Brussels, October 23rd, 2024 – European Coalition for Israel welcomes the approval of EU Council Declaration on Fostering Jewish Life and Combating Antisemitism, adopted under the Hungarian EU presidency on October 15.
Last month ECI met with the State Secretary of Security Policy of the Hungarian EU presidency Péter Sztáray at the sidelines of the 79th session of the UN General Assembly in New York to discuss the background to the declaration. In the meeting Sztáray pointed out how the Hungarian government has a long history of prioritising the promotion of Jewish life and the combat against antisemitism which culminated in the Council declaration last week. Apart from taking a clear stance against the rise of antisemitism in Europe, the Hungarian government is also known for its consistent support of the State of Israel at the European Council where the attitude towards Israel under the leadership of the outgoing High Representative for Foreign Affairs Josep Borrell has at times been highly critical.
In a statement on Wednesday ECI Founding Director Tomas Sandell commended Hungary for its consistent and long-standing support for Jewish life, not only in Europe, but also in the national home of the Jewish people, in the State of Israel.
In the Council declaration, the dramatic rise of antisemitic incidents and hate crimes against Jews and Jewish institutions after the terror attack on October 7 is highlighted. This development does not only endanger the Jewish people but erodes European democracy and security and the values which the EU is founded on, the report states. The Council of the European Union calls upon the member states to adopt and implement, and update – if necessary – national strategies for combating antisemitism in the aftermath of 7 October 2023. It also calls upon those member states which do not currently have a national coordinator in the fight against antisemitism to consider appointing one. Among its many recommendations, the declaration invites member states to support and protect Jewish students facing antisemitism in educational spaces, fully supporting their right to education.
In the most recent survey from the European Union Fundamental Rights Agency in Vienna this summer, 96 % of the Jews who participated in the survey faced antisemitism in the last year and 80 % of them felt that antisemitism had increased in recent years.
“Given the dramatic rise of antisemitism in Europe after October 7, ECI calls upon the President of the new and incoming European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen to upgrade the portfolio of the EU Coordinator for combating antisemitism and fostering Jewish life to be included in her own cabinet. This upgrade would be coherent with the commendable political actions of von der Leyen after the terror attack on October 7 and would clearly demonstrate the importance that the new European Commission will place on combating antisemitism. A Europe which is not safe for Jews is not safe for anyone”, Sandell concluded.
