The text describes common background and common challenges of legal regulation of religious assistance (chaplaincy) in public institutions in the EU countries. Chaplaincy can be understood as a position held by a minister of religion within an organization or institution in order to provide spiritual services to its members or inmates.
Chaplaincy is provided in the armed forces, hospitals, prisons, fire rescue services, schools, at airports and also in some private companies. The legal systems of all EU member states make chaplaincy possible.
The differences are in the variety of institutions in which chaplaincy is provided and in the type of norms regulating this issue.