The question of what it means to be “European” comes up regularly on Debating Europe. In the past, we’ve debated whether a common European identity is possible, whether you feel European, and what EU citizenship means to you. These are all important questions, and your opinion on almost every topic we cover – from immigration, to Eurozone bailouts, to relations with Russia – will be informed by what “Europeanness” means to you (and that’s equally true for our non-European readers).
Eurosceptics often point to the lack of a “European demos” as a fundamental flaw in the project of European integration, whereas pro-Europeans argue that Europe’s common identity is based on common values and a shared way of life.
But what are European values? Is liberal democracy a shared European value? When the Prime Minister of Hungary can say that liberal democracy has failed and that he intends to build an “illiberal state”, it’s difficult to see how that can be the case.
What about human rights? In a 2012 Eurostat poll (pdf), this was the value that most people identified as being shared across Europe. Yet, as the recent bitter row over British membership of the European Convention on Human Rights illustrates, there is little agreement as to exactly what “human rights” entail in practice and how they should be enforced.
We had a comment from Neil that condemned the failure to build a strong, common EU identity to match the progress made in European economic and political integration:
Although we are securing EU socio-political and economic integration, we have lost out on shaping the concept of an EU identity, as well as having lost out on our national identities. Both the “EU Super State” concept and nationalistic viewpoints seem to be two polar opposites that have no middle ground. This has happened because I believe we have stopped building a national mainstream heritage that identifies and fits into our EU identity.
To get a reaction, we took Neil’s comment to Jo Leinen, a German social democratic MEP and President of the European Movement International, an organisation that campaigns for stronger European integration.
Jo Leinen argues that there is a “European way of life”, based on a common European social model (although there are variations from country to country). He goes on to identify the core values of solidarity, equality, and inclusivity as being fundamental to this way of life. We’ve put together an infographic below with some of the relevant polling by Eurobarometer on this issue. Interestingly, when asked what contributes most to their sense of community with other Europeans, more people (27%) cite culture than economy (24%). Also of note: a majority of people polled (51%) said they see themselves as having both a national and a European identity (in that order). You can click on the image below to enlarge the infographic.
What does it mean to be European? Is European identity about shared values and a shared way of life? Or is Europe just an arbitrary name on a map, much less important than national and individual identities? Let us know your thoughts and comments in the form below, and we’ll take them to policy-makers and experts for their reactions!
I think that being European means sharing common values. Most important is democracy, freedom of speech.
These things we take for granted are the foundations of a common European identity.
Freedom of movement within the EU is a specific right reinforcing that identity.
Those adamant values need to be protected against those who want to deconstruct them.
Paul X
You need to add “of Workers” to your freedom of movement statement
That is what the fundamental right was and it is an important distinction which seems to be getting conveniently ignored these days by the Euro-fanatics
Hugo Oliveira
Spanish people agree with the freedom of speech, and i am glad to share values with all non “under-crysis” countries in Europe. Values, educational system, Corruption taks forces, Justice system and all that makes Europe a wonderfull place to live in.
PG
Freedom of speech is one thing , being able to influence politicians and their decisions is another . Politicians listen more the financial and business sectors than to voters who elect them , and the EU itself is far from being democratic with appointed officials .
Anne Bracher
Freedom of movement within the EU but not simply freedom of movement? So you see Europe as distinct from the rest of the world but not nation-states as distinct within themselves? Europe is Europe – the EU is quite a different animal, it may be advisable to absorb the distinction while you still can.
stealing the natural resources in third countries… do you know there is more food coming from africa to EU than the food we send to africa from EU?… Being European means being sorrounded by colors and plasmas and speacking about economy without having worked hard in your life while despreciating ancient culutres that still have conection with real life! Stealing their houses for the benefit of big corporations.. etc… etc… this is what means for me being european nowadays!
david keith (unforgiven)
You re right!
Kostas
Unfortunately all western, european, modern, developed and strong countries have built their strengths by plundering the rest of the world.
Jaume you have highlighted very well the concerns with the direction that the Eu appears to taking and which concerns even the most pro EU citizens. The liberal economy must also have rules to stabilize it and equally the EU Courts and Justice systems have been very quiet on some of the worst acts of bullying by some countries towards others within the EU and many of those heading up Europe’s institutions coughing contemptiously on democratic values. If we cannot build a strong sense of ethics within the EU, it is unsurprising that a number of EU countries and the Union as a whole can be said to be guilty of appalling Neo-Colonialism else where.
Martin Kietsch
But in terms of capital, it is the opposite. So much financial and physical help and so much investments are being sent to Africa. Not much of it is utilised properly there unfortunately.
Cheryl Sly
you make some very good points here.
Brian
Jealosy of success is a terrible hatred that you should erase from your mindset
Adrian
Speak for yourself!
In my country we work our asses off to pay for your rich western ass!
European shared values are probably common market, democracy and freedom and mobility. Apart from that one can discuss other democratic elements like transparency or the like. Personally, democracy and mobility as well as the achievement of peace across the EU are most important.
Jan
Just a short comment on the infographics, I thought United in Diversity would be a general slogan for federalism?
And finally with the European identity does it make more sense to speak of primary and secondary identities to give them a ranking, but I would be among the 2% that say European :)
João Frazão
Firstly, I’d be interested in hearing some of the explanations of nation building by some of the comments authors here, since I’ve already read things such as: ‘you don’t build a nation in half a century’ (well, Germany and Italy did it) or ‘Europe is just a geography name and there’s nothing as shared values’ (yes, tell that to Renaissance).
I’m not imposing you an identity upon your desired one. Rather, I think the European identity is complementar to the national one. Moreover, is not choice free. You are European, not only because you were born in the mainland, but also due to hundreds of centuries of cultural matrix and some fast forward decades where the common market or, more recently, the Erasmus highlighted being European.
For me, being European is not something you can run from. Of course there are cultural divides, e.g. West/East, North/South, UK/Continent. Yet, in the US, you can also find these cultural divides: West/East coast, North/South. These are a product, rather of axiological disparities, geographical certainty.
look at the eyes of this girl… do you see the emotion in her? is she listening to a liberal speach? Is she thinking she will get rich? To do a hard work to increase her salary even if she hast to go above other people’s life…
well to be honest Jaume, it is such a predictable picture of a starry eyed young one with an EU flag painted on her cheek and the reply to Neil from the German (was he an MEP? I can’t scroll back up), was hardly inspiring. Europe has a long way to go before it can federalize, and this must be by consent. Why does the image of the young girl not speak to me, well I am a lot older than she is, for starters, I have adult children, I am divorced and to be honest Europe’s wonderful convention on Human Rights seemed to ignore mine. Equally before we can have federalization, we need to have a degree of equity between States in relation to economy, welfare, proper cooperation regarding tax and pension and health insurance, there needs to be equity in levels of transparency, consumer power, and accessibility. Equally Europe has been very partisan in how and whom it arm wrenches to comply with directives. Why is it that Southern Europe has the life sucked out of it through contortionate Bureaucracy which is unhelpful (that is not to say that some of the systems and rules should be thrown out), its tax systems kill off enterprise and a whole caste of professionals are protected by legislation and fixing of salaries, making their services both expensive and with an absence of responsibility for the work done. If Europe now fined every single one of these, then they would soon change their tune. Yet it doesn’t. Equally how can we have federalization when we already see how the Euro has caused concern (not the currency, ) but rather the absence of proper tensions and relationships and the reporting in mainstream national media thereof, between finance, justice, parliament and commission. Before marching ahead, let’s take a pause and get this right. I do feel European but I also feel quite Italian, and Irish and English as these are the three countries which are responsible for forming me as a person, but I feel that I have less and less in common with this lovely, and very pretty mittel european young lady.
Adrian
@Rosy in other words never.
The ECB ran a study that said south and eastern Europe will not reach parity with western Europe by 2060.
So..yeah…
I am British. European is just a racial type , nothing more and as far as i am concerned there is no such thing as a European identity ,. And to answer the questions……European identity means Nothing at all to me and Yes Europe is just a name on a map.
Danica
David, you are quite ignorant. Please, go read something and get your facts straight, and than come back and make a comment.
Dave Ratters
So “Danica” – because David Fuzzey does not feel that European means anything to him – he is ignorant and should stop posting until he learns to feel the same as you? You could better be labelled ignorant; but I think one of last centuries description of “facist” is more appropriate – ie. “believe what I believe – or else”
Patricia
Actually, Dave Ratters, I think David Fuzzey might want to check on his facts as, Danica states. European is definately not “a racial type”… and here is where things start geting a little fascist… Reading Danica’s comment, I do not have the impression she necessarily wants him to be of the same opinion.
DaveRatters
If you really want to convince people to have some sort of shared set of values – telling them they are ignorant would seem to me to be the least likely to entice them to change their views. You can continue as you will – but don’t expect anything other than resistance to such an approach – the exact opposite of what I expect you would like to happen. A better approach would perhaps have been to explain your views and what you think the definition of european is. Carry on doing what you are doing if you want to destroy any chance of some common identity.
Stephen Pockley
I am British and British only.Also you can stick your EU too,get us OUT.
Alessandro Mogavero
If you don’t believe in EU identity you should indeed vote to leave. However European is not just a racial type (very racist way to see from my point of view), Europe has a common millenarian history. We have much more in common that you think.
Most of us use the same alphabet, our languages are all coming from the same main branch (Indo-Europeans), English for instance has 60% of words deriving from Latin. Policies in Europe are very similar, we all have free public health systems, welfare and education.
George Yiannitsiotis
As Mr Allessandro Mogavero points, Europeans have much in common.
1. A common root in their culture, namely the Ancient Greek civilization and its Latin byproduct as well the Greek alphabet and its “children”, the Latin and Cyrilic ones
2. Many Greek and Latin words that can be traced to more than 80% extent in most modern European languages (esp. Engilish, French, German, all the latinogenous ones, namely Spanish, Portugese, Romanian, as well as the ones of Slavian origin, namely Russian, Bulgarian, Serbocroatic, Slovenian, Czech, Slovakian, Polish…)
3. Common values, especially the tripolar Liberte-Egalite-Fraternite of the French Revolution (Liberty, Egality, Fraternity) and, of course, Democracy (4 words, 3 of Latin and 1 of Greek origin – 4 notions of ancient Greek civilization)
4. However, the only mistake in Mr ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΣ (Alexandros – Alessandro in Italian) Mogavero’s approach, is the confusion between EUROPE and the “EU”. The “EU” has divorced itself from EUROPE the very moment it opted for the salvation of the banking system instead of the Citizens of Europe back in May 2010 (don’t put the blame on the PIIGS please; it is a fallacy of the euro-structure).
Taking all the above thoughts into account, as well as the prosperity that brought to your country the built-up of the rule of (democratically adopted) law (an ancient Greek advice since Solon and Cleisthenes established the 1st known democratic regime in Athens, 5th century BC), you may decide on your future as a free Citizen of a sovereign country. I can’t state the same regarding myself (a debt-slave, sharing a common future with our Italian partner in this short discussion should the euro not be modified to accomodate the needs of southern-peripheral eurozone countries, ceasing to be a projection of the German domestic monetary order on the rest of the eurozone)
it means our will for a united democratic Europe for prosperity and peace is being used to turn it to a liberal undemocratic area with its “money lords” sucking the workers’ blood as in the deepest hours of monarchy, making their own laws and money to steal our citizens rights and wealths , which will lead to some more revolutions and eventually the Union to be broken again .
There is no such a thing like European identity. We are consolidated nations here. Only in Russia some 180 nations have been stripped of their natural identity and offered the Russian one. Which actually is artificial in itself, the so called “Russians” are a Finnic-Mongoloid hybrid people known for centuries as Muskovites, Moskals, Muscali. No wonder that the term was brought to new semantics by Barroso, a well known Maoist.
Paul X
“Is European identity about shared values and a shared way of life?”
There is no EU identity and there never will be
The UK has more shared values with the US than most EU countries
Eastern EU countries have more shared values with Russia then central Europe
Southern EU countries have more shared values with North Africa
Turkey has more shared value with the Middle East
The EU is where all these vastly different cultures collide so just which of the externally influenced “ways of life” should the EU adopt as its own?
Tarquin Farquhar
@Paul X
Well said!
Josephine Burden
Imagine for a moment that Europe is a way of bringing all those alliances to one table
Adrian
Imagine knowing so little about eastern Europe lol…
@Debby Teusink
A bit of a contradictory sentence BTW.
Xeno
I think that seeing ourselves primarly as Europeans locks us between whites-christians countries, leading us to war against the rest of the world (especially the arab world today, though some european countries have strong bonds with theses states).
I hope that someday my country will leave this racist organisation called “European Union”, will “return” to the World and will be able to share and collaborate on any specific topic with any country, in accordance with the interest of its people.
