EU Parliament president: Antisemitism is a ‘poison’ that must be rooted out

Speaking at the opening of the European Jewish Association (EJA) Conference in Brussels, European Parliament President Roberta Metsola delivers a stark warning about antisemitism on the continent, calling it a “poison” that must not be ignored.

“Synagogues attacked. Schools targeted. Ambulances set on fire. Jewish families afraid to walk the streets. These are not isolated incidents — every single one of them is an assault on everything Europe stands for,” Metsola tells the gathering of more than 100 European Jewish leaders.

“Antisemitism is a poison, and like any poison, it cannot be tolerated — it must be rooted out,” Metsola says. “Europe must be a place where Jewish people can live openly, safely, and without fear. Where wearing a kippah is not a risk, where children can go to school without armed guards, and where Jewish life can flourish again in every corner of our continent.”

“We have seen conspiracy theories replace logic, victims blamed, and age-old antisemitic tropes return in the mouths of a new generation,” she continues. “This is how it starts, and Europe, more than any place in the world, knows where it can lead if left unchecked.”

Thank you @EP_President EP president, for sharing this important message, and for your strong words reflected so clearly in your actions, in support of Jewish communities.@EJAssociation Annual Conference pic.twitter.com/rgNdnLb1Rx

— EJA – EIPA (@EJAssociation) April 15, 2026

Leaders at the gathering have called for urgent protections amid rising antisemitism, citing increased violence and fear in public spaces.

At the center of the two-day conference’s agenda is a policy demand for the establishment of Special Protected Minority Status for Jews in European countries, aimed at ensuring enforceable legal protections, security guarantees, and long-term safeguards for Jewish life.