MEPs condemn "revisionist views " of the Holocaust

MEPs condemn "revisionist views " of the Holocaust

Joint Motion for a Resolution on remembrance of the Holocaust, anti-Semitism and racism
Debate : 26.01.2005
Vote : 27.01.2005

Vote

By 617 votes in favour with none against and 10 abstentions, MEPs adopted a resolution to commemorate the liberation of the Auschwitz camp 60 years ago, on 27 January 1945. The resolution states that "the sixtieth anniversary of the liberation ofNazi Germany'sdeath camp at Auschwitz-Birkenau, where a combined total of up to 1.5 million Jews, Roma, Poles, Russians and prisoners of various other nationalities, and homosexualswere murdered, is not only a major occasion for European citizens to remember and condemn the enormous horror and tragedy of the Holocaust, but also for addressing the disturbing rise in anti-Semitism and especially anti-Semitic incidents in Europe, and for learning anew the wider lessons about the dangers of victimising people on the basis of race, ethnic origin, religion, political or sexual orientation, or socialclassification."

EP members pay homage to "all the victims of the Nazis" and strongly reject and condemn "revisionist views and the denial of the Holocaust as shameful and contrary to historical truth," while expressing concern over the rise of extremist and xenophobic parties and growing public acceptance of their views.

Furthermore, MEPs reaffirm that "remembrance" of the Holocaust and a reinforced education in schools "are vital components of the effort to make intolerance, discrimination and racism a thing of the past". That is why 27 January should be declared "European Holocaust Memorial Day" across the EU, members suggest. They stress that "Europe must not forget its own history: the concentration and extermination camps built by the Nazis are among the most shameful and painful pages of the history of our continent."

The resolution calls on the EU institutions and Member States to coordinate better their efforts to combat anti-Semitism in Europe and attacks on minority groups "including Roma and third country nationals," and it "urges the Council to reach agreement on a Europe-wide ban on incitement to racial and religious hatred throughout the EU."

MEPs extend their concern to all kinds of victimisation, not only on the bases of race or ethnic origin but also religion, political or sexual orientation. The resolution also raises the issue of racist violence against Jewish and Muslim communities, and other minority groups like the Roma.

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