As we reflect on the complex tapestry that is Europe, it is easy to get strongly attracted by the grand narrative of a continent striving for unity and peace. The sheer scale of the endeavour can lead us to overlook the intricate threads that weave this narrative together – the individual lives, experiences, and ideas that have shaped the course of European history.

At the same time, it is precisely these personal stories, these microhistories, that hold the key to understanding the evolution of the European project. The pioneering spirits of men and women such as Robert Schuman, Alcide de Gasperi, Simone Weil, Paul-Henri Spaak, or Jean Monnet – visionaries who dared to dream of a united and peaceful Europe – are a testament to the power of individual agency in shaping the destiny of nations.

Through such stories, we gain a nuanced understanding of the motivations, passions, and convictions that drove not only leaders but also other people, to work tirelessly towards a common goal. We see how their unique experiences, forged in the crucible of war and its aftermath, instilled in them a deep commitment to reconciliation and cooperation. We witness how their ideas, often born of personal struggle and perseverance, inspired a new generation of Europeans to strive for a brighter future.

The histories of each of our countries are ‘recorded’ in our National Archives and at the same time, we also share a common European history. The interdependence between our countries, the recognition that we have a common past, has led the National Archives to cooperate. All this reconstruction work is possible thanks to the hundreds of millions of documents in the repositories of our archives. On the one hand we have the National Archives and, on the other, the Historical Archives of the European Union.

National Archives are exactly what their name implies – national organisations and infrastructures, accountable to their national governments, with a remit related to their national administrations to safeguard their legacies. However, archiving is not a European Union competence, and cooperation between archives in Europe is not self-evident. That is the reason why the European Commission established the European Archives Group more than 15 years ago. The Group is first a forum for cooperation, to learn from each other and to exchange best practices. Archives share the same challenges and the solutions to those challenges can be similar or even joint solutions.

Even if archives themselves remain a competence of the Member States, there are other policies at European level that do directly affect archives and archiving. The National Archives have cooperated in the European Archives Group to coordinate positions and strategies and to have their voices heard at European level. Examples include coordinating efforts on national legislation in their respective countries to implement the EU Directive on the re-use of public sector information, the discussions on EU copyright legislation to take account of the interests of archives and the continuing work to create common specifications and services for eArchiving. Although I could name many more, perhaps one of the most remarkable examples of what cooperation between National Archives can achieve, is the introduction of derogations for the processing of personal data for archiving purposes in the public interest in the General Data Protection Regulation. This allows them to fulfill their legal obligation to acquire, preserve, appraise, arrange, describe, communicate, promote, disseminate and provide access to records of enduring value for general public interest.

Going forward, the Strategy of the European archives (2025-2030) offers a strategic orientation on the current challenges in the archives’ domain and establishes their link with the EU strategies and related legal acts. Two large themes underpin the Strategy: Archives supporting democracy and Maintaining citizen’s trust in archives in the Digital Era. They will be analysed through concrete sets of related actions: from the independence of archival institutions and their work, to participating in developing civil society, to artificial intelligence, to a data-driven economy, to electronic identity and signatures and the continuing digital transition of public services, or to records creation for better information and records management.

This volume you have in your hands, "Europe – Forging a Union for Peace", highlights the crucial role that these individuals, and many others like them, played in shaping the European project. Through the insights that the archives offer from their documents, we get to humanize the European story, to reveal the faces and voices behind the bigger picture, and to demonstrate the enduring power of individual initiative in shaping the course of history.

This is a journey through the lives of those who have helped build the European project into the vibrant, diverse, and resilient entity it is today. May their stories inspire us to continue aiming for a more perfect union, built on the principles of peace, solidarity, and cooperation that have guided Europe's journey thus far.

“The history of the world is but the biography of great men,” wrote Thomas Carlyle in 1841. While many criticized the conservative British historian for his interpretation of history based on heroes as a justification for autocratic regimes, this book clearly demonstrates how the decisions and actions of individuals play a decisive role in democracy as well.

This collection comprises documents from seemingly diverse personalities, yet there is a common thread that binds them – whether they are conservatives or social democrats, politicians, intellectuals, artists, working-class individuals, or aristocrats, men or women, deeply religious or atheists. Despite their different backgrounds and ideological differences, through their political actions, artistic activities, personal convictions, and their commitment to universal human values, they all played a significant role in shaping the European Union. Their moral dedication and vision were crucial in the process of forging a union for peace in Europe, while upholding those shared values that have guided the continent's future.

This volume highlights 35 remarkable individuals, selected by European archives from the 27 member states, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and four European institutions. Each of them contributed directly to European unity, whether through the creation of its institutions or by championing shared European values. Although many more could have been included, this selection represents the journey that led to the European integration as we understand it today. While it was not a primary focus in the selection, I take pride as a Hungarian in seeing Hungary’s frequent representation. Figures such as the painter Mihály Munkácsy, nationalist politicians, Raoul Wallenberg, who saved Hungarian Jews, Alexandre Lamfalussy, the architect of the euro or George Vassiliou, the Cypriot president who spoke fluent Hungarian – all find a place in this volume.

The documents, like the persons, are also diverse. Among them are significant historical records as well as documents that may seem less important at first glance—byproducts of administrative operations that reveal their true significance only in their context. For example, the importance of William Butler Yeats' invitation to Stockholm becomes clear when we recall that just a year after the Irish Civil War, the poet's Nobel Prize symbolized European recognition of the Irish Free State. Alongside traditional records, also included are stamps, posters, photographs, and sheet music, demonstrating the incredible diversity of archives. Individually fascinating, but together they weave a broader narrative.

When we began this project, the possible outcome was uncertain. The basic idea of creating a European kaleidoscope, where the participants reflect the diversity of member states like colourful mosaics, seemed promising. However, as we arranged the documents chronologically, a coherent narrative emerged: that of the history of Europe in the 20th and 21st centuries. This story begins with efforts to stabilize a war-torn Europe after World War I, continues through the humanitarians of World War II, the establishment of European institutions, the fall of the Iron Curtain, the independence of the Baltic states, the Yugoslav wars, and Europe’s enlargement. Today, as we reflect on this history, it becomes clear that the challenges of the third decade of the 21st century are not extraordinary in the grand scheme of history. This realization should give us hope and strength to face the crises of our time.

Furthermore, this book illustrates the indispensable role of archives. It tangibly demonstrates how we preserve and make accessible the sources and imprints of our intertwined pasts. Archives are not merely repositories of old documents; their identity-shaping role is fully realized through collaborations like this. This book is the product of a unique and exemplary cooperation among European archives. It is exceptional not only because it was created in record time by a record number of contributors but also because it paves a path forward. It highlights the potential of collective efforts: Europe’s written heritage cannot remain isolated within national cultural clusters. It must be reconnected through integrated archival services for researchers, educators, and scholars. The foundation for this initiative is already laid with Archives Portal Europe, and through its further development we may eventually achieve the full reconstruction of Europe’s history—from fragmented medieval collections to the virtual reunification of Europe's written heritage, a heritage that was divided in the Cold War era.

I am deeply grateful to all the contributors, and I take great pride in having participated in this exceptional work as the Director General of the National Archives of Hungary.