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Religion and EU Morality Politics: The European Citizens’ Initiative ‘One of Us’

par Mondo, Emilie
Référence ECPR General Conference (07-10/09/2016: Prague (Czech Republic))
Publication Non publié, 2016-09-10

Communication à un colloque

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Résumé :

This paper analyses the role of religion in EU morality politics through theEuropean citizens’ initiative ‘One of Us’. Launched in 2012, this initiative askedthe Commission to stop funding the destruction of human embryos. It symbolisesthe growing politicisation of morality issues at the EU level – in this case, abortionand human embryonic stem cell research (hESCR), which do not directly belong tothe EU competence regime. Meanwhile, they both raise ethical questions bearing astrong religious dimension with regard to the definition of human life. In the lightof the increasing role of religion in EU politics, and of the EU’s competence creepinto morality issues, this paper asks a threefold research question. First, who hasbeen mobilising in favour of, or against, the initiative? The purpose is to study theinteractions between European religious actors, and other social and politicalactors. Findings show that some American religious actors have also been involvedin the ‘One of Us’ campaign. Second, how have all these actors been mobilising infavour of, or against, the initiative? The purpose is to study the activities ofdifferent coalitions of (religious) actors, and the way(s) they seek to promote theiragenda at the EU level. Actually, protagonists play on a multi-level field of action.For example, the organisers of ‘One of Us’ have decided to file a lawsuit to theCJEU in order to challenge the Commission’s decision not to submit a legislativeproposal putting an end to EU embryo-destructive programs. Third, why have theybeen mobilising in favour of, or against, the initiative? The purpose is to study theobjective of politicising religion and morality issues at the EU level despite thelimited competence of the Union for these matters. This paper consists in aqualitative case study which is based on a discourse analysis of official documents,policy papers and semi-structured interviews. The results shed light on religiousactors’ interactions, strategies and objectives in the EU governance of abortion andhESCR.