Today, 5.10.2021, the European Commission presents the first EU strategy to fight anti-Semitism and safeguard Jewish life. With anti-Semitism on the rise in Europe and beyond, the strategy sets out a series of measures structured around three pillars: the prevention of any form of anti-Semitism,the protection and preservation of Jewish life and the promotion of Holocaust research, education and remembrance. The strategy proposes measures to intensify cooperation with online companies to curb anti-Semitism online, measures to better protect public spaces and places of worship, as well as the creation of a European research hub on modern anti-Semitism and a network locations where the Holocaust took place. These measures will be reinforced by the EU's international efforts to lead the global fight against anti-Semitism.

The President of the European Commission, Mrs. Ursula von der Leyen said: "Today we pledge to preserve Jewish life in Europe in all its diversity. We want to see Jewish life once again flourishing in the heart of our communities. That's the thing. The strategy we are presenting today marks a fundamental change in the way we respond to anti-Semitism. Europe can only prosper when its Jewish communities feel safe and prosperous."

The Vice-President of the Commission responsible for promoting our European way of life, Mr. Margaritis Schoinas, added: “Anti-Semitism is incompatible with EU values ​​and our European way of life. This strategy – the first of its kind – reflects our commitment to combat anti-Semitism in all its forms and to secure a future for Jewish life in Europe and beyond. We owe it to those who perished in the Holocaust, we owe it to the survivors and we owe it to future generations."

Towards a European Union free from anti-Semitism

The strategy sets out measures focused on: 1) preventing and combating all forms of anti-Semitism 2) protecting and safeguarding Jewish life in the EU and 3) education, research and Holocaust remembrance. These measures are complemented by the EU's international efforts to tackle anti-Semitism globally.

Some of the key measures of the strategy are as follows:

  • Preventing and combating all forms of anti-Semitism: Nine out of ten Jews believe that anti-Semitism has increased in their country, while 85% believe that anti-Semitism is a serious problem. To address this problem, the Commission will mobilize EU funds and support Member States in planning and implementing their national strategies. The Commission will support the creation of a pan-European network of trusted flagging sources of illegal content and Jewish organizations to stamp out illegal hate speech online. In addition, it will support the development of narratives to counter anti-Semitic content online. The Commission will work with industry and IT companies to prevent the illegal display and sale of Nazi symbols, memorabilia and writings online.
  • Protecting and safeguarding Jewish life in the EU: 38% of Jews have considered emigrating because they do not feel safe as Jews in the EU. To ensure that Jews feel safe and can participate fully in European life, the Commission will allocate EU funds to better protect public spaces and places of worship. The next call for proposals will be published in 2022 and will make €24 million available. Member States are also encouraged to make use of Europol's assistance in counter-terrorism activities, both online and offline. To preserve Jewish life, the Commission will take steps to protect Jewish heritage and increase awareness of Jewish life, Jewish culture, and Jewish traditions.
  • Holocaust education, research and memory: Today, one in twenty Europeans has never heard of the Holocaust. To keep the memory alive, the Commission will support the creation of a network of Holocaust sites, including sites that are not widely known, for example sites that were used as hiding places or as execution sites. The Commission will also support a new network of Young European Ambassadors to promote Holocaust remembrance. With EU funds, the Commission will support the creation of a European research hub on contemporary anti-Semitism and Jewish life, in cooperation with Member States and the research community. To highlight Jewish heritage, the Commission will invite cities applying for the title of European Capital of Culture to showcase their minority history, including the history of their Jewish community.

The EU will use all the tools at its disposal to urge its partner countries to fight anti-Semitism in the EU's neighboring countries and beyond, including through cooperation with international organisations. It will ensure that EU resources available as external funding cannot be misused for activities that incite hatred and violence, including against Jews. The EU will strengthen EU-Israel cooperation to combat anti-Semitism and promote the revitalization of Jewish heritage worldwide.

Next steps

The strategy will be implemented during the period 2021-2030. The Commission calls on the European Parliament and the Council to support the implementation of the strategy, and will publish global implementation reports in 2024 and 2029. Member States have already made a commitment to prevent and combat all forms of anti-Semitism through new national strategies or measures within existing national strategies and/or action plans to prevent racism, xenophobia, radicalization and violent extremism. National strategies should be adopted by the end of 2022 and evaluated by the European Commission by the end of 2023.

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This strategy is the EU's commitment to securing the future of Jewish life in Europe and beyond. It signals the Commission's political commitment to a European Union free from anti-Semitism and all forms of discrimination and with an open, inclusive and equal society for its members.

After the conference on fundamental rights on anti-Semitism and anti-Muslim hatred, the Commission appointed in 2015 the its first coordinator for the fight against anti-Semitism and the preservation of Jewish life. In June 2017 the European Parliament passed a resolution on combating anti-Semitism. In December 2018 the Council issued a declaration on combating anti-Semitism. In December 2019, the fight against anti-Semitism was added to the portfolio of the Commission Vice-President responsible for promoting our European way of life, signaling the Commission's intention to treat it as a cross-cutting priority. In December of 2020 the Council issued a new declaration on mainstreaming the fight against anti-Semitism in all policy areas.

Many of the policy areas related to combating anti-Semitism are primarily national competences. However, the EU plays an important role in providing policy guidance, coordinating Member States' actions, monitoring implementation and progress, providing support through EU funds and promoting the exchange of good practice between Member States. To this end, the Commission will transform the existing ad hoc its task force on combating anti-Semitism in a permanent structure, in which member states and Jewish communities will participate.

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ATHENS - MACEDONIAN NEWS AGENCY, 6.10.2021: M. SCHOINAS: THE EU STRATEGY TO FIGHT ANTI-SEMITISM IS NOT JUST A SHIELD, BUT A COMPREHENSIVE PREVENTIVE ACTION

For more information:

EU strategy to fight anti-Semitism and safeguard Jewish life

Factsheet on the EU strategy to fight anti-Semitism and safeguard Jewish life

questions and answers

Website to fight anti-Semitism

Coordinator for Combating Anti-Semitism and Safeguarding Jewish Life in the EU

SOURCE: EE website, Press Release 5.10.2021