A Dutch MEP has called on the EU’s High Representative on Foreign Affairs, Baroness Catherine Ashton, to make the defence the rights of Christians in Egypt a policy priority and to develop an EU strategy for religious freedom.

Peter van Dalen of the Dutch ChristenUnie, or ‘ChristianUnion’ party, said he made his appeal after meeting some 60 Copts in the European Parliament. “They cried for help,” the parliamentarian said about the February talks.

The plight of Egypt’s Christians, or Copts, has been dramatised in the past week, as demonstrators were attacked by mobs wielding petrol bombs, swords and guns last weekend. Reports suggest that 100 people were injured, and one man was left dead.

“It’s time for action. That’s why I have [made] two proposals to madam Ashton” this week, explained Mr Van Dalen to Christian news website WorthyNews.com.

Mr Van Dalen said: “The position of Copts must become a top priority in your policy [because] their systematic discrimination must stop. [Secondly] the European Parliament on January 20 requested an EU strategy for religious freedom and permanent monitoring of that policy. How will this be realized?”

It comes months after a controversy surrounding Baroness Ashton’s refusal to draft a resolution specifically calling for Egypt’s Copts to be protected following a deadly attack on a Coptic church in the New Year which left scores dead.

A draft resolution sponsored by her office in reaction to the attack made no specific reference to violence against Christians and led to a row between Baroness Ashton and the Italian and French foreign ministers.

Ireland, represented by its Permanent Representative to the European Union, Ambassador Rory Montgomery, backed the draft that failed to mention attacks on Christians specifically.

In the end, the Foreign Affairs Council of the European Union finally agreed a statement condemning violence specifically against Christians. The statement did not specify the countries in which this violence is taking place, however.

Baroness Ashton stressed earlier that she took the reports of persecution seriously saying she has “underlined the need for all religious groups around the world to be able to gather and worship freely,” during visits to the Middle East. “I also stressed that the EU condemns all forms of intolerance and violence against persons because of their religion or belief, wherever it takes place.”

Van Dalen suggested however that more concrete European action is needed as “The position of Christians worsens worldwide.” He expressed especially concern about what he called a “new big threat” towards Christians in the Middle East.

“There is a structural neglect and discrimination of Christians in several Islamic countries.” He noted that more than half of Iraq’s Christian population of at least 800,000 people have left the country, amid ongoing violence. “In Egypt we see a similar situation with attacks against Copts, many daily cases of bullying and forced marriages while building new churches is almost impossible,” Van Dalen added.

He said the EU must help those “who are persecuted for their faith.” This week the EU celebrates the 50th birthday of the concept that led to the 27-nation Union.

In January, European Parliament passed a resolution a month ago specifically condemning attacks on Christians and calling on this week’s Council of Ministers meeting to discuss the issue and respond to it. The resolution was co-sponsored by Fine Gael MEP, Gay Mitchell.

The resolution called on the Council “to discuss the question of the persecution of Christians and respect for religious freedom or belief, which discussion should give rise to concrete results, especially as regards the instruments that can be used to provide security and protection for Christian communities under threat, wherever in the world they may be”.