Parliamentary questions
WRITTEN QUESTION P-2247/00
by Maurizio Turco (TDI) to the Council
(30 June 2000)

Subject: Opus Dei and European officials' right to exercise discretion

On 19 June the secretariat of the Council of Ministers refused to allow the holding of a meeting on its premises organised by an association of officials, the Amicale de la pensée critique, on the question "Do sects in general, and Opus Dei in particular, represent a threat to a democratic and pluralist Europe"? on the grounds that it was incompatible with European officials' duty of discretion.

As, hitherto, European officials' duty to exercise discretion has been applied in relation to the protection of the interests of Member States of the Union, could the Council clarify which country's or countries' interests would have been adversely affected by holding the meeting in question?

Does the Council have a policy with regard to sects in Europe? If so, what is it?

Does the Council have a list of the organisations that are regarded as sects in the various Member States?

Does the Council believe that one or more countries regard Opus Dei as a sect?

What is the Council's policy with regard to officials who are members of sects?

Is the Council taking any action to prevent sect members organising inside the European institutions?

Who took the decision to prohibit the holding of the meeting in question?

P-2247/00EN
Reply
(7 November 2000)

The first four questions raised by the Honourable Member have never been brought up before the Council.

The last three questions are obviously matters for the internal organisation of the General Secretariat.