The 1981 and 1990 European Values Surveys largely supported the thesis of increasing secularisation in Western Europe. Almost all the variables showed a religious decline, which was even deeper among the youth, except for beliefs in an afterlife. Peter Berger and Grace Davie have underlined the "European exception" in contrast to the rest of the world. However the last survey in 1999 revealed significant changes. The downward trend is now counterbalanced by two new tendencies : a Christian renewal and the devlopment of religiosity without belonging, especially among the youth. In particular beliefs in an afterlife are spreading. These tendencies vary according to country. Eastern-socialist Europe shows an even more developed religious renewal among the youth in particular.