The European Parliament adopted a resolution, tabled by the EPP-ED, PES, ALDE Greens/EFA and UEN groups, on the 50th anniversary of the 1956 Hungarian Revolution and its historical meaning for Europe.
The Parliament recognises the Hungarian Revolution of 1956 as one of the 20th century's emblematic manifestations of the pursuit of liberty and democracy that defied Communism in the Soviet bloc. It stresses the fact that the democratic community must unequivocally reject the repressive and undemocratic Communist ideology and uphold the principles of liberty, democracy, human rights and the rule of law, and take a clear stand whenever they are violated.
The resolution calls on all democratic countries to clearly condemn the crimes committed by all totalitarian regimes. It calls for the establishment of a European programme to strengthen cooperation between research and documentation centres in Member States studying the crimes of totalitarian regimes.