The recent concept paper of the House of European History, a museum planned by the European Parliament, has sparked major controversy in Poland, due to the alleged superficial dealing with the country’s history.
Brainchild of the president of the European Parliament, Hans-Gert Pottering, the House of European History is to give an account of a common past and heritage of the European countries. The museum would encompass key phenomena and events spanning from World War II to the present which have led to the establishment of the European Union and the subsequent integration process. Though a welcomed initiative in principle, it is now generating much criticism from Polish historians and politicians alike. The controversial draft of the concept paper of the institution is claimed to be biased and incomprehensive. A member of the expert committee in charge of the preparing the document, historian Prof. Włodzimierz Borodziej, dismisses the accusations that it depicts the German-French vision of European history. The document has been submitted to the European Parliament, and the decision whether the Museum of European History will at all be established is to be taken by the end of the year.
To listen to the entire report by Alicja Baczyńska, click on the audio icon above.