Rabbi Menachem Margolin, Director General of the European Jewish Association (EJA), thanked the European Commission and its president, Jose Manuel Barroso, for hosting this week's ninth annual high-level meeting of European religious leaders under the motto: "Putting citizens at the heart of Europe in times of change."
"The European Jewish community strongly believes in the importance of dialogue," said Rabbi Margolin.
"The European institutions have the responsibility to increase education toward tolerance in all EU member states and we believe that education is the key. This annual meeting, is truly a unique opportunity to reaffirm the European Union's collaboration with religious leaders in order to assure a better future for all European citizens of all faiths."
Following his meeting with 18 senior representatives from Christian, Muslim and Jewish religions and from the Hindu community from all over Europe, Barroso stated: "It has become a tradition so probably it sounds trivial, but this is much more than a photo opportunity. Unfortunately there many other parts in the world where this kind of gathering would not be possible, and I want to underline that point. In Europe we have problems like the ones that have been highlighted and they are serious and we should not underestimate them but I want to call your attention, that at this moment we are speaking here, in many parts of the world people are being killed or persecuted because there is no freedom of religion. And this is extremely important. So, this is more than a photo opportunity, this is a symbol of what in Europe we are trying to do in terms of living together."
He said the meeting took place in the context of the European Year of citizens and 20 years after the introduction of the concept of European citizenship in the European treaties.
"Therefore, the watchword of our annual meeting this year came up naturally: putting citizens at the heart of the European project in times of change. Our European future must not just be built for our citizens but also by our citizens. Throughout the European year of citizens, the European Commission is highlighting the rights and benefits that come with European Union citizenship."