The European Jewish Congress partnered with the Hungarian Presidency of the Council of the EU, the European Commission, and the World Jewish Congress in organising the high-level security conference on protecting Jewish communities in Europe, titled ‘Security and Resilience Challenges,’ which took place at the Permanent Representation of Hungary to the EU in Brussels.
The conference was dedicated to enhancing security efforts and raising awareness about the protection of Jewish communities in the European Union, focusing on best practices and effective strategies. Discussions explored the evolving security landscape, the impact of global terrorism, and the tools needed to protect vulnerable communities.
Diplomatic representatives from permanent representations to the European Union, bilateral diplomats, security experts, law enforcement officials, European lawmakers, and religious and community leaders came together to discuss common challenges and share their knowledge in the fields of security, crisis management, and preventive action against terrorist attacks.
EJC Executive Vice-President Raya Kalenova delivered the welcoming remarks at the conference, alongside the Permanent Representative of Hungary to the EU, Balint Ódor, European Commission Coordinator on Combating Antisemitism, Katharina von Schnurbein, WJC Executive Vice-President Maram Stern, and MASZIHISZ President Dr Andor Grósz.
In her speech, Ms Kalenova commended the Hungarian Presidency for its dedication to protecting Jewish communities amid rising antisemitism and for its ongoing efforts to support Jewish life on the continent during these challenging times. She also praised the long-standing partnership between the EJC and the European Commission and expressed her intention to further strengthen their collaboration in the new mandate.
Amid the rising antisemitism following the October 7th massacre, Ms Kalenova said that European Jewish communities are deeply concerned, stressing the need for new methods and knowledge to address the issue professionally. She highlighted that the EJC has developed this capacity through its Security and Crisis Centre (SACC), established in 2012, which works to ensure the safety of Jewish communities across Europe and has become a trusted partner for national governments and European institutions.
Participants had the opportunity to hear from a diverse array of speakers with long-standing experience, including Dr Péter Sztáray, Hungarian State Secretary for Security Policy and Energy Security at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Bartjan Wegter, EU Counter-Terrorism Coordinator, and Julien Mousnier, Director for Rule of Law, Fundamental Rights and Democracy at DG JUST, among others.
SACC by EJC CEO Ophir Revach presented a session on crisis management and moderated one on challenges and best practices following the October 7th terrorist attacks.
