(AGENPARL) - Roma, 26 Gennaio 2026 - (AGENPARL) – Mon 26 January 2026 Image
PRESS RELEASE
Congress of Local and Regional Authorities
Ref. CG001(2026)
International Holocaust Remembrance Day
Local and regional authorities play a key role in upholding collective memory: Statement by Council of Europe Congress President
“We must all engage actively with the past – to listen, to learn and to carry its lessons forward. By doing so, we build a bridge between memory and action, and between history and a better future. Local and regional authorities play a key role in upholding the commemorative culture related to the Holocaust, including through relevant campaigns and school curricula.
“Cities and regions use monuments, memorial parks, memorial paving stones, museums, public art, historical markers, and even street names – to raise awareness on dramatic historical events such as the Holocaust. They can also promote remembrance visits to Holocaust sites and museums as part of local and regional history education. Passing facts and lessons about the Holocaust from one generation to the next is of utmost importance – and local and regional history teaching offers significant opportunities to connect students to their regional communities, cultures, and historical legacies, many of which have direct experience of the Holocaust. Rejecting and combating racism, xenophobia and antisemitism and promoting human rights and democratic values, such as mutual respect, tolerance and dialogue, are essential to ensure that the dark lessons of the past are never to be forgotten”, stated President Cools.
At its session in March 2026, the Congress will debate a report on regional history teaching and, at its October 2026 session, a report on contested, conflicting and forgotten memories.
Composed of two chambers – the Chamber of Local Authorities and the Chamber of Regions – and three committees, the Congress brings together 612 elected officials representing more than 130 000 local and regional authorities.
President of the Congress: Marc Cools (Belgium, ILDG), President of the Chamber of Local Authorities: Bernd Vöhringer (Germany, EPP/CCE), President of the Chamber of Regions: Cecilia Dalman Eek (Sweden, SOC/G/PD).
Political groups: Group of Socialists, Greens and Progressive Democrats (SOC/G/PD), Group of the European Peoples Party (EPP/CCE), Independent Liberal and Democratic Group (ILDG), European Conservatives and Reformists Group (ECR).
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