Ján Figeľ

Category: English

  • Four new members join the EIT Governing Board

    Four new members join the EIT Governing Board

    The European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) welcomes four new members to the EIT Governing Board today: Jan Figel, Janis Grevins, Nora Khaldi, and Razvan Nicolescu.

    The members were appointed by the European Commission and Mariya Gabriel, Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth said:

    ‘The Governing Board is central to the EIT’s governance and the strategic orientation, and I am delighted that these outstanding innovation practitioners are willing to share their valuable experience and knowledge to guide the EIT in its contribution to the green and digital transitions. They are joining the Governing Board at a crucial time, as the EIT starts to implement its new Strategic Innovation Agenda 2021-2027, which offers more opportunities for innovators and entrepreneurs across the EU to work on concrete solutions to the societal challenges we are facing. – Mariya Gabriel, Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth

    The EIT Governing Board oversees the strategic direction of the EIT as well as the selection and monitoring of its Knowledge and Innovation Communities (KICs). It is composed of experienced professionals in the fields of education, research and business.

    The four new EIT Governing Board members are:

    • Jan Figel served as the first Slovak European Commissioner. He was also a Chief Negotiator in the accession process of Slovakia to the EU. In national politics he has served as Vice-President and Member of the Parliament, Deputy Prime Minister and State Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
    • Janis Grevins is an academic executive with a strong focus on institutional development, technology implementation and business linkages. He has been the Director of Riga Business School at Riga Technical University since April 2003. He also serves as the independent member on the Supervisory Board of Tet Ltd., Latvia.
    • Nora Khaldi is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Nuritas, a biotech company committed to finding disease-beating molecules in food. Since launching in 2014, Nuritas has grown rapidly and boasts well-known funders and support from the EU Horizon 2020 and the European Investment Bank, among others, raising over EUR 60 million to date.
    • Razvan Nicolescu served previously as the Romanian Minister of Energy. He is currently a partner of Deloitte Romania responsible for energy and climate change practice and an associate professor of the Romanian Academy for Economic Studies.

    Appointed for four years, they will guide and steer the EIT together with the other members of the EIT Governing Board.

  • Bratislava granted honorary citizenship to John Paul II

    The Bratislava city council made the decision have granted honorary citizenship to the late John Paul II in memoriam, per proposal of Ján Figeľ, president of the Anton Tunega Foundation, former EU Commissioner and former EU Special Envoy for Religious Freedom (2016-2019).

    The honorary citizenship was awarded to the late pope in recognition of his exceptional relationship to Slovakia and Bratislava, as well as gratitude and respect towards him and his legacy. John Paul II visited Bratislava three times during his papacy (1990, 1995, 2003).

    At the same time, the city of Bratislava has revoked the honorary citizenship for Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin and first Communist president of Czechoslovakia Klement Gottwald.

    “By honorary citizenship granted to St. John Paul II in memoriam contemporary Slovakia through its Capital City of Bratislava confirms its affinity to the values and relations that are timeless and inspiring for our development in the spirit of integral humanism. In combination with cancellation of the same past awards to XX Century dictators Stalin and Gottwald this decision represents a purification and formation of nation’s memory and concience” Jan Figel commented for The European Post.

    http://europeanpost.co/bratislava-granted-honorary-citizenship-to-john-paul-ii/

  • Current Challenges to Religious Freedom Panel at NET@WORK conference on 25 November 2020

    NET@WORK online conference of Wilfried Martens Centre for European Studies.

    Speakers: Heiner Bielefeldt, Ján Figeľ, Rebecca Shah

    Moderator: Miriam Lexmann

    25 November 2020

    The Martens Centre held its 2020 edition of NET@WORK, on the theme ‘Geopolitical Europe – Adapting, Reshaping, Engaging’. Held in a digital format, this conference presented eight panels of expert speakers over two days. The event also brought together the Martens Centre’s impressive network of member foundations.

