Belgium – Preservation services of historical sites and buildings – Establishment of a secretariat to develop and support the operations of the European Network of Places where the Holocaust happened

On 5 October 2021 the Commission presented its first ever EU Strategy on combating antisemitism and fostering Jewish life. With antisemitism worryingly on the rise, in Europe and beyond, the Strategy sets out a series of measures articulated around three pillars: 1) to prevent all forms of antisemitism; 2) to protect and foster Jewish life; and 3) to promote research, education and Holocaust remembrance. Under pillar 3, promoting Holocaust remembrance, education, and research as well as combating Holocaust denial, distortion and trivialisation are identified as priorities. As stated in the strategy, for decades, Holocaust survivors have shared their stories as part of the remembrance tradition. Today however, all survivors have grown old or passed away. Those who were adults during World War II and had the clearest memories of the Holocaust, are no longer with us. Preserving and honouring their legacy, making sure their stories are not forgotten and are retold accurately, and finding new forms of remembrance are challenges and duties for this generation and future generations of Europeans. For this reason, a key action in the strategy is the support, also financially, to create a network of places ‘where the Holocaust happened’, in cooperation with local communities.