Abstract
‘Being in Europe' and ‘Being a European' are two different things. It is fair to say that over the years a common space has been created in the economic, legal, and to a certain extent in political spheres. However, when we come to other realities (language, culture, religion, memories, values and practices etc) the people of the EU are keen on maintaining their national allegiances. What the EU lacks is a common culture around which Europeans can unite? Such cultural elements, which unite the existing national identities (such as shared language, history, memory, religion) tend to divide rather than unite fellow Europeans. The problem recalls Massima d'Azeglio's comment following the Italian unification in 1870: ‘we have made Italy: now we must make Italians'. Despite the massive transfer of regulatory and decision-making powers from the nation-states to the European Union, there has been no corresponding shift in popular sentiment or political loyalty. Yet, agents have tried to engender popular consciousness.”
