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EU Statement – UN General Assembly: Resolution on Holocaust Denial

20.01.2022
New York

20 January 2022, New York – European Union Statement by H.E. Ambassador Olof Skoog, Head of the European Union Delegation to the United Nations, at the 76th Session of the UN General Assembly: Resolution on Holocaust Denial

I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union and its Member States on the resolution contained in document L.30.

 

The Candidate Countries Turkey, the Republic of North Macedonia,*  Montenegro,* Serbia* and Albania*, the country of the Stabilisation and Association Process and potential candidate Bosnia and Herzegovina as well as Ukraine, the Republic of Moldova and Georgia, align themselves with this statement.

 

As today marks 80 years since the Wannsee Conference, this resolution is timely, as it reminds us of the darkest chapter of Europe’s history, but also of the joint efforts to fight Holocaust denial or distortion today.

 

The European Union is a project rooted in the history of the European continent. The Holocaust happened on European soil and was the most abhorrent crime in history. Nearly six million Jews, 1.5 million of whom were children, as well as millions of members of other nationalities, minorities and vulnerable groups, were killed in German Nazi concentration and extermination camps. The Holocaust was a turning point in our history, and its legacy is woven deeply into the DNA of the European Union. Remembering the Holocaust is a cornerstone of European values.

 

Our remembrance of Europe’s tragic past should continue to drive us forward in facing the challenges of today, including creating open, inclusive and tolerant societies and communities, and promoting democracy and human rights.  

 

We applaud Israel and Germany for their exemplary cooperation on this important resolution.

 

We wish to thank the co-facilitators for the positive way in which the negotiations were conducted. The EU engaged constructively from the outset and the large majority of our proposals were taken on board.

 

The European Union’s strong support is reflected in the early co-sponsorship of all of our Member States and we are very pleased that this resolution could be adopted by consensus today.

 

I thank you.

* The Republic of North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia and Albania continue to be part of the Stabilisation and Association Process.