Changes from report parliamentary committee draft to plenary report

EXPLANATORY STATEMENT

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RemovedThe intrinsic value of ‘historical consciousness’ emerges from the underlying assumption that the knowledge of history is not only a value in itself, but informs our understanding of the present and additionally guides us in our attempts to shape the future.

AddedThis report is largely based upon the findings of two studies requested by the European Parliament’s Committee on Culture and Education titled “European Historical Memory: Policies, Challenges and Perspectives” and “European Identity”, and puts the concept of ‘historical consciousness’ into its focus.

RemovedIndeed, historical consciousness helps us interpret the past, but it also assists us in our understanding of who we are, where we are positioned in time, and how we act as participants in continuing the story that will eventually make a historical record. In other words, historical consciousness does not only assist in developing a sensitivity towards and an understanding of the past, but also increases a self-awareness of ourselves, as Europeans in relation to history.

AddedThe fundamental value of ‘historical consciousness’ emerges from the underlying assumption that the knowledge of history is not only a value in itself, but informs our understanding of the present and additionally guides us in our attempts to shape the future.

RemovedA critical review of the past should not, however, be limited to emphasising the victims of authoritarian and totalitarian regimes; it should reassess all dark sides of European history, including colonialism, racism, violations of human rights and gender-based historical injustices.

AddedIndeed, historical consciousness helps us interpret the past, but it also assists us in our understanding of who we are, and where we are positioned in time. In other words, historical consciousness does not only assist in developing a sensitivity towards and an understanding of the past, but also increases a self-awareness of ourselves, as Europeans in relation to history.

AddedA critical review of the past should not be limited, however, to emphasising the victims of authoritarian and totalitarian regimes; it should reassess all dark sides of European history, including colonialism, racism, violations of human rights and gender-based historical injustices.

With this in mind, the present report of the European Parliament on “European historical consciousness” is structured in four parts:

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Changed• The first part (Dealing with Europe’s (dark) past as a risk and an opportunity) acknowledges the importance of dealing with history in a responsible and critical way as a sine qua non, as an intrinsic need to learn from our past.

• The second part (Politics of the past in the European Union – a critical assessment) underlines the danger of nurturing a teleological and simplistic narrative of history in which the horrors of the past serve as a ‘negative foundation myth’ for European integration.

• The third part (Towards an informed historical consciousness in Europe) seeks a well-informed historical consciousness in Europe and outlines possible avenues that will achieve this objective.

• The fourth and last part (Outlook: the legacy of the past and the EU’s future) embraces the idea of a new ‘culture of remembering’ that nurtures historical consciousness based on shared European values and practices.

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Changed1. Dealing with Europe’s (dark) past as a risk and an opportunity

As Jacques Delors correctly recalled on several occasions, European citizens “cannot fall in love with the single market” (1989). In order to develop a sense of a common belonging, work on collective memory is indispensable, since collective memory is a central aspect of group identity being formed and strengthened.

There is not, however, one particular European collective memory. The memories of the nations and peoples that compose the EU are filled with wars, conflicts and disputes. For the formation of a collective memory, we therefore need to indulge in a process of Vergangenheitsbewältigung (‘coming to terms with/working on the past’), notably to redress the past in a critical and meaningful way both at Member States and EU level.

2. Politics of the past in the European Union – a critical assessment

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ChangedHistoricallyIn speaking,historical perspectives, we should not consider Europe as a homogeneous civilizationcivilisation and geopolitical space. This kind of perception of the past,space, as Norbert Elias observed even in 1939, builds on the tradition of orientalism, colonialism and anti-communism.1939. What must be the ultimate aim of European memory policies is not to develop an imagined sense of a shared past, but to have a clear direction for the future of the EU and to strengthen a common sense of European belonging.

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ChangedGiorgio Agamben rightly asserts that if the idea of Europe has any meaning, it consists of the fact that the Europeans – unlike Asians and Americans – “can gain access to their truth only by means of confrontation with the past, only by settling accounts with their history”.

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RemovedAs the President of the European Council Herman Van Rompuy stated in 2013: “In Europe, we sometimes overlook the weight of recent history; how people in some parts of the world look at us.” Two studies requested by the European Parliament’s Committee on Culture and Education titled “European Historical Memory: Policies, Challenges and Perspectives” and “European Identity”, the findings of which this report is based upon, clearly demonstrate that – while the past is often referred to in official EU discourses – ‘difficult pasts’ are not sufficiently addressed at European level.

AddedUndoubtedly, the EU has made conscious efforts to deal with Europe’s difficult past(s); it is involved in undertaking memory work and dedicates substantial resources to that aim.

RemovedIt is a fact that, on some occasions, the European Union tends to put aside the memories of the cruelty of European colonialism and imperialism for the sake of economic cooperation and interests. It is of utmost importance that we avoid this kind of selective approach to the past and also dare to confront the many unpleasant elements of our histories.

AddedWhile the past is often referenced in official EU discourses, these ‘difficult pasts’ have as yet not been addressed, however, at European level in a sufficiently broad and reflective manner.

RemovedIt is also a fact, however, that the EU has made conscious efforts to deal with Europe’s difficult past(s); it is involved in undertaking memory work and dedicates substantial resources to achieve that aim.

3. Towards an informed historical consciousness in Europe

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ChangedWeThe mustpath avoidtowards an informed historical consciousness in Europe starts with avoiding building European collective memory solely on aone single negative foundation myth, since this hinders the critical examination of the past.

The European Union is a community of destiny (Schicksalsgemeinschaft), and it should be understood as such and not as a community of one shared collective memory. This is how the ‘historical journey’ of Europeans needs to be seen.

Here lies the importance of historical consciousness: it is an adequate tool that helps us to conceptualise how we comprehend and relate to history; it helps to acknowledge the historicity of our circumstances. In other words, it assists in developing an ability to interpret and recognise the past in the form of history. Historical consciousness enhances the ability to utilise experiences and to make sense of contemporary situations and identifications. ‘History’ is not the sum of past facts, but it is the meaning produced after conceptualising and working through the facts. Arguably, history is ‘self-knowledge’.

4. Outlook: the legacy of the past and the EU’s future

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ChangedMemory work at EU level must not be used as a form of soft power to express political positions or defend political interests. ThinkingRather, thinking about and working with history is a form of orientation in relation to the present and the future. Hence, the main purpose of historystudying teachinghistory should be the formation of historical consciousness as both a collective and individual capacity.

Overall, the report espouses the ideal of a ‘culture of remembering’ and historical consciousness that is based on shared European values and practices in approaching the past, yet at the same time avoids any simplification of history.