Portal:European Union/Selected article/11

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Pan-European identity refers to both the sense of personal identification with Europe, and to the identity possessed by 'Europe' as a whole. Although 250 million Europeans are outside it, 'Europe' is inaccurately but widely used as a synonym for the European Union. The prefix pan implies that the identity applies at a continental or near-continental level, and especially in an EU context, 'pan-European' is often contrasted with national.

Historically, European culture has not led to a geopolitical unit, in the way that national cultures influenced the creation of nation-states. At present, European integration co-exists with national loyalties and national patriotism - as evidenced by the Eurostat Eurobarometer surveys on European identity and pride. Any expectations there may have been that people would identify primarily with being European and abandon their national identity, have not materialised. While the majority of EU25 citizens express hope (42%) or trust (22%) in the European Union, there is a large minority of what could be called eurosceptics who feel distrust (20%) or rejection (5%), a sizeable number (20%) being indifferent. 1999 Eurobarometer surveys show that 4% in the EU feel exclusively European whereas 48% combine feeling European with their national identity, with variations between the member states. The European Union has made some attempts to increase identification with 'Europe' (meaning the EU itself), and has introduced some European symbols.