Policy Recommendations

1. EU Member States should form a broad coalition against neo-Nazi*) and extremist*) groups. They should adopt and implement holistic strategies to prevent and fight antisemitism and to protect Jewish communities, institutions and citizens.
2. A coordinator for the fight against antisemitism, similar to the EU counter-terrorism coordinator, should be appointed in the Council of the EU.
3. The European Commission should examine legal measures to prevent the dissemination of antisemitic and terrorist content online and promote the protection of Jewish communities, institutions and citizens in EU Member States.

Abstract

For several years now, the number of antisemitic incidents in Europe has been rising dramatically. The terrorist attacks against Jewish targets in Toulouse, Brussels, Paris, Copenhagen and Halle have tragically highlighted the scale of hatred and the need for greater efforts and more decisive action to combat antisemitism. Under the Austrian Presidency, the unanimous adoption at EU level of the Council declaration on the fight against antisemitism and the development of a common security approach to better protect Jewish communities and institutions in Europe on 6 December 2018*) set the political course for an effective fight against antisemitism. It is now up to the EU Member States to take immediate action to prevent antisemitic violence and protect Jewish life in Europe. Historical and contemporary hatred towards Jews affects the whole of Europe. Europe must therefore act together.

*) See definitions and explanations

****************************

Effectively fighting Antisemitism in Europe – challenges and actions

Alarming rise of antisemitism in Europe

Antisemitism is experiencing a resurgence in many European countries, as evidenced by the 2018 survey among the Jewish population conducted by the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA). According to the survey, 63% of respondents from twelve countries (Belgium, Denmark, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands, Poland, Sweden, Hungary, Austria and the United Kingdom), in which more than 96% of the Jewish population live within the EU, stated that antisemitism had recently increased significantly; 45% described antisemitism as a “very big problem”.[1]

What is striking is that antisemitism can be displayed across the whole social and political spectrum.[2] The survey demonstrated that among the most frequent perpetrator groups were extremist Muslims (30%), followed by people from the left political spectrum (21%), work or school colleagues (16%), acquaintances (15%) and people who hold right-wing[3] extremist views (13%).

According to the survey, the Jewish population in Europe is confronted with vandalism, insults, threats and violent crimes; however, the largest arena for antisemitism is the Internet and social networks (89 percent).

 Although there is very good cooperation between police authorities, the State Criminal Police Office and the Office for the Protection of the Constitution with the Jewish community in Austria, and a correspondingly high feeling of security, Jews in Austria also appear to be increasingly insecure and afraid of revealing their identity in public: more than 7 out of 10 people (73 percent) consider antisemitism to be a “big” or “very big” problem, and 75 percent of those surveyed believe that antisemitism has encreased in the last five years.[4]

Important milestones at the European level in the fight against antisemitism

At the latest since the right-wing populists entered the European Parliament under the leadership of Jean-Marie Le Pen in 1984, the European institutions and organizations (EU, Council of Europe but also the OSCE) have increased their efforts to combat racism and antisemitism.

A first important step in the fight against antisemitism was the establishment of the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI), set up in 1994 by the first summit of Heads of State and Government of the Member States of the Council of Europe to combat the growing problems of racism, xenophobia, antisemitism and intolerance. ECRI is mandated to monitor and evaluate Member States’ legislation, policies and other measures to combat racism, xenophobia, antisemitism and intolerance and to propose further initiatives at local, national and European level.[5]

In 1997, the European Monitoring Centre on Racism and Xenophobia (EUMC) was established by Council Regulation (EC) 1035/97[6], which was transformed into the European Fundamental Rights Agency in 2007. The primary task of the EUMC was to provide the Community and its Member States with objective, reliable and comparable information and data on racism, xenophobia, islamophobia and antisemitism at the European level in order to help the EU and its Member States to establish measures or formulate courses actions against racism and xenophobia.[7]

