World Jewish News

‘We will vigorously oppose the forces of anti-Semitism,’ says EU Commission President Barroso

’I want to reassure you that together with the other European institutions and the governments of the EU member states, we will vigorously oppose the forces of anti-Semitism,’’ wrote European Commission President José Manuel Barroso in a letter to European Jewry on the occasion of Rosh Hashanah, the 5774 Jewish New Year that begins this week.
He said he expressed this firm commitment when he met with Israeli President Shimon Peres at the European Commission in Brussels earlier this year.
‘’The European Commission has noted with great concern reports of a rise in anti-Semitic incidents in the EU. Anti-Semitism has no place in European society or indeed any society. We are a Union that treasures diversity and protects the rights individuals to lead their lives as they wish,’’ the letter reads.
He stressed that during the past Jewish year ‘’we have commemorated the 70 anniversary of the uprising in the Warsaw Ghetto and the first anniversary of the brutal killings in Toulouse.’’
In the letter, President Barroso sated that ‘’the Jewish community is contributing significantly to European politics, business, arts, culture, sports and civil society in general,’’ adding that the European Commission ‘’recognized and appreciated the major role you play in enhancing Europe's future, its prosperity and cultural life.’’
He also recalled that in May 2014 elections to the European Parliament will be held.
‘’It will be essential for theEuropean institutions together with political and societal forces at all levels to encourage citizens to make use of their democratic rights and participate in the elections. This will be an important opportunity for citizens to express their hopes about the future of our European project.’’
Barroso’s letter ended with ‘’Wishing you and the Jewish community as a whole a year of life, health and prosperity! L'shanah tovah!’’
Rabbi Menachem Margolin, Director General of the European Jewish Association (EJA), an umbrella group for Jewish organizations active on European level, thanked President Barroso for the European Union's commitment for the safety of the European Jewish community.
‘’This past year the European Jewish Community had to contend with a significant rise in Anti-Semitic incidents, as well as attempts to disrupt Jewish freedom of worship in different countries through legislations banning kosher butchering and circumcision. It is my hope that the commendable cooperation we have received from the European Union in dealing with these issues will continue in this upcoming New Year,'' Margolin said in his message to the EU leaders.

EJP