The European Commission welcomes today's unanimous approval of the Council of Europe's Declaration on mainstreaming anti-Semitism into all policy areas. The vice-president of the European Commission for the Promotion of the European Way of Life, Mr. Margaritis Schinas, made the following statement:
"Europe stands firmly against any form of anti-Semitism. Jewish life is and always will be part of European societies, as well as our way of life. Today's commitment of the member countries once again confirms this fact. I welcome this Declaration, which aims to raise awareness across the political spectrum to prevent and address anti-Semitism.
Today's Council Declaration acknowledges, with great interest, the increase in threats against the Jewish people, both online and offline, and highlights the need for more drastic measures. It also reiterates that member states have an obligation to ensure the security of Jewish communities and institutions. It also recognizes the importance of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of anti-Semitism as a guiding tool for better identifying and addressing this scourge. I call on Member States to follow up on this commitment with concrete actions.
The Commission is determined to continue with a holistic approach to tackling anti-Semitism. To this end, a comprehensive EU strategy to combat anti-Semitism will be presented in 2021 to support the efforts of the member states."
*Translated from an article on the website of the European Commission, 2.12.2020
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- STATEMENT OF ITS PRESIDENT EUROPEAN JEWISH CONGRESS