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European Jewish Association

EJA

The European Jewish Association is a federation representing Jewish communities and organizations across Europe.

Lobbying Activity

Meeting with Alice Teodorescu Måwe (Member of the European Parliament)

3 Nov 2025 · Antisemitism

Meeting with Magnus Brunner (Commissioner)

23 Oct 2025 · Fight against antisemitism and fostering Jewish life

Meeting with Olivér Várhelyi (Commissioner) and

17 Sept 2025 · European Jewish communities

Meeting with Javier Zarzalejos (Member of the European Parliament)

4 Sept 2025 · Meeting with the European Jewish Association

Response to Anti-racism Strategy

26 Jun 2025

Contribution from the European Jewish Association (EJA) to the European Commission Consultation on the EU Anti-Racism Strategy The European Jewish Association (EJA), representing Jewish communities and organizations across Europe, welcomes the opportunity to contribute to the future EU Anti-Racism Strategy. Antisemitism in Europe is rising at alarming rates. Since October 7, Jewish communities have faced an unprecedented wave of incitement, intimidation, and violence. The next EU strategy must address this challenge with clarity, urgency, and resolve. We submit the following key priorities: 1. IHRA Definition: The strategy must reaffirm the EUs commitment to the full adoption and application of the IHRA Working Definition of Antisemitism. Amid growing challenges to this vital tool, its consistent use across institutions remains essential. 2. Antizionism as Antisemitism: Contemporary antisemitism often masks itself as anti-Zionism. While criticism of Israeli policy is legitimate, when it delegitimizes Israels existence or holds Jews collectively responsible, it becomes antisemitic. This distinction must be made explicit. 3. Security and Public Space: Incidents such as the Brussels posters labeling Jewish leaders as genocide lobbyists, or the glorification of Hamas at the so-called Resistance Festival, constitute direct threats to Jewish safety and must be condemned at the EU level. 4. Pro-Hamas Rhetoric: The EU must develop clear guidance to prevent the normalization of pro-Hamas rhetoric and symbolism. No anti-racism strategy can ignore the glorification of terror. 5. Legal Enforcement: We urge the development of an EU-wide, legally binding definition of antisemitism, building on IHRA and implemented through national legislation, with the guidance of the European Court of Human Rights. 6. Universities: Academic institutions are increasingly fertile ground for radicalization. EU funding must be conditional on adherence to basic standards of safety and non-discrimination. Leadership must be held accountable for antisemitic environments. The EJA includes with this contribution two supporting documents: The Madrid Declaration adopted by over 100 European Jewish leaders in 2024 The EJAs report on antisemitism and radicalization in European university campuses We urge the Commission to ensure that Jewish concerns are not only acknowledged, but integrated into the very foundation of its future anti-racism strategy. European Jewish Association www.ejassociation.eu
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Meeting with Magnus Brunner (Commissioner) and AJC Transatlantic Institute and

26 Jun 2025 · Discussion on preventing and combating antisemitism and fostering Jewish life

Meeting with Dubravka Šuica (Commissioner) and

5 Feb 2025 · Ceasefire agreement on Gaza and next steps

Meeting with Olivér Várhelyi (Commissioner)

5 Feb 2025 · Health and animal welfare – Fostering Jewish life

Meeting with Olivér Várhelyi (Commissioner)

9 Dec 2024 · Priorities for the Health and Animal Welfare portfolio

Meeting with Lukas Mandl (Member of the European Parliament)

2 Dec 2024 · Fight against terrorism

Meeting with Brando Benifei (Member of the European Parliament)

9 Sept 2024 · Celebration of the Jewish New Year

Meeting with Sophie Wilmès (Member of the European Parliament) and European Jewish Community Centre

9 Sept 2024 · Jewish New Year 5785 Reception - guest speaker

Meeting with Lukas Sieper (Member of the European Parliament) and European Jewish Community Centre

9 Sept 2024 · Reception

Meeting with Maria Luisa Llano Cardenal (Cabinet of Vice-President Margaritis Schinas)

19 Jun 2024 · Rise on antisemitism in EU

Meeting with David Lega (Member of the European Parliament)

7 May 2024 · Foreign Affairs

Meeting with David Lega (Member of the European Parliament)

12 Feb 2024 · Antisemitism

Meeting with Lars Patrick Berg (Member of the European Parliament) and European Coalition for Israel

