Logo Assembly Logo Hemicycle

Parliamentary Assembly contribution to the establishment of an observatory of history to promote the common values of Greater Europe and peace

Motion for a resolution | Doc. 14988 | 04 October 2019

Signatories:
Ms Nicole TRISSE, France, ALDE ; Mr José BADIA, Monaco, EPP/CD ; Lord Richard BALFE, United Kingdom, EC ; Mr Olivier BECHT, France, ALDE ; Mr Peter BEYER, Germany, EPP/CD ; Ms Maryvonne BLONDIN, France, SOC ; Ms Brigitte BOCCONE-PAGES, Monaco, EPP/CD ; Ms Mònica BONELL, Andorra, ALDE ; Mr Bertrand BOUYX, France, ALDE ; Ms Reina de BRUIJN-WEZEMAN, Netherlands, ALDE ; Mr Bernard CAZEAU, France, ALDE ; Mr Raphaël COMTE, Switzerland, ALDE ; Ms Yolaine de COURSON, France, ALDE ; Ms Jennifer DE TEMMERMAN, France, ALDE ; Ms Nicole DURANTON, France, EPP/CD ; Mr Franz Leonhard ESSL, Austria, EPP/CD ; Mr Bernard FOURNIER, France, EPP/CD ; Ms Béatrice FRESKO-ROLFO, Monaco, ALDE ; Mr André GATTOLIN, France, ALDE ; Mr Fabien GOUTTEFARDE, France, ALDE ; Mr Mehmet Kasım GÜLPINAR, Turkey, NR ; Mr Jürgen HARDT, Germany, EPP/CD ; Mr Dimitri HOUBRON, France, ALDE ; Mr Rafael HUSEYNOV, Azerbaijan, ALDE ; Mr Hovhannes IGITYAN, Armenia, ALDE ; Ms Catherine KAMOWSKI, France, ALDE ; Mr František KOPŘIVA, Czech Republic, ALDE ; Mr Michael LINK, Germany, ALDE ; Mr Pere LÓPEZ, Andorra, SOC ; Ms Eva LÓPEZ, Andorra, ALDE ; Ms Alexandra LOUIS, France, ALDE ; Mr Josep MAJORAL, Andorra, ALDE ; Mr Gianni MARILOTTI, Italy, NR ; Mr Edmon MARUKYAN, Armenia, ALDE ; Baroness Doreen MASSEY, United Kingdom, SOC ; Mr Simon MOUTQUIN, Belgium, SOC ; Mr Andreas NICK, Germany, EPP/CD ; Mr Joseph O'REILLY, Ireland, EPP/CD ; Mr Roberto RAMPI, Italy, SOC ; Ms Isabelle RAUCH, France, ALDE ; Mr Frédéric REISS, France, EPP/CD ; Ms Maria RIZZOTTI, Italy, EPP/CD ; Mr Stefan SCHENNACH, Austria, SOC ; Ms Petra STIENEN, Netherlands, ALDE ; Ms Laurence TRASTOUR-ISNART, France, EPP/CD ; Mr Sylvain WASERMAN, France, ALDE ; Ms Martine WONNER, France, ALDE

For 70 years, the Council of Europe has been promoting a Europe centred around law, humanism and peace. While the Council of Europe's action is largely based on its statutory bodies, as well as its own institutions, such as the European Court of Human Rights, it cannot be durably successful without fundamental work with the general public, who must take ownership of the conventional acquis but also of the lessons of the past.

In this respect, the teaching of history to new generations is of decisive importance. If young Europeans only learn and remember the succession of wars and bloody conflicts on the continent, they will most probably reproduce these past wars and conflicts. But if, on the contrary, the emphasis is placed more particularly on the history of progress, of reconciliation, of what has led 47 different countries to decide to dialogue and work in the service of their peoples, then future generations will consolidate reconciliation and work for progress.

In order to strengthen common values and promote a history that brings people together rather than divides them, the French Chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers announced in May 2019 its intention to work towards the creation of an observatory of history, relying in particular on the network of academies of the Council of Europe member States. Rapidly, this body could make a concrete and regular review of the situation regarding history teaching in the various countries, which would be a positive first step.

The Parliamentary Assembly cannot ignore this structuring approach for the future. It should therefore decide to contribute to the reflection on the configuration of this observatory, to monitor and evaluate its implementation, and to propose preferred orientations.