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Combat Antisemitism Movement (CAM) Executive Director of European Affairs Shannon Seban took part this week in two high-level forums in Vienna, Austria, examining progress on the implementation of the EU Strategy on Combating Antisemitism and Fostering Jewish Life (2021–2030) at the landmark initiative’s halfway mark.
The events — organized by the Federal Chancellery of the Republic of Austria, European Commission, and European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights — drew EU special envoys and national coordinators on combating antisemitism, Jewish organizational leaders, and communal representatives from across the continent.
“While adopting a strategy is an important first step, implementation is what truly makes the difference,” Seban said.
“Twenty EU member states have now appointed a special envoy or national coordinator on combating antisemitism,” she noted. “However, seven member states still have no dedicated official, and Belgium, Latvia, and Poland have yet to adopt a national strategy. At a time when antisemitic incidents have reached record levels across Europe after October 7, 2023, inaction and complacency are no longer an option. Strong political leadership and determined action at national level are essential.”
Seban also highlighted the urgent need to make countering online hate a top policy priority.
“With artificial intelligence, algorithms, and social media increasingly shaping the way hateful content spreads, European responses must evolve just as quickly,” she said. “Antisemitism, including anti-Zionism when it crosses into antisemitic rhetoric, should be fully addressed as a key form of online hate, requiring stronger regulation, greater platform accountability and updated policy tools.”
Read more:
European Mayors Unite in Paris to Confront Rising Antisemitism Across Continent
