BRUSSELS - In the wake of the 7 October attacks and the resulting surge in antisemitic threats and attacks across Europe, the World Jewish Congress (WJC), in collaboration with the Hungarian Presidency of the Council of the European Union, the European Commission, and the European Jewish Congress (EJC), convened a high-level conference in Brussels focusing on the safety and resilience of Jewish communities across the continent. The event highlighted best practices and effective strategies, with a particular focus on safeguarding places of worship. In response to the rise in terrorist attacks targeting synagogues and Jewish centers, the conference underscored the urgent need for collaboration between public authorities and Jewish leaders.
Held at the Permanent Mission of Hungary to the European Union, the conference brought together public officials, security experts, and Jewish community leaders to address the critical challenges facing Jewish life at the European Union level . Discussions explored the evolving security landscape, the impact of global terrorism, and the tools needed to protect vulnerable communities.
On behalf of the presidency of the Council, Ambassador Bálint Ódor, Permanent Representative of Hungary to the EU, opened the conference by emphasizing the Hungarian government’s commitment to combating antisemitism and protecting the European Jewish community during and beyond its term as chair of the bloc Council.
His remarks were followed by Katharina von Schnurbein, European Commission Coordinator on Combating Antisemitism and Fostering Jewish Life, and Prof. Dr. Andor Grósz, President of the Federation of Jewish Communities in Hungary, who both emphasized that to secure the community requires close cooperation between authorities, law enforcement, Jewish leaders, and civil society representatives.
Raya Kalenova, Executive Vice-President and CEO of the European Jewish Congress and Maram Stern, WJC Executive Vice-President both thanked the Hungarian Presidency of the Council and the European Commission for their commitment and efforts to ensuring a safer Europe for the Jewish communities. Stern emphasized that antisemitism is not only a grave threat to the safety of Jewish communities in Europe, but also poses a profound danger to European democracy and to other religions.
The first session of the morning featured Bartjan Wegter, EU Counter-Terrorism Coordinator, who provided a sobering overview of Europe’s security environment and the threats posed by various actors across the continent. His analysis was complemented by insights from Shalom Ben Hanan, a former senior officer at Israel’s Security Agency, who explained the various terrorist threats faced by Israel and the diaspora, following the 7 October terror attacks.
The challenges facing Jewish life in Europe were further discussed during a panel moderated by Ernest Herzog, WJC’s Head of Combating Antisemitism, Intelligence & Security, where participants addressed threats ranging from Iran’s regional influence on the rise of radical ideologies to right-wing extremism. Dr. Efrat Sopher, Chair of the Board of Advisors at the Ezri Center for Iran and Gulf States Research and WJC Executive Committee member, provided a detailed perspective on Iran’s regional influence and efforts to destabilize the international system. Shalom Ben Hanan and Kacper Rekawek, Senior Research Fellow and Program Lead at the International Centre for Counter-Terrorism, added insight about the impact of Islamist radicalization and far-right extremist movements.
The discussion then turned to the experiences of younger generations, as Emma Hallali, President of the European Union of Jewish Students, sharing compelling first-hand accounts from Jewish students across European university campuses. Her presentation highlighted the alarming prevalence of antisemitism, revealing that many students have faced or witnessed such incidents in the aftermath of the 7 October terror attacks.
In the afternoon, Yfat Barak-Cheney, Executive Director of the WJC Technology and Human Rights Institute (TecHRI), introduced WJC’s work to combat online hate through its cooperation with social media platforms such as UNESCO and Meta. This was followed by a presentation by Inbal Goldberger, Member of the TecHRI Advisory Council, who focused on the threats and risks posed by generative AI. She also elaborated on the positive strategies and potential that AI brings to the fight against antisemitism online.
The conference culminated in a panel discussion where policy makers, law enforcement officials, experts and Jewish community representatives shared best practices on protecting Jewish communities in an era of heightened risk. Featuring perspectives from security officials such as Floriana Sipala of the European Commission, Mike Whine of the Community Security Trust UK and the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI), and others. Topics addressed included security awareness, crisis management and cooperation with law enforcement and EU institutions.
The closing remarks by Dr. Péter Sztáray, Hungarian State Secretary for Security Policy, and Julien Mousnier, Director for Rule of Law, Fundamental Rights, and Democracy at the European Commission, highlighted the critical need for sustained institutional cooperation and political commitment to safeguarding Jewish communities. Their reflections underscored the importance of maintaining dialogue and collaborative efforts, particularly as the EU embarks on a new institutional cycle, following the European Parliament elections in June this year.
As part of this new EU cycle, the WJC is calling for decisive action on several fronts. The proper implementation and enforcement of the Digital Services Act and the EU Artificial Intelligence Act is essential to curbing the rampant spread of online hate and antisemitism, which continues to proliferate unchecked. At the same time, more robust funding at the national level must be allocated to bolster security and protect Jewish institutions across Europe. The designation of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist organization, in addition to further sanctions at the Council level is another critical step, reflecting the urgency of confronting threats that propagate antisemitic ideologies.
In light of the upcoming 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz, it is imperative for all EU institutions to recognize the upcoming year’s importance in combating Holocaust denial and preserving historical memory. By advancing these priorities and fostering a unified commitment to combating antisemitism, the WJC and its partners aim to secure a safer, more inclusive future for all, ensuring that these efforts remain a cornerstone of European democracy and shared values.
