European Union targets rising antisemitism with new strategy

The European Union on Tuesday announced a new strategy in targeting the rise in antisemitism in Europe.

Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said in a video on Twitter that in addition to strengthening the fight against antisemitism, the initiative aims to foster Jewish life in the EU and create a network for Holocaust remembrance.

“Antisemitism is a threat to Jewish people but also a threat to our democracies & values,” she said in the tweet.

Antisemitism is a threat to Jewish people but also a threat to our democracies & values.

A threat to all of us.

We present our 1st strategy against antisemitism, to:

•Step up the fight against antisemitism
•Foster Jewish life in
•Preserve the memory of past atrocities pic.twitter.com/yrWHLTn0cM

— Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) October 5, 2021

Key actions under the plan include combating online antisemitism by working with a “Europe-wide network of trusted flaggers and Jewish organisations.” The European Commission will provide funds to countries and develop programs and legislation toward that goal.

The focus will also entail countering hate crimes and “antisemitic hate speech,” as well as providing protection to places of worship. 

The plan will be implemented over the next decade, with von der Leyen saying this is the “first-ever strategy” created by the European Commission to combat antisemitism.

Europe’s Fundamental Rights Agency said 90 percent of Jewish people believe antisemitism is a serious issue in their country, with more than one-third saying they’ve thought about moving as a result, The Associated Press reported.

Only one in 20 Europeans have even heard of the Holocaust, the AP noted.