  • We need a ‘climate change’ in matters of religious freedom

    Interview with Ján Figel’, the former EU Special Envoy for the promotion of freedom of religion or belief outside the EU

    For the second time since its establishment by the United Nations in 2019, the “International Day Commemorating the Victims of Acts of Violence Based on Religion or Belief” was observed on 22 August. The findings of a review of the situation of people suffering from religious persecution worldwide were far from positive. The international Catholic pastoral charity Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) talked about this with Ján Figel’, a Slovak politician whose mandate as Special Envoy of the European Union for the promotion of Freedom of Religion or Belief outside the EU recently ended.

    What are your thoughts on the International Day Commemorating the Victims of Acts of Violence Based on Religion or Belief?

    The international day commemorating the victims of religious persecution is a very important event in the calendar of international days of commemoration because there are so many victims of religious persecution; it is estimated that they number in the hundreds of millions. Religious persecution is on the rise worldwide; this has led many more millions to suffer from discrimination. The very painful reality is that victims of veritable genocide still exist in the world today. In the past, international treaties often ignored, omitted and seldom recognised religious freedom, but today freedom of religion and belief has become the litmus test for the state of human rights.

    What would be the best way to observe this day?

    Of vital importance is the witness of survivors of religious persecution. Demonstrations, conferences, online meetings, seminars and webinars were held. The primary purpose of these events is to increase our awareness of the importance of religious freedom for all people and to commemorate the victims of religious persecution. After all, if you lose your memories, you lose your identity and orientation. Secondly, a further crucial element is educating people on how to live together in diversity, because living together is a great deal more than merely existing alongside one another. Thirdly, states and national authorities have to promote justice for all, because peace is the fruit of justice. As an example, equality in civil rights is a wonderful expression of equality for all, both for the majorities of society and for the minorities.

    What were your experiences as a young person living in a Communist country under the Soviet regime of the former Czechoslovakia?

    For half of my life, I lived without freedom. It was truly an inhumane situation and a very difficult time. My name is Ján Figel’, just like my uncle, the brother of my father, who was murdered in the 1950s by the secret service of what was at that time the Stalinist state of Czechoslovakia. Freedom is an expression of human dignity, and human dignity is the foundation for all human rights. Denying humans their freedom is therefore equivalent to denying humans their dignity.

    Why is it important to protect religious freedom?

    Freedom of religion and belief is the highest expression of freedom. It is defined as the freedom of religion, faith and conscience. Therefore, it is of equal importance for both believers and non-believers. It is a central human right and a far-reaching right because it is inextricably linked with the freedoms of expression, opinion, assembly and of association. When the freedom of religion is prohibited, it leads to the suppression of other rights and freedoms. That is why it is so important to ensure that the freedom of religion is protected, not only because it affects other rights, but also because it is the litmus test for all other human rights.

    How can we defend the freedom of religion and those who are being persecuted because of their faith?

    It is our duty to protect the victims of persecution. It is our responsibility as humans, but it is also of fundamental interest to us all. We have to become more aware of the significance of freedom of religion. The media should focus a lot more on these situations and topics. It is our responsibility to give those a voice who have no voice and who cannot defend themselves. I would like to appeal to the international community: the world today is in need of a “climate change” in matters of religious freedom, because the situation is very negative and distressing. Millions of people all over the world are suffering religious persecution and the trend is alarming. These two terrible facts should awaken a greater awareness among the international community about the need to uphold religious freedom and to defend the dignity of people all over the world.

    Interview with Ján Figel’, 31.08.2020 / International Day of Victims by Josué Villalón

  • Europe and the challenge of religious freedom

    The European Union’s Special Envoy for promoting the Freedom of Religions and Belief outside of Europe will soon be appointed. Maragaritis Schinas, vice-president of the European Commission, announced the Office’s re-establishment in a tweet on July 8.

    The announcement brought to a close what had been at times a very lively debate.

    The president of the European Commission originally decided not to appoint somebody in the role of advisor to her in the capacity of special envoy “at this time”.

    Then, after protests from many organizations, the Commission reversed itself. The position is still vacant, so everything is still up in the air and anything could happen: Why, then, is it so important to have a special envoy for religious freedom in Europe?

    The special envoy’s Office was established in 2016, right after Pope Francis had been awarded the Charlemagne Prize. Jan Figel became the Special Envoy. During his mandate, Jan Figel traveled worldwide, opened bridges of dialogue, and had a crucial role in the liberation of Asia Bibi, the Pakistani woman who had been sentenced to death for blasphemy and then acquitted.

