Overview:

• The French government maintains relations with organisations representing Christianity, Islam and Judaism; overseas department and other French territories do not always follow the philosophy of laïcité.

• There are two categories associations of worship and cultural associations; these two categories can be considered as two forms of legal registration; it does not seem currently that there exists procedures for existential recognition.

• Associations of worship are strictly for conduct of religious practices while cultural associations are for conduct of both nonprofit and for profit activities; associations of worship are religious while cultural associations can be either religious or secular.

• A relatively low membership quota exists in the city of Paris.

• NRMs such as Scientology continue to face both social and governmental discrimination.

Positive elements:

• Provisions have been put in place to deal with the ongoing issue of terrorism.

Recommendations:

• Ensure that the French government’s approach is to facilitate developments and religion and philosophy.

• Establish a recognition agency independent of government for the ensuring that existential recognition is provided for; this should allow France to be classified as dynamic.

• Provisions need to be put in place to ensure existential recognition is bestowed.