Friday, December 07, 2018

EU Encourages Member States To Increase Fight Against Antisemitism

As reported by JTA, the Council of the European Union yesterday adopted a Council Declaration on the fight against antisemitism and the development of a common security approach to better protect Jewish communities and institutions in Europe (full text). Described by the European Jewish Congress as "unprecedented," the Declaration sets out eight steps that member states are encouraged to take, including increasing their security efforts for Jewish communities, institutions and citizens. Among the other suggested steps are:
implement[ing] a holistic strategy to prevent and fight all forms of antisemitism as part of their strategies on preventing racism, xenophobia, radicalisation and violent extremism....
endors[ing] the non-legally binding working definition of antisemitism employed by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) as a useful guidance tool in education and training, including for law enforcement authorities in their efforts to identify and investigate antisemitic attacks....