The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe emphasizes the vital role of transparency and access to historical documents held by public authorities in fostering collective memory, reconciliation, and public trust in governance. It asserts that access to information is a universal human right, with full disclosure as the norm and limited exceptions strictly defined. The Assembly calls on member States to uphold principles of maximum disclosure, proactive information publication, and reasonable access costs, while ensuring that any denial of access is justified and subject to appeal. It encourages the ratification of the Tromsø Convention to strengthen access rights and highlights the importance of supporting civil society in preserving historical memory. Additionally, the Assembly advocates for the digitalization of archives to enhance public access to historical documents.