The Council of the European Union has adopted a declaration on promoting Jewish life and combating antisemitism, reaffirming the EU’s commitment to stand against all forms of racism, hatred, and discrimination, Hungarian EU Affairs Minister János Bóka announced in Luxembourg on Tuesday, following a meeting of the General Affairs Council (GAC).
Providing further details, Bóka emphasized that promoting Jewish life and combating antisemitism is particularly important, given the alarming rise in anti-Semitic incidents across Europe and beyond.
The minister highlighted the importance of education as a crucial tool in eradicating antisemitism. He stressed the need to ensure the safety of Jewish people, protect victims of antisemitism, and provide them with the necessary support.
‼️ The @EUCouncil has approved a declaration on fostering Jewish life and combating antisemitism. Now, more than ever, we must stand united to protect Jewish communities, heritage, and culture, as they are an essential part of Europe's identity. #HU24EU
— Hungarian Presidency of the Council of the EU 2024 (@HU24EU) October 15, 2024
🇭🇺🇪🇺 pic.twitter.com/hUJe86n5Se
Ahead of Tuesday’s GAC meeting, the European Commission published its first progress report on the 2021-2030 EU Strategy for combating antisemitism and fostering Jewish life. According to the Commission, most Member States have taken action against antisemitism since 2021. This includes 23 Member States that have developed national strategies to combat antisemitism, 20 Member States that have appointed a special envoy or national coordinator for this purpose, and 25 Member States that have adopted or endorsed the International Holocaust Remembrance Association’s working definition of antisemitism.
However, the report also acknowledges that, following the bloody terrorist attack by Hamas against Israel on 7 October last year, the number of antisemitic crimes and atrocities in the EU has surged. Vice-President for Promoting our European Way of Life, Margaritis Schinas, stated: ‘Since launching our first-ever EU Strategy against antisemitism in November 2021, the Commission and Member States have introduced specific measures to combat antisemitism, foster Jewish life, and ensure Holocaust remembrance like never before. Yet the situation for Jews in Europe has dramatically worsened. We must do everything in our power to ensure that all Jewish Europeans can live their lives free from fear.’
It is particularly symbolic that the declaration was adopted by the Member States during the mandate of the Hungarian EU Presidency. In recent years, Hungary has become one of the safest European countries for the Jewish community, and the Hungarian government fully supports Israel in its war against Hamas and Hezbollah.
‘We must do everything in our power to ensure that all Jewish Europeans can live their lives free from fear’
The 2nd International Pro-Israel Summit was recently held in Budapest, featuring prominent speakers, including Israeli Transport Minister Miri Regev and Yair Netanyahu, son of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (the latter appearing via video message). Regev expressed her gratitude to Budapest for its support during challenging times and emphasized that Hungary is regarded as one of the safest countries in the world for the Jewish community. Similar sentiments were shared by Yacov Hadas-Handelsman, Israel’s Ambassador to Hungary, during the 7 October commemoration in Budapest. In his speech, he noted that the Hungarian government is actively protecting Jewish communities and highlighted the shared values between Israel and Hungary.
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