An EU Commission Vice President has announced that the position of Special Envoy for Freedom of Religion or Belief outside the EU will be renewed, following widespread calls for the role to be continued.
Margaritis Schinas, the EU Commission Vice-President for Promoting the European Way of Life, revealed the important news in a tweet on 8th July, writing:
"We decided today to renew the function of Special Envoy for the promotion of freedom of religion or belief outside the EU. Together with @vonderleyen the forthcoming appointment shows our determination to ensure the rights of ALL faiths and beliefs are respected across the world."
The former special envoy, Jan Figel, called the decision "good news" on Twitter. The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) tweeted that it "welcomes the European Commission’s decision to renew the mandate of the Special Envoy on #FoRB outside the EU".
Christian Solidarity Worldwide in Europe wrote: "CSW welcomes the decision of @vonderleyen to renew the function of the Special Envoy for the promotion of freedom of religion or belief outside the EU. We will work closely with the new appointee to ensure the rights of all faiths and beliefs are respected across the world."