The term ‘European’ is used to attempt to convince the people of Europe they are somehow the same within the fake nation that is the EU while at the same time being distinct but not nationalist, clearly an idiotic position..
True nations (with real nationalities) take generations to form & a political & federalist dogma from the last century for problems of the 1950’s is never going to achieve nationhood.
Joao
Well said! It won’t. We are never going to achieve nationhood especially because the majority of the people of Europe don’t want it! No matter how the media and your EU puppets want to put it, if referendums are done, the results will be clear as water.
Peace, a common culture although the differences, and a way for a united and political Europe. I am a citizen of the European Union before being a french citizen , because we ‘ve a common destiny since the beginning on the Eu building, although in this dire time, europscepticism seems to be a model. Eu has done more in 60 years than the many centurys torn between few years of peace and the rest of war. We must’nt forget the past and the reason of the fondation of european contruction in the early 1950’s, according to the foundler of this project as Schuman and others.
Tarquin Farquhar
@Gaëtan Mellinger
FTR, the EU has NOT existed for 60 years.
BTW, the EU’s imperialist expansions are now a destabilizing force in Europe.
DaveRatters
Until 1973 there was only 6 members of the EEC (not EU back then) – it’s a falsehood that the EU has existed for a long time in any significant size. It has not kept the peace – it has never been able to keep the peace. NATO and the threat of the Warsaw pact + the fear of nuclear war has kept the peace. Claiming otherwise is just baseless propaganda – otherwise known as lies.
We have a multitude of languages and cultures, which will continue to keep european identity a dream of federalists for many generations. There is no common european identity – and thank goodness for that. Forcing it down our throats is likely to backfire in a viloent way. Stop it – stop trying to dictate to us – let it happen naturally. The first method to do this is to stop the senseless waste and corruption endemic in the eu structures – fair pay for eu employees – stop the Brussels-Strasbourg toing and froing to appease the French, make the commission accountable to the people, make the parliament have power to create and stop laws (not just by will of the commission).
Means nothing for the majority of us. Europe is (still) not a country. Not even close. The economic union is not enough to create a nation. New techs will provide better tools of communication, like instant language translation, which will allow the communication between people talking different languages. The strong countries of europe need to control the weak ones. Even tho, socialism is killing europe, is unsustainable, and demagogy (always called democrcy) is clearly, clearly overrated and a bit useless in decision making, so definitely there’s some problems to be fixed in the union before talking about nation.
Joao
“The strong countries of europe need to control the weak ones.” Another dangerous pseudo-thinker…… I hope you never go to politics.
I consider myself a European citizen first and a Portuguese citizen second. I dont have any particular allegiance to a flag or a piece of land. The place that offers me the best living condition s is what matters.
Tarquin Farquhar
@Antonio Pedro Bernarda
If I was Portuguese I would feel the same too.
Joao
António, the first two sentences are just contradictory. But I’m not surprise… after the stupidity of the first one……
My sense of being European is purely cultural. It will never be political. In that sense I am proud to be a part of a continent that is so rich in culture, diversity, linguistics, cuisine, history and peoples.
Everything i work, live, travel go on holiday in Europe.
eleni chryssomalakou
Freedom, common values, opportunity to move and act in a larger geographical, political and economic space, but first of all avoidance of another great war .Maintaining peace is an existential need for Europe and it is best served by EU.
The EU must be fundamentally reformed if it is to persist.
To be considered a European we must all share the same language (English of course) and we must ALL adopt a Northern EU ethos as opposed to the discredited Club Med EU ethos. Simples!
EU reform- proactive
@ Gastone Losio
Your link is very comprehensive, very interesting, and unfortunately too much Italian to follow & understand to say- “I can agree”- but congratulation for a sterling effort! It would take time to filter through & catch up! Thank you!
If it should seriously assist to reinvent Europe- not only Italy- please offer your web page in at least the next 3-4 major European official languages, with a simple abridged version highlighting the principles of such “federal idea” of the “Homelands of Europe” & about “Die Neue Mitte”- which was openly discussed before Maastricht & Lisbon was signed. Was such an idea ever seriously contemplated on open political forums before the EEC was remodeled into the EU?
I appreciated to find a reference of the myth of “Europe and Zeus” and names of all past great European Statesmen- but do question how names like Clinton, Blair, Schroeder, Berlusconi figure in the mix- to allay fears of an early attempt to further the school of extreme American neo-Liberalism/global domination by capital?
Here is one of several papers what was discussed in 1999:
Europe is one nation, all who say the contrary fail to understand what nationality really is.
Literature and philosophy have spread throughout Europe without knowing of borders, one idea influencing the others, not to mention european science!
Borders in Europe have always been incredibly fragile. States would easily conquer new regions, just to loose some itself after a decade or so. In the history of Europe one family could easily have been italian, austrian and french throughout the centuries; or french, german and belgian.
National divides in Europe are not anything natural or given (they only have an age of 2 centuries, compare it with the millennia-long history of our continent!), they are something YOU yourself choose to identify with.
I choose to remember that european history is one of multiculturalism, it has been from the roman empire to the start of WWI, until the TRAGIC insurgence of nationalism that ultimately led us to two world wars and millions of deads, why? because national pride.
Let’s all delete together that error of history.
Cultural differences like religion and language enrich us, they should never be used as reasons to tear apart the one european identity that was born with the first european civilization, not in the 20th century as someone wants you to believe.
Europe is ONE, it has always been and always will be.
Tarquin Farquhar
@Gianluca Weibling Galassini
Please note that NOT ALL cultural differences ‘enrich us’, egs:
Napoleonic Code.
FGM.
Mafia.
Language – who needs to sexualise inanimate objects?
Nepotism.
…
DaveRatters
Europe is not one nation – wake up! Only those seeking to extract money from it think this.
You are the one to fail to understand what a nation is – a nation is bound together by it’s common heritage – whet does europe have as a common heritage?
Joao
Two years later it’s just funny to read your post. I guess your nation failed you widely. It was so obvious, that’s the funny part.
Aww, poor David is upset. I wurth iz little feelings.
Isabel Mendes
I am a European citizen and I do not consider myself with a specific nationality. European identity exist, of course it did not exist for all who prefer to stay at their comfortable ignorance.
To be European means to support the Nazi who run Ukraine in our days and to support the EU who supports ISIS. It also means to stand behind the free trade agreements between the EU and USA whereby corporations will rule over any EU government and the people will be just serfs. We will finally live again under feudalism or worse.
Meaning has most to do with definitions. And, being European is, at least if YOU, in terms of biologically existing human being were born and raised by mothers and fathers, whose citizenship is belonging to with nationality and ancestry of E.U. states. Not elsewhere but E.U.
Antonio Napoletano
To be european means to have a common currency, common taxes, common public debt, eurobond, common army, same rights and same opportunity in all states of Europe, the same lenguage. At the moment this doesn’t exist. I feel Italian, not european, and if Europe won’t take strong decisions on these themes, Europe will be remembered only like a beautiful tale.
It’s mean to search better way of life for us and lead the world on the way of democracy ; refuse domination of USA, China or others ; protect environnement =) !
Protect and stimulate personal identity and diversity, but make sure that in the Union we are paying the same taxes and recieve the same services.
catherine benning
It means to me being controlled by American Imperialism. And wishing the proletariat understood this reality. There is a newspaper article in the Independent today that explains it. Except they tell you we, the British, not Europe, are desperately trying to reduce our debt for the first world war, yet, throughout the entire article they don’t say who it is we got the loan, we are still paying, from. How odd is that?
Please remember that it was NATO & the UN that has kept peace in Europe, your EU had nothing to do with it.
catherine benning
Here is a little update for you about war and NATO, who, from your point of view, has kept the peace. ROTFWL
This list goes back some long way, but if you scroll down to WW1 and take it from there you will see the US and its off Shoot, NATO, is simply a war machine that cannot get enough business without creating the the catalyst for its services. Which, as war is a nice money maker for those who supply the arms, etc., is not a big surprise it.
The tone of posts that come here from US military men and propaganda machines are so obvious they really ought to change their tactics. Regimented sticks out like a sore thumb. And banging the same wordage drum reveals a sheet to read from.
And how European ‘German’ sponsors are said to think about this run on war games. Of course the British love to be in there with it no matter who is in power. They, too, like the spin offs it gives.
To Bosniaks (from Bosnia and Herzegovina), it means being the bridge between the East and the West. They are a part of Western civilisation by genetics and culture, but they embrace Islam as their religion.
Jan Vannieuwkerke
Those parts of Europe where mediëval cathedrals were built define the outer limits of Europe. The cathedrals were the spiritual pinnacle of western civilisation. But the Plague stopped spiritual progress and led Europe choose the path of materialism and “progress”. This resulted in big avances in technology and wealth but also in wars and exploitation. Europe should not be proud of itself beause it started most wars, colonialism and rising inequality!Now that other continents let go their own spiritual traditions by taking over western materialistic “civilisation” , living conditions and the envirnnement are rapidly declining. It is therefore time that Europe starts a new era, this time one of spiritual progress and true global solidarity ( and I don’t mean socialism or communism). Today, the EU is not based on solidarity, each country tries to get more money out of it than investin it. Northern countries blame the Southern and viceversa. This cannot last and I believe some countries will leave the EU. People crave for spirituality and real democracy and solidarity. They are waiting for things to change. It will probably take a new financial crisis or a pandemic situation before people realise that things will have to change and I hope that Europe will lead the necessary transition. So I believe that Europe has the creativity and the will to bring HOPE to mankind. And I don’t believe that change will come from existing religions that at this moment are everything but spiritual and will defend the present situation they are comfortable with.
Tarquin Farquhar
@Jan Vannieuwkerke
Many Northern countries gave money for the purposes of SOLICHARITY to some of the Southern EU nations BUT they lied and robbed the Northern EU net contributing nations – hence the reticence on the part of the Northern EU net contributors towards some of the perfidious Club Med nations.
I am Rumanian and I live in 4 country eu …I feel European…. at start I feel sheet in all country but little and little I adapted ….now I live in a Nordic country …I love Europe is a beautiful continent a very different culture and nice….
Gianluca above has a strong point. Excessive nationalism has created havoc and will do so in future. Just look at all present and historical ubernationalistic countries.
While I’m proud of my national heritage, I’m also proud of Europe and being a European. In that sense, you might call it a kind of double nationality.
Of course the EU doesn’t work perfectly. What would you expect when even this thread with no more than about 50 comments so far includes a high percentage of very hostile people. EU needs reform, sure, but the idea of Dante Alighieri (who lived at the turn of the 13th and 14th centuries) “political unity is the solution to war” shows amazing far-sightedness.
If it wasn’t for the EU, you couldn’t study abroad, go to live abroad, do business across borders or participate in decisions affecting all of us at all as easily as you do now.
It would be nice to get inside the heads of the Eurohaters: what do they actually want? Everybody to coop up in their plot of land and point guns at everybody else? Sorry guys, that was tried already and it didn’t work.
If going to Spain I maybe have to explain that I am a german living in Sweden, but if I go to China (for example) I definitely am an EUROPEAN!
Patricia
It means that I can travel freely and work in different countries in the EU, and I have used this right 5 times. Grew up in Germany, studied in the UK, took a year off in Italy, worked in Belgium and now live in France. It means that I live in a place that has been peaceful for many decades now. It means that I grew up with democratic values, and have a rich and diverse cultural background. … I wish more people could remember what it was like, just 30 odd years ago.
United are we strong and the only way to hold up against the kapitalism of the day. Also to defend the social security that we have we need to act as one or we will lose the battle and details back to the unsecurety of the all days.
Unity means that you share same values same identity and you are part of multicultural community. This for me is the same as you are sharing the country, that you are living in with people from different parts of the world or originating of an ethnic minority. European is exactly that, to share the knowledge, information, culture, legal base, economics, rights, obligations and freedom of any kind with unique people originating from different nationalities. You are European as part of a great history and cultural heritage. This union now has people from different civilizations like Thracian, Celtic,German, Roman etc. This also is a responsibility to the next generations to sustain this history and cultures.
On the other hand to be European means to be part of bigger form of a public entity with the same priorities and same political interests. This entity has the most advanced legislation which unites people and is above the national legislation of each member state. It gives different opportunities for each sphere of our life and most of all it connects the member states through economics, freedom of movement of capitals and people. It connects through regulations for a new level of common law for competition, fiscal politics etc. Still we don’t have active common legislation regarding tax politics.
I am proud to be European!
Mozart, Elgar, Turner, Goya, Lennon, Shakespeare, Goethe, Chaucer, Dante, Sibelius, Grieg, Rembrandt, Caravaggio, Dryden, Blake, John Ball, Milton, Bartok, Tolstoy, Ibsen, Kropotkin, Winstanley, Paine, Foucault, Wollstonecraft, Dostoevsky … The list of people who make me feel European could continue for a very long time
DO NOT put British people in this list of names for being European.We are not European we are British and British only.Thank You.
