Observing Memories Issue 2 | Page 45

The challenges posed by a “European historical memory” since the beginning of post-Second-World-War European integration, attempts have been made and are indeed ongoing to supplement existing national collective identities and memories trans- nationally in order to lend additional legitimacy to There are basically three alternative ways of the “European project”. However, while European approaching a collective “European memory”: “cultural heritage” in its widest sense, the Second World War as the zero hour and trigger of European I. Acknowledging both the diversity and similarities integration, and the achievements of the integration in national memory cultures, in line with the process themselves were traditional reference points, European Union’s motto: United in diversity, over the last twenty years the Holocaust on the one with no further aspirations to create one single hand, twentieth-century totalitarianism (especially European remembrance culture. National Socialism and Stalinism) on the other have moved centre stage in political attempts to foster a II. Encouraging a common European historical European collective memory. memory based on general topoi such as “democracy” or “freedom”, yet with an overall Given the fact that there seems to be a wide degree non-committal nature. of common consensus between the European Parliament, the Commission and the Council III. Endorsing a collective European memory based regarding the actual reference points of European on clearly defined historical landmarks, with a historical memory, it seems legitimate to talk of an commensurate commitment involved. at least rudimentary “remembrance policy of the European Union”. It is on this last alternative that recent political initiatives in Europe have mainly focused. Ever An expression of this basic inter-institutional Plenary hall of European parliament in Strasbourg, April 16, 2013 | Ikars, Shutterstock.com EUROPE INSIGHT 43