Developments of the past always stirred emotions whenever relativity had been applied in their description. However, there are also those who claim there can be various opinions, but only one truth concerning historical facts. This way of thinking is shared by a group of MEPs who set up a working panel under the motto 'Common Europe - Common History'.  

Slawek Szefs reports     

A group of right wing MEPs from EU newcomer countries has come up with an idea to tackle anew the most difficult issues in 20th century European history. The initiators of the 'Common Europe - Common History' group have been five deputies from Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Hungary and Poland. Among them is former Lithuanian president Vytautas Landsbergis. Poland is represented by the well known historian professor Wojciech Roszkowski.

'The purpose is to bring various national histories of various nations and of Europe closer. we had a feeling that especially West Europeans have a problem with understanding East Europeans. And also the European Union fails toreally understand the gravity of the historical heritage or burden, if you will, connected with communist rule. A lot of communist crimes, a lot of wrongdoings committed under communism have never been brought to justice or even to the common understanding of West Europeans.' 

Professor Roszkowski adds that the task is much more challenging than just getting across a historical message. 

'This is our initial step to bring this very difficult history of Eastern Europe closer to the West Europeans, but also to establish a certain pattern, a certain method of dealing with history, so that Europeans not be divided by their past, but rather united by their past.'

Why is setting the facts of difficult 20th century history in a proper perspective so important for Poland?

'Poland is part of this terra incognita for Western Europe. An unknown territory historically and geographically. So, Poland is an important part of our attempt to bring the history of Eastern Europe closer to West Europeans. I am interested in Polish aspects of this story but it will not dominate, of course, the procedings of our group.' 

The legal aspect of many historical events is also a problematic issue. A case in point would be the Ribbentrop-Molotov pact. Its secret provisions gave Soviet Russia a pretext to attack Poland parallely with the Nazi German onslaught in September 1939 which started World War Two. And while no room for doubt is left in the evaluation of the attack from the West, many politicians still fail to recognize the Red Army invasion from the East as an act of aggression. Similar experiences can be quoted by the Baltic states. In the post-war period of communist rule in Eastern Europe, Hungary in 1956 and former Czechoslovakia in 1968 had their share of Soviet intervention, as well.

So far, these isues have gained insufficient attention of MEPs from West European countries and the 'Common Europe - Common History' project is to further that cause. Will the engagement grow? Professor Wojciech Roszkowski.

'Yes, there is an interest but we must work to attract more attention. I've gained support of our Irish, Italian, British, Cypriot, Finnish and other colleagues. I think the group will swell.' 

The initiative shall also serve as a test of good will among politicians from various countries and groups represented in the European Parliament.