New Co-Chairs to continue the EPP Group’s work for Intercultural and Interreligious Dialogue

The EPP Working Group on 'Intercultural and Religious Dialogue' has two new Co-Chairs: Vangelis Meimarakis MEP and Željana Zovko MEP. The EPP Group is the only political group in the European Parliament that, for over 25 years, has maintained a permanent structure to bring political and religious leaders together to promote dialogue and mutual understanding.

“At a time of growing instability, the role of interreligious dialogue is more important than ever. Most societies today are multicultural and, consequently, often, multi-religious. In these societies, peace cannot be secured without mutual respect and co-existence between religions. Religion should be a force that unites rather than divides, fostering understanding and solidarity. By upholding and promoting the principles of diversity and tolerance, we can promote peaceful coexistence and cooperation among all nations," says Vangelis Meimarakis MEP, new Co-Chair of the working group.

"We must encourage dialogue between religious communities. We must also use foreign policy to enable religious communities to fund and build schools and charity work in third countries. Interreligious dialogue must be taken into account when talking about peace and when it comes to interreligious tolerance. We must emphasise that the key instrument for interreligious dialogue is here in the European People's Party," says Željana Zovko MEP, Vice-President of the EPP Group and Co-Chair of this Working Group.