The event started with a keynote address from Commission's Vice-President Margaritis Schinas who congratulated the efforts and success of the project and presented the upcoming first ever Strategy on combating antisemitism and fostering Jewish life in the EU. Vice-President Schinas stated:

"Both of your projects have been extremely meaningful to the European Commission. Thye allow us to put back on the European map over 3200 Jewish cemeteries sites that have been forgotten and often in dire need of preservation. (…) Cemeteries, if we look at them through the prism of time, are in fact an expression of life, (…) of community life, of burial rites, and of coming and going from generation to generation. Mapping these cemeteries and recalling the long history of the Jewish communities living in these localities contributes to safeguarding Jewish heritage, to recalling that Jewish life has been, is and will continue to be an essential part of what Europe stands for."

Katharina Schnurbein, European Commission Coordinator on combating antisemitism and fostering Jewish life, sent a video message thanking ESJF for their efforts on preserving Jewish heritage, by mapping and restoring Jewish cemeteries in Europe. 

The event was presented in partnership with Centropa and the Foundation for Jewish Heritage.