Delegates from Israel, Poland, Italy, Belgium, the Czech Republic, and Germany attended the meeting of the Presidium of the International Auschwitz Committee. The event took place in Munich from 16 to 19 October and opened with a meeting with Bavarian Minister of State for International and European Affairs Eric Beisswenger at the Bavarian State Chancellery.

During the discussion, Eva Umlauf, President of the IAC, emphasized the need for democratic mainstream parties to categorically reject any cooperation with right-wing extremist parties in Europe. She said it was beyond her imagination and acceptance that, in Europe, parties could gain access to political decision-making when they were close to the ideology that had once plunged her family, Germany, and Europe into the abyss.

Minister Beisswenger re-emphasized the Bavarian state government’s clear stance: cooperation with the AfD is completely unthinkable and out of the question.

During the presidium meeting itself, the delegates provided information about the situation of Auschwitz and Holocaust survivors and the political situation in their respective countries.

The members of the Presidium were particularly aware of the continuing tense and difficult situation of Holocaust survivors and their descendants in Israel. Any political decision that helps to bring closer both peace and an end to the Hamas dictatorship for the people in the Middle East is a good decision. And it will make democracy in Israel and the lives of the people in Israel more secure.

The president reported on her stay in Slovakia and her meeting with young artists who have developed a play. It is aimed primarily at young people, and focuses on the deportation of the first group of Jewish girls and young women from Slovakia to Auschwitz.

Jerome Déodat reported on the work of the International Youth Meeting Center in Oswiecim/Auschwitz: Young people from many European countries continue to show great interest in learning about the history of Auschwitz and its causes. In 2025, the IYMC and the Auschwitz Memorial continued to attract enormous numbers of visitors. For the IYMC, cooperation with the joint youth projects of the International Auschwitz Committee and Volkswagen AG is still of crucial importance, both financially and in terms of content.