In 2003, the EUMC published a first study on the manifestations of antisemitism in the EU, which documented the increasing attacks on Jewish institutions and the Jewish community.[8] On 31 March 2004, a further 345-page report on antisemitism in (at that time) 15 Member States of the European Union was published, highlighting the difficulties in collecting and comparing data on antisemitism within the EU Member States due to the lack of a uniform, universally applicable definition of antisemitism.[9]

In a next step, the EUMC together with non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and experts, therefore, proposed early 2005 a working definition that formally defines antisemitism as a certain perception of Jews as well as a verbal or physical act directed against Jewish communities, institutions and citizens. The International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) continued to develop a common definition of antisemitism and adopted a legally non-binding but internationally recognized working definition on 15 May 2016.[10]

In 2000, the first comprehensive anti-discrimination laws were introduced at European level: a directive on equal treatment between persons irrespective of racial[11] or ethnic origin[12] and a directive on equal treatment in employment and occupation irrespective of religion or belief, disability, age or sexual orientation were adopted that year.[13]

In 2008, the Council unanimously adopted the EU Framework Decision on combating racism and xenophobia through criminal law.[14] However, according to a report by the European Commission, the criminal prosecution of hate crimes and hate speech in many EU countries has serious shortcomings.[15]

Another important milestone was the appointment of Katharina von Schnurbein as the first European Commission Coordinator on Combating Antisemitism in December 2015.[16] Her role is to ensure that the concerns of Jewish communities are heard at the political level of the Commission and to assist the Commission in coordinating its work as part of its comprehensive strategy to combat racism, xenophobia and other forms of intolerance.

In May 2016, the European Commission, together with four major IT companies (Facebook, Microsoft, Twitter and YouTube), published a Code of Conduct against hate speech on the Internet to protect freedom of expression while creating obstacles to hate speech and terrorist propaganda.[17]

On 1 June 2017, the European Parliament adopted a resolution on combating antisemitism[18], calling on all EU Member States to take a firm stand against antisemitism and to adopt the non-legally binding definition of antisemitism of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA).[19] In addition, special bodies are to be set up in various social policy areas such as the media and education, but also in internal security, to raise awareness of the issue.

On 6 December 2018, under the Austrian Presidency of the EU Council, the Justice and Home Affairs Ministers of all 28 EU Member States adopted the aforementioned declaration on the fight against antisemitism and the development of a common security approach to better protect Jewish communities and institutions in Europe.

The recent 2019 attack on a Jewish synagogue in Halle, Germany demonstrates more than ever the need for the above measures to be implemented by EU Member States in order to take sustainable steps in the fight against antisemitism and to ensure the security of Jewish institutions.

Concrete and sustainable measures in the fight against antisemitism

Adopt and apply the International Holocaust Memorial Alliance (IHRA) definition of antisemitism

The non-legally binding IHRA working definition of antisemitism, including its eleven illustrative examples, should be used as part of efforts to fight antisemitism and as a guide for a common standard. All EU Member States should adopt the IHRA working definition and use it as a reference tool to ensure effective detection and combating of all forms of antisemitism.[20]

Develop and implement national strategies to combat antisemitism

EU Member States should adopt specific strategies to fight antisemitism and protect Jewish communities, institutions and citizens or set concrete targets and measures to combat antisemitism in their national action plans against racism. Such holistic strategies should build on the IHRA definition of antisemitism, be based on valid data and include preventive, reactive and also shaping elements[21] to ensure peaceful coexistence of people of different cultures and religions in accordance with European fundamental rights and values. They should receive political support at national and local levels and be developed in cooperation with local Jewish communities and organizations.

Strengthen national coordination and policy implementation

At the EU level, the Office of the Coordinator on Combating Antisemitism should be strengthened to reflect the challenging coordinating role. At best, consideration should be given to transferring this role from the European Commission to the Council of the EU in order to be closer to the policies of the Member States. Several Member States have already appointed national coordinators, with some (such as Germany and France) providing the offices with relevant human resources. Other Member States should either follow this example or, through appropriate inter-ministerial coordination, ensure that regular coordination and monitoring of the implementation of national policies takes place.

