Europe Honors Holocaust Victims

The European Parliament solemnly commemorated International Holocaust Remembrance Day, highlighted by a poignant address from Holocaust survivor Tatiana Bucci during a plenary session on January 27, 2026. The day, which marks the liberation of the Auschwitz Nazi concentration camp in 1945, was presided over by European Parliament President Roberta Metsola.

President Metsola opened the ceremony with a powerful speech emphasizing the dangers of unchecked antisemitism and the importance of historical remembrance. “Antisemitism spreads faster than ever, amplified online, turning old lies into deadly realities,” Metsola stated, reinforcing the need for vigilance to prevent such atrocities from recurring. The ceremony also featured a performance of Nicola Piovani’s song “Beautiful That Way,” sung by the artist Noa.

Tatiana Bucci shared her harrowing experiences during the Holocaust, recounting how she, her sister Andra, and their cousin Sergio narrowly escaped death multiple times at Auschwitz-Birkenau. The siblings survived due to a mix-up where they were mistaken for twins, which spared them from the gas chambers. Bucci’s narrative included a chilling account of how a camp guard secretly advised them against revealing their desire to reunite with their mother, a decision that tragically led to their cousin Sergio’s death after further deportation and brutal experimentation.

The session concluded with a minute of silence followed by a rendition of Maurice Ravel’s “Kaddish,” leaving a lingering impact on all attendees. MEPs and viewers of the live-streamed event were reminded of the lasting implications of the Holocaust and the continuous effort required to uphold the promise of “Never Again.”