «Secularism: a new idea in Europe?« Paris, 9 February 2019 Claude Wachtelaer, President of the European Association for Free Thought (AEPL) The question that brings us together may come as a surprise. Why the concept of secularism – and, in Paris,…
The document "Europe autrement - de la nécessité de refonder l'Europe" (Europe differently - the need to rethink Europe) is the result of a consultation process that lasted almost two years with AEPL members. In it, they express their views on the future of a European Union capable of...
Lecture given by Claude WACHTELAER at the Secularism Congress (Kongres Świeckości), Warsaw, 21 & 22 October 2017. I have been asked to outline the Belgian and Dutch models of relations between the Churches and the State. I shall begin by addressing you…
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