#FreedomReligion: Ex-Commissioner Figel' becomes religious freedom Special Envoy for outside EU

Jan Figel' (left) and Viktor Orban at the EPP summit

Speaking from the Vatican, on the occasion of the award of the Charlemagne Prize to Pope Francis, President Jean-Claude Juncker announced his decision to appoint Slovakian Ján Figel’ as the first special envoy for the promotion of freedom of religion or belief outside the European Union. Figel’ assumes this new role as of today (6 May) for an initial mandate of one year.

Like Juncker, Figel’ is from the EPP (European People's Party). He served briefly in the Prodi Commission when Slovakia first joined the EU. He was later appointed as the European Commissioner for Education and Culture, in the Barroso Commission. He resigned from the Commission in September 2009, just before the end of his mandate, to become the leader of the Christian Democratic Movement in Slovakia before national elections in 2010. Following the elections he became one of five Deputy-Prime Ministers in a complicated coalition that lasted two years.

As part of his mission, Figeľ will present a report ‘in the context of the on-going dialogue between the Commission and churches and religious associations or communities’, which is led by First Vice President Frans Timmermans.

Juncker explains that the initiative is at the request of the European Parliament. Up to now, the Commission has not been noted for taking much account of parliament’s resolutions. The resolution referred to is on ‘the systematic mass murder of religious minorities by the so-called ISIS/Daesh, and does, among other things, call for the EU to establish a permanent ‘Special Representative for Freedom of Religion and Belief’.

Slovakia

Slovakia does not have a great reputation for religious tolerance. In relation to the refugee crisis, the Slovakian government said that it would only accept Christian Syrian refugees under the proposed EU relocation scheme. The Slovakian Interior minister of that time explained that Muslims would not be accepted because ‘they would not feel at home’. The comment prompted the UNHCR to urge countries to take a more inclusive approach.

Following the Paris attacks, the Slovakian Prime Minister announced that it would be monitoring every Muslim. Muslims make up about 0.2% of Slovakia’s population, most of them settled there during the conflict in the former-Yugoslavia.

The views of Figel’ on Muslims living in Slovakia are unknown; it is assumed that he would both defend their rights to build places of worship and to go about their daily lives without assuming that they are under surveillance as potential terrorists. However, he is not known as an outspoken defender of religious freedom in Slovakia. It is not clear why he was chosen for this role, and who the alternative candidates were. Were there no other former commissioners or other candidates suitable for this role?

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