In partnership with the European Jewish Congress and Faith Matters we organised the “Resilient Communities: Improving Interfaith Cooperation and Fostering Best Practices” conference in Brussels.
The event, funded by the European Union through the Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values Programme (CERV) as part of the “BADRI – Bringing Awareness, Dialogue and Resilience Improvement” project, brought together European Commission officials, Members of the European Parliament, diplomats, community leaders, interfaith experts, legal professionals, and representatives from various faith-based organisations.
The conference provided a unique opportunity to address the shared challenges faced by faith-based communities, particularly Jewish and Muslim communities, and to explore collaborative solutions. The focus was on judicial responses to hate crimes, dismantling stereotypes and biases against faith-based communities, and examining the impact of prejudice and discrimination, all while incorporating a gender perspective.
The event featured engaging plenary sessions, panel discussions, and breakout sessions that encouraged participants to build stronger coalitions, exchange knowledge, and develop strategies to promote mutual understanding.
Demonstrating their continued commitment to fostering interfaith cooperation, strengthening legal and policy frameworks to address faith-based discrimination, and promoting inclusive, resilient communities across Europe, the participants signed a series of commitments as the outcome of the conference, reaffirming their dedication to transforming dialogue into tangible action and sustaining long-term collaboration.
Opening remarks were delivered by the European Commission Coordinator on Anti-Muslim Hatred, Marion Lalisse; Member of the European Parliament and Vice-Chair of the Working Group Against Antisemitism, Sergey Lagodinsky; and Policy Officer at the Office of the European Commission’s Coordinator on Combating Antisemitism and Fostering Jewish Life, Pascale Falek.
The event opened with a keynote by Chief Superintendent Saad Amrani of the Brussels Capital Ixelles Police, who shared insights on radicalisation, interfaith cooperation, and the evolving threat landscape in Belgium and Europe. The first plenary addressed challenges faced by faith-based communities, such as rising hate crimes and polarisation, with speakers from the Jewish and Muslim communities highlighting the importance of resilience and interfaith dialogue. A second plenary explored successful strategies for interfaith cooperation and combating discrimination, including examples from the SASCE project and other community-based initiatives.
Participants then joined breakout sessions focusing on dismantling stereotypes, enhancing judicial responses to radicalisation, and exploring on-the-ground educational projects such as “Glad You Asked” and Likrat- Lass uns reden. These sessions provided space for small-group exchange and practical learning. The conference concluded with a third plenary reflecting on the outcomes and a signing of commitments to ongoing cooperation. Closing remarks by EU Commission representative Vincent Depaigne emphasised the value of continued interfaith engagement in building inclusive, united European societies.