Law enforcement cooperation in the fight against right-wing extremism 

In recent years, the focus of the EU has been on the fight against radical Islamic terrorism. While this is still an important topic, however – as the events in Christchurch and Halle tragically illustrate – the EU must increase its efforts to combat right-wing extremist terrorism. For the first time in the recent past, the interior ministers of the EU Member States exchanged views on this issue at the Council meeting on 7 and 8 October 2019. They agreed that various aspects concerning the fight against right-wing extremism needed further work, such as creating a better overview of violent right-wing extremism and terrorism, continuing to identify and share best practices to strengthen the prevention, detection and combating of violent extremism and terrorism, or tackling the spread of illegal right-wing extremist content online and offline.[22] However, this can only be a first step and there is an urgent need to adopt and implement a robust action plan against right-wing extremism.

Ensuring the security of Jewish communities and institutions

Consideration should be given, on the basis of common risk assessments, to improving cooperation between law enforcement authorities of EU Member States and Jewish institutions and organizations, and to ensuring regular exchange between relevant actors.

EU Member States must ensure that members of their respective Jewish communities are able to live in safety in the same way as all other citizens and therefore they have to provide adequate funding for security measures. This presupposes, on the one hand, an understanding of the extent of the threat to Jewish communities and, on the other hand, the concrete security priorities and needs of Jewish communities. Consideration should be given, on the basis of common risk assessments, to improving cooperation between law enforcement authorities of EU Member States and Jewish institutions and organizations, and to ensuring regular exchange between relevant actors.

Implementing effective measures in education

Like all forms of discrimination and intolerance, antisemitism must be prevented through education. The European Commission should therefore develop a pedagogical guide to help EU Member States proactively tackle antisemitism through education and sustainably promote tolerance.[23]

The denial of the Holocaust is regarded by a good half of Europeans (53 percent) as a problem in their country.

According to a Eurobarometer survey of January 2019, only 3 percent of Europeans know Jewish history and customs “very well”, and 68 percent say they are “not informed”. The denial of the Holocaust is regarded by a good half of Europeans (53 percent) as a problem in their country. Only four out of ten Europeans on average believe that there is sufficient education about the Holocaust in schools.[24]

Curricula and textbooks should be free from political propaganda, discrimination and hatred, especially concerning the history and culture of Jewish communities in Europe.

EU Member States should therefore promote knowledge about the Holocaust and the historical importance of Jewish communities and citizens in the development of Europe and ensure that teachers are adequately trained in schools and in training and integration courses. Curricula and textbooks should be free from political propaganda, discrimination and hatred, especially concerning the history and culture of Jewish communities in Europe.

In order to break down prejudices and counter stereotypes, the European Union should strengthen relations between European and Israeli civil society.

In order to break down prejudices and counter stereotypes, the European Union should strengthen relations between European and Israeli civil society. The European Union’s Erasmus+ program for education, youth and sport should develop exchanges with Israeli educational institutions and set up a special coordination center for EU-Israel youth exchanges as an umbrella for all youth cooperation.

EU-wide studies on antisemitism

Research on antisemitism has been largely limited to historical and theoretical aspects.

The latest FRA survey on the experiences and perceptions of antisemitism among European Jews is an excellent tool and should be conducted regularly at least every five years. Nevertheless, the lack of comparable data on antisemitism across the EU remains a challenge and hinders targeted responses. Research on antisemitism has been largely limited to historical and theoretical aspects. The European Commission should launch a study on the spread of antisemitism among the EU as a whole, both in terms of society overall and in terms of key subgroups within the population, in particular the extreme left, extreme right and extremist Christians and Muslims.

