European Identity - Individual, Group and Society - HumanitarianNet

WHAT UNDERLIES EUROPEAN POLICIES? INSTITUTIONAL OBJECTIVES IN ... 105the concept, taking into consideration the different cultural environmentsin the attempt to build together a fairer world.Will Europe have left behind, in this context, and, at least, inrelation to institutional objectives, the colonial past for ever? WillEurope’s policies towards other initiatives mark a new and clearlyidentifiable approach? If this were the case, European policies wouldhave created a balance and an identity mark, but more importantly,these policies would have made a significant contribution to worldharmony.In any case, only two further steps are still requested: the voice ofEurope, institutional objectives in policies, its proclaimed style ofbehaving needs to grow stronger and clearer. Secondly, actions shouldbe planned and acted upon, guided by the objectives, as they indeeddo in good policy making.Higher EducationThe second line of analysis is that of Higher Education. Education,what is transmitted and passed on to future generations, is obviously acrucial issue in relation to identity.In the context of Higher Education, one of the most remarkableobservations is that the actors of these policies are clearly comingtogether to produce a significant impact on European Higher Educationand also on European identity. Education is one of the areas where theresponsibility rests with member states; the subsidiary role of DirectorateGeneral (former DG XXII), now Education and Culture, has always beenrecognised. However, what was set in motion by the actions andprogrammes fostered by this Directorate General went beyond themillion of ERASMUS students acquiring the experience of studying partof their degree in universities of at least two member states.These joint actions include developing joint curricula and jointdegrees: sharing teaching staff, ideas and financial resources; creatingand writing projects together in the Thematic Networks; and develop-