The head of the Brussels-based European Jewish Association (EJA) Rabbi Menachem Margolin - which represents thousands of Jews from communities across Europe – welcomed the election of Italian MEP Antonio Tajani as the new President of the European Parliament, urging him to devote time and resources properly to tackle anti-Semitism.

Tajani will hold the position for the next two and a half years after he secured Tuesday 351 votes, while his challenger, also from Italy, Gianni Pitella from the Socialists and Democrats Group (S&D group) could only garner 282. Tajani is a member of the center-right European People’s Party (EPP), the largest political group in the 751-member European Parliament. He succeeds German Social Democrat Martin Schulz who stepped down after five years.

“We are delighted at the election of Mr Tajani to the post of President of the European Parliament. His previous experience and talent as Chairman of interfaith dialogue will stand him in good stead,’’ Rabbi Margolin said in a statement.

“It is an unpalatable truth for many, and some politicians seek to brush it under carpet, but anti-semitism is on the rise across Europe, as populism and nationalism continue to make electoral gains. It needs to be properly grabbed by the horns,’’ he stressed.

Rabbi Margolin called on the European Parliament ‘’to work with us, the Jewish communities and not just listening and empathising with our position as a community quite literally under fire but working closely with us on developing initiatives and EU programmes to deal with it. We stand ready to do our part.“

As he hosted last September a conference in the European Parliament on anti-Semitism in Europe and future prospects for Europe’s Jewish communities, Tajani, who is responsible for inter-religious dialogue for the Parliament, stressed the persistent climate of hatred towards Jews which leads Jews to live Europe for Israel. ‘’Europe without Jews would no longer be Europe," he said, calling on Europe, its institutions, its member states and its citizens to oppose anti-Semitism and fight it. ‘’The antidote is to remember, on the one hand, and look to the future, on the other. It is necessary to keep our consciousness and be proud of our identity”, he added.

Tajani, a veteran MEP, former Vice-President of the European Commission and longtime advisor to former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, is also considered to be a pro-Israel politician. As Commissioner in charge of Industry and Entrepreneurship he made several visits to Israel.

63-year-old Tajani has stressed his extensive experience, including his recent stint as Parliament Vice President.

“I believe in Europe, but we need to change,” Tajani said in a speech ahead of the ballot. He acknowledged that the European Union ‘’is in troubled waters.’’ ‘’After the euro crisis came the refugee and security crises. European citizens expect us to respond. They expect this from the European Parliament,’’ he said.

He continued, ‘’We realise that we have to find solutions. These solutions are not found in more and more Europe, neither are they found in blowing up the European project.’’

Following the election of the new President, for the period 2017-2019, 14 Vice-Presidents will also be elected.