New York, NY, January 27, 2016 … The Anti-Defamation League (ADL), a 103-year-old civil rights organization and world leader in the fight against anti-Semitism, and the European Jewish Congress (EJC), founded in 1986 to unite the various efforts of European Jewish communities, today announced a partnership to cooperate on advocacy work within European Union institutions.
The new partnership, announced yesterday at a meeting of the EJC’s General Assembly in Brussels, will enable ADL to have a greater impact on E.U. policies and programs through the relationships and standing of the EJC as the representative body of European Jews. It will also heighten ADL’s relations with European Jewish communities at a time when rising anti-Semitism and security are of paramount concern, and enable ADL to export some of its expertise on those issues to Europe.
“ADL and EJC share commitments to the well-being of Jewish communities in Europe and to strongly support the State of Israel,” said Jonathan A. Greenblatt, ADL CEO and National Director. “EJC brings a strong voice in Brussels and is the recognized representative of the collective will of the Jewish communities of Europe. And ADL brings more than 100 years of experience and hundreds of professional staff in the United States, who produce programs, tools, and advocacy campaigns that counteract anti-Semitism and bigotry. Working together, we will leverage our respective strengths to pursue our common goals more effectively.”
EJC President Dr. Moshe Kantor said, “I am delighted that we are partnering with such an august institution as ADL which has a longstanding record of fighting for greater tolerance and against the scourge of hatred, racism and anti-Semitism. The EJC, as the democratically elected body representing European Jewish communities, is committed to finding workable and durable solutions to many of the challenges facing European Jewry and we look forward to working with the ADL to this end.”
ADL and EJC have signed a memorandum of understanding conferring “privileged partner” status on each other for specific core areas of activity, including advocacy work within European institutions such as the European Parliament and the European Commission.
The partnership’s focus will be on advocacy with European institutions on issues of security for Jewish communities in Europe, combating anti-Semitism, protecting religious freedom, Israel and the Middle East and anti-racism internet policies.
“We recognize the tremendous strain on Jewish communities in Europe today, the increasing pressure on Israel from the E.U., and the fact that these issues are increasingly being addressed within E.U. institutions,” Mr. Greenblatt said. “Our partnership with EJC will facilitate ADL’s involvement in helping provide a safer environment for European Jews.”
The agreement complements the ongoing cooperation ADL has with national Jewish representative organizations in Europe as well as its partnership on anti-bias education with CEJI – A Jewish Contribution to an Inclusive Europe.