    Many backed the re-establishment of the position. Cardinal Jean-Claude Hollerich, Archbishop of Luxembourg and president of the Committee of the Bishops of the European Union (COMECE), noted that “in some countries, the religious oppression reached the level of a genocide” and for this reason “the European Union must continue to campaign for religious freedom, with a special envoy.”

    This semester, Germany is president of the Council of the European Union. So 135 German members of Parliament asked the government to use the position to press the EU to restore the Office.

    Austrian members of Parliament signed a joint resolution with the same goal, and Jewish, Orthodox, and Muslim labels protested against the cancellation of the position.

    It was then expected that the new European Commission was going to renew the mandate. It did not happen at first. In June, the Commission sent a letter to the International Religious Freedom Roundtable, a convenor of NGOs and individuals from any faith that works for religious freedom.

    In the letter, the Commission confirmed that they would advance religious liberty according to the 2013 EU guidelines, which recognize the human right to freedom of religion and belief and understand that right under European law to mean that everyone is free to believe, not to believe, change their beliefs, publicly witness their beliefs and share their beliefs with others.

    In the letter, the Commission also said that violations were going to be monitored by the EU delegation. The delegation and Eamon Gilmore, special representative for human rights, were supposed to report on the violations.

    After that, and all the protests, the Commission changed its mind and announced that the Special Envoy position for religious freedom was going to stay. Everything, by the way, is still suspended. We yet do not know who will be the next special envoy, and under which mandate.

    There is another issue. The special envoy takes care of religious freedom outside of the EU, but religious liberty is at risk within the EU borders. There are many pieces of evidence that religious freedom is subtly dwindling in Europe.

    Religious freedom inside the EU border is guaranteed under the EU charter of fundamental rights which is policed by the EU fundamental rights agency in Vienna. In addition, all the member states of the EU are constrained by fundamental democratic principles for which the commission can hold them to account if their laws don’t correspond.

    And yet, there are cases that show that show that religious freedom is at stake.

    The most recent cases came from Finland and Sweden.

    Päivi Räsänen, a member of Finnish Parliament and former minister, faces four investigations after tweeting a Bible passage questioning that the Evangelical Church in Finland sponsored the Pride 2019.

    Ellinor Grimmark and Linda Steen, two Swedish midwives, appealed to the European Court for Human Rights because they found unemployed and could not apply for any job since they refused to help to perform abortions. The appeal was, however, declared inadmissible.

    These are not the only cases, and it is not a new situation. It is worth remembering that the Holy See personally took the floor in 2013. Following the discussion of two cases at the European Court for Human Rights, the Holy See sent a note and widely explained why the religions are not “lawless areas” but instead “spaces of freedom.”

    The two cases that brought about the Holy See’s note are Sindicatul’ Pastoral cel bun’ versus Romania and Fernandez Martinez versus Spain. Both of them provide food for thought even today.

    The first case was about a labor union formed in 2008 by the clergy in an Orthodox Church diocese to defend their “professional, economic, social, and cultural interests” in their dealings with the church.

    When the Romanian government registered the new union, the church sued, pointing out that her canons do not allow for unions and arguing that registration violated the principle of church autonomy.

    A Romanian court agreed with the Church, and the union challenged the court’s judgment in the European Court for Human Rights. The union argued that the decision not to register violated Article 11 of the European Convention, which grants a right to freedom of association.

    In 2012, the chamber reasoned that, under Article 11, a state might limit freedom of association only if it shows “a pressing social need,” defined in terms of a “threat to a democratic society,” This did not happen in Romania. So the chamber faulted the Romanian court, and Romania appealed to the Grand Chamber – the final EU judicial appeal venue.

    The second case regarded Fernandez Martinez, a Spanish instructor of religion. In Spain, public schools offer classes in Catholicism, taught by instructors approved by the local bishop. Fernandez Martinez did not get his bishop’s approval. A laicized priest, Fernandez Martinez, took a public stand against mandatory priestly celibacy. When the school dismissed the instructor, he brought suit under the European Convention. His dismissal – he argued – violated his right to privacy, family life, and expression.

