European Parliament resolution on the situation as regards fundamental rights in the European Union (2000) (2000/2231(INI))
Abstracts dealing with freedom of thought, conscience and religion
51.Recommends that the Member States apply, if they have not yet done so:
-Council of Europe Recommendation 1202 (1993) on religious tolerance in a democratic society;
-Council of Europe Recommendation 1396 (1999) on religion and democracy;
52.Recommends that the Member States focus in particular on the illegal or criminal activities sometimes carried out by cults, which jeopardise the physical and mental integrity of individuals, in particular by means of:
-information and awareness campaigns by specialised independent human rights bodies to ensure that anyone may decide freely whether to join or leave a religious or spiritual movement;
-changes to legal,fiscal and criminal law provisions designed to counteract the illegal activities of some cults;
53.Recommends that Greece should observe strictly the right to conscientious objection, without reference to any religious criteria, and in particular that the Member States concerned should offer an alternative to military service of equal duration, which should not be turned into a punitive form of civilian service;