American Jewish Committee (AJC) praised the Council of the
European Union unanimous adoption today of a statement on
combating anti-Semitism across Europe. It is the
first time the Council's 28-member states have passed a
comprehensive measure aimed at mobilizing to counter
anti-Semitism and to assure the safety of European Jews.
"The EU has taken a historic step toward fighting all forms of
hatred targeting Jews," said Daniel Schwammenthal, Director of
the AJC Transatlantic Institute, the Brussels-based arm of
AJC, the global Jewish advocacy organization.
"Significantly, the 28 EU member states have jointly recognized
the severity of continuing threats to Jews, the need to protect
Jewish institutions and communities, and the value of the
International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) Working
Definition of Anti-Semitism."
Schwammenthal praised Austrian Chancellor Kurz, who currently
holds the EU presidency, for initiating the Council Declaration.
"Chancellor Kurz has admirably made anti-Semitism an EU
priority."
The Council Declaration asks member states "to adopt and
implement a holistic strategy to prevent and fight all forms of
anti-Semitism." It expresses EU determination to "ensure a future
for Jewish people to live with the same sense of security and
freedom as all other citizens in the European Union." And it
calls on EU member states that have not yet adopted the IHRA
working definition to endorse it.
In 2015, AJC convened in Brussels "A Defining Moment
for Europe," a strategy
conference on combating anti-Semitism. The Call to
Action adopted at the groundbreaking conference was
updated in June
2018.
