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Platform of European Memory and Conscience

On 14 October 2011, Roland Jahn, Federal Commissioner for the Stasi Records at the time, was one of the first signers of another newly formed project dealing with historical reappraisal.

When it was founded the Platform of European Memory and Conscience, with headquarters in Prague, brought together twenty institutions from 13 countries. By the end of 2014, the number had risen to 48 institutions from 18 countries.

The Platform, which was founded following a Resolution of the European Parliament on 2 April 2009, aims to facilitate cooperation between government and non-government agencies to increase public awareness of the history of National Socialism, communism and other ideologies.

As part of this effort, the Platform draws attention to totalitarian regimes of the 20th century in Europe, commemorates the victims and seeks ways to discuss the lessons learned from the past in a larger European context. In the EU Commission’s papers in support of the Platform, its aim is described as seeking different ways to gather research and discuss collective memory to promote an increased awareness of totalitarian dictatorships.

Unlike the Network, whose members represent specific archives that have been established by law, the Platform has a broader and more comprehensive aim. Its method of viewing totalitarian regimes all together has also earned it public criticism.