Christos Stylianides 
A Catholic bishops’ commission said that it is a “pity” that the “key position” of EU religious freedom envoy is now vacant.
The Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of the European Union (COMECE) congratulated the outgoing envoy Christos Stylianides September 8 on his next role as head of Greece’s new climate crisis ministry.
But the commission expressed regret that the post of special envoy for the promotion of freedom of religion or belief outside the EU now lay vacant “after much effort to find a suitable candidate.”
“We urge the EU Commission to swiftly appoint a new one with reinforced mandate/resources,” COMECE wrote on its Twitter account.
The special envoy role was created in 2016 to protect freedom of religion or belief worldwide on behalf of the EU.
Mr Stylianides, a Cypriot politician, was appointed to the role in May, ending a two-year vacancy.
