Rewriting national and transnational histories and reassigning labels of heroes, victims, and perpetrators is a powerful tool in the narrative construction and manifestation of political orders. This is as true of the EU as it is of any state order. The way history is narrated at a certain point in time reveals much about the political, social, and economic priorities, challenges, and needs of the respective present.

Rethinking the questions we ask about European integration history can help us develop a deeper understanding of the challenges Europe faces today—and illuminate possible responses. Seventy-five years after the Schuman Declaration, it is therefore worthwhile to examine how the history of European integration has been told by the actors involved, and how and why official narratives have evolved over time. Equally important is shedding light on previously overlooked or disregarded participants in the integration process, which can enhance our understanding of European actors' roles and capabilities in a world characterised by shifting power balances and complex crises.

As the EU is, once again, facing profound challenges both within and beyond its borders, this plenary aims to foster interdisciplinary learning between European integration history and broader European studies scholarship.