B4-0501, 0509, 0511, 0517, 0529, 0533, 0534 and 0540/96

Resolution on Auschwitz

The European Parliament,

- having regard to its previous resolutions and in particular its resolutions of 27 April 1995 on racism, xenophobia and anti-Semitism ((OJ C 126, 22.5.1995, p. 75.)) and of 15 June 1995 on a day to commemorate the Holocaust ((OJ C 166, 3.7.1995, p. 132.)),

A. shocked by the outrage to the memory of Auschwitz victims in the form of the neo-Nazi demonstration that took place on 6 April 1996 within the perimeter of the camp in which more than one million prisoners were exterminated,

B. concerned by the fact that the organizers' intention was to deny, in defiance of historical fact, that most of the victims of Auschwitz were Jews,

C. aware of building permission by the local authority at Auschwitz for the construction of a supermarket and restaurants in the environs of the concentration camps by the Maja Foundation and the review of the project ordered by the Voivodship of Bialsko-Biala, pending development of the site; whereas the right-wing extremist march was connected with the planned construction of a shopping centre in the immediate vicinity of the former concentration camp, as construction work on the shopping centre had been halted two weeks earlier in response to protests and the skinheads on the march were protesting at the halting of construction work,

D. determined to learn the lessons of the Second World War and to cherish the memory of the millions of people murdered in concentration camps,

1. Condemns strongly the outrageous attempt to destroy the unique character of the concentration camps at Auschwitz-Birkenau with the lesson that they contain for the whole of humanity, and deplores the renewed signs of racism, xenophobia and anti-Semitism in Poland;

2. Reaffirms its respect for all those who lost their lives in the camp, and expresses particular sympathy for the Jewish communities around the world, to whom this incident has caused great suffering;

3. Condemns, also, the attitude of the Vojvoda and the local authorities, who have not only offended the memory of the victims by authorizing a march by right-wing extremists but have also shown a lack of awareness of the historical significance of the Auschwitz concentration camp as a memorial; approves the condemnation by the Polish President and Government of the PWN demonstration and of the commercial development of the neighbourhood of the concentration camps;

4. Invites the Polish authorities in conjunction with the Commission to submit proposals for a centre for European cultural activities at Auschwitz- Birkenau, such that the immense human sacrifice horribly symbolised in the concentration camps is transformed into continuing opportunities for learning and self-expression among young people;

5. Calls on the Council, Commission and its Joint Parliamentary Committee, in the framework of European Union-Poland relations, to promote all necessary initiatives to bring about awareness, especially among young people, of the lessons to be learned from the Second World War in respect of racism, xenophobia and anti-Semitism, and of the need to respect human values and freedoms;

6. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission and the Polish Government and Parliament.