Sonderband 2. International Council on Archives. Dritte Europäische Archivkonferenz, Wien 11. bis 15. Mai 1993. Tagungsprotokolle (1996)
4. Session / Séance. Strategies for Links with Historical Research / Stratégies de Communication envers la Recherche historique - Palayret Jean-Marie: Towards a New History of Europe (integration period) / Pour une nouvelle Histoire européenne. La période de l’intégration) (english 393 - français 413)
4. Session/Séance: Palayret, Towards a new History of Europe Coming to personal archives, as well as the papers of politicians and high officials conserved in the official archives, special mention should be made of the University of Lausanne, which houses the Jean Monnet Foundation for European where „l’inspirateur“ had decided to deposit the whole of his archives concerning the ECSC and the Committee for the United States of Europe. Outstandingly organized by Professor Rieben and his team, it publishes the monumental collection of „cahiers rouges“ which brings together both circumstantial documents and analytical works an on-going intergration (industries, law, services), after having started with a few articles on Switzerland and Europe. In Geneva, the Fondation Archives européennes holds the papers of Denis de Rougemont and part of the Coudenhove-Kalergi archives. It is unfortunate that a number of families who hold important personal archives have hitherto refused to open them to research. This is, alas, the case for the archives of Paul Henri Spaak and of Alcide di Gasperi. III. The Response of the Archives to the Callenge of a new History of Europe on the Road to Integration In a democratically structured Europe without frontiers, the barriers obstructing archivism and historiography can be overthrown only if the problems can be solved by solutions the transcend the frontiers. Historians and archivists, as conveyors of culture, have an important part to play in the policy of European integration. In December 1987, the Commission in Brussels for the first time launched an action programme in the cultural sector, despite the lack of enthusiasm by Member States, who rightly consider that the area is outside Community powers. In 1989, a resolution of the European Parliament’s Committee on Cultural Affairs stressed: „The attention that ought to be paid to archives, which should be equipped with appropriate computerization so as to offer full access and optimal service to visitors“. On the initiative of directors of the national archives of the twelve Member States, under the auspices of the International Archival Council, a resolution of the EC Council of Ministers of Culture on 14 November 1991 invited the Commission to convoke a group of experts appointed on the proposal of Member States „with a view to examining how far greater coordination of policy and practices regarding archives is desirable among Member States““. The considerations below are the outcome of the notes and reports presented by the author in connection with the work of this group, which might shortly be the object of a Report to be submitted to the Council of Ministers. Access and the practical details of consultation are the heart of the resolution of the EC „Culture Council“ of 14 November 1991. Everywhere in Europe, affirmation of the concept of the right to information, though expressed only implicitly in the basic laws of most of the countries, means Resolution of the Council of Ministers of Culture, November 14, 1991, EC Official Journal, December 5, 1991. 407