Natalie
Europe is having the opportunity to live in different countries while feeling as protected and as free as in the origin country. It is considering different approaches based on different experiences to deal with European problems. It is sharing values and wishes for a common future while appreciating the national diversity. Europe is a dream come true for past generations and a chance we should use and profit from everyday. Whether it’s France, Poland, Germany or the Czech Republic – for me Europe is home.
Democracy, liberty, equality, solidarity, celebration of the individual, human rights, non-discrimination on the basis of gender, religion, beliefs, origin, sexual orientation, the richest and most influential cultural heritage and the most vibrant cultural scenes nowadays – from Warsaw to Rotterdam and from Athens to Tallinn, Europe is just awesome and Europeans too.
Not european and never we be. British by birth, English by the grace of God.
Europe is ok to visit but I’m glad I don’t live there
Anna
Sorry Matt, but weather you like it or not, even with Brexit, Britain is still geographically part of Europe. What continent is it part of then- Asia, Africa? South America? Of course you have the right to identify yourself as British first, but (politics aside) why be ashamed to be part of the most culturally rich and amazing place on earth? Europe isn’t all the same anyway, there may definitely be some similarities between us but it is made up of a diverse range of cultures and languages.
Europe must be one country, one people and one voice to the other countries. It was with a change like this that the United States is the country that exists today. 200 years ago didn’t exist americans, but Newyorkerns, Southerns, Texans, Californians, etc. When they decided to be together they grew up united.
Dont ask to italian people…. they are very angry and next year will be a revolution. :)
EU reform- proactive
The European identity is about inherited values evolved and passed on over its historic but turbulent history- starting with Zeus as the first immigrant bringing his princess Europe to our shores and creating unbelievable achievements thereafter!
It seems, it ended in an unfortunate unhappily married continent- by an arranged marriage with the EU- dictated by some architects & its present manipulated political system.
This poll will have little value since different generations have/had different experiences and therefore different opinions. The age group 15-80 years represents ~66% of the total & includes ~three generations! The 24 year group was just born when the Berlin wall fell in 1989 and the 50 year group when JFK said “Ich bin ein Berliner” in 1963 and not- I am an EU fan!
First my countries nationality, than an European continental, than……………………… EU as what- what? No, no- waiting for better!
Luca
I actually feel European.
This does not mean I am naively happy of the EU or not disappointed about many policies.
But I think nowadays the most important thing is having the willing to be an European. Because EU integration is on its way, and, as history teaches us, it takes time to build up a shared identity.
I’m just imagining the EU in the long term, as a future emblem of culture, respect and wisdom.
Please, critic strongly the EU, but do it constructively. Take a look back at the history, and be positive, we passed very worse periods. Be proactive, be united.
DaveRatters
I agree that reform is necessary – it’s one of the main reasons there is such a negative view of the eu, but to force through more integration when it’s obvious the people don’t want it is a grave error, especially given the distrust of the eu and it’s far too many and various corrupt institutions
To be European means to give up old crazy obsessions with culture , nation , language , religion , borders , history and mad fighting with all neighbors . To be European means for the greatest percentage of EU citizens : peace , human rights , democracy , equality , The rule of law : https://www.google.com/url? sa=t&rct=j&q&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CDMQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fec.europa.eu%2Fpublic_opinion%2Farchives%2Feb%2Feb66%2Feb66_highlights_en.pdf&ei=obdeU4C9NsjUtAbc2IHgBA&usg=AFQjCNGa4J66iXzCVSBU192oM4Qv_TkQgQ&sig2=mwFVYVieG89Dq97f1LDTfA&bvm=bv.65397613%2Cd.Yms
?? be european ? what for ? europe is a union , who blackmails , who destroys nations , is a war of the south against north. NO i dont like to be one of them. Europe is the 4rth Reich .
I’m actually proud and happy to be European. It means I share a history and culture that is thousands of years old, and has brought about some of the highest ideals in human history. It means that I recognize the right of every person’s dignity and the right of every person to express their opinion in freedom. It means I also am honest enough to see historical failures, and with wisdom learn from those failures and advocate for a better way.
I’m actually proud and happy to be European. It means I share a history and culture that is thousands of years old, and has brought about some of the highest ideals in human history. It means that I recognize the right of every person’s dignity and the right of every person to express their opinion in freedom. It means I also am honest enough to see historical failures, and with wisdom learn from those failures and advocate for a better way.
Paying high taxes, being unemployed or working for very little money!
Tarquin Farquhar
@Theodoros Petriotis
Please add enslavers [due to lax border control].
Please add smugglers [due to lax border control].
Corruption [due to ‘bias’ in some Club Med countries].
‘Business Before Beings’ [due to EU business-centric laws].
Yvetta
But all of these things have been going on before the EU was even conceived as an idea, Tarquin and, actually, the further back in the past you look the more so. It would seem your problem is with human nature…
Tarquin Farquhar
@Yvetta
PLEASE read the forum topic before posting, otherwise you [AS IN THIS CASE] will appear FOOLISH!
Yvetta
I was responding to you, Tarquin, and not the forum question…foolish?
Tarquin Farquhar
@Yvetta
You clearly responded to me BUT I say again please READ the forum question. You’ll find that my points about what it means to be ‘European’ still stand.
Yvetta
The purpose of the debate is so that people can respond to each other, you silly fool…If you can’t deal with the responses get off the website!
Its a financial unity. There is nothing to feel european. I feel more a world citizen respecting his roots. Europe is a financial unity which can only be saluted but his little to do with identity
I’m not proud to be european. I’m not proud of an union who sacrifies democracy in name of the inflation and currency stability, who sacrifies thousands of people in name of free market, that’s a hell,that’s horrible and I’m sad you still didn’t realize it, because of course pourness hasn’t got to you.
yet.
Tarquin Farquhar
@Mirko Celii
Unfortunately, much of what you posted is TRUE.
Being European should mean the share of values like democracy, equality, acceptance, respect for the Human rights, ……however, the economic crisis has been putting all this at risk. Those values were like a “cloud” that has been vanishing slowly : there is a visible gap between north and south Europe, the countries policies promote inequality, poverty, break of the Human rights and unfortunately we dont foresee an immediate will to change this . We need a change of paradigm, a new way of seeing things that respect Humankind and our planet . We need “men of good Will”, “real politicians”.
Being free, building a new world and ready to get rid of the old countries and their religions source of most of the world’s pain for thousands of years asap…. Terminating France England Roumania, Scotland, Italy Germany, Poland etc building a region-based still boarder free european society hopefully on a less pyramidal system than now and reconquering the incapable (those who like to fight) parts (or ex colonies) of the world to end endless constant news reports about the same thing… accepting differences of culture and language but not caring about them anyway cos you do have to move forward sometimes… and destroying nationalism patriotism pride of nations… in brief the stupid educational conditionning people have accepted into their lives through laziness and stupidity which are terrible reasons… seriously… fighting for a land which you’re taxed on..(were you ever anywhere at home???) ….voting for someone else than yourself… ???? first form of procrastination!!! You don’t vote to get something done… you just do it! Anyone wanna revisit and update Plato? I’d support forums.. the elect few, elite society, majority based (and we do have a majority of idiots – including myself) decisions rather than simple comon sense and humanity isn’t something I can relate to… at all…
Oh and it would be nice if in the EU institutions we hired different types of people… not 2000000000 versions of the same well-polished robotic employee of any form, sex or nationality….. and competent leaders or bosses…(I had that in the commission… and for three years thought about suicide for managing to get myself into such a position – under such useless people) Its very hard to work under someone you wouldn’t even hire to do your garden…… let alone run a government… but apparently competent charismatic people are kept away from responsibilities…. sacrificed to diplomacy and other politically correct nonsense… on the other hand it is funny to watch Putin walk all over them… makes you feel good about not being one of them :-D
We have to stop giving people positions based on friendship and start giving them to people with leadership skills and merit (merit not being time spent somewhere)….who you could imagine following into battle.. not those you imagine being in battle and you watching and giggling with popcorn… while thinking bloody hell… blooody hopeless…
Tarquin Farquhar
@Maria Jose Machado
The poverty, inequality and lack of human rights EXISTED at higher levels in many of the Club Med EU nations EVEN before the EU was created.
Money/charity from the Northern EU nations helped hide the poverty, inequality and corruption that was always endemic in some of the Club Med EU nations.
If one is labelled as a European, one can only assume such an entity woud possess a schizoid psyche:
Northern intellect, wealth and power
v
Southern corruption, inequality, lack of democracy and poor human rights.
Europe…..the landmass across the Channel….which is Much too close to us.
Noemi Rey
Being “European” is sharing the Chart of Fundamental Rights for everyone. Is hoping to consolidate and develop our Welfare Social Model, based on freedom, respect, tolerance and opportunities.
a) “European identity” is much broader than “EU identity”. In fact the latter is probably limited to a rather small group, to those who directly benefit from the destributive policies of EU institutions.
b) However, “European identity” is tightly linked to Christianity as well as to the pre-Christian heritage of the European tribes who adopted Christianity. The latter makes the main cultural difference inside Europe. And, Christian beliefs nowadays are often secular (including atheists, agnostics, humanists etc.).
c) Empirically there are no coherent or lasting “Europen values”, bottom up.
In Unity there is Power and however the differences actually we are one big nation…
Bert van Santen
Being European means forced to witness that complete economies have been distroyed in the name of EU and euro.
And what`s even worse, the responsable politicians and bankers show no regret at all, and proceed their own way.
By economics mentioned as the lost decade.
To be European in XXIst century? It means being a citizen in a huge fairytale theme park for the joy of rich Asian tourists, that becomes a horrorland at nightime (when visitors go out and ordinary locals remain on a sad daily life). Now I ask: What it means to be Mediterranian? Well, there are more cultural links between in the later, but for some agenda it has been hidden constantly by almost all politicians.
It means having a set of values like democracy, justice and culture different from any other country, it means beeing the birthplace of democracy, it means beeing moderate and helpfull regarding the world it means defending differential points of view from the US and others, it means that we are the descendents of thousands of years of culture and we live together with peace and not war who can say that anywhere, it’s not the euro that defines us it’s our way of beeing and seeing the world that makes us Europeans and we should be proud of it!!!
For me being “European” is an Utopia; we know we don’t live by the same standards of living within The UE.
There is rich northern European countries and poor Southern European countries who for a brief moment, aspired to be like our neighbours in the North.
My country produces young people with high education Degrees that are being literally “exported” to Northern European countries at zero cost.
The ones who are fortunate to be employed are the poorest workers in Europe and basically we can define ourselves as a country of waiters and waitresses, eager for foreign people and rich north European pensionists to spend their money here while pensionists of my country live with pensions less than 250? and have to beg for food.
Does any of you earn that much money up north?
I don’t think so.
There is no equal opportunities therefore for me being an European means absolutely nothing.
Nikos Themelis
As a Greek,i agree completely with you.Europe is a place of exploitation from the rich to the poor,a place of racism and contempt from the north ro the south,a place of stagnation,a place of misery.
There’s nothing in Europe any more but the power of eurocrats,bankers and vested interests.
In 1940 all British felt British, you can see it on their faces. If our planet Earth was attacked by an alien power, we would all feel Terrestrian. In times of peace our identity tends to fade, so what Europe needs is simply a common danger or ennemy: then by enchantment we would all become European, even the British.
European great men are practicall standards of Europeanness. Thus Winston Churchill defines European courage, stubbornness, love of freedom, hatred of tyranny.
To be European is to love Winston. (This is just an exemple.)
Marcel
Our common enemy is the undemocratic Eurosoviet Union.
Matt
Are you insane? Your say we need a war to feel more european? Churchill did not mean for Britain to be part of europe. The country’s of europe to be european and Britain to look to the sea.
Carl Nicolajsen
To Matt,
In wartime the British are staunch defenders of european values. This is why Winston Churchill is a magnificent European.
It means having a unique culture that is shared by every single european that is distinct from the entire world.. It means being united in our diverse and yet homogenous culture.. It means being the most priviledged continent and union in the world with the greatest economic opportunities in the world and the best social security net.. It means the ability to live and work almost anywhere in Europe, and not being restricted by anything, disregarding the obvious language barrier.. It means having the best possible life in the world and the ability to absorb the world’s greatest culture in a way that has never been seen before or anywhere else in the world.. Yes, being European is impossible to describe briefly, but it is what you feel when you travel abroad and realize how rich we are economically, culturally, socially, technology wise, green with the best standards in the world, and much more.. To be a European is something that is unattainable and yet so highly desirable outside of Europe
Seems some still don’t know that if every country is to get to a somewhat similar wealth level, that will require the ‘richer’ countries (a relative word, since the western world is technically bankrupt) to surrender a significant chunk of wealth.
