Historical Archives Of The European Union

The Historical Archives of the European Union (HAEU), located in Florence, Italy, is the official archives for the historical documents of the institutions of the European Union. It is also a research centre dedicated to the archival preservation and study of European integration.The HAEU has been located in the historic Villa Salviati since 2012, and is part of the European University Institute. The HAEU was established in 1983 following the regulation by the Council of the European Communities and the decision by the Commission of the European Communities to open their historical archives to the public. A subsequent agreement in 1984 between the European Commission and the European University Institute (EUI) laid the groundwork for establishing the Archives in Florence, and the HAEU opened its doors to researchers and the public in 1986. Since then, a 2011 Framework Partnership Agreement between the EUI and the European Commission reinforced the Historical Archives’ role in preserving and providing access to the archival holdings of the EU Institutions. In March 2015 the Council of the European Union amended the regulations from 1983 by adopting a new Council Regulation. Subsequently, on 15 April 2015 a new Framework Partnership Agreement between the EUI and the European Commission was signed, setting the frame for an enhanced cooperation and partnership between the HAEU and the EU Institutions. A third Framework Partnership Agreement was signed between the EUI and the European Commission in 2019. The HAEU preserves and makes accessible the archival holdings of EU Institutions and agencies according to the 30-years rule governing access to archives of the European Union. It also collects and preserves private papers of individuals, movements and international organizations involved in the European integration process. The Archives makes available over 20 research grants to support archival research on European integration.