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International cooperation

Global cooperation on combating antisemitism.

International cooperation

Antisemitism is a global challenge. In its 2021 EU Strategy on combating antisemitism and fostering Jewish life, the Commission reaffirmed its firm and unequivocal commitment to the global fight against antisemitism and to

"actively cooperate with international organisations, in particular the United Nations, the Council of Europe and the OSCE, as well as with regional organisations in joint actions to fight discrimination and antisemitism."

To this end, the European Union is collaborating with many partners around the world to prevent and combat antisemitism. The European Union is active within the United Nations to address antisemitism and co-sponsored in recent years several events, exhibitions and projects to raise awareness about the impact of antisemitism and strengthen the exchange among Member States.

In October 2022, as part of the EU Antisemitism Strategy, the Commission convened, in partnership with the Council of Europe, the OSCE and the UNAOC, a conference on 'Freedom of religion with regard to religious slaughter' that brought around 100 representatives of EU Member States, special envoys and coordinators on combating antisemitism and anti-Muslim hatred, representatives of national Jewish, Muslim and Christian communities, international organisations and independent experts. See summary report here. 

For the first time an informal meeting of the General Assembly gathered in June 2019 titled  "Combatting Anti-semitism and Other Forms of Racism and Hate - The Challenges of Teaching Tolerance and Respect in the Digital Age" and was addressed by Commission Coordinator Katharina von Schnurbein. 

The European Union fully supports the report of UN Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief, Ahmed Shaheed, which for the first time specifically dealt with the topic of antisemitism.

The EU will strengthen the global cooperation of special envoys and coordinators on combating antisemitism. To this end, the Commission an informal group that gathers all envoys and coordinators appointed worldwide. It meets twice a year and is co-chaired by the EC Coordinator. Following 7 October 2023 attacks by Hamas on Israeli civilians and the war on Gaza that ensued, the world is witnessing the highest level of antisemitism since the Holocaust, offline and online. In this context, the EC Coordinator, on behalf of the Commission, co-signed a Joint Statement from the Special Envoys and Coordinators on Combating Antisemitism on 6 November 2023 condemning the unprecedented rise of antisemitism offline and online and calling for speak up and act.

On 17 July, the EC Coordinator, on behalf of the Commission, co-signed the Global Guidelines for countering antisemitism, consisting of a set of best practices for governments. The signing of these Global Guidelines by so far 32 states and international organizations, among which 20 EU Member States, is a strong sign of the joint determination to address the global challenge of antisemitism.

17 JULY 2024
Global Guidelines for countering antisemitism
English
(143.31 KB - PDF)
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Annual EU-Israel High Level Seminar on combating racism, xenophobia and antisemitism

Israel is a key partner for the European Union, including in the global fight against antisemitism. The EU Antisemitism Strategy states:

"The EU will seek to further reinforce the EU-Israel High-Level Seminar on combating racism, xenophobia and antisemitism, co-organised annually, with a focus on operational follow-up."

The EU-Israel seminar is a unique annual forum that brings together European and Israeli civil servants, policymakers, companies, international organisations and civil society to discuss best practices and ways forward in addressing racism, xenophobia and antisemitism.

The European Union and the State of Israel established this forum in 2005 to respond to the rising threat of antisemitism and the need for better international coordination of counter-measures.