    A section of the European Court ruled against him, because in withdrawing approval – the section stated – the bishop had acted “in accordance with the principle of religious autonomy”; the instructor had been dismissed for purely religious reasons, and it would be inappropriate for a secular court to intrude.

    These two cases – the “Vatican foreign minister”, then-Archbishop Dominique Mamberti noted – “call into question the Church’s freedom to function according to her own rules and not be subject to civil rules other than those necessary to ensure that the common good and just public order are respected.”

    One should say that this is a vexata quaestio (an already widely discussed issue), with significance far beyond Europe.

    Europe, however, is living in a particularly worrisome situation. The Observatoire de la Christianophobie in France and the Observatory on Intolerance and Discrimination against Christian in Europe report an increasing number of cases that are food for thought.

    Religions became even more vulnerable after the coronavirus outbreak. Many provisions of various governments to counter the spread of the infection also jeopardized freedom of worship. It was an emergency, and everybody understands that, but at the same time, it is always essential to re-establish a principle, in order not to set a precedent.

    While watching over the religious freedom in other countries, it would be good that Europe had some more proper monitoring of the situation within its borders.

    As the Holy See keeps saying, religious freedom is “the freedom of all the freedoms,” a litmus test for the state of liberty in each country. The appointment of an EU special envoy for religious freedom will be a welcome thing, therefore. It is yet to be seen, however, what will be the precise mandate and the powers of the Office. It would be good to expand its scope to address the violations of religious freedom within the EU, as well.

    * Catholic News Agency columns are opinion and do not necessarily express the perspective of the agency.

    https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/column/europe-and-the-challenge-of-religious-freedom-4200

  • EU politicians and religious leaders demand reinstatement of religious envoy

    The previous religious envoy was influential in securing the release of the Pakistani Christian, Asia Bibi, from a death sentence in 2019.

    Calls are growing for the European Union to reinstate its Special Envoy on Religious Freedom, after the post was abolished by the new Brussels Commission under Ursula Von Der Leyen.

    “In some countries, religious oppression has now reached the level of genocide,” said Cardinal Jean-Claude Hollerich of Luxembourg, president of COMECE, which represents the EU’s Catholic Bishops Conferences. “Vulnerable religious minorities and groups are at risk, and the EU must continue campaigning for religious freedom, with its own representative included.”

    The cardinal made the comments to German’s Deutsche Welle agency on Sunday, as 135 German parliamentarians from various parties urged their country to use its new tenure of the EU’s rotating presidency to press for restoration of the post, and as conservative members of the European Parliament tabled similar demands in a letter to Von Der Leyen.

    Austrian MPs also called on their government in a joint resolution last week to ensure the EU Commission’s decision was reversed. Meanwhile, the EU move was also criticised by Orthodox and Muslim leaders, as well as by the president of the Conference of European Rabbis, Pinchas Goldschmidt, who told Deutsche Welle it had “sent the wrong signal” when religious minorities were being “increasingly targeted by extremists and the free exercise of religion is being undermined”.

    The Slovak Jan Figel was appointed Special Envoy under a 2016 European Parliament resolution to work alongside the EU’s Directorate-General for International Cooperation and Development, and was believed influential in the subsequent opening of religious rights offices by governments in Britain, Denmark and Germany, as well as in securing release of the Pakistani Christian, Asia Bibi, from a death sentence for alleged blasphemy in 2019. However, supporters complained he had been denied office space and funds in Brussels, and that his one-year renewable mandate had been too brief to formulate any long-term plan.

    In an early June letter to the International Religious Freedom Roundtable, the EU Commission said it was committed under 2013 guidelines to advancing religious freedom, but added that violations would now be “monitored and raised regularly by EU delegations”, as well as by Eamon Gilmore, Special Representative for Human Rights.

    However, in their appeal, the German parliamentarians said they “greatly regretted” Figel’s dismissal and called on their country to use its EU presidency from 1 July to ensure his “previously successful work” continued. “As a pioneer of universal human rights, to which the EU is committed globally, the Commission must not look away”, the Bundestag members said. “At a time when persecution of religious minorities of all faiths is increasing, we need a strong European voice.”

