The EU Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) Annual Overview of antisemitic incidents recorded in the European Union found that incidents of hatred against Jews have been evident throughout the Coronavirus pandemic. Even though in some countries the number of antisemitic incidents decreased, the main problem remains the same across Europe – most incidents still go unreported.
2 to 10 November 2021 - European Commission, as a Permanent International Partner, took active part in the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) second biannual Plenary of 2021 under the Greek Presidency, hosted virtually in Thessaloniki.
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'.
9 November 2021 - On the 83rd commemoration anniversary of Kristallnacht, Austria unveiled the 'Shoah Wall of Names', a Holocaust memorial engraved with the names of some 64,440 Austrian Jewish children, women and men who perished during the Holocaust, located in the center of Vienna.
9 November 2021 - During a visit of the Jewish Community of Vienna, Katharina von Schnurbein met with Dr Danielle Spera, the Director of the museum, to discuss successful educational tools to reach out to young people, including migrants with messages about Jewish life, antisemitism and the Holocaust.
9 November 2021 – The Favoriten Women section of SPÖ in Vienna were presented with ways and best practices to combat antisemitism by Katharina von Schnurbein, based on the EU Strategy on combating antisemitism and fostering Jewish life as well as the work done so far by the European Commission in ensuring an EU free from antisemitism.
10 November 2021 - Katharina von Schnurbein, briefed the European Jewish Congress (EJC) Executive Members on the EU Strategy on combating antisemitism and fostering Jewish life. She presented the important policy calls and recommendations included in the strategy and the support it brings in fostering a prosperous life for the Jewish communities in the EU.
10 November 2021 - Katharina von Schnurbein, European Commission Coordinator on combating antisemitism and fostering Jewish life, was awarded the Marietta and Friedrich Torberg Medal of the Jewish Community of Vienna (IKG Wien) for her 'extraordinary commitment against antisemitism and for Jewish life in Europe'.
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.
Vice-President Margaritis Schinas presented the key actions put forward by the European Commission in a session on countering and combating contemporary antisemitism in all its forms and manifestations, online and offline.
President von der Leyen welcomed the initiative of the Malmö Forum to jointly pledge concrete actions to fight antisemitism and to eradicate it.
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.
Ex Ante Publicity for Negotiated Procedure for Low Value Contrat (JUST/2021/PR/CCHI/RIGH/0047)
17 September 2021 – To address the rise of antisemitism in Europe and the security threats it poses to the Jewish communities, the European Commission together with OSCE’s Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) and the World Jewish Congress are organising a series of events to build effective communication between National Security Institutions and Jewish communities.
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.
19 August 2021 - Katharina von Schnurbein addressed the European Union of Jewsih Students (EUJS) Summer U General Assembly that took place in Italy, in front of young Jewish activists from Europe and beyond. She congratulated the newly elected EUJS President, Elias Dray, and offered Commission's support in the fight against antisemitism.
22 July 2021 - The Commission published a study entitled 'Heroes and scapegoats: Right-wing extremism in digital environments'. The study focusses on the different aspects of digital violent right-wing extremist (VRWE) content, i.e., textual or visual messages that express acceptance, condoning, justification or acclamation of violence for the sake of a radical nationalistic ideal. The study, among other groups, focusses thereby on Jews as a target of VRWE.
13 July 2021 - The ESJF-European Jewish Cemeteries Initiative organised the final event of the European Commission-funded pilot project “Protecting the Jewish Cemeteries of Europe”.
