MEPs call on Slovenia to preserve memory of post-war communist period victims

Victims of communist massacres in Slovenia deserve remembrance and respect

Slovenian authorities should continue investigating concealed graves and ensure dignified burials for the victims

Call for a comprehensive examination of the archives of the Yugoslav secret services

All crimes against humanity should be judged on the same scale

The Committee on Petitions calls on the Slovenian authorities to uphold the memory of victims of post-war communist crimes, ensuring their dignified burial and remembrance.

On Tuesday, MEPs from the Petitions Committee adopted a resolution calling for the preservation of the memory of all victims of the post-war communist period in Slovenia. The resolution was adopted with 17 votes in favour, 1 against and 0 abstentions.

MEPs urge the Slovenian authorities to continue investigations to locate mass graves and collect historical evidence of crimes committed by Yugoslavia’s communist regime. MEPs stress that the universal right to a dignified burial must be guaranteed for the tens of thousands of victims murdered in the post-WWII period.

MEPs note the lack of accountability for many perpetrators and call for a comprehensive examination of the Yugoslav secret service’s archives, particularly the KOS and UDBA. They also regret the Slovenian government’s 2023 decision to abolish the National Day of Remembrance for victims of communist violence, considering it a step backwards in honouring historical justice and remembrance.

The resolution also calls for the creation of memorial sites to honour the victims and promote public awareness. The text highlights the importance of evidence-based historical research and education.

No reconciliation without remembrance

All crimes against humanity should be judged and treated with equal gravity, MEPs say, as they condemn historical revisionism that trivialises crimes perpetrated by the Nazi and Fascist regimes, as well as those committed by the Yugoslav communist authorities.

MEPs emphasise that there is no reconciliation without remembrance, extending a call for Slovenia and EU member states to strengthen historical memory based on truth and respect for all victims of totalitarian regimes, free from political instrumentalisation.

Next steps

The draft resolution will be tabled for a vote in plenary in July 2025.

Background

Over 100,000 Slovenians who opposed the communist system were subject to various forms of violence in the aftermath of WWII. The Yugoslav communist regime undertook tens of thousands of extrajudicial killings of civilians and prisoners of war. Over 750 hidden gravesites have been located, yet the places of execution have not been located and many of the victims still have to receive a dignified burial.