The European Union’s adoption of the IHRA working definition of antisemitism was an important step, together with its adoption by Member States. The definition is a guide to recognise manifestations of antisemitism. In recent months, however, incidents that fall under this definition have increased significantly. How can the European Parliament help address the remaining gaps?

The adoption of the IHRA working definition of antisemitism by the European Union was an essential step because it gave institutions a common tool to recognise and name antisemitism in all its contemporary forms. In 2017, the European Parliament itself adopted a resolution on combating antisemitism that endorsed the IHRA definition and encouraged Member States to use it as a practical guide.

 But definitions alone are not enough. What we have witnessed in recent months, particularly after the attacks of 7 October, is a worrying surge in antisemitic incidents across Europe, including in spaces that should be places of learning and dialogue such as universities.

The European Parliament has a key role in ensuring that the definition is not only symbolic but operational, encouraging its consistent use in education, public administration and law enforcement. This means encouraging its consistent use in education, public administration and law enforcement, and strengthening monitoring mechanisms.

You come from a progressive tradition that has led the way in advancing LGBTQAI+ rights in Europe. Yet antisemitism is often overlooked on the left, while the right may support Jewish identity but reject LGBTQAI+ equality. This leaves Jewish LGBTQAI+ people politically homeless. How can institutions and parties adopt a human rights approach that fully embraces all parts of our identity?

A credible human rights approach must start from a simple principle: rights are indivisible, and equality cannot be defended selectively. Fighting against antisemitism and for LGBTQAI+ rights must go hand in hand. For too long, antisemitism has been underestimated in parts of the progressive world, while in other political spaces support for Jewish identity has been accompanied by rejection of LGBTQAI+ equality. Both approaches leave Jewish LGBTQAI+ people feeling politically homeless.

 The responsibility of institutions is therefore to promote a consistent framework based on the fundamental values of the European Union: equality before the law, protection from discrimination, and the right for every person to live freely and safely in all aspects of their identity. No one should ever be forced to choose between being Jewish and being LGBTQAI+, as a real human rights approach must embrace the full complexity of people’s identities and ensure that all communities feel equally protected and respected.

In December 2025, you hosted a roundtable at the European Parliament – Bridging Identities: Confronting Antisemitism within LGBTQ+ Communities. The event successfully brought together LGBTQAI+ and Jewish organizations, including Keshet Europe. The event shed a light on how antisemitism manifests within LGBTQIA+ spaces. How can the European Parliament and Keshet Europe mutually support one another’s work in combating (ambient) antisemitism and LGBTQIA+ phobia?

The roundtable showed how important it is to create structured dialogue between institutions and civil society. Participants shared very concrete experiences and reflections on a broader climate in which antisemitism within progressive spaces is sometimes denied or minimised. Recognising these realities is the first step to rebuilding trust.

The European Parliament can support this work by giving institutional visibility and legitimacy to these issues, by ensuring that the fight against antisemitism is clearly connected to broader equality policies.

 At the same time, organisations such as Keshet Europe are essential partners for institutions. They bring expertise, experience and grassroots perspectives that help policymakers understand how discrimination manifests in real life. By working together, through dialogue, awareness initiatives and policy engagement, the European Parliament and Keshet Europe can reinforce each other’s efforts to ensure that LGBTQAI+ spaces across Europe remain safe, inclusive and respectful for everyone.

Many Jewish LGBTQIA+ organisations face specific funding barriers, often being marginalised within both Jewish and LGBTQIA+ spaces. While larger, established organisations tend to access EU funding more easily, smaller intersectional groups often struggle to fit existing frameworks. As Vice-President of the European Parliament, how can you improve access to institutional dialogue and funding for minority-led groups such as LGBTQIA+ Jewish organisations, so they can grow and sustain their work?

I understand the challenges such organisations face and believe that procedures should be simplified to make EU funding more accessible to grassroots and intersectional groups. In the short term, one of the most practical ways to improve access is through partnerships with organisations that already receive EU funding for these purposes. Several Jewish organisations across Europe are already beneficiaries of EU programmes aimed at combating antisemitism and supporting Jewish life. Strengthening cooperation between these organisations and Jewish LGBTQIA+ groups can help channel resources, expertise and institutional support more quickly and effectively.

 Equally important is access to institutional dialogue. Minority-led organisations must have a seat at the table when policies affecting them are discussed. Creating regular consultation mechanisms and strengthening partnerships with civil society can help ensure that intersectional voices are heard and valued. Supporting these organisations is not only about funding projects; it is about empowering communities that contribute to the democratic resilience of our societies.

In recent years the European Union has adopted the EU Strategy on combating antisemitism and fostering Jewish life (2021 - 2030) and more recently in October 2025, the LGBTIQ+ equality strategy 2026 - 2030. While both strategies look at common areas, important gaps remain – especially in clarifying how to address bias, forms of discrimination, and stigmatisation within the communities. How can European policymakers support Keshet Europe in addressing these challenges safely and effectively?

I believe the adoption of the two strategies represents significant progress, but as mentioned, important gaps remain. This is precisely where organisations like yours bring essential expertise, because they work at the intersection of identities that are often overlooked in traditional policy frameworks.

European policymakers can support your work by ensuring that intersectionality is fully integrated into the implementation of these strategies and by strengthening direct engagement with organisations representing these communities. Establishing regular channels of dialogue with policymakers is essential so that intersectional voices are heard and meaningfully reflected in European policies, action plans and funding priorities.

 Ultimately, the objective is clear: to build a Europe in which Jewish life and LGBTQAI+ equality are both protected and celebrated. Achieving this requires strong cooperation between institutions and civil society, grounded in the shared values of dignity, freedom and equality for all.