Chair,

I have the honor to speak on behalf of the European Union.

The Second World War brought painful divisions to Europe and for many European countries the end of the war did not bring freedom but further occupation and exploitation, more repression and crimes against humanity by other totalitarian regimes, including the Soviet Union.

Our joint fight against contemporary forms of extremist and totalitarian ideologies, including neo-Nazism, is and remains a key priority. The EU stands firmly against all forms of antisemitism, which is incompatible with the core values and principles on which the EU is founded.

We strongly condemn the politically motivated misuse of the anti-Nazism narrative, and unequivocally reject the inaccurate and inappropriate use of the term ‘denazification’ to justify Russia’s inhumane, cruel and illegal war of aggression against Ukraine, the continued impacts of which are dire, not only for the people of Ukraine, but for people around the world.

Under the false pretense of fighting Nazism, Russia brought the horrors of war back to Europe, along with the reminder that peace cannot be taken for granted.

In the past year, and as the aggression against Ukraine continues, we have seen the Russian Federation continuing to misuse and abuse UN fora to spread this false narrative of its illegal and unjustified war of aggression against Ukraine.

Let there be no doubt. The European Union is fully committed to the global fight against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia, antisemitism, anti-Muslim hatred, and related intolerance.

The issues of rising global neo-Nazism, violent extremism, and racism, including antisemitism and anti-Muslim hatred deserve a meaningful and constructive discussion.  The point of this resolution is precisely not to seek compromise. It is to sow division and to use the platform of the Third Committee for disinformation purposes.

For all these reasons, the Member States of the European Union will vote No on resolution L.7.

Thank you.