HIAS Europe
HIAS
Many European Jews themselves are refugees or the descendants of refugees and identify with the plight of today’s refugees and asylum seekers.
ID: 120004038547-60
Lobbying Activity
Response to Anti-racism Strategy
8 Jul 2025
As an international humanitarian NGO focused on forced migration, HIAS Europe adds a Jewish voice to European discussions on migration and integration. We applaud the European Commission for its leadership in putting together this anti-racism strategy. While HIAS Europe recognises that antisemitism is unique, effective responses should also be addressed within a broader anti-racism framework. This allows for both specificity and solidarity. The Strategy should therefore highlight the importance of bridging divides and building alliances to combat harmful narratives against minority communities, and fighting against discrimination in all its forms, creating allies in the broader struggle for social inclusion. In particular,we would like to see linkages between antisemitism and xenophobia being addressed in the strategy. While European Jewish communities are diverse, spanning religious, cultural, and linguistic differences, they nonetheless share heightened anxieties due to a surge in antisemitism and societal polarisation since October 7th (2023). In some European urban centres, Jewish and migrant communities (many originating from Muslim-majority countries) experience fear of the unknown as a result of living parallel lives. At the same time, the weaponisation of antisemitism, islamophobia and xenophobia by some political actors adds further pressure on inter-communal relations. The Strategy should underscore the need for nuanced voices that address these challenges whilst fostering solidarity. It should therefore include an explicit focus on building bridges between communities and promoting social cohesion through coalition building. Similarly, grassroots educational activities should be prioritised as a way to promote inclusive communities that are respectful of refugees and migrants of all faiths, addressing underlying biases. Faith communities can play an important role in such endeavours.
Read full responseMeeting with Magnus Brunner (Commissioner) and AJC Transatlantic Institute and
26 Jun 2025 · Discussion on preventing and combating antisemitism and fostering Jewish life
Meeting with Erik Marquardt (Member of the European Parliament) and Refugee Support Aegean
1 Oct 2024 · Situation of asylum system in Greece
Response to EU Talent Pool
30 Jan 2024
HIAS Europe maintains that the Regulation Establishing an EU Talent Pool can be amended to have win-win potential, by (a) providing a durable solution for displaced people seeking work in Europe, and (b) supporting employers in filling skills gaps and labour supply shortages. While the proposal focuses largely on enhancing international recruitment, HIAS, as a refugee protection agency that has brought millions of people to safety around the world, is concerned with the Regulations potential to provide a safe and legal channel for people seeking protection in the EU. At present, almost no complementary labour pathways exist for people in need of international protection in third countries who are willing to work in the EU. It is thus vital that the EU Talent Pool facilitates effective access to complementary pathways through targeted measures to support populations in need of protection. A one size fits all model will not be sufficient to ensure that displaced populations have equitable access to this tool. Integration of a protection-oriented approach with proper information dissemination and tailored support is vital to ensure the initiative expands safe pathways. In the attached submission, HIAS Europe provides detailed suggestions for changes to the legislation based around four principles: 1. Tailored support should be available to candidates in need of international protection, both pre-selection and post-selection. 2. Employers should be assisted in supporting the needs of candidates seeking international protection. 3. Candidates in need of international protection must not face any disadvantage during the selection and recruitment process. 4. Refugees and registered asylum seekers already in the EU should be eligible to access the tool. Safe pathways are an essential component of any balanced and comprehensive asylum and migration policy. If the above changes are made, the EU Talent Pool could offer a means to expand the safe and regular legal ways that refugees are able to access protection in EU countries. Without safe passage, refugees will be forced to continue risking their lives on perilous journeys. Further, thousands of asylum seekers and refugees already present in the EU do not have enjoy equal access to work. By extending eligibility to people seeking protection on EU soil, the scheme can simultaneously offer dignity and opportunity to refugees and address labour shortages faced by states.
Read full responseResponse to EU Talent Pool
16 Mar 2023
The attached file contains feedback from HIAS Europe. We represent the European headquarters of HIAS, the international Jewish humanitarian agency that seeks to help refugees find safety, dignity and opportunity wherever they are in the world. Our feedback comprises two strands: 1) feedback of the Talent Pool pilot for Ukrainians, based on our experience supporting Ukrainians in eleven EU countries (HIAS also works in Moldova and Ukraine) and 2) broader feedback on the proposed Talent Pool legislative initiative (as outlined in the Call for Evidence). We have included the former because we believe it is important that the lessons learnt from the 2022-2023 pilot are incorporated in the EU's implementation of the new initiative.
Read full response