On 23 of August, the Europe-wide Day of Remembrance of the victims of all totalitarian and authoritarian regimes, several EU justice ministers signed the Warsaw Declaration. The document symbolises mutual understanding and solidarity in the context of the difficult and painful experiences linked to totalitarian regimes.

The observances of the European Remembrance Day Honouring Victims of Totalitarian Regimes were inaugurated on 23 of August by the Polish Minister of Justice Krzysztof Kwiatkowski and European Parliament President Jerzy Buzek. It was on 23 of August 1939 that Hitler and Stalin signed a pact dividing Europe which resulted in the Second World War. This date reflects the essence of 20th-century tragedies according to Kwiatkowski. The Polish Justice Minister also added that preserving the memory of the victims of the bygone tragedies is an essential element of united Europe’s common legacy.

During the observances, the EU justice ministers in attendance signed a joint document, the Warsaw Declaration. One of its main objectives is to point out the necessity of educating society in order to avoid the tragic occurrences connected with Nazism and Communism in future. In addition, this document symbolises mutual understanding and solidarity in the context of the difficult and painful experiences linked to totalitarian regimes.

With regard to the compromises taken by the European institutions to remember the victims of totalitarianism, in 2008 the EP had proposed declaring 23 of August the European Remembrance Day Honouring Victims of Totalitarian Regimes to commemorate the victims of mass deportation and extermination as well as to more deeply entrench democracy and consolidate peace and stability. The European Council adopted in December 2009, the Stockholm Programme, one of the most important programme documents of the European domain of freedom, security and justice.

The European Commission has contributed to efforts to preserve the memory of the crime victims of totalitarian regimes with its report Memory of crimes committed by totalitarian regimes in Europe, published in December 2010. Finally, in June this year the EU Council of Ministers of Justice and Internal Affairs adopted Conclusions on remembrance of crimes committed by totalitarian regimes in Europe. According to such document, all victims of totalitarian regimes should be justly treated and all the crimes committed by such regimes should be suitably prevented. The conclusions have also appealed to Member States to, among other things, support educational and information initiatives which enlighten society as to what totalitarian regimes are all about.