1. Publication of a volume concerning the participation of Greece in the process towards European integration
The Service of Diplomatic and Historical Archives of the Hellenic Ministry of Foreign Affairs published, within the framework of the Greek Presidency of the Council of the EU, the first volume of a three-volume series “The Participation of Greece in the Process Towards European Integration”. This first volume covers the crucial twenty years from 1948 until 1968 and includes 120 documents from the archives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. It also includes a preface by the then Minister of Foreign Affairs George A. Papandreou, an introductory historical note by the Director of the Service of Diplomatic and Historical Archives Photini Tomai-Constantopoulou, while precious testimonies were provided by the Ambassador at large Vyron Theodoropoulos, the former Minister and Commissioner of the EU Georgios Contogeorgis, the former Minister and Vice-Governor of the Bank of Greece Ioannis Pesmazoglou and Professor P.C. Ioakimidis.
This publication aims at presenting, through unpublished archival material, the attitude and position of Greece towards the first efforts for European integration: from its stance towards the creation of the Organisation of the Treaty of Brussels (later Western European Union) in 1948, until the creation of the European Communities and from its participation in the Council of Europe in 1949, until the Association Agreement with the EEC in 1961. By studying this material, the interested reader will quickly discover the explicit European orientation of Greece, evident as early as the first post-war years. It is noteworthy that this European orientation was supported by the majority of the political forces of that time.
The volume is published simultaneously in Greek and English.
By the end of 2004 the second and third volumes concerning the participation of Greece in the European integration process will be completed. They will cover the period from 1969 until 2001.
2. Conference of the Cinematographic Archive on Immigration
The Cinematographic Archive of the Hellenic Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in the framework of its academic activities and on the occasion of the Greek Presidency of the EU Council, organised on April 2nd, at the "Yiannos Kranidiotis" Auditorium, a conference entitled "Immigration at the Cinema".
Greek scholars talked about internal and external migration, and how these patterns are presented in cinematography. Historians and film critics spoke on the different types of presentation of immigration in Greek and international cinema productions. Remarks by directors Lefteris Xanthopoulos, Lakis Papastathis and Eva Stefani were made on the same subject. Additionally, the journalists Rena Theologidou and Pavlos Nerantzis talked about their television productions on the issue of immigration, refugees and racism. An opening speech was delivered by the then Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr. Ioannis Magriotis, while statements were also made by the then Secretary General for European Affairs Mr.Ilias Plaskovitis and the then Secretary General for the Greeks Abroad Mr. Dimitrios Dollis.
The end of the conference was followed by the projection of the film by Kyriakos Katzourakis "The Way to the West" ( "Ο δρόμος προς τη δύση"). The film was a winner of the Thessaloniki Film Festival.
3. Meeting of the Directors of the Archives of the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of the member-states and EU institutions
In the framework of the Greek Presidency of the EU Council the Meeting of the Directors of the Archives of the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of the member-states and EU institutions was held on 15 and 16 May 2003 at the Cultural Centre of the Municipality of Hermoupolis on the island of Syros.
Representatives from the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of the EU member-states and from its main institutions (the Commission, the Council and the European Parliament) participated in the Meeting. The Director of the Historical Archives of the European Communities in Florence was also present.
The Service of Diplomatic and Historical Archives, aiming to upgrade the content of this kind of Meetings, promoted an agenda of political interest and proposals for the undertaking of specific initiatives, projects and common positions by the member-states.
The opening speech of the Meeting was delivered by the then Secretary General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Ambassador Mr. Anastasios Skopelitis who, after welcoming the participants and referring to the rich historical and cultural tradition of the island, described the role and the challenges that face the modern Archives and the specialists, either officials or scientists, who are involved in their organisation. He also stressed the importance of the archival services concerning the understanding of the process of European integration.
More specifically, the main results of the Meeting were:
i. Following a proposal of the Greek Presidency, a "Statement of Principles on the possession of documents from the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of the member-states of the European Union by individuals and private organisations" was adopted by the Group. The importance of the adoption of the said Statement of Principles is significant, not only because it constitutes proof of the will of the Archives of the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of the Union to tackle the issue often created by the publication of documents from non-official sources, but also because it is the the first common position adopted by this specific Working Group during the 16 years of its existence.
ii. The preparation of the third, electronic, version of the Blue Guide of the Archives of the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of the member-states and EU institutions was completed. This undertaking was initiated during the Danish Presidency. It was decided that the Blue Guide will be hosted in the website of the EU Council and it is believed that all relevant and necessary works will be completed in the immediate future.
iii. The Greek Presidency wished to reactivate the efforts for the creation of a common database of archival resources on European integration from the Archives of the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of the member-states. That is why it submitted to the Meeting a specific proposal for the organisation and the structure of this database. According to this proposal the contribution of each member-state would consist not only of a detailed directory of all the files or series related with European integration, but also of other material like extended bibliographies on its participation in the European integration process, texts written by prominent historians or politicians, or even some selected important documents. In order to make the realisation of this database possible, the Greek Presidency suggested that it should initially cover the early stages of European integration and more specifically the period 1948-1968 and that it should be characterised by flexibility so that each member-state will have the option to contribute only data that it is capable or willing to provide to this common project. The database would thus become operative regardless if all the member-states presented their contributions or not or if they presented contribution including only some of the elements of the structure of the database. The Greek proposal was accepted in principle with enthusiasm by the participants. A small working group, comprised of Greece, Italy, Sweden, the Netherlands and the Historical Archives of the EC, was established, which will have as a task the study of relevant proposals and remarks by the member-states, submitted or to be submitted until the end of June, and subsequently compile a complete proposal which will be presented during the next Meeting of the Directors of the Archives in Rome next November.
iv. With immigration being one of the main subjects of the Greek Presidency, the YDIA decided to contribute to the relevant discussion, among other things, with the creation of a common database with contributions from the member-states on overseas immigration until 1940 as it is presented in the archives of the Ministries of Foreign Affairs. The Greek Presidency was willing to host in a special section of the YDIA website the contributions of those member-states that wished to participate in this common initiative. This proposal was accepted by the other member-states and the relevant webpage is already operative and includes the contributions of the member-states that prepared a text on the issue.
v. The Greek Presidency proposed the organisation by the European Commission of a seminar for the new member-states of the EU concerning the archival policy of the EU member-states and the results of their cooperation until now. The aim of the seminar would be the better and faster integration of the new members in the Group. The proposal was approved and the seminar will take place during the Irish Presidency in 2004.
February 17, 2011