On September 28, 2023, Luxembourg introduced its "National Action Plan Against Antisemitism" (PANAS), becoming the eleventh European Union member state to implement

such a plan. The PANAS comprises 19 measures aimed at strengthening the culture of remembrance, enhancing synagogue security, and addressing the surge in online hate targeting the Jewish community throughout Europe.

With reports of rising antisemitism in Europe, the European Commission encouraged its member states to develop national action plans against antisemitism. Luxembourg's plan addresses multiple aspects of this issue, including Holocaust remembrance, especially at a time when few survivors of the Nazi death camps remain.

The plan also includes provisions to bolster security around Luxembourg's two synagogues. Antisemitic motives will be considered as aggravating factors in criminal cases, potentially resulting in doubled sentences.

Prime Minister Xavier Bettel, who presented the plan, highlighted instances in his country where the Holocaust had been downplayed, notably during protests against pandemic measures where some protesters wore yellow Stars of David while marching in the capital.

One significant feature of the plan is the transformation of the Cinqfontaines monastery, once used by Germans to detain Jewish individuals, into an educational and commemorative site.

Katarina von Schnurbein, European Commission Coordinator on Combating Antisemitism and Fostering Jewish Life, emphasized the importance of PANAS, noting that nine out of ten Jewish EU citizens currently feel a resurgence of antisemitism. She stated, "Antisemitism has never fully vanished, but there was a time when people knew that they should not express certain things. However, the internet now provides a platform for openly and directly transmitting hate speech that was unthinkable in the past." 

Luxembourg's action plan also commits to implementing EU directives aimed at countering online hate. A June report by RIAL, a Luxembourg-based research and information organization on antisemitism, highlighted that the number of antisemitic incidents in the country remains alarmingly high. The report documented 76 antisemitic incidents, with 55% being traditional forms of antisemitism, notably "World Domination" attributed to Jews. Additionally, contemporary antisemitism included 28 incidents related to the Holocaust and Israel, often in the context of equating the Holocaust with a purported genocide against Palestinians.

Luxembourg, with a total population of 650,000, is home to approximately 1,000 Jews. Photo by Benh LIEU SONG, Wikimedia commons.