Bernadett Miklos

28.01.2005.

European identity

My course point will be about the european identity, which is the subject of my mémoire. My thesis going to be a comparative work between Hungary and France. I will observe the way people think of the European identity.

The question of the European identity is one of the most important subjects of the recent extension. The joining of the ten new members to the political life of the EU not only means the integration of their society into the European political community but it also means an emotional membership to the European project.

There exists several European philosophers today are highly interested in the European identity. Most prominently Jurgen Habermas and Jacques Derrida, who unfortunately died few months ago, collectively wrote an article on the question of European identity. They felt that the identity’s construction began on the fifteenth of February, 2003 due to the numerous anti-war in Irak demonstrations, held in the major European cities. In their eyes these demonstrations meant the birth of an identity. Contrary to Habermas and Derrida, Ralf Dahrendorff and Timothy Garton Ash feel the situation in Irak as well as the “letter of the eight” (this letter contained signatures of eight prime ministers) in support of the war, divided Europe specifically beginning with Spain and Great-Britain.

The European Constitution, which is under construction, set as aim to define the European identity. Some paragraph of the Constitution caused debates between the European politics. What concerns the question of the identity, there is a discussion about the Christian tradition, whether it is necessary to put in writing in the Constitution, which can also cause problems when Turkey join to the Union.

Great-Britain is famous about declaring its existence out of Europe, being traditionally, culturally independent from Europe. So in Great-Britain, Tony Blair has promised a referendum on the European Constitution, and all the polls suggest that British voters will reject it. As well known the Constitution must been signed by every members of the Union. However Jacques Chirac took a little “friendly pressure” by suggesting that any country that rejects the constitution would have to leave the EU altogether. But it seems that British electorate may not be alone in rejecting the Constitution, Poland and Netherlands are another possible naysayer, and Netherlands is also one of the six founder members.

So the existence of a European common tradition is undeniable. But the question is: Is a European identity in existence? Whether can we speak an emotional identification of the Union? Is there really existing a European identity next to the own national identity in the European people?

The importance of this question can demonstrate with the words of Jean Monnet:

“If I could begin again the European integration, I would start with the culture.”