During a plenary session of the European Parliament marking the 110th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, EU Commissioner for Neighborhood and Enlargement Oliver Várhelyi delivered a message emphasizing both remembrance and reconciliation in the region.

“It is time to remember the past and commemorate the tragedy that befell the Armenian people 110 years ago. It is time to reaffirm our commitment to prevent such horrific tragedies. But it is also a moment of hope—that relations between Armenia and Turkey, and between Armenia and Azerbaijan, will normalize. It is a time to hope for a peaceful, stable, and more prosperous South Caucasus,” he stated, as reported by Aravot.am .

Throughout the discussion, all political groups in the Parliament condemned Turkey’s past policies against the Armenian people and stressed the need for reconciliation—both between states and among peoples.

Várhelyi reassured that the European Union continues to support efforts toward reconciliation between Armenia and Turkey and is exploring new ways to foster progress. He stressed that a genuine reconciliation process requires open and honest dialogue based on an honest assessment of the past.

“It is clear that reconciliation involves nations being able to look back at their histories and engage in open, sincere dialogue. We welcome the current steps being taken. We believe that in recent years, the normalization process has gained new momentum,” he said.

He also addressed the temporary opening of the Margara border crossing, highlighting it as not only a humanitarian move to aid Syria, but also a positive signal in the context of Armenian-Turkish relations.

“As a next step, the EU encourages the implementation of previously agreed measures, including opening the land border to third-country nationals. This represents an opportunity for peace, stability, and cooperation in the South Caucasus. That’s why the EU continues to support confidence-building measures between Armenia and Turkey,” he added.

Concluding the session, Várhelyi underscored the significance of remembrance in honoring victims and shaping Armenian identity and collective memory.

“We will never forget those events. But we must also ensure such tragedies never happen again. Many of you emphasized the importance of reconciliation and the steps needed for a peaceful, stable future. I urge Armenia and Turkey to continue working toward normalization. The EU stands ready to support this effort,” he concluded.