The European Jewish Congress (EJC) partnered with the European Commission and the Polish Presidency of the Council of the EU in organising the Holocaust Remembrance Conference, “Remembering the Past, Shaping the Future”, which took place in Brussels on 21 January 2025, on the occasion of International Holocaust Remembrance Day.
EJC Executive Vice-President Raya Kalenova spoke on behalf of European Jewish communities and stated that, 80 years after the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, “despite the Nazis’ attempt to erase Jewish life from history, we are still here. European Jewish communities, though diminished, remain resilient and determined to preserve their heritage and identity for future generations.”
“In this time of fear, we must be clear: combating antisemitism and preserving the memory of the Shoah is about upholding the values of our societies and protecting our democracies and freedoms. We must all guarantee that this generation of European Jews is not the last one on this continent,” expressed Ms Kalenova.
European Commission Coordinator on Combating Antisemitism and Fostering Jewish Life, Katharina von Schnurbein gave the welcoming remarks, emphasising her dedication to fighting Holocaust denial, honouring the victims, and combating any form of antisemitism in Europe.
Afterwards, Polish Secretary of State Władysław Teofil Bartoszewski highlighted Poland’s responsibility to protect the memory of the more than 3 million Polish Jews killed by the Nazis and the necessity to fight anti-Jewish hatred in modern Europe.
European Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration, Magnus Brunner, whose portfolio includes the fight against antisemitism, highlighted the European Union’s commitment to safeguarding Jewish communities in a video message.
Participants had the opportunity to hear testimony from Holocaust survivor, the Hon Mala Tribich MBE, who survived the camps of Ravensbrück and Bergen-Belsen.
Members of the Network of Young European Ambassadors for Holocaust Remembrance shared emotional stories related to the Holocaust in their home countries.
The event concluded with a commemoration ceremony led by Rabbi Olivier Kaufman, followed by the lighting of candles in memory of the victims of the Shoah.