Do Germans who like the EU realize that with equalized wealth they need to give up some 20-30% of their income? Or do some still harbor the illusion that wealth can be aggregated at the highest level?
To be European means nothing. Tired of seeing our money disappearing into the Brussels black hole or in the hands of Franco-German bankers (via Greece) and our larger cities flooded with EU migrants who displace the locals by working for lower wages.
1. Common market and standards; 2. Common security systems; 3. Common currency; 4. Common rights; 5. Common taxes, regulations and legal system, all within 100 years. Within 500 – common language.
catherine benning
What you are backing, as wonderful as it sounds, is the move of the globalists who are against fair distribution of wealth. Homogenised people become robots. And the top of the human tree of money men are using this idea of commonality to reduce all mankind to Global slave workers. They are promoting the idea of us all being shackled to a minimum wage so low life becomes a survival chore without quality. What we should be fighting for, is, ‘quality of life’ with a standard of living throughout the European states that cannot fall below the level deemed worth having.
And a common language that does not diminish any of the languages we presently have and love at birth. A second language being one we can communicate with across the globe. Just as we do on this forum right now.
It means austerity for the poor, and great give aways to economic thief’s that steal banks. At least in Portugal, part of Europe it has been like that. 3 stolen banks by right wing people, and lots of billions to cover it, while taxes get higher and higher, people get minimum wage of 400 some ? after tax, but hundreds of new millionaires… new millionaires while hunger and poverty are at almost 30%…
The Europe of today is pretty unfair, and if does not change and respect the founders and their ideas, i hope Portugal leave the EU, just like the English also want it.
Why does Angela merkl from Germany has to call the shots? Is she the leader of Europe? Is Germany getting what they always wanted? the power to Germanize almost the entire Union? They do now with pens and money, what they tried before with bombs and could not do it.
I really hope changes these unfair system, and have some rules in the way to redistribute wealth, and don’t have people starving and getting minimum wages that are not enough to live, while some CEO’s get paid hundreds of times more than regular workers. I don’t mean equal for all, but now is almost slavery for some.
Europe today is rotten and unfair. Don’t take me wrong, i believe in the early principles of Europe and the objective it was first created, and i believe that European Country’s should be together in some points, but now it is just too unequal from State to State, and that is rubbish.
ser europea significa compattir los valores espirituales y materiales fundantes…..el problema viene cuando comienzan los requemores y las sospechas entre los distintos paises por las medidas a tomar ( por aquello que cada cual lleva el agua para su molino).
Your quoting the great man Churchill as a ‘ cultural contributor of European unity ???, as a Brit I find your using his quotes actually quite offensive.
The only reason he wanted Europe locking together was to stop the ‘Europeans’ from starting their bloody wars, he never intended for Great Britain to be part of it.
You are aware that he also said ‘?If Britain must choose between Europe and the open sea, she must always choose the open sea?.
Why are you using the 2013 info when there’s a 2014 set of results ?
Blair & Schröder presented a joint program in the 1990’s: pursued by Blair for some time under the designation “The Third Way” – “New Power- New Responsibility”. In Germany- the “Partei für Soziale Gleichheit,” (SPD’s U-turn)
It appears the EU directions of today where already decided between the UK & Germany in the 1990 or earlier! This needs a strong EU coalition to correct. Why be so conservative & wait until 2017? There is a good reason at present!
” The fact is that the top 0.1 percent dictates policy and essentially selects the personnel tasked with carrying it out.”
Mountains everywere, xenofobia and a blue flag. No more.
Landais Joël
Why Europe ? A question of survival.
★ ★ ★
Facing the clash between giants (China, India, the USA…) that is shaking our planet, Europe has no choice: either we unite in order to make our voice heard in this world and preserve a space to live in, or we die out.
But what is Europe, then ? It is not only a Commission in Brussels, directives we don’t understand or reject, a Parliament in Strasbourg whose powers are rather limited, it is not only a blue flag with a star-studded circle, an anthem (dedicated to joy, ironically) that nobody knows…, Europe is a civilisation. A great several-thousand-year-old civilisation, just like the Chinese, Indian, Muslim civilisations, just as the Egyptian, American Indian civilisations and the African empires were.
I was born and grew up in this civilisation that nourrished me, trained me and educated me, shaped our way of thinking. Our Masters were Aristotle and Plato, Marcus Aurelius and Cicero, Saint Augustine, Dante, Montaigne, Shakespeare, Cervantes, Voltaire, Rousseau, Kant, Goethe, Bach, Mozart, Vivaldi, Verdi, Chekhov, Dostoyevsky, Picasso, Goya, Botticelli, Michelangelo, Sartre, Camus, Bergman, Fellini, Almodóvar … and hundreds of others… Moretti, Haneke, Das Leben der anderen (The life of others) … and then… nothing else… Why has Europe become silent ? Is it asleep or half-dead ?
Benumbed in the flow of cultural products (music, films and series) and foodstuffs (coke, burgers and ketchup) made in USA on the one hand, and overwhelmed with masses of low-quality products manufactured by the Chinese industry on the other hand, Europe no longer responds, no longer reacts, no longer produces anything (except, perhaps, in part, my Volkswagen): its industries are leaving, its brains deserting, its currency is threatened. Indeed Europe seems rather moribund than asleep.
The problem is Europe no longer has a vision of the future. Perhaps its citizens are still too fascinated by the “American Dream” in spite of all its setbacks and failures (the most recent one being the subprimes crisis). Dreaming of America prevents us from seing Europe and thus from imagining and building the Europe of tomorrow.
Stop putting people in 1st 2nd and 3rd place, or in different class , every human is the same , the people in Syria were living in better conditions than many European country’s ,
So what if I’m European and I don’t have a work and my family is starving !
Tiago Paim
More than the common ground values, important part of being an european for me is accepting cultural diversity in this unity. Knowing that i am part of a community that have an agenda and accepts the dialogue with minorities agenda’s is a big deal.
Landais Joël
Europe and Europeans lack a vision: how shall we stand up to the new superpowers like India, China, Brazil… ?
We live in the same part of the world, under the same climate (though it’s a bit better down south!), wear the same clothes, listen to the same music, eat more or less the same food. Why don’t we just stick together, instead of waging the Hundred Years war over and over again ?
I feel we would be much better off !
You may say, I’m a dreamer, but I’m not the only one… hope one day, you’ll join us…
John Lennon
Anne-Sophie G.
EU means peace. EU means freedom, democracy, human rights. EU means common values shared by 28 countries.
More people with negative future perspectives than with positive. What will you do ? Can you improve the Situation of those many disappointed? http://www.WWSEEP.com .
Being European always comes into competition with the national identity, and national identity wins over regularly. In the end its nothing more than being different than American, Asian or African.
catherine benning
If you read this Guardian article below you will see clearly what being European is to thousands of very poor UK citizens.
The British government is telling the world it is on a roll, that we are the best economically functioning state within Europe. And they bring out figures as proof that we are on the road to doing away with unemployment and making a full recovery. This article shows a different perspective, that in fact thousands of people in my country are being forced to work forty hours a week for no pay at all. Single mothers, forced to do this rather than care for their young children at home, the elderly, the young, all in the name of keeping a Conservative government afloat on a dirty lie, as they take our tax payers money to torment and humiliate our own citizens who pay for this torture.
The very fact that the EU would allow this to take place inside this union without, at very least, creating a world wide knowledge of its internal slavery is atrocious. Being European means living ‘le grand mensonge.’
.’
catherine benning
And here we see why the EU officials are so angry with Cameron and the UK over the pretence it is the European immigrant who is the cause of our UK unrest. This hidden truth that our government is doing deals in the Indian sub continent to bring in their cheap labour, in their thousands, whilst hiding it from the UK public tells the real story that none of our media outlets want to reveal. Now why is that? Why the UK governments hatred of the European. And, from the surface of this report, the hatred of its own tax payer.
And from what I read on Wiki this morning, from 2013 to April 2014 560 thousand immigrants entered the UK seeking work, the majority from China, followed by India. It is a bloody joke. These people should be strung up for the lies they are perpetuating in the UK. And it must mean that Nigel Farage is very aware of these figures or he would not hammer on about the problem being a European influx.
I believe that big percentage of people don’t care for national identity . For me is national identity important like for which handball you team are . To be “European” , who cares ? EU is excellent for human development , together we can develop economy , peace, education , justice , democracy and many other things we could never develop in small countries .
The whole thing is finishing quickly but they are cooking the stats and tightening their grip on the media. The whole thing does not look or feel what was meant to be European years ago.
you can only strengthen unity among eu people by rendering nationalism irrelevant. this implies that across europe living conditions shoul be similar. then will we sit arround the table with our national stories and not our national pride. will never hapen.
It means tolerance, the rule of law, freedom of speech, secularity, human rights and a land of lights. We certainly are not perfect but when we look around, oh boy … from China to the U.S, from Africa to East Russia… I’ am glad was born here.
Being European means we put our national differences aside for the sake of our common future. This is the only way to compete countries of the size of one continent : US, China, India, Russia, Brazil. Our beautiful countries are getting smaller and smaller in this crowded planet we live. So ,united we stand, divided we fall.It is as simple as that.
Marcel
I don´t want to compete as one continent. We can compete better without dead weights like Greece holding us down.
Yvetta
Marcel, Greece is paying its contributions to the EU without the issue even making the headlines and has saved the Euro by accepting a bail-out, ie a loan which it is repaying plus the interest on top. This also meant that Greece avoided extreme poverty (double of what it is now). There is no specific country that is a dead weight. That is the concept of a Union. One could claim the UK is a dead weight, as it takes up EU time and energy with constant complaints and remonstrations on things that itself has signed in the past, an attitude mostly meant for internal consumption. Or perhaps you are referring to the Parthenon marbles as dead weights?
It is an identity indeed, it means a lot of individual freedoms such as freedom of speech, freedom of religion etc. Just a pity that as far as the EU is concerned too much emphasis is put on the economic and financial aspect.
It is an identity indeed, it means a lot of individual freedoms such as freedom of speech, freedom of religion etc. Just a pity that as far as the EU is concerned too much emphasis is put on the economic and financial aspect.
Juljan Gjura
Being European means all of what you have mentioned previously, do not worry too much, it has them all, the good and BAD parts! (probably there are more bad than god ones…)
Maia Alexandrova
To be European means:
1) to be born on the European continent;
2) to be white;
3) to be Christian;
4) to value more the present, rather than the past.
On point 4) UK is not a European country because British people give highest importance to their history where they think their greatness is. All countries from the continent look to the future for inspiration but only UK holds on to the past and tries to stop the inevitable process of change. They cling to the feeling of being separate, greater and more important to the world than other nations just because they are richer. What a self-deception! The value of human beings can never be measured with money. The last unsuccessful attempt for that was in colonial times – slavery. It seems this is still a lesson that most British people need to learn, unlike poorer nations who have already figured that out long time ago and have no problems in this respect. The question is what experience will bring the necessary wisdom and the answer is – poverty!
Dave
PMSL
Marcel
If anyone clings to the past it is the French. They suffer from post colonial stress disorder. They lament the loss of French as the major diplomatic language.
Who is going to fill the gap (in terms of money) if the Eurosoviet Union loses Britain´s net contribution? Is France going to cover the shortfall?
Maia Alexandrova
Dave, keep on laughing while you can.
Marcel, don’t worry, we will manage somehow, life goes on. Some adjustments will need to be done but that will not be the end of the world. There are other, more important things in life than money.
In the meantime, UK will prosper in its Commonwealth union with countries such as Pakistan, Bangladesh and Nigeria, open its borders to more immigrants from there and in 20 years we might be referring to UK as Great Pakistan, not Great Britain.
EU reform- proactive
@David &/or Dave, Marcel, Maia & all well meaning- Good day!………& what a happy occasion!
This battle over, in, or for Britain or is it the EU viza GB/CW (which is it?) highlights the meaning: diversity in (& dis) unity- or was it unity in diversity? Really more & more confusing & complicated! We need to engage more EU lawyers to sort this out!
Isn’t Britain with its inherited Commonwealth engaged in a serious battle on two fronts? Maia has a valid point. If one studies the GB-Commonwealth a bit closer- especially the “Schedule 3 British Subjects”, their “RIGHT TO ABODE”- their “CERTIFICATE OF ENTITLEMENT”, the UK with its full complement of its C.W. will, if they become a full EU member- bring with them half the world into the EU- or not?
Is that not another good reason to go back to 1953 and put the thinking cap on?
What about Ireland? We’re not on the continent, but the vast majority of us most definitely regard ourselves as European. I don’t believe you have to be born on the actual continent to espouse European values or to consider yourself European.
