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European Education and Culture Executive Agency

Preserving Europe’s collective memory for a brighter future

the image shows 11 blue birds flying on a white and light red sky. the image depicts freedom.

Today, European Remembrance is fundamentally linked to the realisation and protection of EU values and rights.

More than ever, the EU (and the world more globally) is experiencing disinformation, distortion, and a wave of misleading revisionism. Forces seeking to question or distort key events in modern European history pose a serious threat to societal understanding and cohesion. This concern extends beyond the younger generation, constituting a collective challenge for all age groups. To avert the recurrence of tragedies, it is imperative that we remember and openly discuss our shared past.

The European Union, recognising the significance of preserving historical memory, actively encourages reflection on lessons learned and the unwavering defence of fundamental rights and values. This commitment is reflected in various policy initiatives such as the EU Strategy on combating antisemitism and fostering Jewish life 2021-2030, EU anti-racism action plan for 2020-2025, EU Roma strategic framework on equality, inclusion and participation.

The CERV programme is supporting key stakeholders in this field including the European Observatory on Memories (EUROM) of the University of Barcelona Solidarity Foundation.

The EUROM is a transnational network comprising 54 partners across 23 countries. Dedicated to analysing and promoting public policies of memory, EUROM focuses on the recent history of the struggle for democracy and freedom in Europe. By advocating for a plurality of memories, the network contributes to building a more solidarity-driven, tolerant, and inclusive society.

EUROM employs various tools to address conflicting memories from a historical perspective. Their website serves as a platform to showcase the wide range of their activities. It includes, among others:

  • exhibitions on the role of women in the recent EU history,
  • seminars on the so-called “subaltern memories”,
  • a conference on the memories of capitalism,
  • projects utilising rap music and graffiti to engage young people in discussions about racism,  xenophobia and LGBTIQ+ rights,
  • roundtable discussions on colonial violence and its enduring legacies
  • insights into research reports on the use of social media linked to specific European commemorations.

Explore EUROM website to learn more about these initiatives and join us in this crucial journey of remembrance and understanding.

 

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