The EU has filled the post for religious freedom

The European Union has reappointed a special representative for freedom of religion outside its borders after a period without the role, Idea.de reports.

Irish politician Mairead McGuinness, a long-standing figure in EU institutions, has taken up the post.

She served as European commissioner for financial services from 2020 to 2024 and previously as vice-president of the European Parliament, where she was involved in dialogue with churches and religious communities.

Her appointment was welcomed by COMECE, the Catholic bishops’ commission of the European Union, which described her as an experienced politician with a strong commitment to European values. McGuinness has also spoken openly about her personal faith, which she says she inherited from her mother.

She succeeds Belgian diplomat Frans van Daele, filling a position that has been vacant since 2024.

(pmi)