Six Countries Back Lithuanian-Led Plan for Brussels Memorial to Victims of Totalitarianism

At least six countries have expressed political and financial backing for a Lithuanian-led initiative to create a pan-European memorial in Brussels dedicated to victims of totalitarian regimes of the 20th century. Lithuania's Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that the country has already allocated €70,000 for the project. Funds are being raised by the Platform of European Memory and Conscience, with Estonia, Latvia, Albania, Slovenia, Poland, and Croatia having confirmed their financial participation to date.

During a visit to Lithuania, Latvian President Edgars Rinkēvičs voiced his support for the initiative and confirmed his country's plans to contribute. The ministry stated that discussions on implementing the project are ongoing with other European countries, particularly in Central Europe, as well as with Belgium and EU institutions. There are also plans to broaden the initiative by involving businesses, non-governmental organizations, foundations, and private donors.

The planned memorial in Brussels is intended to honor the millions of victims of totalitarian regimes across the continent and to strengthen European historical memory. It is expected to be located in the EU's institutional quarter, on the esplanade in front of the underground entrance to Place du Luxembourg railway station. Designed by British architect Tszwai So, the memorial will feature excerpts from letters written by deportees and political prisoners. Out of some 39,000 letters submitted, 800 quotations have been chosen to be enlarged and set into paving slabs in their original languages.

Lithuania hopes to unveil the memorial during its presidency of the Council of the European Union in 2027. The foreign ministry said preparations are progressing, with the process of obtaining necessary permits from local authorities now underway. For decades, European states that broke free of the Soviet bloc have sought to have Soviet-era crimes recognized on a par with Nazi crimes, including equal criminal liability. In 2019, the European Court of Human Rights ruled that Lithuanian courts were justified in recognizing Soviet repression against partisans as genocide.