Motion for a resolution | Doc. 13751 | 14 April 2015

Renewed commitment in the fight against anti-Semitism in Europe

Signatories: Mr Alain DESTEXHE, Belgium, ALDE ; Mr Pedro AGRAMUNT, Spain, EPP/CD ; Lord Donald ANDERSON, United Kingdom, SOC ; Ms Theodora BAKOYANNIS, Greece, EPP/CD ; Mr Arcadio DÍAZ TEJERA, Spain, SOC ; Ms Ivana DOBEŠOVÁ, Czech Republic, ALDE ; Mr Andreas GROSS, Switzerland, SOC ; Mr Jonas GUNNARSSON, Sweden, SOC ; Mr Tadeusz IWIŃSKI, Poland, SOC ; Mr Olof LAVESSON, Sweden, EPP/CD ; Mr Jacques LEGENDRE, France, EPP/CD ; Ms Valentina LESKAJ, Albania, SOC ; Ms Kerstin LUNDGREN, Sweden, ALDE ; Mr Dirk Van der MAELEN, Belgium, SOC ; Mr Thierry MARIANI, France, EPP/CD ; Mr Jean-Claude MIGNON, France, EPP/CD ; Mr João Bosco MOTA AMARAL, Portugal, EPP/CD ; Mr Aleksandar NIKOLOSKI, ''The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia'', EPP/CD ; Mr Bernard PASQUIER, Monaco, ALDE ; Mr Andrea RIGONI, Italy, ALDE ; Mr René ROUQUET, France, SOC ; Mr Jordi XUCLÀ, Spain, ALDE ; Ms Kristýna ZELIENKOVÁ, Czech Republic, ALDE

This motion has not been discussed in the Assembly and commits only those who have signed it.

The Copenhagen and Paris attacks, the Brussels Jewish Museum massacre, examples of murderous incidents involving people of the Jewish confession show how much anti-Semitism has changed in recent years and particularly the last months. Beyond these criminal incidents, we are indeed witnessing a general increase in anti-Semitic feelings in many European countries, whether leading to violence or not.

In 2007, the Parliamentary Assembly, in its Resolution 1563 (2007) on combating anti-Semitism in Europe, already expressed serious concern about the persistence and escalation of anti-Semitic acts.

However, regarding the significant evolution of the situation over the past seven years, a renewal and extension of the commitments made in 2007 seem more than necessary.

The recent study of the Fundamental Rights Agency revealed for example that not less than three out of four European Jews consider that anti-Semitism has gained ground these last five years within the European Union. Moreover, the survey showed that one third of Jews were afraid of being the target of physical attacks. Some are considering leaving Europe because of those threats.

This sharp rise in anti-Semitism also contravenes principles guaranteed by the European Convention on Human Rights (ETS No. 5), the International Convention of the United Nations on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

Regarding the fact that the progression of anti-Semitism in Europe is violating a large number of international commitments and values, which are inherent in the action of the Council of Europe, the Assembly should:

• proceed to an evaluation of the implementation of Resolution 1563 (2007) and this, for each of the 19 points it contains;
• formulate recommendations on the basis of this evaluation to the member States which may show shortcomings in the implementation of the resolution;
• proceed to a study related to the growth of anti-Semitism in Europe and formulate recommendations on this basis in order to enhance Resolution 1563 (2007) in the light of recent events.