Archives of the European Parliament

Spotlight

The Hemicycle: European Democracy at Work

Discover the story of the plenary sessions of the European Parliament, from its inception in 1952 to its historic development through direct elections and the growth of the EU. Focusing on plenary highlights, from Members’ speeches to inspiring visits to Parliament, we tell Parliament’s story through the people who shaped the European Union from within the hemicycle.

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Ask the Archives: Archives Unit's first Generative AI tool

The Archives Unit Dashboard is an innovative project developed by the Archives Unit of the European Parliament that aims to democratise the knowledge about this institution's history, assisting citizens and researchers in navigating the archives. And now, thanks to its implementation of AI technology, it even enables them to chat directly with the Archive's documents.

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Archives Content Analysis Dashboard

With the help of AI tools, this tutorial video explains how to search and analyse documents of the Archives of the European Parliament. Discover historical documents from 1952 onwards and trace parliamentary activities from the ECSC Common Assembly to the elected European Parliament.

Online Access to Archival Documents

Discover historical documents from 1952 onwards and trace parliamentary activities from the ECSC Common Assembly to the elected European Parliament.

Visit our dashboard

The Archives Unit Dashboard

The Archives Unit Dashboard makes over 2 million archival documents from 1952 to 1984, and over 580,000 parliamentary questions accessible to citizens. Learn about the features of the Dashboard here, and how you can use it to explore European Parliament history.

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History and Facts Podcast

Explore the European Audio Capacity page and listen to podcasts on European Parliament history and much more here.

Listen to the podcasts here

House of European History lectures

Through exchanges with renowned historians and experts on the history of Europe, the House of European History facilitates the exploration and critical examination of European histories, cultures and identities. From 17th century philosophies to contemporary geopolitics, these lectures give fascinating insight into historical and contemporary Europe, and that which connects them.

Watch the lectures here

Shaping Europe: the story of European Parliament elections

Between 6–9 June 2024, millions of Europeans will participate in shaping the future of European democracy on the occasion of the European elections. It is a unique moment when we can all collectively decide on the future of the European Union. Learn about the history of these elections here.

Explore the exhibition here

The Names behind European Parliament Buildings

European Parliament buildings, Strasbourg

External view of the European Parliament buildings in Strasbourg © European Union 2016 – European Parliament

The names of European Parliament buildings pay homage to people who have, whether as a member of the European Parliament or as an influential intellectual or political figure, helped shape the idea and reality of Europe. Through the naming of buildings in their honour they remain, in quite a real sense, at the heart of Europe and serve as a reminder of the European ideal to those who encounter these buildings. Discover the lives of these remarkable figures and learn about their connection to the European Parliament through this series of articles.
Learn more about the names behind European Parliament buildings here

Fonds

The fonds, or holdings, of the European Parliament are home to over 5 million items that are testament to 70 years of European parliamentary activity, from the foundation of the European Coal and Steel Community to the present European Parliament. Learn about the archives of previous Presidents, Secretary-Generals and Members of the European Parliament and the people behind them here.

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Cultural Heritage

As an institution that has been at the heart of European and global historical events for seventy years, and been host to figures that have shaped contemporary Europe society, the Cultural Heritage collections of the European Parliament are a rich resource for anyone interested in the development of the idea and implementation of Europe since 1952. Discover our digital exhibitions on this history and other informative series here.

Explore the collections here

Publications

Produced in collaboration with the European Parliament Research Service (EPRS), these publications offer a depth of historical insight into the European Parliament and its role in European and global politics and society. With a diverse selection of topics and texts ranging from informative briefings to lengthier analyses, explore these papers today and expand your knowledge of Parliament's history.

Browse the publications here

About Us

What is the Archives Unit of the European Parliament? How can I access the archives for my own research? What is the legislation surrounding access to our historical documents? Find answers to these questions and more here as we explain our mission and offer other practical information.

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House of European History

The House of European History is a forum for learning, reflection and debate, open to audiences from all generations and backgrounds. Its primary mission is to enhance understanding of European history in all its complexity, to encourage the exchange of ideas and to question assumptions.

The House presents Europe's history in a way that raises awareness about the multiplicity of perspectives and interpretations. It preserves shared and dividing memories. It exhibits and collects the history of European integration and its foundations. A project of the European Parliament and part of its visitor offer, the House of European History is academically independent. A place for encounters and exchange, the House's multi-faceted interpretation of the past builds bridges to questions relevant for today's Europe.

Learn more about the House of European History here