While disinformation and hate speech against Jews have been rife on the Internet during the pandemic and the war in Ukraine, the number of officially recorded antisemitic incidents remains low in Europe, warns the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA).
In fact, its annual report on the subject—published on Thursday, 3 November—mentions differences in definitions and classifications as well as gaps in data collection, preventing any comparison between countries. Furthermore, only 15 Member States have data on antisemitic incidents for the entire 2011–2021 period, and only six have established mechanisms to exchange data with civil society organisations. Hungary and Portugal do not collect this information. “Without proper data, we cannot hope to be effective in countering long-standing antisemitic incidents”, stated FRA Director Michael O’Flaherty.
Yet, antisemitic hatred is still prevalent: the report notes an increase in online disinformation and antisemitism following the pandemic and the invasion of Ukraine. In Austria and Finland (for example), most of the reported incidents took place in the digital space.
Michael O’Flaherty consequently pleaded, “It is high time that EU countries step up their efforts to encourage reporting and improve recording so we can better tackle hatred and prejudice against Jews”.
Although the European Commission adopted its strategy on combating antisemitism in October 2021 (see EUROPE 12805/26), only 14 EU countries have national strategies or action plans dedicated to combating antisemitism. Eight others are in the process of developing them. The European Commission plans to publish implementation reports on the strategy in 2024 and 2029.
As for the FRA, it will conduct its third survey on discrimination and hate crime against Jews in 2023 (see EUROPE 12156/15). It is also finalising a study on harassment and hate speech against women and minorities, whose results will be available in 2023.
This is the 18th edition of the FRA’s report on the state of data collection on antisemitism in Europe. It examines data for the 2011–2021 period.
To read the full report: https://aeur.eu/f/3wf (Original version in French by Hélène Seynaeve)