European culture comprises a wide variety of national cultures, which influenced the creation of the various European nation-states. The process of European integration pursued by the European Union co-exists with national loyalties and national patriotism.Eurobarometer survey 2005 shows that only 17% of EU citizens often think of themselves as European in addition to their own nationality, with a low of 8% in the UK. Two-thirds of the British poll (66%) never consider themselves to be European, the EU average is 42%. Slightly less than half (46%) of EU25 citizens were 'very proud' of their nationality, but across the European Union, only 12% of those polled were 'very proud' to be European.
Pan-European identity generally competes with national identity. 1999 Eurobarometer surveys show that only 6% in the EU combine feeling European with their national identity.Graph 6 in How the Europeans see themselves – Looking through the mirror with public ."The results of ordered logit analyses confirm that stronger feelings of national identity lead to lower levels of support for the EU." Sean Carey, 2002. Undivided Loyalties: Is National Identity an Obstacle to European Integration? European Union Politics, Vol. 3, No. 4, 387–413 (2002) The European Union has made some attempts to increase identification with 'Europe' (meaning the EU itself), and has introduced some European symbols, but this was never as intensive as the promotion of national identity in the nation-states.
Hopes of a European patriotism
Since the EU is not generally seen as a nation, a patriotism comparable to that of nation-states is not to be expected. Some people see that as an advantage, since it would allow for a 'constitutional patriotism' (Jürgen Habermas) directed toward the EU.
However, in the early post-World War II period, and in the 1950s, there were those who believed that 'Europe' could develop a patriotism of its own. At the time the memory of Nazi propaganda with its emphasis on loyalty to Volk was still strong, and a European patriotism was seen primarily as a counter to national aggression. Two post-war speeches by Winston Churchill illustrate the views of the time, although Churchill was using "European" in the British sense – meaning continental Europe:
"Why should there not be a European Group which could give a sense of enlarged patriotism?" Winston Churchill in Zürich, 19 September 1946
"We hope to see a Europe where men of every country will think as much of being a European as of belonging to their native land, and that without losing any of their love and loyalty of their birthplace. We hope wherever they go in this wide domain, to which we set no limits in the European Continent, they will truly feel 'Here I am at home. I am a citizen of this country too." Winston Churchill in Amsterdam, 9 May 1948
'Europe' seen from outside The definition of 'Europe' in both a geographical and cultural sense has always been debated, especially among Europeans themselves.
American views The way the United States looks at Europe is changing too, given the last update of the CIA World Factbook. Its 2005 edition says the following about the European Union: There have been some significant changes to the latest edition of the World Factbook. The European Union is now included as an "Other" entity at the end of the listing. The European Union continues to accrue more nation-like characteristics for itself and so a separate listing was deemed appropriate. A fuller explanation may be found under the European Union Preliminary statement.
Chinese views Chinese views of the European future are developing. A paper published several years ago saw the European Union as a rising superpower, "poised to overtake both the United States and Japan as the biggest trade and investment force in China".
Negative reactions in the Middle East An example of negative perception of 'Europe' as a unit came during the Jyllands-Posten Muhammad cartoons controversy. The al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades raided the European Union offices in Gaza, demanding apologies from Denmark and Norway. The protesting Palestinians evidently saw the cartoons as a 'European issue', more so than people in Europe itself, although the EU did ultimately issue a statement on the controversy.
The idea of 'Europe' A sense of European identity traditionally derives from the idea of a common European historical narrative. In turn, that is assumed to be the source of the most fundamental European values. Typically the 'common history' includes Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome, the feudalism of the Middle Ages, the Renaissance, the Age of Enlightenment, colonialism, 19th century Liberalism, and the World Wars . Although supporters of European integration often appeal to the 'common heritage', notably in discussions on the European Constitution, its exact nature is disputed. It does not create a uniform perspective on politics and current affairs: Europeans continue to disagree with each other, as they have done for thousands of years.
The European heritage and values, in this typical form, is very similar to the supposed common history and heritage of the Western World. Countries with a European-immigrant majority can equally claim it, and secular conservatives in the United States emphasise it strongly. Maurits van der Veen comments:A. Maurits van der Veen, 2002. DETERMINANTS OF EUROPEAN IDENTITY: A PRELIMINARY INVESTIGATION USING EUROBAROMETER DATA. "Some have argued that there is a shared European history and culture that all European share and whose particular contents and facts – from Charlemagne to Erasmus, from Napoleon to Hitler, from Dante to Shakespeare, etc. – help provide a shared consciousness. Of course, one may question to what degree this culture marks us as European rather than Western: more Australians and Americans probably read Shakespeare than do Germans or Italians, for example."
The 'common heritage' also includes some controversial elements, above all Christianity. The European Convention rejected inclusion of a reference in the proposed European Constitution to Christianity and/or God. The text finally adopted in the Preamble reads: DRAWING INSPIRATION from the cultural, religious and humanist inheritance of Europe, from which have developed the universal values of the inviolable and inalienable rights of the human person, freedom, democracy, equality and the rule of law,...
