Source: European Parliament
The Commission has made combating antisemitism and hate a political priority. There is no place for antisemitism or any form of hatred and violence in the EU[1].
The Commission recommends the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition as a practical guidance and useful tool, in particular for education and training purposes for teachers, Non-Governmental Organisations, state authorities and the media in line with the 2024 Council declaration on fostering Jewish life and combating antisemitism[2], the 2022 Council Conclusions on combating racism and antisemitism[3] and the 2018 EU Council declaration on combating antisemitism[4].
As also stated in the first progress report of the EU Strategy on combating antisemitism and fostering Jewish life[5], to date, 25 Member States have adopted or endorsed the IHRA working definition of antisemitism[6].
The IHRA definition states that criticism of Israel similar to that levelled against any other country cannot be regarded as antisemitic. Israel-related antisemitism is the most frequent form experienced online[7] and the EU is working towards an EU free from antisemitism.
The non-legally binding working definition of antisemitism by the IHRA serves as a benchmark for the Commission’s work to combat antisemitism. EU funding is used for projects in line and for the implementation of the EU Strategy on combating antisemitism and fostering Jewish life.
- [1] https://data.consilium.europa.eu/doc/document/ST-14245-2024-INIT/en/pdf
- [2] https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2024/10/15/fostering-jewish-life-and-combating-antisemitism-council-approves-declaration/
- [3] https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2022/03/04/council-adopts-conclusions-on-combating-racism-and-antisemitism/
- [4] https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2018/12/06/fight-against-antisemitism-council-declaration/
- [5] https://commission.europa.eu/strategy-and-policy/policies/justice-and-fundamental-rights/combatting-discrimination/racism-and-xenophobia/combating-antisemitism/eu-strategy-combating-antisemitism-and-fostering-jewish-life-2021-2030/first-progress-report-eu-strategy-combating_en
- [6] https://holocaustremembrance.com/resources/working-definition-antisemitism
- [7] https://fra.europa.eu/en/publication/2018/experiences-and-perceptions-antisemitism-second-survey-discrimination-and-hate, p. 25.