News item

26 May 2021 - Today, the Commission publishes its guidance on how the Code of Practice on Disinformation, the first of its kind worldwide, should be strengthened to become a more effective tool for countering disinformation. It sets out Commission expectations, calls for stronger commitments by the signatories and foresees a broader participation to the Code.

25 May 2021 - The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, delivered a video keynote speech at the 16th World Jewish Congress Plenary Assembly.

14 May 2021 – The European Commission expressed solidarity with European Jewish communities as a response to the rise of antisemitic attacks, which followed the escalation of conflict in the Middle-East. President Ursula von der Leyen condemned the indiscriminate attacks by Hamas on Israel and stated that violence “must end now”. Vice-President Věra Jourová joined in calling on Member States to remain vigilant while expressing her solidarity with the Jewish community. She also indicated that there is no excuse for violence on European streets and that antisemitic hate crime and hate speech has to be brought to justice.

19 May 2021 – The Commission’s Coordiantor on Combating antisemitism and fostering Jewish life, Katharina von Schnurbein, opened the Educational Webinar: “Practical implementation of the three Non-legally binding IHRA working definitions in multicultural societies: lessons learned, best practices, steps forward”. The multilateral Webinar was organised jointly by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of North Macedonia, the Federal Ministry for Europe, Integration and Foreign Affairs of Austria, and the Hellenic Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

13 May 2021 – At the Third Ecumenical Kirchentag event that took place in an hybrid format (online and Frankfurt, Germany), the European Commission Coordinator on combating antisemitism and fostering Jewish life, Katharina von Schnurbein, joined the President of the Jewish communities in Germany, Dr Josef Schuster, and others in answering the question “What can we do against antisemitism?”.

11 May 2021 – The EPP Working Group on Intercultural and Religious Dialogue held a seminar on ‘Antisemitism in Europe’ chaired by MEP Jan Olbrycht, where coordinators on combating antisemitism as well as civil society Jewish organisations were invited to present the worrying rise of antisemitism in Europe, the actions to combat this trend and the ways to address antisemitism at political level. Katharina von Schnurbein, Coordinator on combating antisemitism and fostering Jewish life, presented the work carried out by the European Commission in this fight and the EU Strategy on combating antisemitism, which will be adopted at the end of 2021.

10 May 2021 - At the annual commemoration of the Shoah that took place at the 'Monument of Jews deported from Antwerp', Katharina von Schnurbein, Coordinator on combating antisemitism and fostering Jewish life, joined Regina Suchowolski-Sluszny, Holocaust survivor and President of the FORUM der Joodse Organisaties, H.E. Amb. Martin Kotthaus, Ambassador of Germany to Belgium, and Bart De Wever, Mayor of Antwerp, in remembering the victims of the Holocaust and reflecting on how to commemorate the Shoah in a digital era, when direct witnesses will no longer be with us.

4 May 2021 - As co-chair of the International Meeting of Special Envoys and Coordinators on Combating Antisemitism (SECCA), Katharina von Schnurbein, European Commission Coordinator on combating antisemitism and fostering Jewish life, presented the EU Strategy to be adopted at the end of this year.

28 April 2021 - A new law to address the dissemination of terrorist content online was approved by Parliament.

26 April 2021 - The Forum for Cultural Diplomacy organised a celebration of Jewish culture on the occasion of the Second Passover, under the theme "Purim of Carpentras". Katharina von Schnurbein, European Commission Coordinator on Combating antisemitism and fostering Jewish life, joined in the celebration alongside UN diplomats, special envoys and rapporteurs on fighting antisemitism and defending freedom of religion.

This research study is an inter-disciplinary project between social work (@UCCsocialwork, School of Applied Social Studies) and the School of Law and is located in the Children and Young People research cluster in ISS21 at University College Cork. The study examined the use of voluntary care in Ireland.

16 March 2021 - In a conversation with the President of Central Council of Jewish Communities in Finland, Yaron Nadbornik, the European Commission Coordinator on Combating antisemitism and fostering Jewish life, Katharina von Schnurbein, addressed the question of safety and ways to safeguard Jewish life in Europe.

15 March 2021 - The European Commission took active part in the online conference “Exploring Holistic Approaches to Combating Antisemitism” organized by the UNAOC. Vice-President Margaritis Schinas reiterated the fact that “Fighting antisemitism is a universal responsibility, and it is only by joining forces that we can address it decisively.” Katharina von Schnurbein, the Commission's Coordinator on combating antisemitism and fostering Jewish life, developed on the initiatives, projects and actions put forward by the EU in order to support its Member States.

24 February 2021 - Katharina von Schnurbein, European Commission Coordinator on combating antisemitism and fostering Jewish life, contributed to a briefing for members of the US House and Senate Bipartisan Taskforces for Combating Antisemitism, alongside Dr. Ahmed Shaheed, UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief, United Nations Commission on Human Rights (UNCHR).

The Commission has today published a study, which shows limited opportunities for children to participate in EU political and democratic life. The opportunities that do exist are not always inclusive of all children, in particular those with disabilities, migrant backgrounds or from families at risk of poverty.

1, 2 February 2021 - The Swedish OSCE Chairpersonship 2021, in consultation with the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODHIR), organised an online experts meeting on "Combating anti-Semitism in the OSCE region" on 1st and 2nd February 2021, with 47 OSCE countries representatives, civil society actors and Jewish communities representatives.

President von der Leyen delivered a keynote message at the “International Holocaust Remembrance Day – Renewed commitment through innovation and cooperation” event organised by B’nai B’rith International.

On International Holocaust Remembrance Day, the European Commission encourages staff to take part in the crowdsourcing project #everynamecounts by the Arolsen Archive, by transcribing the information from the registration files of prisoners into a digital archive whilst remembering their names and stories. The archive contains around 30 million documents with references to the fates of 17.5 million people. In order to allow researchers and decedents to access the data, Arolsen are building the world’s largest online archive on people persecuted and murdered by the Nazis and their collaborators.

Today, the handbook for the practical use of the IHRA working definition of antisemitism was published. This document was commissioned by the European Commission and published jointly with the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance, with support from the German Presidency of the Council of the European Union.

“Development of national strategies, guidance for the practical use of the IHRA definition of antisemitism, and fighting antisemitic prejudices as part of civic orientation measures."