23 November 2020

The European Union of Jewish Students (EUJS) welcomes the decision of EDS (the pan-European and official student organisation of the European People’s Party [EPP]) made at the EDS Council Meeting on Sunday 22nd November, 2020, to pass a motion on combating antisemitism which includes the adoption of the non-legally binding International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) Working Definition of Antisemitism.

EDS irepresents over 1.600.000 students and young people in 40 member organisations from 35 countries in Europe, and is one of the largest youth organisation in Europe. This is a vital step in the fight against antisemitism!

EUJS is delighted that such a step forward was decided upon and would like to take this opportunity to congratulate EDS on its adoption of both the motion and the IHRA definition.

Over the past weeks and months, EUJS has been in regular contact with EDS and its Policy Working Group on Human Rights concerning the drafting and proposal of the motion on “Combating Antisemitism”. It has been a pleasure to work with EDS on this matter and we sincerely hope that other youth parties and organisations will follow their example in this regard, in adopting the IHRA working definition of antisemitism.

Going forward, EUJS would like to note that the adoption of the IHRA definition represents simply a first step in the process and so we plan to be in regular contact with our contacts at EDS to ensure that the adoption is carried out and acted upon.