1.7.1 European citizenship The EU is an economic, juridical and, to an extent, political reality. But is it a public space in the sense of an arena in which groups and individuals vigorously exchange symbolic messages of different types? It would appear as if, while the public of most EU countries are willing to accept ever closer economic union (including a common currency and even political convergence), when it comes to historical memories, social organisation and cultural ideas (including religion), they are mostly
1.6.2 Education Education is obviously one of the crucial dimensions in any attempt to develop a future European identity or at least more understanding and convergence among Europeans. If the school made the nation, it should also be a key factor in promoting Europeanness. Observers of the school scene in Europe acknowledge the existence of a growing sentiment of interest for European themes (institutions, politics, peoples, languages). Furthermore, the EU-based exchange programmes have recognised the impor
1.4.3 Summary The process toward European unification was initiated by top political elites in France, Italy, Germany and the Benelux countries after the Second World War. New collective actors are progressively being engaged in European affairs, among them the Labour movement, regional movements and new social movements such as the environmentalism of groups like Greenpeace and Friends of the Earth. European elites, although engaged in a con
1.4.2 Unification and the EU With the development of the EU an arena for collective action has appeared. But, as we shall see in SubSection 1.4.3, it is rather limited and it cannot be compared to the public sphere of the member states. Although collective actors have reacted to the emergence of new European-based institutions, due to internal constraints not all are in the same position to make the best of the EU opportunities. According to Marks and McAdam (
1.4.1 Historical background European unification was begun by the social democratic and Christian democratic leaders of the Western European states who had fought each other during the Second World War. The idea was to create a community of states that would guarantee peace and prosperity. The process turned out to be long and arduous, particularly after the federalist failures of the Congress of the Hague (1949) and the European Defence Community (1953). The main emphasis was on economic co-operation, and the project w
1.3.2 Summary The shifting character of European geographical boundaries is illustrated by Turkey and the other twelve countries from Central and Eastern Europe which are currently negotiating access to the EU. The boundaries of Europe change depending on whether Europe is defined in terms of institutional structures, historical geography or observed patterns of social, economic and political interaction. Ex 1.3.1 Europe and the EU Is there a Europe beyond the EU? This is a question that becomes more and more difficult to answer. It is quite common for example to hear of such or such a country wishing to ‘join Europe’, when what is meant is that they wish to apply to join the EU. The criteria for joining the EU were laid down in the summit of Copenhagen, 21 and 22 June 1993. Candidates must have reached an institutional stability that guarantees democracy, legality, human rights, and the respect and prote 1.2.2 Summary The results of successive editions of the Eurobarometer show that in most EU countries only a very small percentage of people, around 5 per cent, declare having an exclusive European identity, while up to 50 per cent do not have any sense of European identity. European political identity is weak and there is a great variation across states. Except for third party materials and otherwise Introduction The problem of who, or what, are ‘Europeans’ is at the centre of many of the most acute political and social issues confronting contemporary Europe. Can a genuine European identity be constructed within Europe, and if so on what basis? This question is of even greater importance as the European Union expands and becomes ever more multicultural in character. This unit examines the ways in which European identities are – or are not – being forged across Europe. It assesses the var References Russia buries boat tragedy victims Mix business and beauty at the salon Bank Stress Tests: Spanish failures seen but Italy to pass Underwater U.S. homeowners assess options: Stay or walk away Hundreds rescued from migrant boat The art of the protest in Yemen Europe slams Ireland downgrade Fed chief's stern debt warning News Corp suit isolated to UK, pending more evidence: Coffee Arianna Huffington's key to happiness
July 13 - Victims of a boat accident in Russia's Volga river are buried in Kazan. Simon Hanna reports.
July 13 - As professional women have increasingly tight schedules, a growing number are mixing business with beauty and catching up on work while checking in with a stylist. Kimberley Lim reports
July 13 - Daiwa Capital Markets credit analyst Michael Symonds says some Spanish savings banks will fail the EU-wide stress tests, which will be released on Friday, but Italian banks are likely to pass.
July 13 - The White House says it's ramping up efforts to fix housing and with good reason— there are more American homeowners now under water on mortgages than at any time since the crisis began.
July 13 - Italian coastguard officials carry small children from a boat packed with migrants after the overcrowded vessel ran into trouble off the Italian island of Lampedusa. Nick Rowlands reports.
July 13 - On the sidelines of daily protests in Yemen -- women and children hold a craft exhibition to call for their own kinds of change. Deborah Lutterbeck reports.
July 13 - The European Commission has called Moody's latest downgrade of Ireland's credit rating "incomprehensible" as fears also grow over the stability of Italy's economy. Andrew Potter reports.
July 13 - U.S. Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke warned failure to lift the debt ceiling would throw the financial system into enormous disarray. He also said the Fed has more it can do to help the U.S. economy if needed. Bobbi Rebell reports.
July 13 - News Corp's hacking scandal took place in the UK and can only be sued in the U.S. if additional evidence against the American parent company is revealed, says Columbia law professor John Coffee.
July 6 - Arianna Huffington tells Atlantic's James Bennet and Reuters' Chrystia Freeland the secret to happiness - and education reform.
