Senior religious leaders across Europe established the WCRP European Council of Religious Leaders (ECRL), the first multireligious structure of senior religious leaders in Europe, in an inaugural meeting in Oslo, Norway from 11 - 12 November. The founding members of the ECRL included Cardinal Danneels, the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Mechelen-Brussels, Bishop Gunnar Stalsett, the Bishop of Oslo, Grand Rabbi Rene Sirat of Paris, Metropolitan Kirill of the Russian Orthodox Church, and Dr. Mustafa Ceric, the Grand Mufti of Bosnia Herzegovina.

In the final statement, the ECRL acknowledged the bloody history of conflicts in Europe, as well as current attempts to twist religions to fuel the fires of ethnic conflicts both in Europe and around the world. The 30-member Council committed itself to working to end conflicts, de-link religion from terror, and to promote justice and peaceful coexistence among the diversity of peoples, religions, and traditions in Europe.