Egyltaln Eurpa mg Eurpa? Mert az identitsa mr nem teljesen.T
Nicolas Douradou
Europe means a shared history:
Many wars were fought
Borders evolved a lot in 2000 years, creating a HUGE mix of cultures.
In each culture we can find the mark of another culture:
– Common words
– Common food
– Common traditions
– Common values
Many leaders tried to unit this continent by force and the countries are now uniting through democratic ways pushed by the will and ideals of its citizens.
European union means peace for all the nations that fought each other for so many years and are now working together toward the same goal.
More than peace, European union means friendship and sharing between a wide variety of cultures that have so much to learn from each other.
European union means influence in the world’s affairs. At a time of globalization, all the knowledge is shared and countries evolve fast. Any small country like France, England, German will eventually mean nothing in comparison to large countries with a lot more population hence larger market and GDP. The only way for us to exist in this world is to unite.
In the near future, I see myself as … Only European!
It’s time to shed the skin of tribalist thinking. The anti-europeans have their place in the Dark Ages, not in the 3rd Millenium!
George YIANNITSIOTIS
When I was young, it meant: Democracy, Security, Welfare State. Those 3 pillars consituted the core pro-EEC propaganda of the era.
15 years later, the 2nd pillar collapsed a stormy night in SE Aegean Sea (at the western rocky island of Ymia, 30-31/1/1996 that came under foreign military occupation for a couple of hours without any EU reaction)
29 years later, the 3rd pillar collapsed, turning us to debt-slaves (being – defacto – deprived of “fundamental” human rights, primarily the right to private property)
31 years later, Gauleiter Merkel demolished the first pillar (“Referendum? Verbotten!!) replacing the then democratically elected Prime Minister of a member-state (a puppet of the International Usurers Gang took office!)
Asking a citizen of the once Independent and Sovereign Hellenic Republic what does-being-“european” means, here is the answer: in accordance with the acts of the West European Usurers Corporation (disguised as “European Union”)
Edoardo
Europe has always been the most advanced center of culture, democracy and technology in the whole world.
One cannot but be proud of being European, for our history and for the contribution WE brought in the World history.
I dream the time when I will be able to say “I’m from Europe. Italy.”, just as any American does.
Edoardo- EU, Italy
“In Varietate Concordia”
Anti eu. the eu and Europe are not the same thing.
George Yiannitsiotis
Correct! Only the Council of Europe and Europe coincide!
Don Ecsedy
As an American who wandered over here from a google hit on something else, I notice all here read and write English. Is it now the language of united Europe (EU)? How can Europe be a people, ethnicity (and for some here, a race, I think) without a common language?
Old English confronting Norman language, pidginized until it became Middle English. Will European (EU) languages pidginize, then become something else? What about the non-Indo-European languages in the Union (Finn, Estonian, Magyar, I think), So far, a thousand years or more, they have not assimilated to Indo-European.
The e.u might be crap, beauracratic and corrupt, but, one thing it has done is prevent wars in Europe. That’s a start at least.
catherine benning
@Richard Osborne:
Unfortunately, not any more. What is Ukraine? The EU/US/UK set that alight by instruction from the IMF. Or, did you miss that little fact of life?
And it isn’t going to stop there. The US are once again drafting in their army to ‘fight’ on European soil. And how many do they still have in Germany? Funny how they don’t pull that crock on their own borders isn’t it. With all the trouble they are having with South America, no massing of soldiers and artillery openly lined up on their borders threatening to sort those aliens out is there? No, they save that privilege for Europe and its ‘friend’ NATO.
Dave R
This is a myth – before 1973 there were only 6 members of the fledgling EU. What kept the peace before 1973? The same entities that kept the peace from world war 2 until now – NATO and the Warsaw Pact and mutual assured destruction – ie. nuclear weapons.
Until 1989 and the fall of the Warsaw Pact alliance the global stalemate between the super powers and their allies have made large scale war too existentially dangerous for the potential combatants.
Today NATO and lowered animosity have checked large scale war. And the ever present threat of nuclear war – the UK and France both possess nuclear weapons, and it is they that ensure that large scale war does not occur in the european theatre. Not anything at all to do with the EU – which is more likely to create the tensions for war than against.
You’re taking about Bosnia/Herzegovina? Sarajevo/Kosovo? I’m not sure but I dont think they were e.u members at the time. If they were, then my argument is in the dust
For us, we think that being European means to be in a place where there is democracy, liberty, equality, solidarity, non-discrimination on the basis of gender, religion, beliefs, origin, the richest and most influential cultural heritage.
Then, we can say that we’re European people ! Thank you EU !
Emma
Be European is being a part of an union, it is sharing common values, and be stronger for economy, etc. But it is also care about the weaker coutries or union.
Romane and Gwen
According to us, it is the share of common values such as culture and History. In France, Europe is present in many topics we study like in Geography or English and that’s why we feel involved in Europe.
Moreover, be European is having a sort of freedom, as for traveling as for speech.
Furthermore we want to progress together, as an united “nation” because it’s a part of our identity.
Nevertheless, we think that it isn’t really developed ad we hope that it will be in a near future!
The term ‘European’ is nothing more than a political term created to try and convince the peoples of Europe that they are some how the same people, clearly they are not.
‘Europeanism’ is just the latest fanatical ideology to control the peoples of Europe.
Different flag, different anthem but the same antidemocratic lust for power..
The term ‘European’ is nothing more than a political term created to try and convince the peoples of Europe that they are some how the same people, clearly they are not.
‘Europeanism’ is just the latest fanatical ideology to control the peoples of Europe.
Different flag, different anthem but the same antidemocratic lust for power..
To make peace with myself accepting the whole complexity of my life and history that the nationalism of the sovereign states stole from me and us. W Altiero Spinelli and the Manifest of Ventotene
To belong to the West.
To live in a democracy.
To be open-minded.
To be liberal,and not to make differences between two men only because they are not the same coloured.
To love the EU,and to make a United States of Europe,because it is the only way to make a third,”balancing” state between the USA and China in diplomacy.
To know other people with different cultures.
…and so on.
40 + million dead in the First European World War to unite the peoples of Europe under one unwanted flag, one unwanted anthem & one unwanted fanatical ideology.
60 + million dead in the Second European World War to unite the peoples of Europe under one unwanted flag, one unwanted anthem & one unwanted fanatical ideology..
How many would you like to kill in your next European World War to unite the peoples of Europe under one unwanted flag, one unwanted anthem & one unwanted fanatical ideology?
Being called ‘European’ should be an insult to every right minded human being.
Which continent has the history of largest wars in human history ? Even withtou WW1 and WW2 this continent was build on blood of our ancestors who I believe want nothing more but see us united. And in modern economy we have no chance to compete with anyone if we cant stay united.
So your plan is to repeat the blood letting of your ancestors ?, by capitulating to the EU you have thrown away all that your ancestors fought & died for.
As far as the EU competing with the rest of the world is concerned your EU has been a catastrophe for the peoples of Europe while nations outside of your EU have thrived.
I grew up feeling an european, even tough my Portugal only joined in 1986. It’s obviously geography, but also history, culture, and so many other things that are envied by any other continent. Being european also means that we’re under fire from the so called “markets”. A few things need to be changed – the main one is to have great leadership. If we manage that, we’ll succeed and will gain the freedom to continue to be different and special.
In the first WW,anti-democratic nations fought against democracy to RULE.(For Germany’s king it was mainly cuz they wanted “space under the sun”)
The second WW happened because the winners of the first WW(yes,it was mostly Britanny and France) forced too much tribute against the lost ones,and new theories infected people with the hope of vengeance.
I don’t think anybody would want another european war. We have learned from the past. All of us. The uniting must be done in peace and harmony.
Nikos Themelis
It seems that those lessons are not learned in the corridors of power.The difference is,at the place of then Britain and France is now the northern block (essentially Germany) and in the place of then Germany is now the european south.
The European Union has created America to joint forces to attack Russia! and have a 3-uw world war! It is a pity that Europe did not see. Europe is the only military tool in the hands of the United States. Europe without America, can not receive nor any political and economic decisions !!!
For me, to be european means to be part of the injustice against people e.g. from Africa, Syrians etc. From this Europe all the injustice and crime has its roots. Americans came from Europe and killed the Natives there. Colombus etc. came from Europe, the British and many other european countries exploited many countries for centuries. Now we build walls to defend all the wealth we stole from the people whom we stole it. Nice cradle of civilisation indeed!!! A nest of criminals and corruption, this is Europe! And I am very ashamed to be european.
For me , being European is about taking the best parts of all cultures in Europe and molding it into ones own character, which results in the creation of a very Cosmopolitan European. So that means I have the best of everyone’s culture in Europe in me. – The height of cultural sophistication. That is why I have developed a European Panache that demand’s ONLY THE BEST. I wont settle for second best!!!
Being European , to me, means to be able to go to any country in Europe and be greeted and respected as a fellow European. As with everything some people are happier about this than others because they want to blame some of their problems on the whole of Europe. This is because of irresponsible politicians who prefer to win elections and be corrupt and don’t lead their countries….
Being European feels a heck of a lot better than being of a specific nationality. It allows me to feel at home in places and communities that speak other languages, have other ways of being, have other hopes and fears. Being European it allows me to feel safe with a single passport, it allows me to build a future that is way more and better than what I could have built had my country stayed “independent” (quotes were intentional) for there is no such real thing as an independent country of yesteryear.
Im not European.There is no european identity.I as a greek for sure got nothing in common with citizens from north europe,i got more common stuff with Turkey than Holland or whatever…..you think so yourselfs afterall,for instance im lazy and corrupt while you guys are hardworking and respectfull of law and on top now you are saving my country and we live in expense of your kindness.Right?Ofc im being sarcastic.
I am greek. Born and raised in awesome Netherlands. The continent is europe and thats it. Dont push something in peoples throat which is absolutely nonsense. I am proud of all countries in the EU seperately. Roots heritage. This is what makes europe great!!
What it means for us to be a european? It means a common history of the oldest countries in the world and the beginning of the civilization. But the most important, the common feeling that we don’t want to fight each other and repeat the horrors of the past. The common feeling in democracy as the best kind of political system, the common feeling in the Peace and the respect of human rights. The common feeling we need a unique market and a unique voice in the international system in the world. It means the biggest GDP in the world, thus the most important economic power in the world, even in time of the worst economic crisis that remind us we have to change some aspects and improve mistakes of the past. It means Erasmus Programs and interchange students. It means the democratization of the neighbour countries with a normative power, putting a positive conditionality to change countries that don’t respect the human rights. It means the biggest power in humanitarian aid in the world, so it means also the most generous power and we have to be proud about that. It means security for everybody,peace, democracy, human rights, but security as a normative and economic power not as military like China or USA, and also, we’ve to be proud about that. It means to be something in the world because every european country by itself, is no more than a litlte ant in the international system if you compare that one with China or USA, and probably a puppet of that one if this country moves alone. We have to change a lot of things, the way will be difficult, because also the challenge is really great. This crisis is an opportunity to improve, giving up is just too easy and just a excuse for some nationalisms to return to the past we don’t want again.
E.U. has killed Democracy in Rumania when it stated taht 7.5 million citizens = 0 when it comes to what E.U. beaurocrats want! Europeans for me means I live in Europe! E.U. means E.U.S.S.R. led by appointed beaurocrats that have nothing to do with Democracy and serving the citizens!
There is no Vision with which we can Identify. We would need an Organisational Project. And in my opinion we should go an own way. http://www.WWSEEP.com
Peace, liberty, and equality.
As well as culture and pride.
The EU is the only chance for the small, old European nation states to be independent both from the US (the West, including the UK) and from Russia (the East).
To be european to me means to belong to an area where people respect each other and every effort is done to promote peace and solidarity toward other nations. It means respecting our individual cultural heritage along with everyones else’s, it means putting people’s interests above everything else, it means defending our region from attacks of speculators and from those trying to impose their interests and agenda to achieve access to european resources. It means to help less developed countries in their way to a more fair and solidary way of life.
Unfortunately the Europe I aim to belong to is no longer alive, it has been sieged by financial marauders whose only target is to drain the europeans resources and put the majority of europeans into slavery.
The Europe has been sieged by the EU bureaucrats and we, european citizens, have to take back our power to get rid of them a rebuild a true Europe of citizens insted of a corporate block subdued by warmongers hipocrytes.
You’re right Jason but that belongs to the past, in the mean time Europe has evolved (not allways in the good sense) and became the land where there were better living conditions for citizens and more respect for human life. It somehow started to change a while ago and that is the reason we must change the way things are being conducted…
Guarantee of democracy, freedom of speech and press, travelling, economy. Diversity. Choice. Challenges. And if this is too little for you or means NOTHING, then please, bring the communism and USSR back and live with them. For Eastern Europe 45 years were enough, i think.
To be in a non-democratic union controlled by finance and Angela Merkel.
