418 MEPs voted for the resolution in which PE summed up the accession process of Ukraine to the EU. There were 135, 41 abstained.
The document included a reference to the Volyn slaughter and Polish victims. As we read, the European Parliament “with satisfaction accepts all actions taken by Ukraine and EU Member States to regulate unresolved (concerning) historical bilateral and regional relations, for example the Volyn Slaughter historical events “.
PO MEP Andrzej Halicki, who sought to find a record about the Volyn slaughter in the PE resolution, emphasized that this was “a common step forward in a difficult topic.” He thanked PiS MEP Michał Dworczyk, who was also involved in this process.
– By acting above divisions, we can achieve worthy entries – commented Halicki.
He noted that this one paragraph in the resolution, although he speaks directly about the Volyn slaughter, does not refer to history, but to the future. – Parliament emphasizes the importance of the exhumation process and a dignified burial of the victims of the Volyn slaughter, calling it “by name” and counting on a good continuation – he commented.
PE expresses the hope that this process will continue
The Chamber believes that “with the good will of the parties interested, the reconciliation process will be conducted in a constructive manner and with patience to achieve mutual understanding.”
In this context, the European Parliament “with satisfaction accepts ongoing talks between the Polish and Ukrainian authorities, which led to the resumption of the exhumation of the remains of Polish citizens in Ukraine in April 2025.” PE expresses the hope that this process will continue and its explicit goal will be to provide victims with dignified burial and memory.
Polish MEPs, both from PO and and PiS, thanked for raising this issue in the resolution during the debate in the EP.
– In this report we do not forget about history, investing in the future – said PO politician Michał Szczerba. – Volhynia slaughter, every victim of this slaughter, must be commemorated. Exhumations began, burials began. Thank you very much that this matter was emphasized in this report on Ukraine – he said.
– I would like to thank you very much for raising the issue of genocide in Volhynia in this resolution. The Ukrainian side must finally start the exhumation of the murdered – said PiS politician Adam Bielan.
Volhynia slaughter. The first exhumations in 2025.
Wołyń is a historic land that lies today, among others in the Ukrainian Volyn, peer and Żytomierski Districts. In the years 1943-1945 there were events known as the crime, or the Volyn slaughter. These were mass murders of the Polish population, made by Ukrainian nationalists. It is estimated that from 40 to 100,000 Poles were murdered at that time.
The first exhumations since the Ukrainian side abolished in November 2024. The ban on the search and exhumation of the remains of Polish victims of wars and conflicts in Ukraine was conducted in the former in the case of the Puźniki, today in the Ternopil region. In February 1945, Ukrainian nationalists murdered there – according to various sources – from 50 to 120 Poles. As a result of exhumation works, the remains of 42 people were found. Their funerals took place on September 6.
