Brussels, 02/10/2015 (Agence Europe) - European Commissioners Frans Timmermans (Fundamental Rights) and Vera Jourova (Justice) warned on Thursday 1 October at a big conference on fundamental rights in the EU about the rise of anti-Semitism in Europe, and also against the rise of islamophobia. The two were different but related in terms of the consequences they generate, said European Commission vice-president Frans Timmermans, saying it was unacceptable for the “monster” of anti-Semitism to still be happening.
Commissioner Vera Jourova said that over the past twelve months, one out of every five people in the EU had suffered discrimination on the grounds of origin or religion, and that only 13 member states so far have transposed the EU's 2008 framework decision penalising hate crimes. She said that the conference, which continues on 2 October, would provide an opportunity to discuss radicalisation online and the proliferation of hatred and calls for hatred on the web, along with striking a balance with freedom of speech. The Commissioner (who is of Czech origin) will meet representatives of new technology industries in this connection. Radicalisation in prison has been centre-stage since the rise of foreign combatants and will also be discussed at the conference.
The Commissioner said that member states have little time left, until 16 November, to transpose the EU directive on victims' rights, which covers rights when on trial, rights to compensation and labelling crimes as hate crimes, which she said should be encouraged.
In the middle of the refugee crisis, it is the responsibility of political leaders to get rid of any confusion between flows of refugees and the Muslim religion, said Frans Timmermans, pointing out that the new arrivals were not a threat to European identity or local identity and such ideas must be picked apart. On Thursday 1 October, the two Commissioners appointed two coordinators at the European Commission to monitor anti-Semitism and Islamophobia respectively.
According to a Eurobaromèter opinion poll published on 1 October 2015, 50% of those polled think that discrimination based on religion or belief was widespread, with 33% feeling that confessing to a religious belief can be a handicap when looking for a job (compared with 23% in 2012). Muslims are the religious community least accepted by the general public, with only 61% of those polled saying they'd feel perfectly relaxed with a work colleague who's a Muslim, and only 43% not being at all reluctant to see their adult children in a relationship with a Muslim. Expressions of anti-Semitism online are also reported to have risen over the past five years. (Original version in French by Solenn Paulic)