¹ The complex issues raised by its possible accession are not the subject of this paper.Google Scholar

² Constitution of Slovenia (1991), Article 41.Google Scholar

³ Ibid Article 7.

⁴ Constitution of Slovakia (1992), Article 24.Google Scholar

⁵ Czech Charter of Fundamental Rights, Article 2.1.Google Scholar

⁶ Ibid Article 15.

⁷ Ibid Article 16.

⁸ Constitution of Poland (1997), Preamble. A similar broad and all-embracing reference to God was discussed for possible inclusion in the Constitution of the European Union.Google Scholar

⁹ Constitution of Poland (1997), Article 25.Google Scholar

¹⁰ Constitution of Lithuania (1992), Article 26.Google Scholar

¹¹ Ibid Article 27.

¹² Constitution of Latvia (1992), Article 99.Google Scholar

¹³ The Law on the Rights and Obligations of a Citizen and a Person 1991. section 35.Google Scholar

¹⁴ The Constitution of Estonia (1992).Google Scholar

¹⁵ The Constitution of Malta, section 2.Google Scholar

¹⁶ Ibid section 40.

¹⁷ Constitution of Hungary, Article 60.Google Scholar

¹⁸ Agreement concluded on 8 July 2002.Google Scholar

¹⁹ Agreement concluded on 24 September 1998, ratified in 1999.Google Scholar

²⁰ Acta Apostolicae Sedis (1998) 310–329.Google Scholar

²¹ Acta Apostolicae Sedis (1999) 414–418.Google Scholar

²² Agreement signed on 25 July 2002.Google Scholar

²³ Acta Apostolicae Sedis 95 (2003) 102–120.Google Scholar

²⁴ Signed on 14 December 2001; ratified by Parliament on 28 January 2004, after the Constitutional Court raised no objection. The court stated that in the case of conflict state law was to prevail.Google Scholar

²⁵ Lithuania: Agreement concerning the Juridical Aspects of the Relations between the Catholic Church and the State (Acta Apostolicae Sedis (2000) 783–816);Google Scholar Agreement on the Co-operation in Education and Culture (Acta Apostolicae Sedis (2000) 783–795);Google Scholar Agreement on the Pastoral Care of Catholics serving in the Army (Acta Apostolicae Sedis (2000) 809–816).Google Scholar

²⁶ Basic Agreement (Acta Apostolicae Sedis (2001) 136–155).Google Scholar Separate agreements were signed on the army chaplaincy (2002) and on education (signed in 2003, ratified in 2004).

²⁷ The first convention with Slovakia bears the title ‘basic agreement’.Google Scholar

²⁸ These include the Agreement on the Pastoral Care in the Army and the Border Guard (Acta Apostolicae Sedis (1994) 574–579);Google Scholar Agreement on Financial Issues (Acta Apostolicae Sedis (1998) 330–340).Google Scholar

²⁹ Despite the fact that Belgium and Ireland have strong Catholic majorities.Google Scholar

³⁰ Since Vatican II only Columbia (1973), Lower Saxony (1973), Poland, and recently Portugal, have concluded agreements entitled ‘concordat’. Some authors refer to all international agreements signed by the Holy See as concordats: eg Köck, F H, Die völkerrechliche Stellung des Heiligen Stuhls (Berlin, 1975), 316.Google Scholar Others distinguish between concordats in the strict sense (being general, complex and solemn agreements) and concordats in the broad sense, embracing all conventions signed by the Holy See with states and international organisations: eg Agar, JTM de, Raccolta di concordati 1950–1999 (Città del Vaticano, 2000) 10.Google Scholar Other authors use the term concordat only for agreements so entitled, distinguishing them from other types of convention executed by the Holy See: eg Erdö, P, Egyházjog (Budapest, 1992), 63.Google Scholar

³¹ It remains open for the Czech Parliament to revisit the matter.Google Scholar

³² A minor difference may be that whereas the Hungarian government has the right to raise political objections in relation to a candidate for the office of bishop, in Lithuania the President receives prior notification as to the nominee, but has no right to raise objection. In Slovakia there is no such procedure. Agreements on the pastoral care of Catholics serving in the army (police, border guard) are very similar (Bolivia 1986, Brasilia 1989, Croatia 1996) since the relevant Apostolic Constitution Spirituali Militum Curae was promulgated in 1986.Google Scholar

³³ For example that of Slovakia (2000) in relation to conscientious objection, army chaplaincy, education, and financial issues.Google Scholar

³⁴ For example that of Hungary (1997) on the funding of new institutions of higher education, and the subsidy for the preservation of ecclesiastical cultural heritage.Google Scholar

³⁵ Agar, JTM de, Studio Comparativo die Concordati tra la Santa Sede e gli Stati dell'Europa Centrale e Orientale, in šmid, M and Vasil', C (eds), International Bilateral Legal Relations between the Holy See and States of Central and Eastern Europe: Experiences and Perspectives (Vatican, 2003), 61–88.Google Scholar

³⁶ Whether this stipulation infringes freedom of movement in the labour market remains to be seen.Google Scholar

³⁷ The Slovak agreement even contains an express prohibition on the government expressing any opinion.Google Scholar

³⁸ Eg Christus Dominus 19–20.Google Scholar

³⁹ Code of Canon Law (1983), Canon 377 §5.Google Scholar

⁴⁰ Latvia (Agreement), Art 15; Lithuania (Agreement on Co-operation in Education and Culture) Art 6 §1.Google Scholar

⁴¹ Poland (Concordat) Art 12 §2.Google Scholar

⁴² Slovakia (Agreement on Education) Art II §4.Google Scholar

⁴³ Lithuania (Agreement on Co-operation in Education and Culture) Art 3 §1.Google Scholar

⁴⁴ Latvia (Agreement), Art 15.Google Scholar

⁴⁵ Poland (Concordat) Art 12; Lithuania (Agreement on Co-operation in Education and Culture) Art 3 §2.Google Scholar

⁴⁶ Slovakia (Basic Agreement) Art 13 §5, (Agreement on Education) Art III §1.Google Scholar

⁴⁷ Hungary (Agreement on Financial Issues) Part I, Art 2.Google Scholar

⁴⁸ Lithuania (Agreement on Co-operation in Education and Culture) Art 9 §8.Google Scholar

⁴⁹ Slovakia (Basic Agreement) Art 13§2, (Agreement on Education) Art 1§8.Google Scholar

⁵⁰ Latvia (Agreement) Art 19.Google Scholar

⁵¹ Poland (Concordat) Art 14§4.Google Scholar

⁵² Estonia (Exchange of Letters) §8.Google Scholar

⁵³ Latvia (Agreement) Art 8.Google Scholar

⁵⁴ Lithuania (Agreement Concerning Juridical Matters) Art 13.Google Scholar

⁵⁵ Poland (Concordat) Art 10.Google Scholar

⁵⁶ Slovakia (Basic Agreement) Art 10.Google Scholar

⁵⁷ Constitution of Poland (1997), Art 25§5.Google Scholar