Attitude to memorials exposed to different historical interpretations in Council of Europe member states

Recommendation 1859 (2009)

Author(s):

Parliamentary Assembly

Origin

Assembly debate on 29 January 2009 (8th Sitting) (see Doc. 11746, report of the Political Affairs Committee, rapporteur: Mr Eörsi). Text adopted by the Assembly on 29 January 2009 (8th Sitting).

Thesaurus

1. Referring to its Resolution 1652 (2009) on the attitude to memorials exposed to different historical interpretations in Council of Europe member states, the Parliamentary Assembly draws attention to the numerous activities carried out by the Council of Europe in relation to museums, history and cultural heritage.

2. The Assembly believes that it is the Council of Europe’s duty to continue to play a major role in supporting activities which facilitate the shaping of collective memory in its member states. The Council of Europe should also create opportunities to facilitate constructive and open dialogue between historians and member states’ experts on controversial historical questions which concern several member states, and, where appropriate, about the fate of memorials exposed to different historical interpretations.

3. Consequently, the Assembly recommends that the Committee of Ministers:

3.1 organise and/or promote the organisation of international conferences of experts and facilitate international exchanges concerning controversial historical questions of interest to several member states, and, where appropriate, on the fate of memorials exposed to different historical interpretations;

3.2 create a European centre of expertise for helping member states with historiographical and archaeological investigation and elucidation of memorials;

3.3 set up a common European database on war graves and memorials located in Council of Europe member states in line with the Assembly’s Recommendation 898 (1980) on memorials;

3.4 urge member states to revise national legislation with a view to making it comply fully with Committee of Ministers Recommendation No. R (2000) 13 on a European policy on access to archives;

3.5 continue to give its support to activities in relation to museums, history and cultural heritage, including the activities of the European Museum Forum (EMF);

3.6 develop good practices relating to the fate of controversial memorials.