Supporting a Jewish contribution to an inclusive Europe

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Fri 5th Sep 2003

London's Liberal Democrat Euro-MP has called for EU funding to support the work of the European Centre for Jewish Information, CEJI.

Baroness Sarah Ludford MEP has tabled an amendment to the draft EU budget for 2004, currently under consideration by the European Parliament, to secure €150,000 (£100,000) for the organisation next year (and hopefully thereafter).

Sarah Ludford, who as justice spokeswoman for the European Liberal Democrats is strongly involved in work on immigration, refugees and equality, said:

"I strongly support the work of CEJI, which is an excellent organisation contributing to European integration, a vital component of which is the elimination of discrimination and prejudice."

"As the European Day of Jewish culture shows, Jewish organisations have a crucial role to play in securing an inclusive Europe in which respect for different identities is enhanced."

"CEJI not only does crucial and necessary work in fighting anti-semitism, but also more broadly promotes ethnic, religious and racial diversity. It can particularly bring its expertise to bear on the alarming prejudice suffered by the Roma people in Eastern European countries due to join the EU."

CEJI is the acronym in French of the Centre Européen Juif d'Information; its website can be found at www.ceji.org

The amendment will be put to a vote of the European Parliament's Committee on Citizens' Rights, Justice and Home Affairs on 9th September.

On European Day of Jewish culture, and during the Brick Lane Festival (Sunday 7th September) Sarah Ludford will be visiting the museum at 19 Princelet Street (www.19princeletstreet.org.uk) to view the exhibition telling stories of early Jewish immigrants alongside stories of those who came before them and those who have come more recently.