BRUSSELS – In the wake of the 7 October attacks and the resulting surge in antisemitic threats and attacks across Europe, the World Jewish Congress (WJC), in collaboration with the Hungarian Presidency of the Council of the European Union, the European Commission, and the European Jewish Congress (EJC), convened a high-level conference in Brussels focusing on the safety and resilience of Jewish communities across Europe. The event highlighted best practices and effective strategies, with a particular focus on safeguarding places of worship and fostering community resilience. In response to the rise in terrorist attacks targeting synagogues and Jewish centers, the conference underscored the urgent need for collaboration between public authorities and Jewish leaders.
Held at the Permanent Mission of Hungary to the European Union, the conference brought together public officials, security experts, and Jewish community leaders to address the critical challenges facing Jewish life at the European Union level. Discussions explored the evolving security landscape, the impact of global terrorism, and the tools needed to protect vulnerable communities.
On behalf of the presidency of the Council, Ambassador Bálint Ódor, Permanent Representative of Hungary to the EU, opened the conference where he emphasized the Hungarian government’s commitment to combating antisemitism and protecting the European Jewish community. His remarks were followed by Katharina von Schnurbein, European Commission Coordinator on Combating Antisemitism and Fostering Jewish Life, and Prof. Dr. Andor Grósz, President of the Federation of Jewish Communities in Hungary, who both emphasized that the security of our communities requires close cooperation between authorities, law enforcement, Jewish leaders and civil society. Raya Kalenova, Executive Vice-President and CEO of the European Jewish Congress, and Maram Stern, WJC Executive Vice-President, both thanked the Hungarian Presidency of the Council and the European Commission for their commitment and efforts to ensuring a safer Europe for the Jewish communities. Maram Stern emphasized that the safety of Jews is also the safety of the European Union.
The first session of the morning featured Bartjan Wegter, EU Counter-Terrorism Coordinator, who provided a sobering overview of Europe’s security environment and the threats posed by various actors across the continent. His analysis was complemented by insights from Shalom Ben Hanan, a former senior officer at Israel’s Security Agency, who explored the various terrorist threats faced by Israel and the diaspora, and summarized the main takeaways following the 7 October terror attacks.
The challenges facing Jewish life in Europe were further explored in a panel discussion moderated by Ernest Herzog, WJC’s Head of Combating Antisemitism, Intelligence & Security, where panelists addressed threats ranging from Iran’s regional influence to the rise of radical ideologies and right-wing extremism. Dr. Efrat Sopher provided a detailed perspective on Iran’s regional influence and efforts to destabilize the international system. Shalom Ben Hanan and Kacper Rekawek added insight about the impact of Islamist radicalization and far-right extremist movements.Â
The focus then shifted to younger generations, as Emma Hallali, President of the European Union of Jewish Students, shared powerful reflections on the realities Jewish students face on campuses across Europe. Her account highlighted both the fears and the resilience that characterize student life today.Â
In the afternoon, Yfat Barak-Cheney, Executive Director of the WJC Institute for Technology and Human Rights, introduced WJC’s work in the field of online hate and our cooperation with social media platforms. This was followed by a presentation Inbal Goldberger, Member of the Advisory Council for the WJC Institute for Technology and Human Rights, who focused on the threats and risks posed by generative AI. She also elaborated on the positive strategies and potential that AI brings to the fight against antisemitism online.Â
The conference culminated in a panel discussion where policy makers, law enforcement officials, experts and Jewish community representatives shared best practices on protecting Jewish communities in an era of heightened risk. Featuring perspectives from security officials such as Floriana Sipala of the European Commission, Mike Whine of the Community Security Trust UK and the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI), and others. Topics addressed included security awareness, crisis management and cooperation with law enforcement  and EU institutionsÂ
Closing remarks from Dr. Péter Sztáray, Hungarian State Secretary for Security Policy, and Julien Mousnier, Director for Rule of Law, Fundamental Rights, and Democracy at the European Commission reinforced the conference’s message of institutional cooperation and political determination. They stressed the importance of maintaining dialogue and continuing collaborative efforts to safeguard Jewish communities. Â
The World Jewish Congress maintains close cooperation with European Union institutions, and is hopeful that the new political cycle, which began this week with the start of the new Commission, will lead to concrete and meaningful milestones over the next five years. Â
