European Identity - Individual, Group and Society - HumanitarianNet

100 EUROPEAN IDENTITY. INDIVIDUAL, GROUP AND SOCIETYdeveloped example of integration faces unprecedented processes ofchange. It is crucial that European identity will not be perceived as athreat to other identities but a meeting point, a space where they allfind their place.Simultaneously, in March 2002 (and obviously against thebackground of the events of September 11 th ), the Commissionlaunched a major conference on the topic of “dialogue betweencultures and peoples”. In the words of Romano Prodi, it was not onlyan idea but an agenda for action for peoples on the Mediterraneanshores to develop harmonious relations as neighbours, based onmutual understanding, respect and fairness.Identity and intercultural dialogue are mutually related and, whenthey are regarded from the perspective of education, they make usfocus on what is transmitted in relation to concepts, values and stylesof life. These can have a strong impact on the root of the social fabricand its future.Enlargement, migration, awareness of local identities, need forintercultural dialogue outside Europe. These are not the only challengesfor European identity but they certainly are significant challenges.What are the policies that relate to these crucial challenges? And,which are the institutional objectives in trying to create a strongEuropean identity while the frontiers move further and further? Howcould migrants become full European citizens through policies ofintegration and social cohesion that could respect diversity and makethe richness of variety emerge? How to create a European identity andkeep at the same time multiple belongings including country, region,religion or cultural groups? And, fourthly, how to develop the sense ofbelonging and reinforce at the same time intercultural dialogue withother regions in a search for world harmony and understanding?Institutional objectives in European policiesWe were asked for a reflection on policies —the constructed set ofactions designed to make shared visions into common strategy: acommon strategy that takes them forward to concrete, tangible andhistoric accomplishments 1 .This reflection is not only of current importance but is vital in orderto transmit the idea that identities are constructed and deconstructed,1E. Durkheim, E. (1982) Las Formas Elementales de la Vida Religiosa, Madrid,p. 394.