On 21 October 2021, the European Council welcomed the EU strategy on combating antisemitism and fostering Jewish life adopted early this month by the European Commission.
“Following the Council declaration of 6 December 2018 on the fight against antisemitism and the development of a common security approach to better protect Jewish communities and institutions in Europe and the Council declaration of 2 December 2020 on mainstreaming the fight against antisemitism across policy areas, the European Council welcomes the EU strategy on combating antisemitism and fostering Jewish life adopted by the Commission on 5 October 2021. The Malmö International Forum on Holocaust Remembrance and Combating Antisemitism on 13 October 2021 is a reminder that no effort must be spared in fighting all forms of antisemitism, racism and xenophobia.”
With antisemitism worryingly on the rise, in Europe and beyond, the Strategy sets out a series of measures articulated around three pillars: preventing and combating all forms of antisemitism, protecting and fostering Jewish life in the EU, and education, research and Holocaust remembrance. It seeks to place the EU firmly in the lead of the global fight against antisemitism.
The European Commission has called on EU institutions, Member States, international organisations and all civil society actors and citizens to commit to a future free from antisemitism in the EU and beyond.
The strategy will be implemented over the period 2021-2030. Key elements of the strategy include increased funding and operational support for the protection of synagogues and Jewish communal buildings, enhanced training for justice and law enforcement, ensuring that EU funding does not fund hatred or violence in third countries, a new European research hub on contemporary antisemitism and Jewish life and culture, and encouraging all EU member states that have not yet adopted the IHRA definition of antisemitism to do so.