9 Jan 2024 · Meeting representatives of the European Jewish Association and European Coalition for Israel

Meeting with David Lega (Member of the European Parliament)

19 Jul 2023 · Antisemitism

Meeting with David Lega (Member of the European Parliament)

24 May 2023 · Israel, Iran

Response to EU strategy on combating antisemitism

5 Jul 2021

European Jewish Association recommendations for the EU Strategy on combating antisemitism and fostering Jewish life Freedom of Religion 1. Encouraging and underlining to Member States that safeguarding the right of Jewish people within the EU to practice religious customs is a fundamental EU right, including kosher slaughter and circumcision. This is equally important as combating antisemitism for the future of Jewish communities in Europe. Education 2. Promote initiatives underlining that antisemitism has no place in a modern and tolerant Europe, is unacceptable and is an evil to a healthy society, as well as emphasising the positive role played by Jewish people throughout European history at national and continental levels in ethics, values, science, arts and medicine and underline the role and rights of minorities in Europe. That European values of tolerance and respect for the other are what makes the continent unique. Holocaust memory is important, but if we are to overcome inherent bias, xenophobia and in particular antisemitism, a re-assessment of how Jews are perceived in Europe is not only important but absolutely necessary. This should be part of national curriculums from primary level upwards. Underlining that places of learning are safe spaces. All religions and aspects of religion can and must be discussed in a spirit of tolerance and mutual respect. 3. Allocating EU budget and encouraging Member States to set aside budget for the maintenance and support of Jewish educational facilities and places of learning, Jewish cultural places such as museums or galleries, to ensure the survival, support of and maintenance of a Jewish presence in Europe. Antisemitism Whenever something happens in Israel, antisemitic incidents spike in Europe. Anti-Zionism is often a cover and excuse for outright hostility and hatred of Jews in Europe, and a cover for hatred of the world’s only Jewish state. 4. Encouraging Member States to support security for Jewish institutions and buildings, and increasing this support at times of heightened tensions, such as the recent Gaza-Israel conflict. And to be vocal towards Member States who are not maintaining their duty of care to minorities under threat. 5. Pressure on social media companies to act faster, more decisively on hate speech. The EU should impose punitive and serious financial penalties on social media companies who do not remove speedily clear antisemitic content as defined by the IHRA definition, and close the accounts of those who habitually and regularly incite or promote antisemitic speech and content according to the IHRA definition. 6. Encourage Member States to root out and/or ban NGOs or other associated groups that operate from within Member States that promote, support or tolerate antisemitism according to the IHRA definition. 7. Ban the sale of Nazi memorabilia at auctions and on websites for private individuals or entities not directly involved in Educational facilities such as Universities or Museums. 8. Encourage Member States who haven’t already appointed a special envoy for combating antisemitism to do so, and additionally to set up an official committee for monitoring and combating antisemitism in national Parliaments. 9. BDS: legal safeguards against BDS at European and national level. Just as the US government and a number of states have legislation in place that forbids funding for, or support for organisations that actively promote and call for boycotts of the entirety of Israel, so too should the EU build in safeguards for regions or countries that are in receipt of EU funding. 10. EU Funding: include safeguards at both the EU aid and neighbourhood funding by bringing in conditionality on commitments to fight racism, antisemitism and discrimination. No EU funds should be disbursed without conditionality. This conditionality should include incitement, hate speech, racist language, or active policies against minorities.
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Meeting with Stella Kyriakides (Commissioner)

25 May 2021 · Exchange on ruling of the EU Court of Justice (Case C-336/19) on slaughter without stunning /freedom of religion.

Meeting with Oliver Rentschler (Cabinet of High Representative / Vice-President Federica Mogherini)

20 Feb 2019 · EU Foreign Affairs

Meeting with Daniel Braun (Cabinet of Commissioner Věra Jourová)

23 Jul 2018 · EJA presentation of work programme

Meeting with Lisbeth Koenen (Cabinet of First Vice-President Frans Timmermans)

23 Jul 2018 · Antisemitism and Holocaust Remembrance

Meeting with Antonio Lowndes Marques De Araujo Vicente (Cabinet of Commissioner Carlos Moedas), Giulia Del Brenna (Cabinet of Commissioner Carlos Moedas)

17 Jun 2015 · Innovation cooperation

Meeting with Tibor Navracsics (Commissioner) and

3 Feb 2015 · Introductory meeting and areas of common interests