There are numerous projects, actions, initiatives, research and documents that can be used as guidance and educational tools in combating the scourge of antisemitism in all its manifestations and forms. The Commission encourages the sharing of best practices and supports projects and creates platforms that aim to foster human rights and fundamental values through concreate actions.
Key EU documents
The European Commission references various EU documents in its work on preventing and combating antisemitism; Holocaust denial, distortion and trivialisation; the spread of hateful, terrorist and antisemitic content online; the rise of violence from neo-fascist and extreme groups.
European Commission
2023 Communication on “No place for hate: a Europe united against hatred”
The Commission and the High Representative adopted a Communication on “No place for hate: a Europe united against hatred” which is a call for action to all Europeans to stand up against hatred and speak up for tolerance and respect. With this Communication, the Commission and the High Representative are stepping up their efforts to fight hatred in all its forms, by reinforcing action across a variety of policies, including security, digital, education, culture and sport. This includes additional funding to protect places of worship and will be backed up by the designation of Envoys with an explicit mandate to maximise the potential of EU policies to combat hatred.
Council of the European Union
2024 Council Declaration on fostering Jewish life and combating antisemitism
The Council declaration on fostering Jewish life and combating antisemitism stresses the need to ensure the safety of Jewish people and the security of Jewish premises and institutions and emphasizes the importance of fostering Jewish life through culture, education, and Holocaust remembrance as essential means of promoting tolerance, mutual understanding, preserving cultural heritage, and encouraging intercultural dialogue.
2022 Council Conclusions on combating racism and antisemitism
In these Conclusions on combating antisemitism of 4 March 2022, the Council invites EU Member States to develop action plans and strategies by the end of 2022, implementing the 2020 EU anti-racism action plan and the 2021 EU strategy on combating antisemitism.
2020 Council Declaration on mainstreaming the fight against antisemitism
With the Council Declaration to fight antisemitism across policy areas of 2 December 2020, the EU Member States have agreed to mainstream the prevention and combating of antisemitism in all its forms, recognizing that the fight against antisemitism is a cross-cutting problem that needs to be addressed at all levels – local, national and European – and that this concerns various layers of government and policies.
2018 Council Declaration on the fight against antisemitism
On 6 December 2018, the Council approved a Declaration on the fight against antisemitism and the development of a common security approach to better protect Jewish communities and institutions in Europe - Council conclusion on 6 December 2018 that acknowledges the increase in violent incidents in recent years against the Jewish community and the fact that antisemitism remains widespread.
European Parliament
2021 Regulation preventing the dissemination of terrorist content online
The European Parliament approved on 28 April 2021 a new regulation targeting terrorist content online, such as texts, images, sound recording or videos – including live transmissions – that incite, solicit or contribute to terrorist offences. The regulation obliges the online platforms to remove terrorist content within one hour while it offers protection for educational, artistic, research and journalistic material.
2020 European Parliament Motion for a Resolution on Holocaust and the prevention of crimes against humanity in the digital age
The Motion for resolution on a European Charter of Remembrance of the Holocaust and the prevention of crimes against humanity in the digital age is currently under plenary sitting.
2018 European Parliament resolution on the rise of neo-fascist violence in Europe
The Resolution on the rise of neo-fascist violence in Europe draws attention to the worrying rise of violence against Jews and calls on the Member States to condemn and counter Holocaust denial, including the trivialisation and minimalisation of the crimes of the Nazis and their collaborators; and to promote education through mainstream culture on the diversity of our society.
2017 European Parliament resolution on combating antisemitism
The European Parliament adopted with anonymity a first ever Resolution solely on combating antisemitism calling on Member States to “appoint national coordinators on combating anti-Semitism” and "to adopt and apply the working definition of anti-Semitism employed by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA)."
2005 European Parliament resolution on the Holocaust, antisemitism and racism
The European Parliament resolution calls on Member States to "condemn in particular and without reservation all acts and expressions of anti-semitism of whatever kind" and encourages Holocaust remembrance, "including making 27 January European Holocaust Memorial Day across the whole of the EU."
Statements
Speeches and statements by President Ursula von der Leyen
International Holocaust Remembrance Day
2026, 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021 and 2020.
14 June 2022, Honorary Doctorate degree ceremony at the Ben Gurion University of the Negev
- Written speech and video
9 June 2021, American Jewish Committee Virtual Global Forum
- Written speech and Video
25 May 2021,16th World Jewish Congress Plenary Assembly
- Written speech and Video
10 December 2019, Conference “After Halle: from words to action against antisemitism”
- Written message and Video
Definitions
The non-legally binding working definition of antisemitism
The IHRA Plenary adopted the non-legally binding definition of antisemitism on 26 May 2016 setting an example of responsible conduct for other international for a and providing an important to with practical applicability for its Member Countries.
The working definition of Holocaust denial and distortion
The definition of Holocaust denial and distortion was adopted on 10 October 2013 during the IHRA’s plenary meeting in Toronto and was developed by IHRA experts in the Committee on antisemitism and Holocaust denial in cooperation with the IHRA’s governmental representatives. A paper on Holocaust distortion and denial was developed to guide IHRA’s work, a living document which is regularly updated.
International decisions
International condemnation of any denial of Holocaust
2007 - The UN General Assembly adopted in 2007, by consensus, a Resolution condemning, without reservation, any denial of Holocaust - one of the most tragic moral catastrophes in history.
27 January as Annual International Day of Commemoration to Honour Holocaust Victims
2005 - The UN General Assembly decided to designate 27 January - the anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz death camp - as annual International Day of Commemoration to honour Holocaust victims during its Plenary meeting on 1 November 2005. The UN also urged Member States to develop educational programmes to instil the memory of the tragedy in future generations in order to prevent genocides from occurring again.
International Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide
1948 - The UN General Assembly addressed the issue of genocide and pushed for the adoption of the International Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide.
Declarations
Terezin Declaration
2009 - At the invitation of the Prime Minister of the Czech Republic, 46 leaders signed on 30 June 2009 the Terezin Declaration on Holocaust Era Assets and Related Issues.
Stockholm Declaration
2000 - The Stockholm Declaration is the outcome of the International Forum on the Holocaust convened by former Swedish Prime Minister Göran Persson on 27-29 January 2000 and attended by 46 representatives of governments, including 23 Heads of State or Prime Ministers and 14 Deputy Prime Ministers or Ministers.
Guidelines
On 23 March 2022, IHRA launched the Guidelines for Identifying Relevant Documentation for Holocaust Research, Education and Remembrance. They are accompanied by supporting materials for initiating conversations about the Guidelines under the "Toolkit materials" tab here.