Sarah Ciaglia, Clemens Fuest, Friedrich Heinemann
EconPOL
2021
🌍 Context and Publisher Overview The document titled "What a feeling?! How to promote ‘European Identity’" was published by EconPOL, a research initiative focused on economic policy analysis in Europe. Created by authors Sarah Ciaglia, Clemens Fuest, and Friedrich Heinemann on February 25, 2021, this report addresses the declining public support for the European project and explores the concept of European identity as a key component for fostering integration among member states. 📉 Challenges to European Unity In recent years, the European Union has faced significant challenges, including the United Kingdom's decision to exit the EU. This situation has highlighted a decline in public support across various member states. The report asserts that developing a sense of European identity is crucial for overcoming these challenges and enhancing cooperation among nations. Identity is recognized in economic literature as a significant driver of individual behavior, suggesting that a shared European identity could facilitate trust and collaboration. 🔍 Understanding European Identity The study differentiates 'European identity' from other concepts such as EU support, emphasizing its importance as a foundation for the European project. It provides an empirical analysis of current trends and summarizes existing literature on the determinants of European identity. The authors classify these determinants into two categories: 'civic' and 'cultural' identities, while also distinguishing between 'input' and 'output legitimacy' functions of potential measures to promote European identity. 💡 Proposals for Promoting European Identity The report outlines several innovative proposals aimed at fostering a sense of European identity among citizens. These include: 1. Transnational Party Lists: Encouraging collaboration across member states in elections to enhance political unity. 2. EU Citizens’ Assembly: Establishing a platform for citizens to discuss and contribute to EU policy-making. 3. EU Consular Offices: Enhancing the presence of EU institutions to promote European values and identity. 4. Pensioners’ Erasmus Program: Expanding the Erasmus initiative to include pensioners, fostering cultural exchange and identity. 5. ‘European Waltz’ Program: A cultural initiative to promote shared European traditions and values through dance and music. 6. EU Public Service Broadcaster: Creating a media outlet that focuses on European identity and values, fostering a sense of belonging among citizens. In conclusion, this report addresses the urgent need to promote European identity as a mechanism to strengthen the EU's cohesion and resilience during challenging times.
EconPOL
What a feeling?! How to promote ‘European Identity’
Sarah Ciaglia, Clemens Fuest, Friedrich Heinemann
@October 10, 2018 2:00 PM (GMT+2)
Abstract
Despite the great achievements for peace and economic prosperity, the European project has recently been challenged with public support being on decline in many member states, culminating in the decision of the United Kingdom to leave the EU. Against this background, this study looks into ‘European identity’ as a concept of fundamental importance for European integration. In the economic literature, ‘identity’ has been increasingly recognized as a crucial driver of individual behavior with joint group identities as a precondition for trustful cooperation. Hence, some type of European identity (in addition to, not replacing national identities) can be regarded as one of the underlying preconditions for the European project.
Against this background, this study develops the contents and nuances of the ‘European identity’ terminology as distinct from other categories like EU support. It empirically describes ongoing trends and comprehensively summarizes the literature’s insights on the important determinants of European identity. On the basis of identified determinants and target groups a classification of measures to promote European identity is developed. This classification is based on the distinctions between a ‘civic’ and a ‘cultural’ European identity on the one hand and between the ‘input’ and ‘output legitimacy’-creating function of potential measures.
Based on this classification and survey of possible approaches for the advancement of European identity we give a broad overview on possible approaches to foster European identity. We elaborate six proposals in more detail: transnational party lists, an EU Citizens’ Assembly, EU consular offices, Pensioners’ Erasmus, a ‘European Waltz’ program, and an EU public service broadcaster.