Les députés européens baltes et les débats mémoriels, entre stratégie politique et engagement personnel (2004-2009)/Baltic Members of the European Parliament and memory debates, between political strategy and personal engagement (2004-2009)

After the 2004 enlargement of the European Union to 10 new members, including 8 former communist states, new debates emerged about the European interpretation of the past. At the European Parliament, these debates impacted the former consensus on the common fight against Nazism with a discussion about Stalinist crimes. As Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania have been occupied by both the Soviet Union and Nazi Germany, the MEPs from these countries are very sensible to these issues. The study of their activity between 2004 and 2009 shows that these debates have not been only a way for small delegations to find their place in the institution. Nevertheless, they have been very active. This can be best explain by the salience of these issues in internal politics and bilateral relations with Russia. In addition, it seems as well that their involvement is not only a question of political strategy, but also a will of personal testimony and fidelity to familial history.