On the initiative of the International Auschwitz Committee and in particular its vice-president, Prof. Felix Kolmer, the Institute formed a cooperative agreement with the German institution Bundesverband Information und Beratung für NS-Verfolgte based in Cologne. The goal of this cooperation was to develop an overview of the state of landmarks relating to Nazi violence, primarily concentration camps. The catalyst for this cooperation was the temporary closing of the Sobibor camp due to the poor condition of the area and buildings.

The preparatory phase of the project involved discussions on financing the maintenance of memorials. Germany plays a key role in this area by taking responsibility for the proper care of certain memorials and co-financing the care of a number of landmarks abroad, including Auschwitz. Nevertheless, a responsible approach needed to be adopted by non-German organizations and state, because the preservation of such memorials is truly a European task. These original locations where tragic events and systematic violence and murder took place continue to have enormous importance, not least as teaching tools.

ESLI has begun to address these issues within the European Union. Our objective has been to extend the fundamental value of European integration and to make the preservation of landmarks part of the EU budgetary process for the period beginning in 2014. ESLI continues to regard this funding as not requiring a new budget heading as landmark maintenance is to be easily placed under the existing line items and funds.

More: Full text of the Preservation of European Concentration Camp Memorials study.