The Diplomat
On the eve of the Europe-Wide Day of Remembrance for the victims of all totalitarian and authoritarian regimes, which is celebrated today, 23 August, the President of the European Commission, Ursula Von der Leyen, yesterday issued a statement encouraging Europeans to remain united against totalitarianism and to continue to support Ukraine.
Von der Leyen recalls that today “we honour the memory of the victims of totalitarian and authoritarian regimes, both in Europe and beyond” and recalls that “on the 83rd anniversary of the signature of the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact, this date carries a special significance“.
Commission’s President says in her declaration that “we will continue to support Ukraine for as long as it takes” and adds that “this year, Putin brought the horrors of war back to Europe, along with the reminder that peace cannot be taken for granted. The painful memory of the past is not just a distant recollection, but has found an echo in Russia’s illegal and unjustified war against Ukraine”.
.
Von der Leyen added: “Ukrainian people are giving their lives to protect the values on which our Union is built. Today more than ever, we stand united against the Russian state-controlled propaganda that distorts history, spreads conspiracy and punishes those who oppose it. We will continue with determination our work to counter disinformation. And we will ensure that those who stood against totalitarianism will not be forgotten”.
Celebrated since 2009, the Europe-Wide Day of Remembrance for the victims of all totalitarian and authoritarian regimes is an occasion to keep alive the memory of the victims.
The European Commission supports projects across Europe which address the history of totalitarian crimes and encourage remembrance. Building on the Europe for citizens programme 2014-2020, the new Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values programme supports remembrance actions on the causes of totalitarian regimes, in particular Nazism, but also fascism, Stalinism and totalitarian communist regimes.
