Brussels: This evening, the European Commission and the Cypriot Presidency of the Council will come together to host the 'Holocaust Remembrance Conference: Remembering the Past. Shaping the Future.' The event is dedicated to honoring the victims of the Holocaust and ensuring that the atrocities committed in Europe during the Second World War are never forgotten.
According to Cyprus News Agency, the conference will be inaugurated by Magnus Brunner, the Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration, alongside Pina Picierno, Vice-President of the European Parliament. The program will include a conversation with Holocaust survivor Alfred Garwood, facilitated by Katharina von Schnurbein, the Commission's Coordinator on combating antisemitism and fostering Jewish life.
Commissioner Brunner emphasized the importance of remembering the past to safeguard the future of democracy. As the number of living Holocaust witnesses declines, he highlighted the need for new methods to preserve their memories. The EU Strategy on combating antisemitism and fostering Jewish life comprises 90 initiatives aimed at preventing antisemitism, protecting Jewish life, and promoting Holocaust remembrance.
The European Network of Sites of Holocaust Memory is a key element of this strategy, designed to enhance Holocaust remembrance at a time of increasing antisemitic incidents. The network focuses on safeguarding public spaces, places of worship, and cemeteries. More information about the conference and its livestreaming link is available online.