The European Parliament has urged governments to do more to protect Christians from persecution.
It said in a resolution addressed to EU institutions: "In some cases, the situation facing Christian communities is such as to endanger their future existence - if they were to disappear, this would entail the loss of a significant part of the religious heritage of the countries concerned.
"We call on the Council, the Commission and High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy ... to pay increased attention to the subject of freedom of religion or belief and to the situation of religious minorities, including Christians, in agreements and co-operation with third countries as well as in human rights reports.
