Europe’s Jewish population has been diminishing in recent decades, and a growing number of anti-Semitic acts and anti-Jewish violence have been occurring in recent years in the EU. In defence of its values, including respect for minorities, the EU undertakes and funds actions to counter anti-Semitism.

Jewish communities in the European Union

In a November plenary vote Parliament demanded&nbsp;a robust and multifaceted approach to combat all forms of racism and discrimination, including structural and institutional racism, in the EU.

In a resolution&nbsp;Parliament strongly condemned&nbsp;that minorities and migrants, including LGBTQI persons, face structural racism, discrimination, hate, sustained inequalities, difficulties in accessing the justice system, and violence by the police.

As reported by the 2019 Eurobarometer, over half of Europeans believe that racial discrimination is widespread in their country, with “Being Roma” (61% of respondents), “Ethnic origin” (59%) and “Skin colour” (59%) being the top three grounds for discrimination.

On 18 September 2020, the European Commission published its communication “A Union of equality: EU anti-racism action plan 2020-2025”. Concretely, the Action Plan calls for better enforcement of EU law; closer coordination, including through the appointment of a Coordinator for Anti-racism; the adoption of national action plans against racism and racial discrimination; more efforts in preventing discriminatory attitudes by law enforcement authorities; and increased diversity of staff in the EU institutions. Equality is one of the fundamental values on which the EU is founded.

It is duly reflected in the Treaties and the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the EU. International agreements, such as the European Convention on Human Rights also prohibit discrimination on various grounds, with limited exceptions in justified cases. With regard to the fight against racism and xenophobia, the main EU instrument is the Framework Decision on combating certain forms and expressions of racism and xenophobia by means of criminal law. This framework decision harmonises criminal definitions and sanctions.&nbsp;

Fight against racism and xenophobia

In the face of persistent discrimination, Parliament calls for common rules to ensure that the rights of all national minorities are redressed and respected across the EU.

The rules stipulate that people belonging to national minorities are entitled to equal cultural, linguistic and educational rights, and member states are urged to end discriminatory practices.

MEPs call on the European Commission to draft a directive on minimum standards for minorities in the EU, including benchmarks and measures.

Parliament is also calling on EU countries to end statelessness for Roma people and to guarantee that this minority group enjoys full human rights.

#EUelections2019 - Minorities in the EU

EP Plenary session - Council and Commission statements - Need to fight the increase of antisemitism and anti-Muslim hatred

EP Plenary session - Urgent need for immediate measures against the rise of antisemitism

EP Plenary session - Commission statement - Combatting the normalisation of far-right and far-left discourses including antisemitsm

EP Plenary session - Fighting against antisemitism, racism and hatred across Europe

Presentation of the Eurobarometer and FRA survey  - The Fight against antisemitism.

Ceremony at the Grande Synagogue organized by Chief Rabbi Albert GUIGUI with Antonio TAJANI - EP President

MEPs discuss the worrying reports on the increase in hate-driven incidents online and offline across the EU. Closing statements by Margaritis SCHINAS, Vice-President of the European Commission in charge of promoting our European Way of Life.

Need to fight the increase of antisemitism and anti-Muslim hatred: Closing statements by Margaritis SCHINAS, Vice-President of the European Commission in charge of promoting our European Way of Life

MEPs discuss the worrying reports on the increase in hate-driven incidents online and offline across the EU. Second part of the MEPs debate

Need to fight the increase of antisemitism and anti-Muslim hatred debate: MEPs debate (part 2)

MEPs discuss the worrying reports on the increase in hate-driven incidents online and offline across the EU. First part of MEPs debate.

Need to fight the increase of antisemitism and anti-Muslim hatred debate: MEPs debate (part 1)

MEPs discuss the worrying reports on the increase in hate-driven incidents online and offline across the EU in the plenary debate in Strasbourg. Hadja LAHBIB, Belgian Minister for Foreign Affairs, European Affairs and Foreign Trade and the Federal Cultural Institutions, and Margaritis SCHINAS, Vice-President of the European Commission in charge of promoting our European Way of Life, deliver opening statements at the beginning of the session. The transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check agaisnt delivery.

Opening statements by Hadja LAHBIB, Belgian Minister for Foreign Affairs, and Margaritis SCHINAS, Vice-President of the European Commission in charge of promoting our European Way of Life

The leaders of the European Parliament political groups give a statement on the urgent need for immediate measures against the rise of antisemitism during the plenary session in Brussels. One round of political group speakers

Urgent need for immediate measures against the rise of antisemitism: one round of political group speakers

Roberta METSOLA, President of the European Parliament, gives a statement on the urgent need for immediate measures against the rise of antisemitism during the plenary session. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

Urgent need for immediate measures against the rise of antisemitism: Statement by Roberta METSOLA, EP President

Israel’s President Isaac Herzog address MEPs during the plenary session in Brussels to commemorate International Holocaust Remembrance Day (27 January). EP President Roberta Metsola opens the solemn sitting and after the ceremony, Presidents Metsola and Herzog inaugurate the Holocaust Memorial in front of Parliament’s plenary chamber. The transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please chack against delivery.

