Historic EuroChanukah Celebration in Brussels Marks Launch of Simone Veil Prize for Jewish Cultural Heritage
Brussels, 17 December 2025 – Tonight’s EuroChanukah celebration in Brussels brought together European Jewish communities, civil society, EU officials, ambassadors and friends of Jewish life in Europe — including François Moyse, President of the Board of the Association of European Jewish Heritage (AEPJ) — for a powerful moment of unity, and witnessed an announcement with long-lasting impact for Jewish heritage across the continent.
At the event, held at the European quarter in Brussels and organised by the European Jewish Community Centre (EJCC) in partnership with the European Jewish Association, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced that 2026 would see the announcement of the first winner of the Simone Veil Prize for European Jewish Cultural Heritage — a new annual European award recognising outstanding cultural heritage initiatives that highlight how Jewish cultural heritage has shaped Europe.
The Simone Veil Prize, to be funded under the EU’s Creative Europe Programme, will celebrate projects from exhibitions and festivals to educational tools and digital archives that promote community-building, intergenerational dialogue and the vital role of Jewish heritage in European identity.
Named in honour of Simone Veil, a Holocaust survivor, trailblazing European leader and symbol of resilience, unity and human dignity, the prize reflects a renewed European commitment to safeguarding and uplifting Jewish cultural heritage at a moment when the fight against antisemitism and for inclusion remains urgent.
In her address at the EuroChanukah event, President von der Leyen stressed the “central role of Jewish cultural heritage in shaping European identity.”
The announcement was met with warm appreciation from community leaders and participants, marking a historic step forward for Jewish cultural recognition within European institutions. It amplifies the mission of events like EuroChanukah: to celebrate Jewish life, strengthen bonds with European partners and shine a light on traditions that enrich our shared European story.
We will keep you informed as the Simone Veil Prize develops and the first edition takes shape. Stay tuned for updates on how this exciting new initiative will support Jewish heritage across Europe.
