Brussels, 7 May 2024
Today and tomorrow, representatives from the Commission and Israel hold their 15th EU-Israel High-Level Seminar on combating racism, xenophobia and antisemitism in Brussels. The Seminar takes place against the background of an unprecedented rise of antisemitism in Europe and worldwide after the heinous terrorist attacks by Hamas on Israeli civilians on 7 October 2023.
The Commission and Israel will reaffirm their full support to European Jewish communities in these difficult times. Determined to fight all forms of antisemitic manifestations, they will agree to strengthen their cooperation in fighting antisemitism, particularly online, as well as Holocaust distortion and denial in the digital sphere. The following topics will be discussed as part of the Seminar: the rise of antisemitism after 7 October and its impact on Jewish communities in Europe; artificial intelligence, antisemitism and radicalisation; progresses and challenges on the fight against antisemitism; and its rise in the online landscape.
Vice-President for Promoting our European Way of Life, Margaritis Schinas, who will participate in the opening session of the event, said:
“Antisemitism is incompatible with what the European Union stands for – it goes against European values and the model of society we represent. But today we are better equipped to fight antisemitism in Europe than before, drawing on the first-ever EU strategy on combating antisemitism we adopted in 2021. Now is the time to step up its implementation, with EU Member States and in collaboration with our key partners.”
Israel Katz, Israeli Minister of Foreign Affairs, Aurore Bergé, French Minister for Gender Equality and Fight against Discriminations as well as Maria Alexandra Kefala, Greek Deputy Minister of Social Cohesion and Family will also attend the event.
More information on the Commission’s fight against antisemitism is available here.
Source – EU Commission