Commission publishes two guides to protect Jewish life and heritage in Europe

The European Commission has published two guides dedicated to protecting and promoting Jewish life and Jewish heritage in Europe, ahead of European Day of Jewish Culture on 6 September. One document is aimed primarily at public authorities and explains how Jewish communities can be supported to live openly and safely, while the other inventories heritage sites and forms in 30 countries and presents existing tools for their preservation.

In brief, the Commission is marking European Day of Jewish Culture on 6 September by publishing two practical guides on Jewish life and heritage. Presence, Plurality, Continuity is intended particularly for local public authorities and provides guidance on creating an environment in which Jewish communities can live visibly and safely. A Living Story Across Europe maps Jewish heritage in 30 countries, including synagogues, cemeteries, museums, schools and former Jewish neighbourhoods. The initiative is part of the EU Strategy on combating antisemitism and fostering Jewish life for 2021–2030. On 3 December 2026, the Commission will award the Simone Veil Prize for the first time, dedicated to projects and individuals that help keep Europe’s Jewish cultural heritage alive.

The European Commission is using this year’s European Day of Jewish Culture to shift the focus from commemoration towards everyday life, community visibility and the protection of living heritage. The two guides published ahead of 6 September are designed for two different levels: one concerns the conditions in which Jewish communities can live and participate openly in public life, while the other focuses on the places, institutions and material traces of Jewish presence in Europe.

Presence, Plurality, Continuity is aimed particularly at public authorities, especially local ones, which have direct contact with schools, cultural institutions, public spaces and religious communities. The document seeks to provide tools for creating an environment in which Jewish life can be expressed without fear and without being reduced solely to the memory of the Holocaust or episodes of persecution.

This approach is based on the idea that protecting Jewish life requires both security and cultural and social visibility. Authorities are encouraged to better understand the diversity of Jewish communities, their everyday needs and the importance of their participation in local life.

The second guide, A Living Story Across Europe, focuses on heritage. It maps sites in 30 countries and includes synagogues, cemeteries, museums, schools, former Jewish neighbourhoods and other places documenting the long-standing presence of Jewish communities on the continent.

The document does not treat these places exclusively as historic monuments. Some are still used by communities, while others serve educational, cultural or commemorative functions. The guide aims to show the link between heritage and present-day life, including how these spaces can contribute to education, dialogue and an understanding of local history.

The Commission stresses that Jewish presence in Europe spans more than two millennia and has influenced culture, the economy, science, urban life and European institutions. In this context, protecting heritage is presented not only as an obligation linked to the past, but also as part of Europe’s current cultural identity.

Magnus Brunner, Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration, explicitly linked the promotion of Jewish life to combating antisemitism. He said that greater knowledge of Jewish culture and history can reduce prejudice and contribute to an environment in which communities feel safe and valued.

The Commission’s message comes as antisemitism remains a concern across the EU. The European strategy for 2021–2030 combines security and hate-fighting measures with policies to protect heritage, promote education and support Jewish communities.

The publication of the two guides seeks to turn these broad objectives into tools that can be used at local level. Municipalities, cultural institutions, schools and community organisations are among the actors that can use the guidance to protect sites, promote knowledge and integrate Jewish heritage into educational and cultural programmes.

A separate element of this policy is the Simone Veil Prize, which will be awarded for the first time in December 2026. The prize is funded through the Creative Europe programme and is dedicated to initiatives that use cultural heritage for education, dialogue and civic participation.

The first edition recognises projects in five categories, including shared histories, heritage for dialogue, living heritage, cross-border cooperation and youth involvement. The Commission has provided for up to 25 finalists and five Grand Prix winners, each receiving a prize of €10,000.

The award ceremony on 3 December will thus extend the message launched around European Day of Jewish Culture: Jewish heritage is treated not only as an object of preservation, but also as a tool for education, intergenerational dialogue and civic participation.

The two guides and the prize are components of the same European policy to make Jewish life more visible and better understood, at a time when the physical protection of communities and the fight against antisemitism remain distinct priorities.

The two guides and the prize are components of the same European policy to make Jewish life more visible and better understood, at a time when the physical protection of communities and the fight against antisemitism remain distinct priorities,