For the first time in the history of the European Union, Orthodox Easter has been taken into account in establishing the agenda of the European Parliament for 2009, following a petition by Romanian Social-Democrats, supported by the Socialist, Liberal and People's Party MEPs, Info-Prim Neo reports. Under an EP amendment, the second day after Orthodox Easter will be a day off for the MEPs. As a result, the plenary session in April 2009 will start on Tuesday, April 21, and will end on Friday, April 24. In four EU member states, amounting to a total of over 40 million inhabitants, between 78% and 98% of the population is of Orthodox religion. The authors of the petition also believe that the European Parliament, upholding the principle of laity, should refrain from favouring one religious belief against the conferral of legitimate rights to other minority ones. Moreover, Easter celebrations and the European Parliament's calendar allocations thereof should not be a matter open to voting, and consequently to majority decision, given their nature and implications.