Invitations to the Holocaust Remembrance Conference
19.5.2025
Question for written answer E-002000/2025
to the Commission
Rule 144
Marc Botenga (The Left)
On 21 January 2025, the Commission, in partnership with the Polish Presidency of the Council of the EU, organised the Holocaust Remembrance Conference, ‘Remembering the Past. Shaping the future’.
European Jews for Palestine (EJP), a European Jewish umbrella organisation with 20 affiliated groups in 13 EU Member States, did not receive an invitation. The organisation’s requests to participate were formally refused.
On 20 January 2025 the Commission’s coordinator apparently replied to the EJP to say that ‘the invitations are based on the organisations’ expertise on Holocaust education and remembrance’, and that the focus of EJP ‘does not align closely to the specific context’. However, among those reportedly invited to the event were representatives of the lobby group European Leadership Network (ELNET), and also of Google and the Anglican Church.
- 1.On the basis of what criteria did the Commission conclude that EJP does not have sufficient focus on Holocaust remembrance and education?
- 2.Can the Commission explain how Google and ELNET better meet the aforementioned criteria?
- 3.What ‘specific context’ does the Commission consider the European Jewish umbrella organisation EJP does not align with closely enough?
Submitted: 19.5.2025