Identity

The EUI professor examines Europe’s ongoing struggle over social values in times of rising Islamophobia and growing nostalgia for a Christian Europe.

The House of European History in Brussels has an unusual and complex task – that of Europeanising history.

An interview with sociologist and freelance political writer Dick Pels and future Member of European Parliament Florent Marcellesi from the Spanish Green party Equo, in which they examine the issues at stake when trying to rethink the emotional case for Europe.

There is a kind of nationalism in Europe that is not only progressive, but has the potential to reinforce European integration.

To what extent are the values we ascribe to Europe today rooted in religion?

In the aftermath of the Dutch EU-Ukraine Association Agreement referendum, doubts remain on why voters chose to vote as they did.What explains the result, what solutions are likely and what is the way ahead?

The conflicting messages of welcome displayed by the German government towards refugees is hindering integration processes, for the state, the refugees and the citizens. For the sake of all three, accepting the situation is the only way of moving forward.

Instead of bringing regional officials to Brussels, the EU needs to bring Brussels to the regions. Local and regional bodies need to debate EU issues at home. Heather Grabbe and Stefan Lehne propose a solution to narrow the distance between the EU and the individual.

Before investing excessive hope in radical participatory solutions we need to re-examine established beliefs about democracy and sustainability and their mutual relationship.

A Federal Europe cannot come about solely through disparaging national identity. Rather, a Federal Europe needs to be built based around concepts that are understandable to citizens: democratic accountability, transparency and a refrain from simple centralisation.