International Movement for Peace and Coexistence

This week, the European Parliament hosted a timely breakfast roundtable entitled “Combatting Antisemitism in Europe by Confronting Extremism.” Organised under the auspices of the Combat Antisemitism Movement (CAM), the event brought together MEPs, EU officials and civil-society representatives to foster open exchange, share perspectives and best practices, and strengthen cooperation on these pressing challenges.

It also served as an opportunity to introduce the important work of CAM.

Hosted by Austrian EPP MEP Lukas Mandl, vice-chair of the Working Group Against Antisemitism, the gathering featured the participation of Dutch MEP Bert-Jan Ruissen and Spanish MEP Rosa Estaràs Ferragut, both long-standing advocates for stronger measures against hate and extremism within the Parliament.

Mandl opened the discussion by praising the breadth of the conversation and highlighting the need for sustained, everyday action against antisemitism in all its forms. A central figure at the roundtable was Shannon Seban, Executive Director of European Affairs at CAM.

Elected for six years as a city councillor in Rosny-sous-Bois, France – where she promoted the French principle of laïcité and combated discrimination. In January 2026 she was appointed as the National Secretary of the political party Les Républicains in charge of combating antisemitism and racism.

In her introduction she drew on her frontline experience to underscore the growing influence of extremism in France and the value of cross-border dialogue. She noted that the French Government’s May 2025 report on extremism in France had already been referenced by the Dutch parliament in debates on policy responses to the Muslim Brotherhood.

The Combat Antisemitism Movement, which Seban now helps lead across Europe, has become one of the most dynamic global coalitions in the field. Founded less than a decade ago, CAM today unites more than 1000 interfaith partner organisations and over five million activists from diverse religious, political and cultural backgrounds. Its mission is clear: to confront antisemitism collaboratively and build a future free of bigotry for Jews and all humanity.

Among its flagship initiatives is the European Mayors Summit Against Antisemitism, now involving leaders from more than 130 cities; comprehensive training programmes for law enforcement; and a global network of 250 social-media influencers who amplify positive messages. Through its “Report It” platform and grassroots mobilisation, CAM translates awareness into concrete action.

Seban expressed satisfaction that the roundtable provided space for an honest exchange before handing the floor to the first speaker.

Katharina von Schnurbein, the European Commission Coordinator on Combating Antisemitism and Fostering Jewish Life since 2015, addressed the gathering and emphasised the importance of continued cooperation with the European Parliament. She underlined that the debate is particularly significant given the challenges Europe faces and welcomed the support shown by the European Parliament. Von Schnurbein recalled the EU’s 2021–2030 Strategy on Combating Antisemitism and Fostering Jewish Life, which clearly identifies root causes including right-wing, left-wing and Islamist extremism, as well as manifestations that can hide behind anti-Zionism. She stressed that extremists may agree on very little, but they converge on Jew hatred, making a unified response essential.

The Coordinator highlighted the need to combine security measures with genuine safety – ensuring that Jewish citizens can move freely in public spaces without fear for their identity or well-being. She outlined the Commission’s multifaceted approach: robust legislative tools such as the Digital Services Act and the Terrorist Content Online Regulation to tackle terrorist content and illegal hate speech online, alongside policy initiatives that promote intelligence sharing, early detection of radicalisation and stronger cooperation between member states, law enforcement and EU agencies. Particular emphasis was placed on empowering civil society, which often detects emerging threats early through its networks.

Von Schnurbein concluded that protecting Jewish life is inseparable from defending European democracy and shared values.

Civil society voices enriched the discussion. Patricia Teitelbaum, President of the International Movement for Peace and Coexistence, called for greater scrutiny of educational content and funding streams. A representative from Barcelona’s Jewish community described difficulties in securing the attendance of local and regional authorities at Holocaust commemorations, urging European institutions to promote clearer pedagogy that distinguishes criticism of governments from attacks on Jewish citizens. Yossi Lempkovitch of the European Jewish Press Association asked how Europe can reassure those who feel increasingly unsafe.

In response, von Schnurbein underlined the importance of the IHRA working definition of antisemitism – now used by all EU member states – which clarifies contemporary forms of hate and helps prevent the conflation of Middle East events with European Jewish communities. She reiterated that decisive action, protection and education must go hand in hand, with strong cooperation at local, national and European levels.

Saad Amrani, Chief Commissioner and counter-terrorism expert with the Belgian Federal Police, addressed the participants next. Drawing on his extensive experience in law enforcement and counter-terrorism, Amrani emphasised the urgent need to address the root causes of antisemitism and extremism. He highlighted the importance of tackling not only online content but also the broader atmosphere of hate that develops at the grassroots level within communities. Amrani described the daily challenges faced by security forces in protecting Jewish sites and welcomed recent decisions to reinforce security measures, including the deployment of military support in Belgium. He called for a more sophisticated and coordinated response involving closer cooperation between law enforcement, policymakers and civil society.

In his concluding remarks, host Lukas Mandl thanked Seban for her initiative and expressed hope that she would continue her political engagement. He described the fight against antisemitism as “an everyday endeavour” that extends far beyond parliamentarians. “It is something everybody can teach the children. It’s something everybody can do in the education system… It is an endeavour for each and everybody,” he said, encouraging participants to carry the message into daily conversations, schools and communities so that the issue does not remain confined to political circles.

Mandl’s own record reflects this commitment. As vice-chair of the WGAS he has organised numerous high-level conferences on extremism, Islamism and antisemitism, consistently advocating for deeper adoption of the IHRA definition and practical EU-wide responses. His close collaboration with CAM and Seban exemplifies the cross-partisan, practical approach the roundtable sought to advance.

The breakfast gathering ended on a note of shared determination. In a time of rising polarisation, the participants affirmed that confronting extremism is vital not only for Jewish communities but for the health of European democracy itself. With organisations like CAM and dedicated MEPs such as Mandl continuing their work, today’s exchange offered both a clear-eyed assessment of the challenges and a practical roadmap for collective action across institutions and society.

Main Image: Gabriel Lelievre