Surge in anti-Christian hate crime in Europe and in France
16.3.2022
Question for written answer E-001070/2022
to the Commission
Rule 138
Jean-Paul Garraud (ID)
In her answer to question E-005548/2021, Vice-President Jourová states that ‘the Commission is committed to protect Christians and members of other religious groups from persecution within the EU and does not make any distinction between religious groups. The Commission has no plans as regards a specific strategy on christophobia or to appoint a dedicated coordinator on this issue’.
Although the Commission claims to draw no distinction between different religious groups, the EU however appointed a coordinator for combating anti-Semitism[1] in 2015 and a coordinator for combating anti-Muslim hatred in 2018[2].
What is more, the Commission presented the first-ever EU Strategy on combating anti-Semitism on 5 October[3].
At a time when Christians are the most persecuted religious group in the world and the OSCE[4] reports a 70% surge in anti-Christian hate crimes between 2019 and 2020 in Europe, can the Commission explain why it does not intend to introduce a strategy or appoint a coordinator to combat christophobia?
- [1] https://ec.europa.eu/info/policies/justice-and-fundamental-rights/combatting-discrimination/racism-and-xenophobia/combating-antisemitism/coordinator-combating-antisemitism-and-fostering-jewish-life_en
- [2] https://ec.europa.eu/info/policies/justice-and-fundamental-rights/combatting-discrimination/racism-and-xenophobia/combating-anti-muslim-hatred_en#the-commissions-coordinator-on-combating-anti-muslim-hatred
- [3] https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_21_4990
- [4] Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe