BRUSSELS, 2 DECEMBER 2015. EUROPEAN PRAYER BREAKFAST.

A delegation of the Interparliamentary Assembly on Orthodoxy (I.A.O.) headed by the I.A.O. member Mr. Andreas Michailidis, participated to the European Prayer Breakfast at the European Parliament, with the participation of the I.A.O. Advisors Dr. Kostas Mygdalis and Prof. Valery Alekseev. Moreover, the Member of the European Parliament and I.A.O. member Mr. Lefteris Christoforou from Cyprus attended the Prayer Breakfast as well.

Mr. Alojz Peterle, ex. Prime Minister of Slovenia, Head of the Members of the European Parliament organizing the Prayer Breakfast welcomed the I.A.O. delegation and expressed his pleasure for the I.A.O.’s interest on the event.

The members of the I.A.O. delegation, during their stay in Brussels had the opportunity to meet with Ms. Katharina von Schnurbein – Adviser for the dialogue with Churches, religions, philosophical and non-confessional organisations in the European Commission and discussed issues regarding various I.A.O. initiatives and cooperation and underlined the need for a closer cooperation between the I.A.O. and the European Parliament and the European Commission.

During the meeting with the Chairman of the Delegation of the European Parliament for relations with the Pan-African Parliament Mr. Michael Gahler (Germany) they discussed issues about the I.A.O.’s cooperation with the Pan-African Parliament, as well as the possibilities for implementing joint events.

In addition, the I.A.O. delegation participated to the round table discussion of the European Christian Political Movement (ECPM) presided by the Head of the European Parliament’s Intergroup on freedom of religion or belief and religious tolerance Mr. Peter van Dalen. The round table’s topic was on the need for ethics in the banking system.

During the lunch offered in honour of the participants Mr. Michailidis presented a speech and said inter alia:
«…The intense refugee flows of the last months, mainly from Syria, but also from other war-inflicted or unstable regions of the world, pose a series of political and economic challenges for the European “transit” and host countries, as well as for the entire European Union. As you are well aware of, these challenges are related to the rescue, registration and issuing of documents, provision of food, healthcare, housing and finally the social and economic integration of refugees. Beyond the administrative, managerial and political challenge, the refugee crisis also puts to the test the cohesion of European societies’ social fabric, as well as the cohesion among European countries, which are called upon – and required – in the context of the European Union, to cope with this humanitarian and political crisis jointly, displaying humane feelings and solidarity. On a third level, the refugee crisis raises questions to citizens and collective entities, such as the ones represented by your organization, in relation to translating Christian teaching into practice and action…».

Brussels, 2 December 2015. European prayer breakfast.