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A new European Commission report published on Tuesday, International Holocaust Remembrance Day, found that antisemitism was rising across the European Union.
A growing majority of Europeans now saw antisemitism as a national problem, while nearly seven in ten saying conflicts in the Middle East influenced how Jewish people were perceived in their own countries, the study showed.
The findings came from “Special Eurobarometer 570: Perceptions of Antisemitism,” an EU-wide, face-to-face survey conducted in November 2025 across all 27 EU member states.
New @EU_Commission Eurobarometer shows #antisemitism is a growing concern: 55% of Europeans see it as a problem, with rising hostility in public & online, & 69% say Jews are increasingly perceived through the lens of Middle East conflicts.
👇Report: https://t.co/fiugHPL6fw pic.twitter.com/33VJDX7ZQW— Katharina von Schnurbein (@EUAntisemitism) January 28, 2026
Most Europeans Now Recognize Antisemitism as Serious Problem
According to the survey, 55 percent of respondents said antisemitism was a problem in their country, up from 50 percent in 2018. Nearly half described it as either a “very important” or “fairly important” problem.
Recognition has increased across demographic groups. The report noted higher concern among respondents with higher education levels and among urban residents across several key measures.
Sharp Differences Emerge Between European Countries
While concern about antisemitism has increased across the European Union, the survey revealed significant variation between countries.
The highest shares of respondents who said antisemitism was a problem were recorded in France (74 percent), Italy (73 percent), and Sweden (73 percent). By contrast, far lower levels were reported in Estonia (9 percent), Finland (16 percent), and Latvia (19 percent).
Perceptions of rising antisemitism also varied widely. The largest shares of respondents who believed antisemitism has increased over the past five years were found in the Netherlands (78 percent), Sweden (71 percent), and Denmark (69 percent). Germany and France also recorded majorities reporting an increase.
Far fewer respondents in countries such as Bulgaria, Estonia, and Czechia reported perceiving a rise.
Nearly Half Say Antisemitism Has Increased
Overall, 47 percent of Europeans believe antisemitism had increased over the past five years, an 11-percentage-point rise since 2018. Only 9 percent believed antisemitism had decreased.
More than a third said levels had stayed the same. At the same time, uncertainty dropped sharply, with fewer respondents selecting “don’t know,” suggesting views were becoming more fixed.
Antisemitism Is Most Visible in Public and Online Spaces
Respondents most often identified antisemitism where Jews are publicly visible. Sixty-two percent said hostility or threats toward Jews in public places are a problem. Sixty-one percent cited antisemitic graffiti or vandalism, and the same share pointed to antisemitism online and on social media.
Majorities also identified physical attacks, Holocaust denial, cemetery desecration, antisemitism in politics, antisemitism in the media, and antisemitism in schools and universities as problems. Concern increased across all nine manifestations measured. Not a single category improved since 2018.
Countries including France, Italy, and the Netherlands reported particularly high concern across multiple manifestations, including public hostility, physical attacks, vandalism, and online antisemitism. In several cases, concern rose sharply compared to 2018 across nearly all categories measured.
Middle East Conflicts Increasingly Shape How Jews Are Viewed
One of the report’s most consequential findings highlighted the impact of global events. Sixty-nine percent of Europeans believed conflicts in the Middle East influenced how Jewish people were perceived in their countries — an increase of 15 points since 2018.
More than one quarter said the influence was “definite,” while another 41 percent said it existed “to some extent.” The effect was strongest in Western Europe and among educated, urban respondents.
The European Commission situated this shift in the context of the sharp rise in antisemitic incidents following Hamas’s October 7, 2023 terrorist attack against Israel and the subsequent war in Gaza.
Holocaust Education and Legal Awareness Lag Behind
Despite rising concern, public knowledge remained limited. Only 48 percent of Europeans believed the Holocaust was sufficiently taught in schools. More than four in ten disagreed, with wide variation between countries.
Legal awareness also remained uneven. Sixty-six percent knew their country had laws criminalizing incitement to violence or hatred against Jews. By contrast, only 52 percent knew that Holocaust denial was illegal where they lived.
Nearly half of Europeans either believed no such law existed or were unsure. This gap weakens deterrence at a time when Holocaust denial and distortion continue to spread.
Personal Contact With Jews Increases Awareness
Across nearly every category, personal connection matters. Respondents who reported having Jewish friends or acquaintances were more likely to recognize antisemitism as a problem, perceive its increase, understand relevant laws, and acknowledge the impact of Middle East conflicts on perceptions of Jews.
A Post-October 7 Europe Facing a New Antisemitism Reality
The European Commission makes clear that this survey reflects a post–October 7 reality. The findings capture a Europe shaped by prolonged conflict, mass protests, online incitement, and a sustained rise in antisemitic incidents.
Antisemitism is no longer perceived as marginal or episodic. Europeans increasingly see it as embedded in public life, political discourse, and digital spaces. The question now is whether Europe will act decisively to confront it.
