Religion in the European Union

Overview

Religion in the European Union is practiced within the framework of the freedom of worship guaranteed by each Member State of the organization. The European Union has a legal basis for a regular dialogue between its institutions and churches, religious associations, and philosophical or non-religious organizations through Article 17 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU).

Demographics

The largest religion in the EU is Christianity, which accounts for approximately 71.6% of the EU population. The remaining 28.4% comprise various smaller religions, including Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, and Eastern Asian religions.

Member State Breakdown

### Austria
In Austria, the most common religion is Catholicism, with 73.6% of the population identifying as Catholic. Protestants make up approximately 4.7% of the population. The number of church shelters has been declining since 2001. There are also small groups of Lutherans, Pentecostals, and other confessions, as well as Witnesses of Jehovah. Muslims have increased in number due to migration from Turkey, with an estimated 400,000 people identifying as Muslim.

### Other Member States
In addition to Austria, the European Union comprises 26 other Member States, each with its own unique religious demographics. While specific data is not provided for all Member States, it is worth noting that the principle of secularity, defined by the European Parliament as "the strict separation of religious and political authorities," applies throughout the EU.

Secularity in the European Union

The European Parliament has defined secularity as a fundamental principle, ensuring respect for safety standards and preserving public order. This principle is subject to the primary objective of maintaining a secular society, where "any religious interference in the functioning of public institutions, as well as any public interference in religious matters" is rejected.

Accession States

The European Union also engages in dialogue with churches, religious associations, and philosophical or non-religious organizations in accession states, including Albania, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, and others. These countries are currently negotiating their membership to the EU.

Note: The provided sources have been synthesized into a cohesive article, maintaining all factual data, numbers, dates, and names intact.