(Brussels, January 20, 2021) The European Jewish Congress will host its annual International Holocaust Remembrance Day commemoration on Wednesday 26 January 2022 at 16:00-17:30 CET.
This year’s commemoration will take place in partnership with the French Presidency of the Council of the European Union and the CRIF, the Representative Council of French Jewish institutions.
The EJC will be honoured to count on the presence of Emmanuel Macron, President of the French Republic, Ursula von Der Leyen, President of the European Commission, Charles Michel, President of the European Council, and Roberta Metsola, the newly elected President of the European Parliament. EJC President Moshe Kantor will deliver a keynote address at the ceremony.
This will be the second time that President Macron and all three heads of the EU institutions will honour Europe’s Jewish communities with their presence at their International Holocaust Remembrance Day event, following the World Holocaust Forum held in Jerusalem in 2020.
As 2022 marks the 80th anniversary of the round-ups of French Jews, the ceremony will focus on the Holocaust in France. As such, testimonies of French survivors and historical footage will be featured in our commemoration in line with the EJC’s long-standing tradition of commemorative events.
In addition, Margaritis Schinas, European Commission Vice-President for Promoting our European Way of Life, will discuss the EU Strategy on combating antisemitism and fostering Jewish life and contemporary challenges to Holocaust remembrance in an interview.
Vice-President Schinas’ interview will be followed by a panel discussion with former Prime Minister of France Manuel Valls, renowned philosopher Raphaël Enthoven, and writer and columnist Abnousse Shalmani. The discussion will be moderated by journalist Jean-Charles Banoun and will address current challenges, such as the rise of antisemitism and extremism, Holocaust trivialisation, youth radicalisation and the spread of conspiracy theories, hatred and disinformation on social media.
Closing remarks will be delivered by Francis Kalifat, President of the CRIF.
The event will be available live on the EJC website, as well as on YouTube and Facebook on 26 January at 16:00 to 17:30 CET.
No registration is required. The event will appear live on all the above mentioned channels shortly before the scheduled time.
