Search

This paper, which deals with the relationship between the juridical statutes of churches and fundamental rights within the European Union, is divided into two parts. The first part describes the protection of fundamental rights within the EU; and the second addresses the three key questions that arose regarding a subject discussed during the European Convention held to draft the so-called European Constitution, the failure of which led to the Treaty of Lisbon: (1) the relationship between church statutes and Article 10 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union (concerning freedom of thought, conscience and religion); (2) the role of fundamental rights as parameters protecting churches in EU treaties; and (3) the guarantee of the juridical statute of churches under the terms of the Charter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]