A report on the application of the Data Protection Regulation for the European Union institutions, bodies, offices and agencies.
On 7 October 2022, President Biden signed an Executive Order on ‘Enhancing Safeguards for United States Signals Intelligence Activities'.
On 27 June 2022 an international symposium addressing conspiracy theories through education is taking place in Brussels. The event is organised by UNESCO in cooperation with the European Commission, the European Jewish Congress, Alfred Landecker Foundation and the University of Cambridge. The event can be followed live on the Facebook and Youtube page of UNESCO.
The European Parliament adopted, on 7 April 2022, with an overwhelming majority a Resolution on the EU Protection of children and young people fleeing the war in Ukraine. The Resolution features important provisions to address the specific plight of children and young people fleeing the conflict in Ukraine. It stresses to need for the creation of a robust registration system at the border, to track and monitor children, with a particular attention of unaccompanied children to ensure they do not go missing or worse, end up in the hands of traffickers. It also includes strong measures to for the integration of these children in the hosting countries granting them immediate access to education and health on equal footing with their EU national peers, so as to ensure all these children are given a real change to excel and reach their full potential.
On 8 March 2022, the European Commission released its proposal on EU-wide rules to combat violence against women and domestic violence. The proposed Directive, once adopted, will criminalise rape based on lack of consent, female genital mutilation and cyber violence, which includes: non-consensual sharing of intimate images; cyber stalking; cyber harassment; and cyber incitement to violence or hatred. The new rules will also strengthen victims' access to justice and encourage Member States to implement a one-stop shop mechanism, meaning that all support and protection services would be located in the same place. The proposal also calls for adequate and specialised protection and support, for instance, through free of charge helplines and rape crisis centres. It also provides for targeted support for groups with specific needs or at risk, including women fleeing armed conflict. Contributing to the EU Strategy on Children’s rights, this proposal notably aims at providing for specific safeguards for children victims of violence against women or of domestic violence. They will guarantee, for example, that children can easily report offences and are provided with safe places for with parent offenders, who have rights of access.
Until 30 June 2022, the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child invites young people from around the world to complete a questionnaire that will help shape the General Comment No. 26 (on Children’s Rights and the Environment with a Special Focus on Climate Change). This is the official UN guidance on what governments must do to uphold children’s rights and protect our planet. This consultation will help fill gaps in their current understanding of certain key issues and clarify difficult concepts (e.g. rights of future generations). Most importantly, it will integrate the voices of children and young people, as the most impacted by the issue.
2 March 2022 - At an informative session organised by Women's International Zionist Organisation (WIZO) of Austria and Germany, Katharina von Schnurbein presented the work of the EU in the fight against antisemitism and the promotion of Jewish life in Europe. The presentation was followed by an open discussion with the participants.
The Council of the European Union adopted on Friday, 4 March 2022, the Conclusions on combating racism and antisemitism which endorse the EU Strategy on combating antisemitism and fostering Jewish life and invite Member States to develop national action plans and/or strategies, and endeavor to do so by the end of 2022.
1 March 2022 - Katharina von Schnurbein, European Commission Coordinator on combating antisemitism and fostering Jewish life, met with Jonathan Greenblatt, CEO of the Anti-Defamation League, in Brussels to discuss the current challenges, in particular with regards to antisemitic hate speech, conspiracy myths and disinformation online and the need for education about Jewish life and antisemitism.
1 March 2022 - In Putin’s war against Ukraine, a missile strike hit Kyiv’s television tower that is located close to the memorial site of Babyn Yar, the ravine where more than 30,771 Jews were shot in the autumn of 1941 by the Nazis.
1 March 2022 - European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen delievered a speech at the European Parliament Plenary on Putin’s aggression against Ukraine.
1 March 2022 - The European Parliament Delegation for relations with Israel together with members of the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs dedicated a session to an exchange of views on the EU Strategy on combating antisemitism and fostering Jewish life.
On the European Day for Victims of Crime, 22 February, Eric Dupond-Moretti, Keeper of the Seals, Minister for Justice and President of the Council of EU Justice Ministers, and Didier Reynders, European Commissioner for Justice, call on all Member States to implement and promote 116 006, the European number for the care and referral of all victims.
10 November 2021 - Katharina von Schnurbein, presented the work of the European Commission to tackle discrimination and antisemitism in sports and refered to the newly adopted EU strategy on combating antisemiitsm and fostering Jewish life at the conference 'Global Conference on Football's Role in Combatting Antisemitism'.
Today, officials from the Personal Information Protection Commission of Japan (PPC), other relevant authorities of Japan, the European Commission and EU data protection authorities met to conduct the first review of the EU-Japan mutual adequacy arrangement that was put in place in 2019.
Katharina von Schnurbein, European Commission Coordinator on combating antisemitism and fostering Jewish life, took active part in the Malmö International Forum on Holocaust Remembrance and Combating Antisemitism organised by the Swedish Government.
Katharina von Schnurbein co-chaired the meeting of the Special Envoys and Coordinators Combating Antisemitism (SECCA), organised by the World Jewish Congress and the European Commission, around the Malmö Forum. Participants discussed the role the special envoys and coordinators play in the fight against antisemitism globally and how to reinforce their cooperation as well as the pledges made in the Malmö Forum.
Today, the European Commission is presenting the first-ever EU Strategy on combating antisemitism and fostering Jewish life. With antisemitism worryingly on the rise, in Europe and beyond, the Strategy sets out a series of measures articulated around three pillars: to prevent all forms of antisemitism; to protect and foster Jewish life; and to promote research, education and Holocaust remembrance.
L’Shanah Tovah U’Metukah!
31 August 2021 - POLITICO interviewed the Coordinator on combating antisemitism and fostering Jewish life, Katharina von Schnurbein, ahead of the adoption of the first-ever ambitious and comprehensive Strategy on combating antisemitism by the European Commission. The interview touches upon the online antisemitism and its consequences on real life, the Israel and Europe relation, the need for strategies at national level, the importance of preserving the memory of the Holocaust and of raising awareness about Jewish life as well as the danger of antisemitism for our societies.
