New Bulgarian law on religion known as the Confessions Act 2002

Doc. 9703

13 February 2003

New Bulgarian law on religion known as the Confessions Act 2002

Motion for an order

presented by M. Atkinson and others

This motion has not been discussed in the Assembly and commits only the members who have signed it

1. The Assembly is concerned that the new law on registration of religious organisations known as the Confessions Act, promulgated on 29 December 2002, contains provisions contrary to the European Convention on Human Rights and to Bulgaria's obligations and commitments entered into upon accession in 1992.

2. The Assembly is, in particular, concerned at the position of privilege established by the law in favor of one particular religious organisation, the Bulgarian Orthodox Church, despite its assertion that all religions should be equal.

3. It is also concerned at the separate procedure for registration that is adopted by the law towards other religious organisations, despite its assertion that no discrimination shall be permitted.

4. It regrets that the draft law was not referred to the Council of Europe for consultation despite concerns expressed during the monitoring process by its two rapporteurs (Mr Atkinson and Gjellerod) towards such a law during their visits.

5. The Assembly requests its Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights to investigate Bulgaria's Confessions Act and to prepare a report.

Signed (see overleaf)

Signed : ¹

Atkinson, United Kingdom, EDG

Abbasov, Azerbaijan, EDG

Açikgöz, Turkey, EDG

Cabrnoch, Czech Republic, EDG

Çavuşoğlu M., Turkey, EDG

Chapman, United Kingdom, EDG

Filipiová, Czech Republic, EDG

Giertych, Poland, EDG

Hladiy, Ukraine, EDG

Hooper, United Kingdom, EDG

Huseynov A., Azerbaijan, EDG

Knight of Collingtree, United Kingdom, EDG

Kvakkestad, Norway, EDG

Libicki, Poland, EDG

Malgieri, Italy, EDG

Malins, United Kingdom, EDG

Monsen, Norway, EDG

Nasufi, "the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia", EDG

Nĕmcová, Czech Republic, EDG

Ouzký, Czech Republic, EDG

Pellicini, Italy, EDG

Ragnarsdøttir, Iceland, EDG

Rybak, Ukraine, EDG

Seyidov S., Azerbaijan, EDG

Shakhtakhtinskaya, Azerbaijan, EDG

Tevdoradze, Georgia, EDG

Tkáč, Slovakia, EDG

Walter, United Kingdom, EDG

Wilkinson, United Kingdom, EDG

Zacchera, Italy, EDG

¹ SOC: Socialist Group

EPP: Group of the European People’s Party

EDG: European Democratic Group

LDR : Liberal, Democratic and Reformers’ Group

UEL: Group of the Unified European Left

NR: not registered in a group