EU Statement

EUROPEAN UNION OSCE Permanent Council No. 1573 Vienna, 16 July 2026 EU Statement on the 31 st Anniversary of the Srebrenica genocide Last week, we marked the 31 st anniversary of the genocide in Srebrenica, one of the darkest moments in our shared European history. It is our obligation to commemorate the more than 8,300 Bosniaks who were killed at Srebrenica in July 1995. Our hearts and our thoughts are with the victims, the survivors and all those still missing. We must not forget what happened in Srebrenica and ensure such atrocities never happen again. We must build peaceful societies, protect human lives and dignity, and defend the fundamental values upon which the European Union is founded. With war still raging on the European continent and beyond, we are reminded ever more strongly of the need to stand up for peace, human dignity, accountability and universal values. Peace can never be taken for granted. We call upon the political leadership of Bosnia and Herzegovina to look towards a shared future based on dialogue, reconciliation and unity. There is no place in Europe for genocide denial, revisionism, or the glorification of convicted war criminals. Leaders from the whole region must reject hate and divisive rhetoric and instead work towards justice, promote dialogue and foster cooperation. The European Union remains committed to the stability, security and territorial integrity of Bosnia and Herzegovina and its EU perspective as a single, united and sovereign country. By building bridges of reconciliation, Bosnia and Herzegovina can progress on its path towards European integration, benefiting generations to come. Albania, Andorra, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Republic of Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Norway, San Marino, Türkiye, and Ukraine align themselves with this statement. The OSCE Secretariat bears no responsibility for the content of this document and circulates it without altering its content. The distribution by OSCE Conference Services of this document is without prejudice to OSCE decisions, as set out in documents agreed by OSCE participating States. PC.DEL/754/26 17 July 2026 ENGLISH only