About the EU strategy

Jewish people in the EU
European Jews and Jewish communities have been contributing to the social, political, economic, scientific and cultural development of Europe for over two millennia and are an inextricable part of Europe’s identity. Today, Jewish life across Europe is vibrant again; there are around 1.5 million Jews in the EU.

Why this strategy?

With this strategy, the Commission is determined to significantly step up the fight against antisemitism to ensure a good perspective for the future of Jews in Europe. The Strategy sets out a series of measures to prevent all forms of antisemitism, secure and foster Jewish life, promote remembrance and education about Holocaust. The EU will lead the global fight against antisemitism and use all available tools to call on partner countries to actively combat antisemitism, in political and human rights dialogues and in its broader cooperation with partner countries.
Actions of the Strategy include: curbing antisemitism online, providing funding for the protection of public spaces and places of worship, setting up of a European research hub on antisemitism and Jewish life, and creation of a network of sites “where Holocaust happened”.

The three pillars of the Strategy

The Strategy foresees targeted actions across three pillars, and seeks to place the EU firmly in the lead of the global fight against antisemitism, complementing measures within the EU with international efforts along all the three pillars.

Leading the global fight against antisemitism

For a European Union that uses all available tools and cooperates with Israel, other partner countries and international organisations to combat antisemitism.

Background

Antisemitism - a European and global problem

Today, antisemitism is worryingly on the rise. Contemporary antisemitism occurs in many forms: old and new, from online hate speech to hate crimes and attacks on Jewish people, their properties and institutions, or as desecration of cemeteries and memorials.

• Every second European considers antisemitism as a problem. Nine out of ten Jews consider that antisemitism has increased in their country
• 85% Jews consider antisemitism to be a problem
• 79% of Jewish people did not report their most serious antisemitic incident
• 74% of people in the Middle East/North Africa region harbour antisemitic attitudes. In Western Europe, it is 24% and in Eastern Europe 34%, while in the Americas, it is 19%, in Asia 22% and in Sub-Saharan Africa 23%

Security as the main concern for Jewish communities

For Jews to participate fully in European life, it is essential that they feel safe and secure. Yet, security is the key concern for the Jewish community.

• 44% of young Jewish Europeans have experienced antisemitic harassment
• 71% of Jewish people at least occasionally avoid carrying and displaying items that could identify them as Jewish
• 38% of Jews have considered emigrating because they do not feel safe as Jews in the EU
• One third (34%) of Jews avoid visiting Jewish events or sites at least occasionally because they would not feel safe there or on the way there

Scant knowledge and education about Jewish life, antisemitism and the Holocaust

Despite the long-standing presence of Jews in Europe, people have scant knowledge of Jewish life and Judaism. Currently, Holocaust denial, distortion and trivialisation are increasing and are often used to feed hatred against Jewish people and to rewrite European and Jewish history.

• Only 3% of Europeans feel ‘very well informed' about Jewish history, customs and practices, while 68% say they are ‘not informed’
• 1 European in 20 has never heard of the Holocaust, and only 43% of Europeans think it is sufficiently taught in schools

Funding opportunities

The implementation of the proposed policy measures and targeted actions will be supported through various EU funding programmes, under the current multi-annual financial framework 2021-2027. 

• The Citizens, equality, rights and values (CERV) Programme, with a budget of EUR 1.55 billion, is the largest funding EU programme ever to promote fundamental rights.
• The Justice programme has as its goal to strengthen democracy, rule of law, and fundamental rights.
• Horizon Europe is the EU’s key funding programme for research and innovation.
• Creative Europe invests in actions that reinforce cultural diversity and respond to the needs and challenges of the cultural and creative sectors.
• Erasmus+ is the EU's programme to support education, training, youth and sport in Europe.
• The EU Internal Security Fund supports a broad range of actions in line with the European Security Agenda, aiming to ensuring a high level of security in the Union.
• The Cohesion policy funds contributes to strengthening economic, social and territorial cohesion in the European Union; it aims to correct imbalances between countries and regions.
• The Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument (NDICI) will channel the biggest share of external action funds to contribute to promoting sustainable development, prosperity, peace and stability.
• The Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance.
• The Technical Support Instrument (TSI) is the EU programme that provides tailor-made technical expertise to EU Member States to design and implement reform.

Implementation and monitoring

The strategy will be implemented over the period 2021-2030. Comprehensive implementation reports will be published in 2024 and 2029. These will be based on the input from Member States, also with regard to the implementation of their national strategies and policies.

Stay in touch

• Subscribe to the Newsletter on Combating antisemitism and fostering Jewish life
• Follow on Facebook: EU Justice and Consumers
• Follow on Twitter: @vonderleyen @MargSchinas @EUAntisemitism @EU_Justice

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