In connection with the enlargement of the European Union from 15 to 25 member states in 2004 an expert group was given the task by the Council of the European Union to write a report on archive cooperation. This thesis identifies and analyses ideas concerning the roles that the expert group wishes the archives to take in its relation towards the administration and discusses what effect this is regarded to have on democracy and democratization. The European states vary greatly among themselves regarding archival contexture, administrative organization and democratic traditions. Each state has its own unique development, colored by historical and cultural differences. Despite of this, there is a vision of some common fundamental values that the expert group wants to be established in the whole Union. The author concludes that the report advocates close cooperation between archives and administration, at the same time as a clear division of labor between the professions of each field, since this is seen as the best way to promote democratic participation. The arguments for this view raised by the expert group have to do with openness, accountability and good governance. The thesis also identifies three ideals expressed in the report as fundamental in a democratic society: the good administration, the objective archive and the active, well informed citizen.