The influence of EU integration on EU identity
The need of an assembled union of Europe became necessitate after the second world war in order to prevent other war-conflicts and to stimulate and rebuild the economy of Europe (The history of the European Union, 2020, pp. A peaceful Europe — the beginnings of cooperation). In order to make a European Union work, integration was necessary. The treaty of Paris created the first steps of European integration, wherein 6 states created the European Coal and Steel community (The First Treaties, 2020). In order to reach co-operation between more Member States and forming an identity, the EU focussed on stimulating further European integration in order to create a true Union. However, confusion remains about the true definition of European identity. The historical identity of Europe, which consists out of Christians, the great Romains and Greeks, the most dangerous warriors and the wisest philosophers is in contradiction with the current identity of Europe. Minimal level of common identity currently exists between Member States and often, Member States their selves are fighting with finding their true identity through globalization and multiculturalism. The European identity is set in 3 important sectors of European integration. EU’s identity is shaped through cultural, political and economic integration.
To start off with the cultural aspect of European integration. According to the European Union, “The EU works to preserve Europe’s shared cultural heritage and to support and promote the arts and creative industries in Europe” (Strategic framework for the EU’s cultural policy, 2020, p. Economic). “EU’s external goal is to strengthen the EU’s international cultural relations through three objectives” (Strategic framework for the EU’s cultural policy, 2020, p. External). These 3 objectives are: to support culture for sustainable — social and economic development, to promote culture and intercultural dialogue for peaceful inter-community relations and to reinforce cooperation on cultural heritage (Strategic framework for the EU’s cultural policy, 2020, p. External). While striving for these 3 objectives, the goal of the EU is to protect and foster this cultural diversity in Europe (European integration in the 21st century” Our goal is the United States of Europe, sd). With these objectives, the EU is trying to reach contact between citizens of other cultures and the way of living and doing (European integration in the 21st century” Our goal is the United States of Europe, sd, p. 11). All citizens of the EU should be provided with educational options that make communication between the citizens of the EU significantly easier in order to gain European integration by communicating and striving for the same purpose, a greater European Union. Cultures between Member States are largely divided, but through communication and learning, a common European identity is shaped through integration and co-operation between Member States.
Followed by the political aspect of European integration. The EU has six political priorities, 3 important priorities will be discussed for this topic: promoting a ‘European way of life’, a new push of European democracy and a stronger European in the world (Strategic framework for the EU’s cultural policy, 2020). According to the website of the European Commission, the most important factor for a European democracy is that the citizens of Europe need to engage in decision-making and set a more active role in politics and problems in the EU (A new push for European democracy, 2020). In order to create involvement of European citizens, the EU needs to stimulate EU citizens to vote not only on national level, but also on European level. In example, in the Netherlands, 13.164688 people were allowed to vote on the election of the Dutch members of the European Parliament, wherein only 5.519776 people voted (Officiële uitslag verkiezing Nederlandse leden Europees Parlement 2019, 2019). In percentages, 41,9% of the Dutch voters voted choose to vote on EU level, which leaves a rough 58% who choose to not engage in voting on European level. At national elections, 81.6% Dutch citizens voted (Opkomst bij Tweede Kamerverkiezingen , 2020, p. Table). According to a research done by Ipsos, 43% said to be disinterested in voting on EU level, and 27% said to have no trust in European politicians (Ipsos-onderzoek: waarom Nederlanders (niet) naar de stembus gingen, 2019, p. 2). In order to gain engagement of European citizens on EU-level, European integration needs to be stimulated wherein people find the interest to invest in their European Identity and therefore want to participate in elections and protect Europe’s democracy.
Lastly, the economic aspect of European integration. According to European-Union, the EU has set a common monetary policy in order to stabilize the economy of the EU through financial and fiscal policy wherein rules and regulations are set for the internal market of the EU. As quoted by Anibal Cavaco Silva: “Integration is the most important asset Europe has, and the key component to European integration is the euro”. This monetary policy is set in order to create a stable union wherein wealth and the financial sector should be increased by such a policy (European integration in the 21st century” Our goal is the United States of Europe, sd, p. 9). In 1957, the Treaty of Rome was developed, wherein a common market was established, creating benefits for every Member State of the EU, wherein the EU rather focused on a “closer union among people of Europe rather than a federation” by removing the barriers between European member states that originally divided Europe and therefore wanted to stimulate European integration in economic terms (Spolaore, 2013, pp. 8,2 ). One of the 4 freedoms of movement, which was set in the Treaty of Rome, was the free movement of persons, wherein citizens of Member States had the ability to travel freely through the EU as a citizens of the EU. People from Member State countries had the ability to live in any other Member State in the EU. By creating free movement of people, cultural differences became smaller as all EU citizens were allowed to travel freely, and experience other European cultures and adapt, which has become a major swift for stimulating the European identity. Furthermore, policies wherein social funds were created. As all Member States had to invest in other Member States of the EU, a strong bond between Member States were created, where every State was working for a stronger EU economy which eventually would become beneficial for all States in the EU (European integration in the 21st century” Our goal is the United States of Europe, sd, p. 3). A stronger European economy results in more dependence on each-other and more Member States willing to co-operate between each other by strengthening the European Identity as a whole, by contributing to European integration on economical level.
In conclusion, the European identity is still being formed by stimulating European integration wherein Member states are co-operating with each other on cultural, political and economic level. On political level, the EU strives with renewed strategies to promote voting within the EU, wherein citizens of the EU contribute to EU law making and thereby stimulate European integration, to co-form a democracy wherein all citizens can identify and be content with. On economical level, European integration has led to the 4 important freedoms of the free market, wherein citizens of the EU became closer to each other by experiencing each culture on business- or personal basis, forming a new identity for European citizens. Cultural wise, the first step of integration is understanding, wherein the EU focusses on communication between European citizens through education, to not only learn about other cultures, but to understand each other and form the basis of European integration through arts, training and life-long learning. Europe’s strengths does not per see lay in the similarities which EU citizens have, but moreover in the differences that the Member States have, in order to improve and create policies to help all citizens instead of one culture by having similarities and differences. A quote by Stephen R. Covey describes the current European identity accurate: “Strength lies in differences, not in similarities”. The European Identity is still being formed, but European integration stimulates the process of forming this identity and vice versa.
