European Bureau for Conscientious Objection

Brussels, 3 March 2014

“EBCO is offended at the provocative and outrageous harassment of its activists in Athens and their detention in the General Police Directorate of Attica, after their symbolic peaceful protest against the imprisonment of Turkish Cypriot conscientious objector Murat Kanatli.

Brussels, 25 February 2014

“EBCO is shocked at the provocative and outrageous imprisonment of its Board Member Murat Kanatli, a Cypriot conscientious objector and human rights activist, and demands its immediate and unconditional release. We also call for the full recognition of the right to conscientious objection for conscripts, reservists and professional members of the armed forces, in line with European and international standards”,

Brussels, 13 November 2013

EBCO urges Greece to immediately drop all the charges against Greek conscientious objector Nikos Κrontiras and urgently comply with its human rights obligations. This case is another example of the violation of fundamental human rights in Greece and the increasing persecution of Greek conscientious objectors by the military authorities.

Brussels, 11 October 2013

“EBCO urges the full recognition of the right to conscientious objection for conscripts, reservists and professional members of the armed forces, in line with European and international standards”, Friedhelm Schneider, EBCO’s President stated today, following yesterday’s ruling of the Constitutional Court in the northern part of Cyprus on the case of conscientious objector and EBCO Board member Murat Kanatli.

Ο ευρωβουλευτής των Οικολόγων Πρασίνων / Ομάδα των Πράσινων στο Ευρωπαϊκό Κοινοβούλιο, Νίκος Χρυσόγελος, φιλοξένησε την Παρασκευή 4 Οκτωβρίου 2013 την παρουσίαση της ετήσιας έκθεσης του Ευρωπαϊκού Γραφείου για την Αντίρρηση Συνείδησης (ΕΒCΟ) σχετικά με το δικαίωμα στην αντίρρηση συνείδησης στη στρατιωτική θητεία στην Ευρώπη.

Brussels, 29 August 2013

One year after his sudden death, EBCO honours the memory of Gerd Greune, co-founder of EBCO, and a prominent figure in the fields of pacifism, conscientious objection to military service, and human rights.

EBCO has uploaded a memorial video tribute here:

As Members of the European Parliament, who were elected to represent our constituents throughout Europe, we are writing to express our concerns about the ongoing persecution of Bradley Manning, the young U.S. soldier who released classified information revealing evidence of human rights abuses and apparent war crimes in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Athens 1st of July 2013

The current year is one of the worst periods in the history of Conscientious Objection in Greece, as measured by the number of prosecutions. Long-forgotten charges have been re-activated in a deliberate attempt to suffocate the objectors personally and financially.

Atenas 1o de Julio 2013

Athènes, le 1er juillet 2013

European Parliament / Protection of Freedom of Religion or Belief / The right to conscientious objection to military service/ approved on 13 06 2013

The European Parliament has approved on 13 June 2013 a recommendation to the Council of 13 June 2013 on the draft EU Guidelines on the Promotion European Parliament recommendation and Protection of Freedom of Religion or Belief (2013/2082(INI)).

"The right to conscientious objection

Brussels, 05 june 2013
On Monday 3rd June 2013 Michalis Tolis, a 30-year-old total objector was arrested and brought to the police station of Ioannina. The charge against him is insubordination. He was transferred to Athens and brought before the Military Court of Athens on Tuesday 4th June. The trial was postponed to today, Wednesday 5th June. Alexia Tsouni will observe the trial on behalf of the European Bureau for Conscientious Objection.