NEW YORK – A groundbreaking report on European governments’ progress developing action plans to tackle antisemitism will be shared at a World Jewish Congress gathering Tuesday in Madrid.
The report tracks plans that emerged from the October 2021 Malmö International Forum on Holocaust Remembrance and Combating Antisemitism, when nations focused concrete steps to counter antisemitism and other forms of hatred and to advance Holocaust education and remembrance.
Next week in Madrid, the WJC officials will also meet with King Felipe VI and Minister of Foreign Affairs José Manuel Albares Bueno as Spain prepares to assume the presidency of the Council of the European Union later this year.
The WJC delegation will be led by its President, Amb. Ronald S. Lauder, and include members of the organization’s Executive Committee and senior Jewish community leaders from over 50 countries.
In addition, WJC officials will be joined in Madrid by more than two dozen members of the Special Envoys and Coordinators Combating Antisemitism (SECCA) forum, including U.S. Special Envoy for Monitoring and Combating Antisemitism Amb. Deborah Lipstadt and her European Union counterpart Katharina von Schnurbein. The officials, charged with devising and implementing national action plans, will hear from the community officials and share best practices.
“As Spain prepares to take the reins of the presidency of the EU Council, it is essential that it capitalizes on recent efforts by the international community to develop concrete actions to support and strengthen Jewish communities as they face rising antisemitism,” said Amb. Lauder, adding, “The history of Jews in Spain is complex, filled with remarkable achievements but also deep sorrow and exile. Spain has an opportunity to write a new chapter in its relationship with the Jewish people.”
Spain, which last month approved a national plan to implement the European Strategy to Combat Antisemitism for 2023-2030, will assume the presidency of the Council of the European Union on July 1.
The WJC program in Madrid will specifically focus on issues affecting Jewish communities and underscore the importance of fostering international cooperation.
On Tuesday, the delegation will gather for lunch with Foreign Minister Albares.
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