Brussels, Belgium. European Affairs Deputy Minister Marilena Raouna said antisemitism “has no place in Europe or anywhere” as she addressed the European Parliament following recent antisemitic hate crimes in Europe.
Condemnation of recent incidents
Raouna said she wished to “unequivocally condemn” the attacks, referring to an arson attack in a Jewish neighbourhood in Antwerp last month and an explosion at a Jewish school in Amsterdam. She added that “we stand in full solidarity with out Jewish communities across Europe”.
Concerns over rising incidents and online narratives
Raouna said Europe “reaffirms our commitment to ensuring their safety and security” and added that “the growing number of antisemitic incidents and the proliferation of antisemitic narratives on the internet is of utmost concern”.
“It concerns not only those that are directly affected, it concerns us all. Antisemitism not only violates the fundamental rights of Jewish people, but also erodes European democracy and security collectively, and the very values on which our union is founded,” she said.
European Council conclusions and 2024 declaration
Raouna referred to the European Council’s conclusions following its summit in Brussels in December, in which it called on the European Commission and member states to “intensify the follow-up to the council declaration on fostering Jewish life and combating antisemitism”, published in 2024.
“The council declaration paved the way for concrete measures to fight antisemitic hate speech, both online and offline, as well as to ensure the safety and security of the Jewish people,” she said.
Measures and reporting of incidents
Raouna said the measures outlined in the declaration “include the adoption of national strategies for accompanying antisemitism, the promotion of intercultural dialogue and educational programmes, as well as measures to improve the recording of antisemitic incidents”.
She cited the EU framework decision on combating racism and xenophobia by means of criminal law, calling it a strong legal instrument to combat antisemitic hate crimes and hate speech. She added that it is “necessary to further improve the recording of antisemitic incidents” and to offer more avenues for victims to report them.
Role of the EU agency for fundamental rights
Raouna said the European Union agency for fundamental rights has offered “vital support … with its reporting and data collection”.
What steps do you think should be prioritised to improve the reporting of antisemitic incidents across Europe?
