The transnational archival memory of European integration
The transnational archival memory of European integration

Summary/Abstract: The European Coal and Steel Community established in 1951, the EuropeanAtomic Energy Community, and the European Economic Community, both established in 1957, built the roots of the European single market and are direct forerunners of today’s European Union. The vision of a united post-War (Western) Europe went far beyond economic considerations, as canbe seen in the preamble of the Rome Treaties with its concept of “evercloser union”. It made the European Union a unique transnational politicaland cultural phenomenon based on common values and supranationaldecision-making processes. Archives hold the memory of the multi-levelledEuropean integration process. European integration produced a newmodel of transnational archives with specific privileges, immunities andworking methods. These archives preserve the legal acts, negotiations,correspondence, and documents produced by intergovernmental or non-governmental European institutions and organisations and make themavailable to the public. The Historical Archives of the European Union play a central role in transmitting the memory, informing the public and fostering research on these diverse types of archives.

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