To watch with your own eyes the destruction of nations such as Greece.
A Nation that 30 year ago, cancelled their WWII credit from Germany, even if they where much less advanced and they would have needed it.
means no more democracy. No more human rights (work is a human right). Means that a private, non-governative elite writes the laws and imposes them to the nations, laws that serve to put profit before the citizens progress and wellness. The mean is the crisis the target is to arrive to a feudal-like society, with no equality and where democracy is an empty word.
Without UNITY it means nothing !! But if we are united as one people, no first class Europe, second class and third class, we might just be the greatest nation in the world !
Ion Popescu
Without UNITY it means nothing !! But if we are united as one people, no first class Europe, second class and third class, we might just be the greatest nation in the world !
It’s sharing such a long history with so many European countries.
ecs
Good point
Edgar
Be european is want the be part of a constrution of comuns values in a geografic region , europe: respect the values of others peoples, back groud of cristian heritage, acept and pratice democracy, solve problemas by negociation never by war be proud of what europeans people did and do in beahave of world well fare and development
To hopefully have the best policies of every EU country being implemented into the worst countries to raise standards higher than what they were. But this does not always happen. http://www.lesleymcdade.blogspot.com
All of you are correct in your statements. You’ve been pointing out the matters we don’t like in Europe or what in Europe is good but the real discussion should be what kind of Europe we want in the future. I for once wish an Europe of citizens instead a Europe of corporations, an Europe of freedom and development instead one of financial speculation, an Europe willing to help those in need and promoting peace instead of one supporting the predatory goals of their american ally rulled by warmongers and speculators. Call me utopic or any other name you want but this is the Europe I think is worth fighting for.
Nikos Themelis
That will never happen.European Union was built for the corporations and serve only corporations and vested interests.
Remember,at first it was called Steel and Coal union.
that you are free to travel to every state of the EU/Schengen without any issue, to be able to work and live there too in just an instant, that you have the right to say what you feel and think without being locked up in jail (negative thing is that u won’t even be put in jail when you are discriminating someone…) that you can be(come) who you want to be and that you have the right to vote and to go to school. And not to forget to listen to the “Ode to joy/Ode an die Freude” with your hand on your heart when you are proud to be European :-) Live ALDE Party ? Liberals and Democrats for Europe and thanks for the people in the past who made our dream come true for at least a big portion, let’s hope now that more people will realize that they are European!!!
O que comeou como um projecto para a vida das pessoas est acabando num inferno financeiro e agiota. Os bancos e os mercados dominam a Europa e as pessoas voltaram simplesmente a ser nmeros. A Europa existiria na verdade se todos tivssemos a mesma qualidade de vida, emprego, educao e cuidados de sade.
It means being a member of politically incoherent, socially incompatible, economically challenged and military incapacitated area. An area where law means nothing, standards are just for fun and regulations are invented to levy more and more taxes.
How about changing our way of life, instead of being passively living in Europe what if we all start building a different Europe?
One that meets our expectations, that becomes a model to be followed instead one conoted to a imperialistic one, allways looking to medle in the internal affaires of other soberane nations, one that promotes peace instead of feeding terrorism and uprisings to create instability, wich final goal is to sell more weapons and to get access to coveted resources?
Nikos Themelis
Well,countries are punished for their democratic decisions or they are forced to make the “right” decisions,sometimes by voting again and again until the “right” decision is voted.
Keep the flogging until morale improves.
Ask to Greek people what does it mean to be European. Child mortality as increased after the financial golpe of 2011 in Greece (the lancet). Euro technocrats must be judged by a new Norimberga tribunal and killed for crimes against humanity.
To be European means to belong to the common Christian civilization. Being Bulgarian, I am European, but only through my nationality and ethnicity.
ecs
Europeann values: democracy, repect the others, will of peace solving problems by conversation ( never with bombing)
British Patriot ;)
To me it means that I was lucky enough to be born on the continent of Europe. I am first and foremost a British citizen and secondly an Englishman.
I am a European in the same way a Peruvian and a Brazilian are both south Americans. There is no sense of citizenship in Europe for me, other nations are seen as friendly neighbours with their own house and not fellow citizens sharing the same house.
ioannis
At this moment, NOTHING!!!!!
Raymond M. Keogh
Has European “Identity” any meaning? What is “Identity”? Follow The Gerald Keogh Identity Series (#GKISeries) from 25th April 2015 to the end of 2017 on ourownidentity.com
ancylostomiasis
I would not say what it means to me since I am not an European. But I could suggest what it looks to me. It looks to me the Europeans are more practical and less about ideological fuss. That’ll pin them into an selfish image, since they are less likely to contribute to their International responsibility. That’s being said, they make less errors and cause less damage than the Americans. I hope the EU could offer an alternative for global leadership to the US hegemony in the forthcoming century.
Being European means to be “roots of civilization”, the democratic state started with ancient Greece and Rome. Being European also means that we can keep and respect each other’s nationality, religion and freedom till it doesn’t harm other’s! Europe tolerance is right but we have to learn how to be tough with those who think our tolerance is foolishness!!!
Being a European is very important to me. I feel that we can only make this place better if we join. This doesn’t mean I reject being Dutch also, or an inhabitant of Deventer (the town I live). I just think it is coloring my life, looking over borders and meeting different cultures, having friends in different countries etc.
EUROPEAN FOR ME IS BEING BORN IN THE AREA OF EUROPE. BUT NOWADAYS THE REAL MEANING IS NOTHING AND GENERAL GLOBALIZATION FOR ME IS LOSING MY COUNTRY’S TRADITION.
Being European is very important to me. I have always felt European and of course I am, historically, linguistically, culturally And the aims that I aspire to achieve, they all reinforce my various identities!!
I am a British National which makes me Both European by birth and more importantly to me, choice!
The collective values that define our common and diverse identities make me feel a greater sense of fraternity, unity and equality, aims I believe we should all work towards,for the collective good!
Stephen Pockley
Why does it make you European by birth,it makes you British mate and the only goal we need to work towards is a Brexit thanks
To live in a continent where good is bad, where antisemitism is the order of the day, where lessons from history were not learnt and where idiotic tolerance of intolerance actually are fast destroying the Europe we knew!
What it DOESNT mean is having a bunch of unelcted Wall Street bankers “ECB” playing god telling EUROPEANS wether they are “European” or not, or “kicking” them out of their financial slave camp/system, American puppets telling us wether we are European or not is definately what being European does NOT mean.
Being European, should mean having a positive & proper sense of belonging, whilst upholding the vision and values of all that makes us Europeans. However, this should imply protecting our cultures, traditions, rights to safety and build a strong economy. Regretfully, all that E.U evolves around nowadays, is standardisation across all member states, which might result in the decimation of different countries unique characteristics and features. Moreover, the current E.U policies re: Illegal migration are resulting in negative implications for member states such as Malta, Italy and other states which are located around the Mediterranean sea.
United States of Europe and European citizenship, that will mean for us to be Europeans in the near future : English European, French Europeam, Greek European, Estonian Europeam, Spanish European, Romanian European, Dutch European, Irish European, German European and so on.
Stephen Pockley
It will never be English European ever,maybe English British but never European
Hellenic-romean forms of civilisations that could lead to a political union but the legislation procetures blow the dream as it stands in favour of the big fish that eats the little
europen is one of the most important think tanks of humanity, as i see from comments above, not a lot of hope is actually spread by the eu for this word,
The European Union?s key objectives should be to increase European work, prosperity and competitiveness. The European Union should preserve European cultural resources and support the creation of new ones. Developing and complying with Community environmental legislation all over the European Union is indispensable for our future. The European Union must also be aware of its responsibility for people, human rights, human suffering and the environment outside Europe.
A combination of 1) embracing the good values that the most advanced ones of the european civilisiations have so far reached(philosophy, art, laicism of states and societies, interest in science, human rights, equality, efficiency at work, ecc), and in the mean time 2) having the luck of living in Europe so you could embrace those values even better. Europe is not just EU, and anyway there are nations in EU and further in Europe which have to try harder into embracing those European values which are good ones.
To me it means to have deep humainstic values from the Ancient Greek times
Samira Stephan
I’m European much more than I’m Italian, thankfully. I would hate to be confined in a provincial national identity (all nationalism is narrow-minded and provincial). And although he’s the actual inventor of my mother tongue, I disagree with Dante’s idea that a European Union must be brought about by a German-based Holy Roman Empire (Heiliges Römisches Reich – see infographics above).
Europi was daughter of Dias. So knowlwdge studies universities happyness and good connection between the differend countries of Europe(christians) means and east Europe of course. Americans are like kids with guns
Ask the peaple un the war zone, what they need first,then we have to make space for the peaple,they can help make hauses,make nothing,minus comfort,we can to make tipis in the forest,this peapel now to live like this,spain,nord kastaniastrees,food,and much things,and the saudis can bring water in the sahara, and help wurh money spain,and spain help,syria,and ectr
Hugo Oliveira
It seems to me you are awake. Congratulations. Sorry to tell you, but most of the world is still in the dark ages. Drop seeds, not bombs! ;)
For me is Europ a Long wey of Historie of Culture Wars Peace and a Hope That Same Day er all gut Nr First European and then Greek Italian German or datch or wahr Ever
I’m British and European & I love the EU because it connects us with our neighbouring countries. I have always felt European because I was born that way.
Language as it is now (every one his own language and international English) if not than Greek because is the mother of all !!!!
We can have one bank for euro but must be cut in small banks for each country inside
If anyone have problem like my country (Greece) than the other help only to bring jobs in this country NO LOANS BECAUSE MAYBE HAVE DIRTY POLITICIANS (LIKE GREECE BEFORE) AND GERMANY ALWAYS !!!
GERMANY KNEW IT BUT THEY KEEP SEND MONEY TO KILL LATER !!!
NOT TO KILL IT WITH HIGH INTEREST !!!!
FREEDOM FOR EVERYONE AND GERMANS MUST PAY TAXES AND STOP PLAY PROPAGANDA THAT WE DONT PAY OR WORK !!!!!
Hugo Oliveira
As a Portuguese, i subscribe. If Europe wants to help, it needs competent people to see what is being done with the money, or all of it is going to the same hands, the dirty ones.
The most common definition of Europe excludes the Greek Islands, Malta, Sicily, Sardinia, Corsica, the Balearic Islands, Iceland, Ireland, and the United Kingdom and its dependencies. Most definitions extend the boundaries of the continent to its standard boundaries: the Ural Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian Sea, and the Caucasus Mountains.
So not part of Europe = Not ‘European’.
Europe is merely a peninsula of the Eurasian continent so you would be correct in saying we are all ‘Eurasian’ but the term ‘European’ is just a political tool to convince the simple minded that we are all the same, clearly we are not but in most case’s on here it as clearly worked.
For me being European is to be part of Europe by representing my country and its rights, culture ,religion, history, education! To feel that you are part of a family!!!
EUROPE the continent of the enlightment / humanitarism secular religion belief western/eastern values with a massive history of conflicts and the origin of 2 world wars overcame her legacy of divide and establised a economic/monetary trade work area created most global institutions un unesco etc a leading cultural and economic power that needs through her institutions to allow her citizens to thrive at the global civil arena..
Being european is not dependent of the EU. Being european is one of the most well defined identities in the world. Mean being heirs of an heritage of mixed elements, that combine in different ways and with different results in time and space, across history and across Europe. The indo-european heritage, that defined our languages and concepts of the world. The mixed celtic/roman/german/slavic (all of them belonging to the same indo-european family) elements, the experience of Christianity, the appearence of the State, the experience of the Renaissance and, later, the Illuminist movement and the liberal revolutions. The experience of the age of the Discoveries and the mass migrations to the Americas. The R1a and R1b genetical predominance across the continent. The complex net of permanent inter-dependence, resulting from ultra frequent exchange of ideas, technologies and, frequently, the transfer of entire populations from one corner of the continet to another, made of Europe what it is: a very solid historical, social and civilizational entity. Remember that Europe is not technically a Continent, it is just a peninsula of the Eurasian continent, It have the status of a Continent because Europe is home to the europeans.
Is living in a state where the government is ruled by sovereign institutions…look at Greece, Spain and many others…the financial sector is crushing our democracies
Slaves have many names. It does not matter what name we call ourselves, but how we behave toward each other. Behaviour is the key element, the last piece of the puzzle to create true breathing freedom. Currently this is limited by ignorant, neglective and desperate governance of all kind within individuals and groups alike. Governance in the current form reduces the ability to move and therefore we have less freedom. Whenever the logistics are solved in a comprehensive manner through tolerance, integrity and confidence i.e. understanding of behaviour, we become free of slavery and thus we are able to fathom what it is like to be truly free.
It men’s that I live in ONE big country that allows me to speak multiple languages and share my work with other people, regardless of their race or speaking.
