The current “millennial” generation—who were still children during the seminal events of 1989 when the Berlin Wall came down and Soviet-propped regimes fell elsewhere—is growing up to have a true European sense of identity. Now more than ever there is a pan-European sentiment. The growth and expansion of the EU’s powers has not been without its detractors. The Netherlands and France both rejected the EU constitution. The integrationist drafters perhaps went too far in using the name ‘constitution’. The document only reforms the EU and grants it some minor powers--to use the word ‘constitution’ seemed to scare an older populous of voters who did not want a pan-European sense of identity. In reality, the ‘constitution’ was not very different from what were previously agreements which were called ‘treaties’. The rejection of the treaty was not entirely a rejection of a common Europe, “Most analysts agree that the causes of the French and Dutch rejection were socio-economic rather than political or ideological” (Majone). The stringent economic and social requirements of the EU and a shared history of unification under Rome, Charlemagne, Napoleon, all foster a sense of a united Europe. The common history that many of these nations share, though sometimes turbulent and antagonistic, is altogether a positive thing for developing a European sense of identity.
Academic studies have shown that identity can be a fickle and arbitrary thing sometimes. People divided into groups based upon a flip-of-a-coin have become virulent partisans, as shown by academic study done by Henri Tajfel. While identity and personal association can sometimes be based on something seemingly meaningless to outsiders, its sociological and psychological impact can be very meaningful. EU citizenship can be something that is meaningful, however there is the sometimes insurmountable power--personal national and ethnic identity that can work against it. The research of Tajfel show that nature of identity is not always solidified in immutable truth. But by the very existence of a European Union, citizens in its member countries have at the very least a nominal reason to identify with each other.
The EU Erasmus student program provides scholarship money for EU citizen students to study in EU member countries their junior year of university studies. One of the most important factors behind this program and a primary reason for its creation is that it fosters a sense of European citizenship and identity among students. Its nature teaches students to be cosmopolitan European citizens rather than nationalists (or perhaps European nationalists?). Jean Monnet, the progenitor of European Integration, is widely celebrated and has numerous halls named after him at various European Universities.
In order to have successful European democratic citizenship, the citizens of member countries must increase their civic participation in EU institutions and elections. In 1979 the European Average turnout rate in Elections to the European Parliament was 63%. In 1984, 61%; 1989, 58.5%; 1994, 56.8%; and 1999, 49.4% (Pacek & Radcliff, 2003, 91). But a strong sense of European Citizenship is being developed, it is strongest among the young millennial generation who grew up after the fall of the ‘iron curtain’. This new generation is the future of Europe. They grew up in a time of great optimism when their parents' and grandparents' world stopped being so polarized and a Eurozone was created. They are more sensitive and less prone to nationalism and the blatant racism of the previous generations (Messina) and are more likely to identify themselves foremost--as Europeans.
Works Cited:
Maas, W. “Creating European Citizens”. Lecture.
Majore, G. (2006) “The Common Sense of European Integration”. Journal of European Public Policy. 13.5. p607-626.
Messina, A. “The Organized Nativist Backlash: The Surge and Political Significance of Anti-Immigrant Groups in the European Union.” 27 Feb 2007.
Pacek, A. & Radcliff, B. Voter participation and party-group fortunes in European Parliament Elections, 1979-1999: A cross-national analysis. (2003 March). Political Research Quarterly. Salt Lake City. 54 (1), 91.
Vaszily, B. “People Who Drive Silver or Blue Cars Should NOT Read This” http://www.sixwise.com/newsletters/06/06/25/people_who_drive_silver_or_blue_cars_should_not_read_this.htm