International Holocaust Remembrance Day: introductory speech by Roberta METSOLA, EP President

Israel’s President Isaac Herzog address MEPs during the plenary session in Brussels to commemorate International Holocaust Remembrance Day (27 January). EP President Roberta Metsola opens the solemn sitting and after the ceremony, Presidents Metsola and Herzog inaugurate the Holocaust Memorial in front of Parliament’s plenary chamber.

International Holocaust Remembrance Day: Formal Address by Isaac Herzog, President of Israel

Roberta METSOLA, EP President opens the plenary session in Brussels on 9 of November 2022. Opening remarks on European Parliament's commitment in support of Iranian people. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

Resumption of session and order of business: opening remarks by Roberta METSOLA, EP President, in support of Iranian people

Roberta METSOLA, EP President opens the plenary session in Brussels on 9 of November 2022. Opening remarks on European Parliament's commitment against hate and anti-Semitism 84 years after the Kristal night. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

Resumption of session and order of business: opening remarks by Roberta METSOLA, EP President, on Parliament's commitment against hate and anti-Semitism 84 years after the Kristal night

The Memorial and Museum Auschwitz-Birkenau is a former German Nazi concentration and extermination camp. The camp was established by Germans in 1940, in the suburbs of Oswiecim. Auschwitz became the largest of the German Nazi concentration camps and extermination centers where over 1.1 million men, women and children lost their lives. The United Nations General Assembly designated January 27—the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau—as International Holocaust Remembrance Day.

Infoclip: Holocaust Remembrance Day - Memorial and Museum of Auschwitz-Birkenau

David SASSOLI, EP President, opens the ceremony for the International Holocaust Commemoration Day. Statements by Gyula SÁRKÖZI, representative of the Roma community, and Rabbi Pinchas GOLDSCHMIDT, Chief Rabbi of Moscow.

International Holocaust Commemoration Day with the participation of David SASSOLI, EP President: extracts

David SASSOLI, EP President, opens the ceremony at the hemicycle on the International Holocaust Commemoration Day. This transcription speech is the result of an automatic process. Check against delivery.

International Holocaust Commemoration Day: opening by David SASSOLI, EP President

The European Parliament holds a ceremony to commemorate the International Holocaust Commemoration Day. Opening performance by Gilles Sadowsky, Clarinette,and Hanna Bardos, Voice, in traditional yiddish songs (Doyne, Szόl a kakas már). Statement by David SASSOLI, EP President. Video message by Rabbi Pinchas GOLDSCHMIDT, President of the Conference of European Rabbis, Chief Rabbi of Moscow. Intervention (remote) by Gyula SARKOSI, representative of the Roma community. Participants observe a minute of silence. Prayer EL MOLEI RACHAMIM by Israel Muller, Chief Cantor of the Great Synagogue of Europe in Brussels.

International Holocaust Commemoration Day

David SASSOLI, EP President, gives an statement (in Italian) for the 75th anniversary of the liberation of the Sachsenhausen concentration camp.

Message from David SASSOLI, EP President, for the 75th anniversary of the liberation of the Sachsenhausen concentration camp

David SASSOLI, EP President, gives an statement (in Italian) for the 75th anniversary of the liberation of the Mauthausen concentration camp.

Message from David SASSOLI, EP President, for the 75th anniversary of the liberation of the Mauthausen concentration camp

During the plenary session (10-13 February 2020) of the European Parliament in Strasbourg, MEPs debate on fighting against anti-Semitism, racism and hatred across Europe on 12 February. Statements by Nikolina BRNJAC, State Secretary - Croatian Presidency, Vĕra JOUROVÁ, Vice-President of the EC in charge of Values and Transparency, Roberta METSOLA (EPP, MT), Kati PIRI (S&D, NL) and Frédérique RIES (RE, BE).

Fighting against antisemitism, racism and hatred across Europe: extracts from the debate (11/02)

Opening remarks by Viorica DANCILA, Prime Minister of Romania, Antonio TAJANI, EP President, European Commission and Ronald LAUDER, President of World Jewish Congress. Presentation of the Eurobarometer and FRA (Fundamental Rights Agency) survey results by Jonathan BOYD, Head of the Jewish Policy Research Institute

Fight against antisemitism: a common approach to better protect Jewish communities in Europe – from policy to action: opening statement Ronald LAUDER, President of World Jewish Congress (10:32 - 10:49)

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