On the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the Srebrenica genocide, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen delivered a powerful message, calling for remembrance, truth, and accountability.
“The genocide in Srebrenica casts a long shadow across generations. It remains one of the darkest chapters in Europe’s collective memory,” von der Leyen stated, as she honored the more than 8,300 Bosniak men and boys who were murdered in July 1995, as well as those still unaccounted for.
As the remains of newly identified victims are laid to rest in Potočari, von der Leyen paid special tribute to the families left behind – particularly the mothers, wives, and daughters who continue to carry the grief of their loss. “It is our duty to remember and preserve the truth, so future generations know what truly happened,” she emphasized.
Von der Leyen reminded that the atrocities took place in Srebrenica, then a UN-declared “safe zone,” where victims were systematically executed and buried in mass graves. “This town, which was supposed to offer protection, became the site of an unimaginable crime,” she said.
She reaffirmed that the European Union fully acknowledges its responsibility for the failure to prevent and halt the genocide, pledging that such history must never be distorted or denied.
“The EU will never allow the genocide in Srebrenica to be minimized or erased. We categorically reject denial, distortion, and the glorification of war criminals,” she said, underscoring the responsibility of political leaders – especially in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Western Balkans – to uphold truth and promote reconciliation.
Von der Leyen urged leaders in Bosnia and Herzegovina to actively work toward healing and peace by addressing the roots of hatred that led to the genocide. “That is the only way to secure a better future for coming generations,” she said.
In closing, she reaffirmed the European Union’s unwavering support for Bosnia and Herzegovina’s European path. “The EU stands with the people of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Your leaders must now do their part to ensure your country takes its rightful place at the heart of our Union,” von der Leyen concluded.