Pan-European identity in popular culture
The common cultural heritage is commonly seen in terms of high culture. Examples of a contemporary pan-European culture are limited to some forms of popular culture:
Football: as Europe's most popular sport, modern European footballers can be found plying their trade across the continent. Notable examples include France's Thierry Henry (Arsenal) and Patrick Vieira (Internazionale), England's David Beckham (Real Madrid), Germany's Michael Ballack (Chelsea) and Jens Lehmann (Arsenal), Italy's Gianluca Zambrotta (FC Barcelona) and the Netherlands' Arjen Robben (Chelsea)(Bayern Munich), Robin van Persie (Arsenal) and Ruud van Nistelrooy (Real Madrid). Top European clubs also regularly compete against each other in UEFA-run tournaments. Music: Eurodance and electronic dance music, including elements of house, trance, techno and europop, European themes with uptake amongst mainly younger people. European bands and artists who have enjoyed success across the continent over the last decade include Robbie Williams (British), Air and Daft Punk (French) and Aqua (Scandinavian). The Eurovision Song Contest is one of the oldest identifiably 'pan-European' elements in popular culture."Eurovision is something of a cultural rite in Europe." The contest is not run by the EU, but by European Broadcasting Union, and in fact it pre-dates the European Economic Community. It is also open to some non-European countries which are members of the EBU. Although it attracts a huge audience (hundreds of millions) and extensive media coverage, it is widely regarded as kitsch,From National Pride to Global Kitsch : the Eurovision Song Contest , "an exercise in kitsch" , "annual kitsch extravaganza" , "an expression of post-modern kitsch" , "50 years of kitsch" , "annual festival of kitsch pop" , "showcase of good-spirited kitsch" at least in western Europe. In eastern Europe it is taken more seriously, and participation is seen as a sign of 'belonging to Europe', and even as a preliminary step to accession to the EU."We are no longer knocking at Europe's door," declared the Estonian Prime Minister after his country's victory in 2001. "We are walking through it singing... The Turks saw their win in 2003 as a harbinger of entry into the EU, and after the Orange Revolution in Ukraine, tonight's competition is a powerful symbol of Viktor Yushchenko's pro-European inclinations." Oj, oj, oj! It's Europe in harmony. The Times, 21 May 2005. ""This contest is a serious step for Ukraine towards the EU," Deputy Prime Minister Mykola Tomenko said at the official opening of the competition." BBC, Ukrainian hosts' high hopes for Eurovision Electronic Arts Battlefield 2 introduced the 'Euro Force' booster pack. A fictive army modelled after a possible future version of Eufor fighting under the European Flag using European build weaponry such as the Eurofighter Typhoon
Deliberate attempts to use popular culture to promote identification with the EU have been controversial. In 1997, the European Commission distributed a comic strip titled The Raspberry Ice Cream War, aimed at children in schools. The EU office in London declined to distribute this in the UK, due to an expected unsympathetic reception for such views. Also see:
European teams in sport
Almost all sport in Europe is organised on either a national or sub-national basis. 'European teams' are rare, one example being the Ryder Cup, a Europe vs. United States golf tournament. There is a proposal to create a European Olympic Team. According to Eurobarometer surveys, only 5% of respondents think this would make them feel more of a 'European citizen'.Eurobarometer 251, p 45, .
European symbols
The European continent does not have any universally recognised pan-European symbols, yet the European Union and the Council of Europe provides Europe as such with the basic symbols that most nation-states bear. Such symbols are: A flag, the European flag – a symbol for most of Europe, being sponsored by the Council of Europe (and subsequently adopted by the EU), An anthem, Ode to Joy – as for the flag, this is a symbol for all Council of Europe members and also all EU member states, A "national day", Europe day (9 May) – as for the flag and the anthem, A single currency, the euro – the euro, if indeed it is a symbol of unity for all who use it as opposed to being adopted by practical or economic considerations, has been adopted by some countries outside of the EU, but not by all EU member states in the bloc, albeit those who have not adopted it are in the minority.
.EU domain name The .eu domain name extension was introduced in 2005 as a new symbol of European Union identity on the World Wide Web. The .eu domain's introduction campaign specifically uses the tagline "Your European Identity" . Registrants must be located within the European Union.
A European Army and Police? In nation-states the national armed forces serve both as a unifying factor in themselves, and as a focus of patriotism. This factor is absent in the EU: most member states are members of a military alliance, the NATO, which is not 'European' but Atlantic in character. The European Union Force was founded in 2003. The goal is to have a permanent 60,000 person rapid reaction force by 2008. However, because of concerns about national sovereignty, there is no pan-European army, no EU policy to create one, and no prospect of one in the immediate or medium-term future.