European Bodies Urge EU to Appoint Religious Freedom Envoy Amid Rising Persecution

Calls Intensify for Dedicated EU Roles

In Brussels, Belgium, a coalition of European lawmakers, bishops, and civil society organizations is pressing the European Union to appoint a special envoy for religious freedom and a dedicated coordinator to combat anti-Christian hatred. These calls come in response to a documented increase in violence and persecution targeting Christians globally and within Europe.

The push highlights concerns over the EU's commitment to protecting religious freedom, particularly given that the position of Special Envoy for the Promotion of Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB) has been vacant for significant periods since its establishment in 2016.

Documented Rise in Anti-Christian Incidents

Recent reports underscore the urgency of these appointments. The 2026 Open Doors World Watch List indicates that approximately 388 million Christians worldwide, or 1 in 7, faced high levels of persecution in 2024-2025, including severe acts such as beheadings, mass killings, and abductions. This global trend is mirrored by a surge in attacks across Europe.

The Observatory on Intolerance and Discrimination Against Christians in Europe (OIDAC Europe) documented 2,211 anti-Christian hate crimes in Europe in 2024, encompassing arson, assaults on clergy, and vandalism. Another report from OIDAC Europe cited 2,444 hate crimes targeting Christians across 35 European countries in 2024, a notable increase from 749 incidents in 2022. These incidents included 232 personal attacks on Christians. The countries most affected by these hate crimes were France, the United Kingdom, Germany, Spain, and Austria. A high-profile case mentioned is the murder of Ashur Sarnaya in Lyon, France, in September 2025.

Advocates and Their Proposals

Key figures and organizations advocating for these roles include:

• European Parliament Members (MEPs): Figures such as Bert-Jan Ruissen, co-chair of the European Parliament's Intergroup on Freedom of Religion or Belief, and Carlo Fidanza, have urged the European Commission to reappoint the Special Envoy and strengthen EU safeguards.
• Commission of the Bishops' Conferences of the European Union (COMECE): Representing Catholic bishops, COMECE has consistently called for the reinstatement of the Special Envoy and the appointment of a coordinator for anti-Christian hatred, noting that existing mechanisms 'lack the authority and visibility necessary' to address the crisis effectively.
• Civil Society Organizations: Groups like the European Platform Against Religious Intolerance and Discrimination (EPRID) and Christian Solidarity Worldwide support repositioning the Special Envoy role within the European External Action Service (EEAS) for enhanced coherence and authority.

Advocates emphasize that the EU already has coordinators for combating antisemitism and anti-Muslim hatred, making a similar appointment for anti-Christian hatred a logical and necessary step. They also propose that the Special Envoy position be endowed with a robust mandate and sufficient human and financial resources to ensure its effectiveness.

Historical Context and EU Framework

The EU's commitment to freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) is enshrined in Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and Article 10 of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights. The EU adopted guidelines on the promotion and protection of FoRB in 2013. However, the Special Envoy position, created in 2016, has seen intermittent activity, with past envoys including Jan Figel, Christos Stylianides, and Baron Frans van Daele. Critics point out that the role has been inactive for approximately half of its existence.

While there is broad support for protecting religious freedom, some MEPs have cautioned that the mandate of the FoRB envoy must not be misused to undermine the rights of other groups, such as women, LGBTIQ+ individuals, or non-believers.