    The chairman of the German bishops’ World Church Commission, Archbishop Ludwig Schick of Bamberg, said he would also write to the EU Commission, demanding the Special Envoy’s reappointment, as well as to MEPs urging them to campaign accordingly.

    In a letter last week to Catholic bishops in Nigeria, Cardinal Hollerich said COMECE would demand “intensified EU assistance and cooperation” with authorities and institutions in the African country, including its churches, to stop violence and persecution against local Christians.

    https://www.thetablet.co.uk/news/13129/eu-politicians-and-religious-leaders-demand-reinstatement-of-religious-envoy-

  • EU FoRB Day – A call for the renewal of the mandate of the Special Envoy on Freedom of Religion

    Seven years ago, the EU Guidelines on freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) were adopted by the Foreign Affairs Council. Today, the FoRB community celebrates this informally as ‘EU FoRB Day’ and civil society take this opportunity to call for the renewal of the mandate of the Special Envoy.

    This past April came and went with no decision by the Commission on the future of the mandate of the Special Envoy on Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB) outside the EU, which ended on 30 November 2019.

    In January 2019, one of the last resolutions by the last EU Parliament was to lend its support to the renewal. The COVID-19 crisis notwithstanding, the Commission’s hesitation despite letters by MEPs and civil society calling for the renewal of the mandate, sends a signal to Europeans and the international community about its reticence to continue to promote this fundamental right.

    Freedom of religion or belief is enshrined in Article 9 of the European Convention on Human Rights and Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. It protects the right of individuals to practise the religion or belief of their choice, or none at all – a freedom which is under threat in many parts of the world.

    Against this backdrop, the Special Envoy role matters a great deal.

    The mandate has had time to show that it is an effective tool in the EU’s diplomatic arsenal. On this very day in 2013 the EU Member States approved the ‘EU Guidelines on the promotion and protection of freedom of religion or belief’ which provide the policy framework for the Special Envoy’s mandate and are essential tools promoting FoRB in the EU’s external relations and in the EU’s international cooperation and development.

    Dr Figel has supported the implementation of these Guidelines, making 17 official country visits to a wide range of countries. Whilst in country, the Envoy would regularly engage with national authorities and institutions, civil society, human rights organisations, as well as religious leaders and communities.

    Moreover, the Special Envoy has illustrated to governments how FoRB can be promoted and protected effectively through the EU’s external action, for example, Asia Bibi, who spent years on death row in Pakistan on unfounded charges of blasphemy, acknowledged the role of the Special Envoy in securing her freedom in her first public appearance following her release. Likewise, Czech national Petr Jašek, who was jailed alongside two Sudanese pastors, also acknowledged Dr Figel’s role in securing his freedom.

    Key to such success is the manner in which the EU Special Envoy is viewed as a neutral broker by many countries, which in turn has been critical in fostering dialogue among opposing actors. As a result, the European Commission had sent a strong signal to all international and multi-lateral partners about the efficacy and concrete results the Special Envoy yields for the EU and the wider international human rights-based approach. Not renewing the mandate would send mixed messages and forgo four years of constructive work.

    Today, as the FoRB community commemorates the seven-year anniversary of the EU Guidelines on FoRB, the EU should honour this fruitful diplomatic post by renewing the mandate; it owes it to itself, Member States and to its founding fathers, whose principles of human dignity and common good are ever-relevant in the continual promotion of FoRB.

    By CSW’s Europe Liason Officer Alessandro Pecorari

    EU FoRB Day – A call for the renewal of the mandate of the Special Envoy on Freedom of Religion or Belief outside of the European Union
  • COVID-19, Religion and Belief: Special Envoys’ Perspective

    COVID-19, Religion and Belief: Special Envoys’ Perspective

    The following questions were addressed:

    • What is the current state of the art of the missions of Special Envoys?
    • What is the role of Special Envoys in the context of the pandemic?
    • What is the future of Special Envoys?
    • How is the Covid-19 crisis impacting Freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) in the world? Will it eventually change FoRB as we know it?

