Brussels: Ahead of International Holocaust Remembrance Day, members of the European Council have issued a statement reflecting on the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau. The Council has condemned the rising antisemitism across Europe, highlighting an increase in violent antisemitic incidents and the spread of Holocaust denial and distortion.
According to Cyprus News Agency, the statement from the European Council emphasizes the need to honor the victims of the Holocaust and to combat the resurgence of antisemitism. The Council has pledged to take decisive action against discrimination, intolerance, and xenophobia, which threaten democratic societies. It reaffirmed a commitment to uphold the values of human dignity, freedom, democracy, and equality-core principles of the European Union.
A memorial event is being held at Auschwitz-Birkenau in Poland, with all remaining survivors invited to attend. Approximately 50 survivors are expected to participate in the event, which will include representation from the European Commission through Commissioner Dombrovskis. The Council’s statement and participation in the event underscore a collective responsibility to ensure that the atrocities of the Holocaust are never forgotten.