EconPOL
2021
Sarah Ciaglia, Clemens Fuest, Friedrich Heinemann
The ECONPol Policy Report explores the concept of ‘European identity’ as essential for enhancing European integration, especially in light of declining public support for the EU. The authors, Sarah Ciaglia, Clemens Fuest, and Friedrich Heinemann, argue that fostering a European identity can complement national identities and promote cooperative behavior among member states. The report categorizes measures to promote this identity into ‘civic’ and ‘cultural’ types, as well as considering their legitimacy-creating functions. It provides a comprehensive overview of trends and determinants influencing European identity and outlines six detailed proposals for its promotion, including transnational party lists, an EU Citizens’ Assembly, and a ‘European Waltz’ program. Ultimately, the report emphasizes the importance of a shared European identity for strengthening trust and cooperation within the EU, especially in the wake of challenges like Brexit.
What a feeling?! How to promote ‘European Identity’
Sarah Ciaglia, Clemens Fuest, Friedrich Heinemann
@October 10, 2018 2:00 PM (GMT+1)
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.