Vice-President Schinas presented the work at the EU level on combating all types of discrimination and reminded participants that the EU is based on the principles of rule of law, human dignity and equality. He gave a practical example of the EU's efforts to promote these values: 

“For the next seven years, we will have a new set of standing Citizens Equality Rights and Values programme, which will seek to protect and promote open rights-based, democratic, equal and inclusive societies based on the rule of law.” 

He furthermore confirmed that the EU would adopt a comprehensive strategy that will complement and support member states’ effort on preventing and combating antisemitism, educating on the Holocaust remembrance and fostering Jewish life in Europe. In a panel discussion, Ms. Katharina von Schnurbein addressed the issue of “Countering hate speech: the role of human rights education, history teaching and the media in countering it online and offline.” She stressed the need to find new ways of teaching about the Shoah in a multi-cultural, digital society and for all actors to work together – European legislation, national enforcement, platforms and users – to address hate speech, including Holocaust denial and distortion online.