EPNA Workshop in Brussels | “The EU Framework as a Model? Supranational Approaches to Combating Antisemitism”

Report on the EPNA Workshop
“The EU Framework as a Model? Supranational Approaches to Combating Antisemitism”

The summer workshop of the European Practitioners Network against Antisemitism (EPNA) in Brussels significantly advanced the network’s position as a transnational platform for policy exchange in a geopolitical context characterised by shifting power dynamics across Europe and beyond, one in which pressures towards re-nationalised policy approaches stand in tension with continued commitments to supranational coordination. In this setting, EPNA offered a forum to assess the resilience and relevance of European frameworks in addressing contemporary forms of antisemitism and to bring them into dialogue with international networks within the US, Israel and the WANA region.

Building on the internationalisation process initiated at the previous EPNA workshop in Barcelona, the Brussels meeting explored the strengths and limitations of the European framework for combating antisemitism. Bringing together 35 participants from Europe, Israel, Morocco and the United States, the workshop provided an opportunity to exchange perspectives across different political and societal contexts and to reflect on what Europe can learn from experiences in other regions.

The workshop pursued two overarching objectives: first, to continue the development of policy briefs addressing key challenges in the field of combating antisemitism; and second, to further examine the relationship between European institutions and civil society practitioners and their respective roles in addressing antisemitism.

The event was realised with funding from the German Federal Foreign Office and in cooperation with the European Union of Jewish Students and received valuable support from the German Embassy in Brussels and the Permanent Representation of the Federal Republic of Germany to the European Union.

The European Framework in Practice

As a network bringing together more than 100 member organisations from across Europe and an increasing number of international partners, EPNA provides a platform for practitioners to exchange experiences, develop joint initiatives and strengthen civil society responses to antisemitism.

Brussels offered a particularly appropriate setting for this discussion. As the political centre of the European Union and home to many of the institutions shaping European approaches to combating antisemitism, the city provided participants with an opportunity to engage directly with actors involved in policy development and implementation.

A central programme element was a Q&A session with Katharina von Schnurbein, European Commission Coordinator on Combating Antisemitism and Fostering Jewish Life. Reflecting on developments throughout her tenure, she shared insights into the challenges of coordinating efforts across different European contexts and discussed how the landscape has evolved, particularly since 7 October 2023. Participants also learned about positive developments, including the fact that 24 European countries have now adopted national strategies against antisemitism. The discussion provided participants with an opportunity to openly address challenges from their own professional contexts and engage directly with the European Commission.

Networking and Training

The programme opened with a networking-oriented speed-dating session designed to strengthen connections among participants and support the continued integration of new international members into the network.

Another important component was a discrimination awareness training led by Josh Dubell, a representative of Solutions not Sides (United Kingdom). The session introduced participants to the organisation’s educational approach and focused on addressing antisemitism without losing sight of broader dynamics of racism and discrimination – particularly in contexts shaped by the Middle East conflict. Given the relevance of these issues for many practitioners in the field, the training provided valuable perspectives for navigating complex and often polarised debates.

Working Groups and Policy Brief Development

During the workshop the participants conducted the second stage of a three-step process aimed at developing policy briefs that will serve as practical advocacy tools for civil society organisations.

While the first phase in Barcelona focused on mapping challenges and analysing the current situation in four thematic areas, the Brussels workshop concentrated on identifying and refining the core problems underlying these challenges. Participants worked towards identifying a limited number of core problems that will serve as the basis for future policy recommendations.

The working group topics are:

• Holocaust education and combating Holocaust denial
• Antisemitism in schools and universities; antisemitism among teenagers and young adults
• The intersectionality of antisemitism, racism, conspiracy ideologies and misogyny
• Online antisemitism, fake news and online radicalisation

The results developed in Brussels will serve as the basis for the final phase of the process. Ahead of the EPNA workshop in London in October, the working groups will finalise their policy briefs and formulate recommendations intended for publication and public presentation later this year.

Public Panel and Outreach

The workshop included a semi-public panel discussion titled “Closing the Gap: EU Institutions and Civil Society Practitioners on Combating Antisemitism”, which brought together workshop participants and members of the broader public. The event was attended by more than 50 participants from civil society organisations, political institutions, academia, the Jewish community, and a group of attachés from the Federal Foreign Office.

The evening was opened by Ambassador Thomas Ossowski of the Permanent Representation of the Federal Republic of Germany. The panel featured Friso Roscam-Abbing (European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights), Teona Dalakishvili (Creative Development Center, Georgia), Basya Gartenstein (Bruno-Kreisky-Forum, Austria), Joanna Podolska-Płocka (University of Łódź, Poland) and Abdou El Kaoukabi (Association Mimouna, Morocco). The discussion was moderated by Jonas Fegert (FZI – Research Center for Information Technology, Germany).

A central theme of the discussion was the perceived disconnect between political and administrative institutions on the one hand and civil society practitioners on the other. Participants explored why this gap continues to exist despite broad agreement on the importance of cooperation and discussed possible approaches to strengthening communication and coordination. Among other points, Friso Roscam-Abbing highlighted ongoing efforts within the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights to institutionalise dialogue with civil society actors and ensure that their perspectives are more systematically incorporated into policy processes.

Outlook and Strategic Significance

The EPNA workshop “The EU Framework as a Model? Supranational Approaches to Combating Antisemitism” represented an important milestone in the network’s annual work cycle. Positioned between the foundational discussions in Barcelona and the finalisation of outputs in London, the Brussels workshop translated broad problem analyses into more focused and actionable frameworks.

The workshop highlighted both the potential and the limitations of supranational approaches to combating antisemitism, including the persistent gap between European-level frameworks and their uneven implementation across national contexts. Participants emphasised the importance of ensuring that policy development remains closely connected to the experiences of practitioners working on the ground.

As EPNA prepares for its third workshop of the year in London, the network will focus on finalising its policy briefs and presenting concrete recommendations to a wider public, marking the culmination of this year’s process of transregional exchange and civil society advocacy. Supported by the German Federal Foreign Office, EPNA will continue to strengthen civil society cooperation against antisemitism across Europe and beyond.

For further information, please contact:
Florian Eisheuer | EPNA Programme Lead
Email: practitionersnetwork@dialogueperspectives.org

Fotos: Tommaso Salvadori