The steering group of CoGREE met for their second meeting in 2010 in Muenster at the Comenius-Institut. Part of the agenda has been to identify common issues that can lay ground for common projects and initiatives during the following years.

In 2007 CoGREE has already adopted statutes and a statement on “Education and Religion in a European Context” as a common basis.

Now the following issues were identified:

(1) The right of the child to religion and to religious education
(2) The right of the child to have a religion or not
(3) Respect of the other
(4) A comprehensive concept of education
(5) Religion as a factor of social cohesion
(6) Taking religion seriously

These issues can be seen as guiding principles for CoGREE’s work in future.

At the meeting Swier Frouws, the secretary of CoGREE, said farewell. The moderator of the steering group, Peter Schreiner, thanked Swier warmly for his commitment for the work of CoGREE during the last years. He will be replaced by Elza Kuyk, senior adviser of the Besturenraad in Woerden, the Netherlands, who is also a board member of ICCS. Welcome Elza in this new position.

The next meeting is planned for 8/9 April 2011 in London.