It means being part of a line of history starting out as small neolithic groups fighting to survive and now being part of a very interesting project building democracy and equality in old Europe. It means less borders and more freedom to be me. It is good.
There’s no European nationality, so to me European means to be someone that was born in the old continent, in the European continent. Nothing more. The people of europe is starting to see behind these political federalist propaganda for the wet dream of the United States of Europe. The people of europe know better. The European dream is over. Lets build the future now.
for me it means to uphold our European values. See Article 2 TEU:
The Union is founded on the values of respect for human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law and respect for human rights, including the rights of persons belonging to minorities. These values are common to the Member States in a society in which pluralism, non-discrimination, tolerance, justice, solidarity and equality between women and men prevail.
Being European is a matter of birth, heritage and values. Fortunately to be European we do not also need to be members of the EU which undermines true European values in so many ways, not least in challenging national sovereignties hard won over centuries and by imposing a quasi-Stalinist bureaucracy to restrict the freedoms we otherwise enjoy within our nation states.
The formulation of the question is problematic in the first place: “Whether you feel European, and what EU citizenship means to you?” Does it mean that having a EU citizenship is a precondition for possessing a European identity?
The formulation of the question is problematic in the first place: “Whether you feel European, and what EU citizenship means to you?” Does it mean that having a EU citizenship is a precondition for possessing a European identity?
To be citizen of huge and incredible entity which once will be a States. With common values, freedom of speech and expression, States of right, a christian culture. But also to be citizen of an entity that need to find a way to legitimate itselfs with regards to some part of its citizen. The elargment process due to UK pressure was a wrong step and now we need to moove forward.
To strive all together for our common values and needs and at the same time to give our differences a new and better perspective in order to coexist with each other.
I feel European, because I AM European, but still I feel inferior because I am from Romania, a poor country. And citizens of rich countries let us feel we are not equal.
The Union is founded on the values of respect for human dignity, liberty, democracy, equality, the rule of law and respect for human rights, including the rights of persons belonging to minorities.
An areal and mental union of countries, where equal understanding and aplication of democratic procedures are in place, so that all persons within are allowed and able to think freely, choose freely and act freely to the exted the commonly accepted regulations allow.
To be European means for me to live solidarity and broderhood. Which is the contrary of what happens between Germany and Greece. Both of them are acting as if they could go on better without each other but the contrary is true.
It’s good to love your homeland, it’s a part of who you are. But an intelligent person will always sustain peace, union and cooperation with other countries, in the spirit of democracy and care for all citizens and their rights. Protests should be all peaceful, violence is just a way to agravate a problem, not to solve it. Europe should be more united at the level of civil society, and that is possible only for the young intellectuals for the time being, until the mentalities will evolve in the future.
I think UK will leave EU, and it’s better this way for both them and Europeans – the UK is actually in an union with the US, and their policy is not compatible with Europe’s interests, in my opinion. NATO is good as a military alliance, not a political entity. Cooperation between Europe and the English-American states will even be more efficient by removing any political element.
it means they live off of American tax dollars, we fund the Imf and the International Montery Fund takes that money, and lends to the european on High interest guaranteed backed loans.. ridicilous #foxbusiness
European is to be a humanist, a secularist and an environmentalist.
Hugo Oliveira
In Portugal, it means one more hole to put money in. All European Parlament seams to be is another group of people deciding wich companies will get the money this time, and usualy banks win every turn. With the BCE, FMI and FRB in the mix, i would say that a Portuguese “European” is a sad, angry, fed up citizen of a country sold to higher purposes.
The chance to test that it is not necessary that a single Nation must have a State. It is possible to be part of a Nation, belong to a country, and live all toguether in a suprastate.
Have u ever read to Schumann, Monnet, DE Gasperi, adenauer, spinelli, otto habsburgo, ….try it.
I think it’s very important to feel European. I’m a student in a school French and I’m learning European’s culture. Even if you aren’t European on your identity cards, it’s a large community about the principal values ; harmony, economic development.
We must no forget why the Europe is like that today, because we’ve got a common story about wars, geographic localization.
This is why we have to develop the European’s identity.
bat
kikou je suis francais
Louis
For me be european is not necessary. It’s just if you want be european YOU are european if you are like me you are not european.
bat
sorry i’m european and i love it
Samuel-Henri-Richard-Gilbert
Hey everybody I come in peace
bat
i’m norman #thomas
Clara Bouttier
My sense of being European is only cultural, we all have a common past especially with the 2nd World War. It will never be political. In that sense I am proud to be a part of a continent that is so rich in culture, diversity, linguistics, cuisine, history and peoples. I feel French and European.
Destroc
Peace and love
Thomas's
I think the feeling of being european is fake, that don’t change my every day life, like, apart from that, you have rich countries who give to poor countries like the Greece, who don’ want to pay her debt. Of course, there is good point but I don’t feel european, only French.
Dominic
Europe is not a country but just some economic regroupement of countries.
I personnaly don’t understand the people who says they are european. This is just some countries who just shares a history of war.
tbotw
I’m portuguese and I’m not european…
Warriors
I’m French, only french and I don’t feel european
The ELST
I am french, but I only feel european , because i was born in italy and the French culture and Italian culture are not the same so i feel more close to Italy.
Urkreator
“What does it mean to YOU to be “European”?”
This is a fundamental question: I’ve been thinking about it for years and I’ve written a few articles about it.
Unlike Warriors, I’m French, but I don’t feel ONLY French, I also feel European: I studied English at the university, I married a Spaniard, I have friends in Germany and Italy, Greece and Britain… Anywhere in Europe, be it in Prague or Cracow, Heidelberg or Nauplia, Madrid or Amsterdam… etc. I feel at home.
You only have to live in Africa or Asia to feel European and the people there consider you as such.
But there are two other fundamental questions:
The first is:
What is Europe ?
It is not the bureaucracy in Brussels, the Commision, the lobbies… Europe is a civilisation, just as China is a civilisation, just as Ancient Egypt was one. We all belong to that civilisation which was born 2500 years ago in Greece, which invented democracy, the arts and sciences (look at all the Greek words in those fields). All the great cultural movements were European: the Renaissance, the Enlightenment, Romanticism, Cubism…etc.
The second question is: What is identity ?
It is never limited to one dimension: every identity is a multiple identity.
You can be a footballer, a protestant, a Breton, a Frenchman, a European… and a citizen of the world… AT THE SAME TIME; you don’t have to choose one dimension of your identity in opposition to the others.
Better come to earth than fly to the sky. Many times in history, ideas have helped Powers to hide their colonial ambitions. My view of the EU has been stated above. To help you understanding that European is as much the French as the Greek or the Russian or the Icelander, the Norwegian or the Portuguese, I post it again:
George YIANNITSIOTIS November 6th, 2014
When I was young, it meant: Democracy, Security, Welfare State. Those 3 pillars consituted the core pro-EEC propaganda of the era.
15 years later, the 2nd pillar collapsed a stormy night in SE Aegean Sea (at the western rocky island of Ymia, 30-31/1/1996 that came under foreign military occupation for a couple of hours without any EU reaction)
29 years later, the 3rd pillar collapsed, turning us to debt-slaves (being – defacto – deprived of “fundamental” human rights, primarily the right to private property)
31 years later, Gauleiter Merkel demolished the first pillar (“Referendum? Verbotten!!) replacing the then democratically elected Prime Minister of a member-state (a puppet of the International Usurers Gang took office!)
Asking a citizen of the once Independent and Sovereign Hellenic Republic what does-being-”european” means, here is the answer: in accordance with the acts of the West European Usurers Corporation (disguised as “European Union”)
“unis dans la diversité” is the only real motto. I hate it when I hear people judge the Mediterraneans or the Eastern Europeans for having a different mentality, as if there was a Northern European model that is to be followed.
As for shared values, I think as a common ground Europeans are influenced by the grecorromanian civilisation, the impact of European Wars during the 18th-20th centuries, the French Revolution and the repercussion of Christianism and Atheism.
For many years I was proud to be European and I believed in the social project … TODAY I’M ASHAMED TO SEE WHAT A FASCIST ORGANIZATION THE EU HAS BECOME.
Silverchild
I’ m afraid that here in Greece, it means nothing to us anymore.
I think the easiest is for Europeans to travel outside of Europe and stay/live in different societies, and then it will be much clearer that there is a European identity :)
It means 50000 years of inbreeding and imperialism both of wich have ups and downs: on one hand blue and green eyes, blond and red hair are esthetically pleasing, on the otherhand high IQ means we designed systems that destroyed the planet. See The Bell Curve.
Nothing has been done to develop an effective European Identity in the course of the last twenty years. Read carefully the ‘Federalist Papers’. Very though provoking.
There is indeed an European identity. Every European find they have more things in common among themselves than to Americans. I suppose the main reasons are Christianity as a common ground, the Roman Empire, the French Revolution, the value of Democracy and Freedom are the main shared values.
European means the habitant of a continent who has been educated by the values of the french revolution ,equality,liberty,fraternity and the principles of greek philosophy .United nations that they dont have anything to seperate but they work for their common interest.That was happening till 10-15 years ago.
Nowadays your principles are austerity,pay the (made by the golden boys)debt ,unemployment,luck of pruductivity ,more money to the richest .
You are following a path that it is leading only to a new war,fascists are appearing again 70years after the Holocaust of Europe ,capitalism that you love ,brought his children fascism and racism and you care more about the digits than human beings…Shame on you,you achieved to destroy the european mindset in only 5-10 years…But you ll find us against you ,fighting for our rights,you bastards fascists burreaucrats of bruxxels,die in hell
Kostina Prifti
I think that what makes people feel part of something is the feeling of sharing something different, together. Under this argument, I think that the biggest contribution Europe has given to the world is the development of the human rights concept. If we look back to the past, there are many things that certain important European figures have given to the world (like Freud, Hugo etc) but at the end of the day, there was still a nationalistic perspective in their work, because of the way the world was functioning back then. However, we can nowadays say without any hesitation that the biggest development of the human rights concept came from all the European states all together (Council of Europe and EU inst. focused on HR). I think this is one of the most fundamental values that we can share as Europeans.
At the same time, one must understand that being patriotic does not exclude feeling European (e.g if you feel proud of being a Bavarian, that doesn’t make you any less proud of being a German, and vice-versa). The national belonging is complementary to the European identity.
It means to pay more taxes than usual to mantein other countries, to have less rights than in the past, not to be free at home, to be invaded from foreign factories destroying our economy, not to be free to decide if we want to remain in this Eu, not to be free to decide if we can choose another value out of €uro and so on.
European means all of our countries uniting closer so we are free from outside interference, big enough together to compete against the giants like China and India and don’t fall under the control of either the United States (U.K.) or Russia (Hungary)
i have no other identity. Everything i am and have been always is European, born in one country in Europe, got education in another, living and working in a third. Thats Europe, i am free to choose
Hm..i think that is good to have an identity with european citizenship and the same time our nationality. For me…we have the same culture and the same civilization. We have the same values..from ancient greece, from grecoroman and enlightenment
.
Josep Riera
I am in the 2% of only european, I like the diversity and the values of the EU. Of course there will always be multiple nationalities in Europe, of course there will always be people feeling they don’t belong to Europe, and sure there are many things we could improve from the current situation. But I think in Europe we are where we are mainly because of the common ground that unites us as europeans, social rights and the welfare state. To sum up, when I go outside Europe, I am very proud to say that I am european.
For me, it’s all about shared values, common basic principles in life, common past experiences from which we all learned similar lessons throughout our history.
Our ways, our traditions, the way we think, the matrix of social values we live by, etc etc, don’t clash. And interacting is quite easy, it’s very very easy to find common grounds without any significant effort – it all comes out naturally.
I was born and raised both as a proud Portuguese and as an European (specifically from the South-Western tip of Europe, Iberian Peninsula), since generations I can’t even remember. It was passed on to me by my parents, grandparents and so on…
Plus: a decent European adds value to another fellow European. Most non-Europeans don’t hesitate to “sweet talk” us into taking advantage of us, generally for their own selfish purposes, according to their own financial interests, regardless of anything – which makes me feel a bit more uncomfortable when I travel outside Europe.
I feel safe and at home here in Europe, anywhere in Europe really :-)
“An arbitrary name on a map”? You mean, like Metternich said of Italy, before it became a nation-state, that it was “just a geographic expression”?! Europe was already an identity before it had knowledge of itself. The fact that the romans considered the gauls and the egyptians equally foreigners must not make us forget that the romans were genetically, linguistically, religiously (and on and on) related to the gauls and not to the egyptians. It means that europeans, before christianity, had no conscience of themselves as such, but they already shared an identity. Christianity, even if a foreign ideology imported from the middle-east, gave Europe that conscience of itself, that was absent before, when the world was largely unknown.
OK. I can see you have a deep insight of all the topics you are going to debate and vote.
