News Release
Romano Prodi
No. 15/04
February 11, 2004
EUROPEAN COMMISSION ANNOUNCES SEMINAR TO ADDRESS ISSUE
OF ANTI-SEMITISM
European Commission President
Romano Prodi
has called a seminar to address the issue of anti-Semitism in the broader perspective
of the role of the Jewish communities in Europe.
Organized under the auspices
of the European Commission, the European Jewish Congress and the Congress of European
Rabbis, the event will take place on 19 February in the Commission’s Charlemagne
building in Brussels and will bring together leading figures from public life
and representatives of communities of faith. The session will cover the
nature and values of today’s Europe, anti-Semitism, relations between Israel and
the European Union, the interfaith dialogue and the historical and cultural dimension
of European Jewry. The seminar will be open to members of the public who
have pre-registered by 15 February. The registration form is available at
http://europa.eu.int/comm/commissioners/prodi/pdf/form_192004_en.pdf.
President Prodi has put his personal weight behind the seminar with
this message:
"Europe is founded on diversity, on the principles of liberty, democracy
and respect for human rights. This is the Union
we have been building since the Second World War and the horrors of the Shoah.
“It has been said that civilisations can be judged by
the way they treat their minorities. Recent manifestations of anti-Semitism in
Europe have caused alarm and concern within the Union
and abroad. Racism and xenophobia are a clear violation of the principles upon
which our Union
was founded.
“Whilst firm and immediate action must be taken to deal with any manifestation
of anti-Semitism, the underlying causes need to be addressed frankly and openly.
“We must work together to understand
these disturbing phenomena and eradicate any signs of intolerance or rejection
of diversity—in
schools, at the workplace and in political life.
“That is why I have decided
to organise a seminar on anti-Semitism in the broader perspective of the role
of the Jewish communities in the Europe we are building, this ‘Union of minorities’
of ours, a Union of diversity where all components, be they national, ethnic,
religious or cultural, have equal dignity.
“There is no place for
racism or anti-Semitism in the European Union."
For more information on “the anti-Semitism controversy”
see http://europa.eu.int/comm/commissioners/prodi/index_en.htm.
