European Jewish Congress Policy Officer Dylan Bokler and SACC by EJC Head of Research and Analysis Yael Landman participated in the 9th Meeting of the Working Group on the Implementation of the EU Strategy on Combating Antisemitism and Fostering Jewish Life in Vienna, organised by the European Commission and the Federal Chancellery of the Republic of Austria.
The meeting brought together representatives of national Jewish communities, international and civil society organisations, national ministries, and high-level officials of the European Institutions.
Discussions focused on the current state of national strategies and action plans to combat antisemitism, the necessity to foster Jewish life in Europe, and the growing challenges faced by Jewish communities amid rising anti-Jewish hatred.
EJC Policy Officer Dylan Bokler participated in the first panel discussion on current threats and challenges facing Jewish communities, where he highlighted the difficulties European Jews face in their daily lives, the challenges surrounding the visible expression of Jewish identity, the lack of adequate responses, and the need to clearly confront the rise of anti-Zionism as the key driver of antisemitism today.
He also pointed to growing concerns around youth extremism, the role of social media in amplifying hate, and the emerging risks posed by artificial intelligence in the spread and normalisation of antisemitic narratives.
For its part, SACC by EJC Head of Research and Analysis Yael Landman participated in the same panel in the session dedicated to security threats, focusing on the practical responses required in an increasingly complex threat environment. She outlined key trends currently being observed, including the evolution of risks faced by community institutions and individuals.
She also underlined the importance of strengthening counter-radicalisation efforts, ensuring adequate funding for security structures, and reinforcing cooperation with law enforcement authorities.
EJC Policy Officer Dylan Bokler also participated in the European Conference on Antisemitism, which took place following the Working Group Meeting in Vienna and was organised by the European Commission, the Federal Chancellery of the Republic of Austria, and the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights.
Discussions centred on the need to harmonise the recording of antisemitic incidents, countering online antisemitism, and the challenges and best practices of statutory human rights bodies in the fight against antisemitism.
The European Conference on Antisemitism consists of a group of like-minded Member States committed to enhancing cooperation in preventing and combating antisemitism. It is based on the “Vienna Declaration on enhancing cooperation in fighting antisemitism and encouraging reporting of antisemitic incidents signed on 18 May 2022”.
