Tolerance is the key to combatting extremism

Many pro-Jewish and Muslim groups have reported an immense increase in anti-Semitic and anti-Muslim attacks in European countries. The number of violent anti-Semitic acts in France, for example, has risen 130% in the last year.

The Paris and Copenhagen attacks are forcing Europe to act and adopt measures to confront and combat these forms of extremism. These violent actions constitute direct attacks against the EU's values, fundamental freedoms and democracy.

The worrying increase of extremism in various EU Member States was debated in the European Parliament with Commissioner Johannes Hahn. Talking on behalf of the EPP Group, its Vice-Chairman, Esteban Gonzalez Pons, underlined that "Paris, Copenhagen and Brussels are proof that we're doing something wrong, because these are not crimes from 'outside', these criminals have been educated here in our schools. Those who are now attacking us for being Jewish will later attack us for being Christians. We have to teach tolerance and to learn from our mistakes."

Monika Hohlmeier, EPP Group spokeswoman on the Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs Committee, spoke also about tolerance: she said that there is "a wave of intolerance and radicalisation sweeping across Europe. We must therefore take steps to promote positive integration, by adopting a strategy of mutual understanding and by promoting dialogue between religions. I urge all the Member States to take concrete measures against radicalisation. They must prevent religious guidance coming from radicalised and extremist religious leaders. The Austrian law on restricting the foreign financing of religious leaders is a good example."

The EPP Group views all forms of  terrorism as a global threat that needs to be tackled at many levels - national, European and global. One day before the debate in the European Parliament on violent extremism, the EPP Group adopted its strategy against terrorism.

It is a roadmap, setting out the most important challenges that the EU must face in order to tackle terrorism and extremism from a global perspective. The paper includes ways to optimise prevention of and combat radicalisation. It also emphasises the importance of tracking sources of terrorist financing, coordination between judicial and police authorities in the Member States and the protection, rights and support of victims of terrorism. The question of how to de-radicalise and integrate disaffected persons is also one of the key focuses of the strategy.