European Identity - Individual, Group and Society - HumanitarianNet

20 EUROPEAN IDENTITY. INDIVIDUAL, GROUP AND SOCIETYperspective, but rather as agents which determine the possibilities ofan education on such identity. European Identity does not exist, but wehave to move towards it critically and the role schools play in thisrespect is very important. Lastly, we have to face the risk of how totackle the possible “loss of solidarities” among the new generations inour countries, analyzing everyday knowledge and applying strategiesleading to awareness and attitude change.Promotion of integration models in recipient countriesFor the promotion of integration models in recipient countries, inwhich each culture maintains its own idiosyncrasy, the development ofan education articulating plural citizenship and the introduction of theconcepts of “countersocialisation” and “common good” are proposed. Insection 6, Profesor Del Palacio refers to some aspects of this proposal.In the chapter entitled Dilemmas and Tasks in the Formation ofEducation-based Professionals Regarding the Issues of EuropeanCitizenship and European Identity, Alistair Ross presents the studycarried out by the Socrates Thematic Network CICE (“Children´sIdentity and Citizenship in Europe”) of the European Commission, anetwork made up of twenty-nine European states and ninetyUniversities, to train educators in the fields of citizenship and EuropeanIdentity. He considers the tensions and issues that have emerged incontemporary Europe around the idea of identity —individual identityand group identity (or ‘citizenship’). In particular, he examines thechallenges that these present to the education-based professionals: thepeople who are responsible for the development of children’s andyoung people’s sense of individuality and their skills and understandingof participation in society. He also considers at what ages citizenshipeducation should take place, and who should be responsible for this.He also enters into some discussion regarding what should be taughtand how, given the rapid social and political changes that are occurringin Europe. Finally, a set of key directions and issues for educators areidentified, which set an agenda for development.Education on Multireligious and Multiethnic “Acknowledgement” inRelation to the Construction of EuropeDeliberations about both cultural diversity and common culturalheritage have been on the agenda of the EU since its establishment.