On 25 June, Warsaw hosted a commemorative event marking the 20th anniversary of the European Network Remembrance and Solidarity (ENRS).
The ceremony was formally opened by Hanna Wróblewska, Minister of Culture and National Heritage of the Republic of Poland, who welcomed guests and partners from across Europe.
Anastasia Bondar, Deputy Minister for Digital Development, Digital Transformations, and Digitalization at the Ministry of Culture and Strategic Communications of Ukraine, represented Ukraine at the event. In her address, she emphasized that Ukraine today is not only confronting the challenges of its own future, but also defending the very principles upon which the ENRS was founded: truth, remembrance, and solidarity.
“It is no coincidence that culture has become one of the first targets of russian aggression. Our museums, libraries, archives, and theatres — our collective memory — are under constant attack. Because culture shapes identity. And identity is precisely what the aggressor seeks to destroy”.
She went on to highlight that, amid the full-scale invasion, values like solidarity, unity, and mutual support have moved beyond abstract ideals — they have become lifelines.
“That is why education is not just important — it is essential. We all need context. We all search for meaning. And cultural institutions have a unique mission: to speak the truth, to offer space for honest questions, and to help society make sense not only of what has happened, but also of what is unfolding in real time”.
Founded on 2 February 2005 as a joint initiative of the Ministers of Culture of Poland, Germany, Hungary, and Slovakia, the ENRS was established to research, document, and promote public understanding of Europe’s complex 20th-century history.
In the two decades since its founding, the Network has carried out more than 240 international projects in 32 countries, engaging over 500 partner institutions — including museums, archives, universities, and civil society organizations. Since 2022, the ENRS has received support from the European Commission.
