The European Day of Remembrance of Victims of Terrorism was established after the Madrid bombings of 11 March 2004. Each year since 2005, the European Union remembers on this date the victims of terrorist atrocities worldwide.
On the 20th European Remembrance Day for Victims of Terrorism the EU honors the memory of all those who have tragically fallen victims to terrorist acts, whether on EU soil or beyond our borders.
« This year holds particular significance as we mark the commemoration of the attack in Madrid two decades ago. The memory of the victims will live on. It will serve as a poignant reminder of the enduring impact of terrorism. With unwavering unity, we defend our cherished values of peace, respect and solidarity. We will not let terrorists instill fear and hate in our society.” – the statement given out by the Eutopean Commission says.
In the statement we can read that the Commission remains steadfast in its commitment to fight terrorism. In 2020, the Commission put forward a Counter-Terrorism Agenda for the EU to better anticipate, prevent, protect and respond to terrorist threats. Since then, a lot of progress has been made, notably in addressing the dissemination of terrorist content online. Removing this content, including footage from past attacks published online, is crucial for protecting victims’ dignity and well-being and from preventing radicalisation.
Since December 2023, with the entry into force of the Terrorist Content Online Regulation, more than 300 orders to remove terrorist content online have been successfully implemented. The EU Home Affairs agencies are providing crucial support to national authorities and law enforcement on this work.
« The Commission is strongly committed to support victims as they rebuild their lives. Under the EU Strategy on Victims’ Rights (2020-2025), we acknowledge that victims of terrorism require specialised support and protection. Through the initiatives such as the EU Centre of Expertise for Victims of Terrorism, we ensure the effective application of EU rules on victims’ rights and raise awareness about the rights and needs of victims of terrorism in the EU. Through the Radicalisation Awareness Network, we also ensure that the voices of victims and survivors are taken into account in our response to terrorism.” – the statement says.
