Abstract

In recent decades, the need for scholars to analyze the effects of the construction of a European juridical space on the right of religious freedom has become increasingly strong. As it is well known, the development of the European Union had a clear acceleration, not only in terms of economic and monetary cooperation among the Member States, but also in reference to the protection of fundamental rights and, in particular, of the religious interests of individuals and social formations. The guarantee of individual and collective religious freedom has become a consolidated acquisition of the legal patrimony of the European Union, while the normative choices made with reference to the status of Churches and confessional organizations are still subject to debate. Therefore, it is useful to analyse the community legal recognition of religious groups (considered in their wide generality), their contribution to the overall life of the European Union, the types of dialogue and contact between the ideal movements and the spiritual groups, on one hand, and the Community institutions, on the other. This in order to reach the solution of the still open questions.