On Tuesday 13 February, MEPs on the Committee on Culture and Education examined the issue of antisemitism in the education sector. The exchange of views focused on the issue of the rise in antisemitism in educational establishments, and above all on ways of combating antisemitism through education.
To this end, Joanna Goodey, Head of the Justice, Digital and Migration Unit at the EU Fundamental Rights Agency (FRA) in Vienna, and Pascale Falek, from the Office of the Commission’s Coordinator for Combating Antisemitism, joined the meeting to discuss the issue with MEPs.
Ms Goodey highlighted some worrying data on antisemitism in Europe. The 20th edition of the FRA’s Annual Review, due for publication later this year, promises to provide a detailed account of antisemitic incidents in 2023, including those following the events of 7 October in the Middle East.
Ms Goodey gave the results of a previous 2018 survey of twelve Member States and 16,400 people of the Jewish faith, which found that 8% of Jewish respondents had experienced discrimination specifically related to their Jewish identity in education.
In addition, the study showed that antisemitism is widespread on the Internet, with 80% of respondents having encountered negative statements online.
Significantly, 19% of respondents reported antisemitic remarks in academic circles, highlighting a specific concern for educational institutions. The survey also revealed that, in some cases, 10% of respondents said that their children had been refused time off for religious holidays.
Pascale Falek highlighted a dramatic increase in antisemitism following the terrorist attacks of 7 October 2023. She cited a 300% rise in antisemitic incidents in Germany and a 1,000% rise in France, indicating a worrying trend across Europe.
Ms Falek mentioned in particular the vulnerability of universities, where Jewish and Israeli students are increasingly being targeted.
She reiterated the central importance of education in the fight against antisemitism. She highlighted initiatives such as workshops organised with UNESCO and stressed the need to integrate Jewish history and teaching about antisemitism into European educational curricula.
These efforts aim to strengthen the resilience of young people against antisemitic ideologies and to promote a deeper understanding of Jewish history and culture. The need for a holistic approach was emphasised, involving not only education but also project funding. (Original version in French by Nithya Paquiry)