    Thursday, 28 May 2020 at 3:00 PM CEST

    https://spark.adobe.com/page/4vSJTeJhUd96y/#ep-8-covid-19-religion-and-belief-special-envoys-perspective

  • APPG statement on EU’s Special Envoy on FoRB

    The UK All-Party Parliamentary Group for International Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB) urges the European Commission to renew the mandate of the Special Envoy on FoRB outside the EU.

    Dr Ján Figel was appointed the European Commission’s first Special Envoy for the promotion of FoRB outside the EU, following a resolution adopted by the European Parliament in February 2016.

    The mandate has served as a focal point for promoting FoRB outside the EU, with Dr Figel working alongside the European External Action Service, civil society, religious leaders and governments. Dr Figel has also served as Special Adviser to the Commissioner for International Cooperation and Development and he has worked extensively with the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, the UN Special Rapporteur on FoRB, and the UN Deputy Secretary General responsible for Genocide Prevention, as well as his counterparts in European governments and in the US.

    The unique position of the EU Special Envoy has enabled him to be viewed as a neutral broker by many countries. This fact has been instrumental in helping to foster dialogue and make effective interventions. For example, in assisting with the release of Asia Bibi, who spent years on death row in Pakistan due to an unfounded blasphemy allegation. Czech national Petr Jašek, who was jailed alongside two Sudanese pastors and a FoRB activist, also acknowledged Dr Figel’s important role in securing his freedom.

    The Special Envoy has demonstrated how FoRB can be promoted and protected effectively through the European Union’s external action. This helps to explains why, on 15 January 2019, the European Parliament renewed its support for the Special Envoy in its resolution on the “EU guidelines and the mandate of the EU Special Envoy on Freedom of Religion outside the European Union”.

    Dr. Figel’s mandate has now expired. The UK All-Party Parliamentary Group for International Freedom of Religion or Belief urges the European Commission to renew his mandate in order to protect and promote FoRB outside the EU.

    APPG statement on EU’s Special Envoy on FoRB
  • Hong Kong arrests major Pro-Democracy figures. Ján Figeľ calls on the EU to act immediately

    Hong Kong arrests major Pro-Democracy figures. Ján Figeľ calls on the EU to act immediately

    Hong Kong police rounded up at least 15 veterans and supporters of the opposition camp in a swoop on Saturday that netted, among others, media tycoon Jimmy Lai Chee-ying and prominent barrister Martin Lee Chu-ming for their roles in unlawful protests late last year, South China Morning Post reported.

    While opposition politicians have been included among the thousands of protest-related arrests over the past year, rarely have so many prominent pro-democracy figures been arrested at once, The New York Times commented.

    The arrests of the 15 were for their roles in the protests in August and October that were part of an anti-government movement that was sparked by the aborted extradition bill.

    Former EU Special Envoy for Religious Freedom Jan Figel’ immediately wrote to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and EU Parliament’s David Sassoli calling on the EU to act immediately in defense of the human rights of the arrested.

    “The arrest of these individuals amount to an outrageous assault on Hong Kong’s freedoms, the rule of law and autonomy guaranteed under the Sino-British Joint Declaration and the Basic Law. I had the privilege of meeting Martin Lee last year, and I know that none of these individuals arrested could in any way remotely be regarded as radicals or ‘rioters’ – indeed they are highly-respected internationally-renowned establishment politicians known for their commitment to the rule of law, peaceful protest, democratic engagement and basic freedoms,” Figel’s wrote in the letter addressed to the top management of the EU Institutions.

    Jan Figel in his role as EU Special Envoy for Religious Freedom outside the EU met one of the major opposition figure Martin Lee in Fatima (Portugal) in August 2019.

    Figel’s concluded.“This is a clearly political prosecution, which follows a growing number of similar cases,” he also added. “It is essential that the European Union speak out strongly and urgently and call on the authorities to drop the charges against these 15 individuals,”

    Jan Figel’ and Martin Lee in Fatima (Portugal), August 2019

    http://europeanpost.co/hong-kong-arrests-major-pro-democracy-figures-jan-figel-calls-on-the-eu-to-act-immediately/