European Parliament resolution of 2 April 2009 on European conscience and totalitarianism
The European Parliament resolution of 2 April 2009 on European conscience and totalitarianism was a resolution of the European Parliament adopted on 2 April 2009 by a vote of 533–44 with 33 abstentions, in which the European Parliament condemned totalitarian crimes and called for the recognition of "Nazism, Stalinism and fascist and Communist regimes as a common legacy" and for "an honest and thorough debate on their crimes in the past century." The resolution also called for several measures to strengthen public awareness of totalitarian crimes. The resolution was co-sponsored by Tunne Kelam, Gunnar Hökmark, László Tőkés and Jana Hybášková on behalf of the European People's Party Annemie Neyts-Uyttebroeck and István Szent-Iványi on behalf of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe Gisela Kallenbach and Milan Horáček on behalf of The Greens–European Free Alliance Hanna Foltyn-Kubicka, Wojciech Roszkowski, Ģirts Valdis Kristovskis, Adam Bielan, Roberts Zīle, Zdzisław Zbigniew Podkański, Inese Vaidere, and Mirosław Mariusz Piotrowski on behalf of the Union for Europe of the Nations == The resolution == The resolution expressed its "respect for all victims of totalitarian and undemocratic regimes in Europe" and "[paid] tribute to those who fought against tyranny and oppression", "[underlined] the importance of keeping the memories of the past alive, because there can be no reconciliation without truth and remembrance", "[reconfirmed] its united stand against all totalitarian rule from whatever ideological background", "[condemned] strongly and unequivocally all crimes against humanity and the massive human rights violations committed by all totalitarian and authoritarian regimes", "[extended] to the victims of these crimes and their family members its sympathy, understanding and recognition of their suffering".