The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Cowen, has saluted the "strength and courage" of those who survived the genocide in Rwanda 10 years ago.
Mr Cowen, who is representing the EU at events in Rwanda today to mark the anniversary, was speaking at the National Stadium in Kigali. He said the event was an occasion for reflection and sadness on the part of all in the international community.
"The European Union would like to pay tribute to those who died and render homage to the strength and courage of the survivors. The European Union also salutes the effort and success of the Rwandan people in re-building their country following the horrific events of 1994.
"The progress which has been achieved in Rwanda over the past decade and the efforts underway to achieve national reconciliation demonstrate the strength of purpose of the Rwandan people to ensure that there is never again a re-occurrence of such atrocities to the Rwandan people."
Mr Cowen acknowledged that "tragic mistakes" were made by the international community before and during the genocide.
"The international community's response to the genocide came too late and proved insufficient. The challenge to never again fail to prevent such horrors lies at the heart of the European Union's policy. The European Union is ambitious in its objective to avoid the recurrence of genocide anywhere in the world, yet humble in knowing that whatever it does, it may not be enough."
He added that the EU would stand "shoulder to shoulder with heads bowed in solidarity and in recognition of the suffering of the people of Rwanda - of the dead, of those whose conscience will haunt them to the grave and of the survivors".