Top EU official warns of rising anti-Semitism in Europe

A senior European Union official warned Thursday of rising anti-Semitism in Europe as attacks and threats against Jews continue in EU member countries.

The threat was illustrated by new EU Agency for Fundamental Rights data on anti-Semitism, released ahead of the first Annual Colloquium on Fundamental Rights, hosted by the European Commission in Brussels on Thursday.

A statement posted on the European Commission's website said the conference focused on anti-Semitism and anti-Muslim hatred. Participants included members of the Jewish and Muslim communities from across Europe, national and local authorities, nongovernmental organizations, and media representatives, who exchanged information, shared the best practices on the fight against anti-Semitism and anti-Muslim hatred, and discussed steps for further action.

"Existing evidence shows that anti-Semitism remains an issue of serious concern in the EU, demanding decisive and targeted policy responses. The effective implementation of these responses would not only protect Jewish communities, but also give a clear signal that the fundamental rights of everyone living in the EU are taken seriously and safeguarded," the agency's findings said.

European Commission Vice President Frans Timmermans said Thursday that "in the last couple of years you've seen this age-old monster rising again in Europe. ... This is unacceptable, I thought we knew better. I wouldn't have thought it would be possible ... but it's happening again."

The EU agency said that anti-Semitic stereotyping is a reality in many countries and that some EU political parties are openly anti-Semitic.

Timmermans said that "it's a vital question for the future of Europe that our Jewish community feels at ease and completely at home."

He noted that "European society is going through a period of turmoil and crisis which is challenging the very values on which our Union is built. ... In these times of crisis, the capacity of our society for tolerance and inclusion is put to the test. Anti-Semitism and anti-Muslim hatred, although very different in history, origins and impact, are both manifestations of this challenge. Our collective responsibility to live together in tolerance and respect is particularly important at a time when we have a moral obligation to give refuge to people of various religions and cultures who arrive on our shores. Diversity must never be seen as a threat. It is our common responsibility to create and nurture an inclusive society."

The EU's commissioner for justice, consumers and gender equality, Věra Jourová added: "Every victim of hate crime or discrimination is one victim too many. One in five people in the EU from a religious minority say they have experienced discrimination or harassment on the grounds of religion or beliefs in the past 12 months. This is unacceptable.

"I call upon member states to properly apply European legislation and take action against racist and xenophobic hate speech and hate crime. This colloquium is about sharing concrete experiences and ideas from across the EU, and deciding how we will move forward together. Hate speech has no place in our society -- whether physically or online. I will be working hard with national governments, EU institutions and the private sector, including IT companies, to counter online hate speech."

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