At its last Plenary, the EESC hosted a debate on the
proliferation of antisemitism in Europe. Ms Raya Kalenova
(Vice-president of the European Jewish Congress), Mr Michał
Bilewicz (associate professor at the Centre for Research on
Prejudice, Faculty of Psychology, University of Warsaw), and Mr
Joël Kotek (Professor at the Free University of Brussels and the
Paris Institute of Political Studies) were invited to take the
floor as guest speakers.
Ms Kalenova emphasised the global increase of
antisemitism, and the impact it has on the lives of the Jewish
population as well as on the future of Europe. The fight
for Europe and the fight against Antisemitism are in essence the
same fight.
Prof. Bilewicz introduced research findings on
antisemitism in Europe. The studies show that the public
perception of the Jewish people is rather negative across Europe,
and that the Jewish feel a recent increase of antisemitism. He
highlighted the importance of including the Jewish influence to
the European history into school curriculums.
Mr Kotek presented the history of movements
related to antisemitism, and the meaning of antisemitism.
What is important is to come away with is the realisation that
the difference between racism and antisemitism is that the Jews
almost disappeared in Europe – In France they represent 1% of the
total population but 51% of racist acts involve or target
Jews.
The president of our group Mr
Metzler contributed to the debate, and highlighted
that the EU was built on the memory of the
Holocaust. This energy from those experiences and those
decisions and those feelings enable us until today for the long
and difficult struggle to a European Union as a peace project of
the 20th and the 21st century.
Mr Metzler also commented on the
responsibilities of the CSOs as being neutral in respect of any
political and religious aspects.
I think it is a public obligation and it is a personal
obligation too to defend our European values including the
opposition to antisemitism.
He stressed: We all
should protest and speak up frankly and freely in our personal
circles when we hear unpleasant jokes about Jewish people and the
past. I think it is a public obligation and it is also a personal
obligation to defend our European values.
Watch his full
intervention here.
The president of the REX section and Group III
member Ms Slavova highlighted that
education is a key in to prevent antisemitism: That is
why it is appropriate to introduce training about all forms of
intolerance, racism and hate crime, in particular anti-Semitic
prejudices and hate crime into our school curricula, into
vocational training such as for people working in the field of
security and justice as well as into the curricula of integration
courses, encouraging exchanges between children and young people
of different faith via joint activities. And here is the role of
civil society to promote respect to all faiths and appreciation
of diversity.
We all should know and remember!
, Ms Slavova concluded.
Watch her full intervention here.