Condemnation of antisemitic discrimination against Israel and Israeli citizens worldwide

Israeli citizens are regularly confronted with international exclusion in culture, sport, science and art. For example, the Malaysian government has imposed a comprehensive ban on Israeli citizens taking part in public events in Malaysia[25] and an Arab airline refuses to carry Israeli citizens on its fleet.[26]

As a close partner of the State of Israel, the European Union should condemn and respond to such discrimination by demonstrating solidarity with Israel and its citizens in line with the IHRA definition of antisemitism and by adopting a clear stance against antisemitism and anti-Zionism as a prerequisite for all relations with Israel.

Summary and outlook

The latest antisemitically motivated terrorist attack on a synagogue in Halle is the latest escalation of the threateningly rising hatred against Jews in Europe and worldwide. Antisemitism must no longer be allowed a place in Europe, not only because of Europe’s historical responsibility, but also because violent antisemitic attacks on Jewish institutions or individuals are directed against the values of free, democratic and open societies and, ultimately, against the values on which the European Union is built.

The latest antisemitically motivated terrorist attack on a synagogue in Halle is the latest escalation of the threateningly rising hatred against Jews in Europe and worldwide.

In the past, important measures have been taken at the European level, although the European Union’s competence in the fight against antisemitism remains limited. In order to combat antisemitism in a sustainable way, it is not only the European level that is called for, but in particular also at the national level.

As a next step, the European Commission should examine legal measures to ensure the prevention of the distribution of illegal antisemitic content online and the downloading and distribution of videos showing antisemitic and other terrorist attack, and promote the protection of Jewish institutions in EU Member States.

Furthermore, in order to better coordinate and implement the policies of the Member States to prevent and combat antisemitism, a coordinator for the fight against antisemitism similar to the EU counter-terrorism coordinator should be appointed in the Council.

Due to its historical responsibility, Austria has the task of dealing intensively with the fight against antisemitism and has recently been able to set important accents and develop strategies at both national and European level:

• On 25 April 2017, Austria became the third of 18 countries to adopt the IHRA definition of antisemitism.[27]

• The rapporteur for the European Parliament resolution on combating anti-semitism, which was adopted by a two-thirds majority on 1 June 2017, was Austrian MEP Heinz K. Becker; other Austrian MEPs are active in various bodies at European level in the fight against antisemitism.[28]

• On 6 December 2018, under the Austrian Council Presidency, the Justice and Home Affairs Ministers of all 28 EU Member States adopted a declaration against antisemitism.

• On 15 March 2019, the President of the National Council, Wolfgang Sobotka, presented the study “Antisemitism in Austria 2018”[29]; on this basis, the Austrian Parliament recently established the initiative “Education against Prejudice”. Within the framework of workshops for pupils and apprentices, educational work is carried out on the topics of antisemitism and racism.[30]

This path taken in the fight against antisemitism must be continued consistently and uncompromisingly on both the European and national level and appropriate political priorities must be set.

It is now up to EU Member States to form a broad united coalition against right-wing extremist, neo-Nazi and other extremist groups (regardless of political spectrum or religious opinion) and to urgently implement effective measures in the fight against antisemitism. They should work closely with the actors involved, in particular Jewish communities and civil society organizations, to prevent and combat antisemitism more effectively.

 Definitions and explanations

(1) The term “neo-Nazism” is used to describe associations of persons and activities that contain a commitment to the ideology of National Socialism and are oriented towards the establishment of a totalitarian leader state along the lines of the “Third Reich”.  Further reading: https://www.bpb.de/politik/extremismus/rechtsextremismus/41312/was-ist-rechtsextrem?p=all

(2) The Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution of Germany defines extremism as a fundamental rejection of the democratic constitutional state. This includes all efforts that are directed against the core of the Basic Law or the liberal democratic constitutional order as a whole. The term is a collective term for anti-democratic efforts and encompasses both left-wing extremism and right-wing extremism, but also religious fundamentalism, which cannot be adequately placed on the left-right axis. Further reading: https://www.kas.de/web/europa/extremismus-in-deutschland

(3) http://data.consilium.europa.eu/doc/document/ST-15213-2018-INIT/de/pdf