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 - Nebiker, Regula: Towards a New History of Europe (pre-integration period). The Archival Point of View / Pour une nouvelle Histoire européenne (avant l’intégration) (english 373 - français 382)

aplied to archives20. Regulations vary not only from country to country but also within countries themselves. Decentralised Switzerland with its cantonal regulations in this respect provides a particularly mixed picture. This, however, applies equally to Germany and other European countries21.

As wide a freedom of access to archives is, as has been seen above, a distinguishing mark of the modern, democratic state. In a democratic, integrated Europe, such access would be maintained beyond its boundaries.

European archivists have an important responsibility in the field of archival legislation. To harmonise the rules as much as possible, archivists must, however, succeed in coming to an agreement about their idea of their profession and the duties, which they intend to take upon themselves. Detailed discussion amongst European archivists is a precondition for the harmonisation of European archival legislation. To reach that point, it is a matter of some urgency for archivists to maintain international contacts between themselves. Such contacts, for that matter, have been more and more frequent since World War II.

I have no doubt that I shall be excused from develling at length on this subject in front of these present at this 3rd European Conference on archives.

Archivists are aware of the new demands which they face. Proof of this lies in the debate currently under way at national and international levels on the training of archivists and, consequently on the development of their image. One aspect of this problem, which has assumed growing importance is information management. The challenge of improving access to archival holdings with the helps of modern means, by as large a public as possible, ought to be taken up not only by the modern archives of an „integrated“ Europe: these efforts must be undertaken by all existing archives.

If European integration does not exert an influence on existing archive services, it will, on the other hand, give rise to the establishment of new services. Access, een to older archives, will be make much easier for researchers by the harmonisation of current methods in the administration of archives, in return for which, there will be an international exchange of knowledge amongst archivists as well as a standardisation of archival legisation. Comparative supranational studies will be able to be carried out more easily.

To return to the wording of the French law on archives: The contribution of archivists to the „new History of Europe“ and this also to European integration, will be to organise the transfer of holdings before European integration takes place in such a way that it will benefit the public interest of Europe as a whole.

4. Session/Séance: Nebiker, Towards a new History of Europe

20 C a r u c c i, Paola: Benützungsbeschränkungen in den Archiven, in: Überlieferung gestalten. Der Archiv- schule Marburg zum 40. Jahrestag ihrer Gründung. Marburg 1989 (Veröffentlichungen der Archivschule Marburg 15), p. 71-74.

21 Po 11 ey, Rainer: Variatio delcctat? - Die Archivgesetze von Bund und Ländern im Vergleich. Marburg 1991 (Veröffentlichungen der Archivschule Marburg 18), p. 21-47.

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