Liliana
EU is on its right track, if it does not allow xenophobia taking the lead…
Nuno S
Europe’s strength depends on its diversity. We all have a common cultura and economy multilaterally influenced throughout centuries. Even though we may have slightly different way of interpreting certain values, these vlues bring us together: We all defend democracy, freedom (in its many forms and states), tolerance and a strong social environment that’s inclusive, primarily in terms of healthcare, education and social security. These are the fundamentals of being European. We cannot let that be destroyed by petty politics, economic policies that exclude citizens and countries and xenophobic behavior.
The history of the European subcontinent was marked by centuries of fighting, but also of interweaving and mutually influencing cultures. Europe, not just one country or another, is the geographic area that shaped much of what the World is today. Are the European peoples identical? No, they are not, there are various differences, from political systems and worldview to practical everyday aspects of life such as languages. But there is an undeniable influence each European nation had on the others throughout history. The European Union was and still is a way to alleviate past conflicts by giving a limited say to each nation on the actions and policies of every other nation. As far as an identity goes, we are bound by these common values for now, but in the future we will likely become so much more. We will see if the European peoples will eventually want to form a federation of states, but if this will happen, then the European identity will even supersede present day national identities. I, for one, feel European as a distinct part of who I am.
Free to choose, free to speak, with decent work, decent occupational safety and good healthcare decent wage. that is wat European must have. Then it is good to live in this world, a free world that is Europe.
I am Maltese because I was born there,I am British because i was brought up there..as for the rest ,although I bear no malice,they mean nothing, or next to nothing to me..
Citizens are too busy in their daily routines that they forget about the values we have in our societies. Rights and obligations, culture etc. are hidden parts of our lives. Please go ahead with the European passport, this will provide all citizens with something more tangible than values. It gives the “official label” of being European, then the nationality…united in diversity :)
To be European means to be someone who wants to share a common history and a common set of values with my neighbours: to want to be a friend of my neighbours who actually live as do I; to want to walk down a street in Denmark, France, Germany or Slovakia and feel at home; to want to know that my fellow passengers on the train understand my experience as much as I do theirs; to know that I can see the country of their birth as nearer to mine, than anywhere else in the world; to know that if they are annoyed with me and my politics, then we will argue around a table and not put on black suits and kill each other’s children. Europe is everything me, my father, my grandfather and all those before me wanted. Those who do NOT want it are frightened little slugs.
Oh, and to all the Kippers – the greatest advert for European Union is the Royal Family – a hybrid of German Protestant aristocrats, married to the Greco – Danish Royal Family, whose Great Grandmother was related to the Russian, Prussian and English royal families, with vague Dutch connections and don’t forget your finest queen – Elizabeth I – was Welsh !!!!! So stop your idiot nationalism, and be what you are – multi-cultural
Europe is an idea that some people think they own.
Loukia Maria Armen
To be european means to me to have the right to speek free to work and leave in a secure environment, to travel , and to dream your future . Unfortunately all this is crumbling….
For me being European means freedom, cooperation, humanity. At the same time, I do not think that an European should look at others as being the enemies or the outsiders. In the end, we should all become a big nation. We know from the past – and I hope we have learned from it – that segregation means conflict and stating that one nation is superior to another will always lead to pain and suffering.
Europe means history, culture, christianity, it means to share common values, go back to the roots! DON’T FORGET- NO ROOTS, NO FUTURE, SO DON’T FOLLOW U.S.A IN THEIR WAY OF LIFE.
Gender equality. Peace among state members, human rights, scientific research, environmental care, even animal rights (as usual some more than others); job opportunities, quite liberal, a bit Christian (I’m talking on average); amazing culture(s), art, food, wines… We need to spread the sense of community, the responsibility of it, the greatness of it, instead of running away because there is a financial crisis. I thank the British inventions, the courage of intervening in WWII before anybody else did. How come Churchill talked about the need for a United States of Europe but some think they know better than Churchill? It wasn’t any better back then, it was much more difficult. Maybe the current actors don’t go so well together, but the work is brilliant. Let’s see when the Euro Zone starts growing again in 2017. Don’t text us drunk then.
Adri Hulshoff
I always compare Europe with the country I live in Europe is like the Netherlands, only a little bigger… We share values, at least I hope so, laws, et cetera. But we also show solidarity with each other. In the Netherlands there are some regions that are, economically, very successful and some regions that are not. Just like we see in Europe. In the Netherlands we try to share the wealth of the country, just because it is impossible for every region to be equal successful. It would be nice if we learned to share wealth within Europe. Personally I believe that we would be better of if we had a United States of Europe. But than a little bit more democratic… One man, one vote et cetera. I know that a lot of people are against, afraid to lose their national identity. This, of course, is a dumb thought. Even in a small country like the Netherlands there are large cultural differences between the regions. If different cultures can stay alive in a small crowded country like the Netherlands, it certainly will not be a problem in Europe. I have friends in almost every European country and yes we differ, but what we share, friendship, is far more important.
Unfortunately I see history repeat itself. Nationalism is growing, like it did in the beginning and middle of the 20th century. It lead to two world wars and it just seems we forget, although we just remembered the 70th birthday of the end of the second world war.
For me Europe is about friends, peace, freedom, equality, solidarity and all the good things we were trying to achieve the first 30-40 years of the EU. I hope Europe can get back on track, I hope we will find a way to find what we have in common more important than what differs us.
Nikos Stathopoulos
A very efficient political, social and economic tool with great potential. Very useful to avoid war, to be significant internationally, to facilitate trade and research and social welfare. Bringing together the different cultures of its people leads to the synthesis of new ideas and creates new perspectives for European citizens, in a democratic environment.
The real sense of Europe (specially European Union) is that to be a member you must hate other members and consider that you are superior and you must have the right to be the boss of EU. This happens specially with people who never travelled around.
This is a joke, but not a lie: it happens, that’s why there are no integration at all.
European mean for me that we share the same history, values, interests and future.
European mean to me that we are free to travel, to know each other and to accept our differences.
European mean to me that I am able to think for myself and I can be what I want.
European mean the stability the we never had in history. I am from Romania but this is not very important – I am an european citizen.
I think it is about shared values. People that have problems with the system can ask for help in another country. This is progressing more and more each day, and I think it is positive. Since Europe is about democracy, human-rights and progress.
Stephen Pockley
Oh you are right about the other countries help comment .that is all we in UK and we’re sick of it,that’s is why we are going to leave along with our 55 million pounds a day in net contributions and get next to nothing back
Igor Pop Trajkov
I think it is about shared values. People that have problems with the system can ask for help in another country. This is progressing more and more each day, and I think it is positive. Since Europe is about democracy, human-rights and progress.
Before the implementation of the ECB/EU/ I was proud to be European…now it’s a mess and everyone can see this….we have too much US influence on our lands,just think about the sanctions against Russia..
Jan
Interesting, what made you feel proud before 1998/ before 1993 and what changed since then? I am asking because I think the EU made a lot of progress since 1993.
Francesco Manetti
“Not european and never we be. British by birth, English by the grace of God.
Europe is ok to visit but I’m glad I don’t live there.”
Are you reading or writing comments like this? There are many of them here, and about this one the most impressing thing is the stating “I don’t live there”. There where? Some of the british people think they are not part of Europe just because of a little channel separating them from the continent. So, even Corsica, Sardinia, Iceland are continents apart. Plenty of these superficial reasonings have been written here. People, especially people proud of their country’s identity, should know that each identity of each country was invented. Every identity is something built up by our minds, do you think that when the whites european started to colonise North America, they found the “USA Identity” already there waiting for them saying “Hello! you’re late!!”. The identity is something built from nothing, from separating a group of people, choosing a single language, imposing a single govern, a single code of law, a single religion etc… It’s all artificial. British identity was constructed by the centuries, since Britannia was nothing that a island dwelled by Celts, Angles, Saxons, and Vikings tribes. Then, the time and the kings did the rest, through a history of wars, empires, colonisation, literary production we arrived to the formation of an “England Identity”. I can say the same for every country in the world. For me to be Italian and to be European has the same meaning, the “Italians”(Greeks, Latins, Etruscans, Celts, Germans) have been made up not long ago; choosing a language, a capital, a law, a flag. People saying that an Europe’s identity don’t exist should open their minds. I can say that it exists since we started to discover the other worlds(America, Asia, Africa since XV cent.). An other comment asked sarcastically “What common Heritage do we share?”. I can say that we europeans share a great common european heritage, I suggest these peoples to visit one of the libraries of a european city to see what we share, science, art, discoveries, literature; through the centuries(especially the Age of Enlightenment) we were unconsciously mixing us over and over. The European Identity is already on the making, the European Union Identity could be built as it was for all our countries. It’s just up to us to take it forward or knock it down.
There’s nothing special in demolishing. It’s far easier than building up.
And sadly, I see many demolitors here.
Jan
I aree and would like to add that the European identity is also complementary not exclusive.
NOTH BILL
Ξέρετε κανένα λαό στον κόσμο που δανείζεται για να ξεχρεώσει τα χρέη του και αυτά αντί να μειωθούν αυξάνονται με ταχύτητα ;
Ξέρετε κανένα λαό που οι δανειστές- εταίροι του «κλαίνε» και οδύρονται γιατί του δανείζουν τα λεφτουδάκια τους και έτσι κερδίζουν πολύ περισσότερα από όσα του δάνεισαν ;
Ξέρετε κανένα λαό που η ανάπτυξη της οικονομίας του σημαίνει κλείσιμο καταστημάτων, εξάρθρωση μισθών και συντάξεων, ανεργία και μηδενισμό της αγοραστικής δυνατότητας των πολιτών του ;
Ξέρετε κανένα λαό που οι επιχειρήσεις του για να ορθοποδήσουν πρέπει να πληρώνουν τους μεγαλύτερους φόρους στην Ευρωπαϊκή Ένωση ;
Ξέρετε κανένα λαό που το κοινωνικό του αγαθό της υγείας «προστατεύεται» με το κλείσιμο νοσοκομείων, δραματική μείωση του νοσοκομειακού προσωπικού, αύξηση των τιμών και ελλείψεις των φαρμάκων, εγκατάλειψη ολόκληρων περιοχών χωρίς γιατρούς και φάρμακα ;
Ξέρετε κανένα λαό που να «λατρεύει» ένα νόμισμα που τον έχει καταστρέψει, έχει εξοντώσει την εγχώρια του παραγωγή λόγω εξωθών «προσαρμοστικών¨εντολών και έχει μετατρέψει την χώρα του σε ξέφραγο αμπέλι ;
Ξέρετε κανένα λαό που οι πολιτικοί «σωτήρες» του είναι αυτοί που τον έριξαν στον γκρεμό και ακόμα κάθεται και τους… λιβανίζει ;
Ξέρετε τέλος κανένα λαό όπου το σβήσιμο της ιστορίας του, της θρησκείας του, της ίδιας του της ταυτότητας και η επίσημη υιοθέτηση κάθε διαστροφής της φύσης του, να την θεωρεί «πρόοδο» και εκσυγχρονισμό και προπαντός προσαρμογή στα ευρωπαϊκά στάνταρτ ;
Σίγουρα θα τον ξέρετε αυτόν τον λαό, γιατί ο λαός αυτός είναι η ΕΛΛΑΔΑ!
Ως πότε ;;;
it’s mean nothing at all if there isn’t any equallity and democracy between their members
Do you know any people in the world who borrows to pay off his debts and they instead reduce increasing rapidly?
Do you know any people that lenders partners “cry” and laments because he lend their money and thus earn much more than they lend?
Do you know any people who develop the economy of means closing shop, dismantling of wages and pensions, unemployment and reset the purchasing ability of citizens?
Do you know any people that businesses in order to find their feet should pay higher taxes in the European Union?
Do you know any people that the community of good health “protected” with hospitals closing, dramatic reduction of hospital staff, rising prices and shortages of drugs, leaving entire regions without doctors and medicines?
Do you know any people that loves a coin who has destroyed, has destroy the domestic production of these extruded adaptive command and has turned the country into an unfenced vineyard?
Do you know any people that politicians “saviors” are the ones who threw him over the cliff and sitting still and caressed?
Do you know any people end where erasing its history, religion, of his own identity and the official adoption of every perversion of nature, to consider ‘progress’ and modernization, above all adapting to European standards?
Υου will definitely be know this people, because the is the Greek people !
For how long ;;;
Dave Ratters
What would be really interesting would be to see the by country breakdown – which countries citizens feel most/least eurpoean etc. I can guess who it would be slanted – the northern countries less, the southern and eastern more! But I would love to be proved wrong.
spped
Unless we realize that the EU is the source of all the evil going on in southerng countries, especially Greece, we are doomed. It is the result of imperialism, made to serve imperialistic purposes, to create classes, to make the rich richer and destroy the poor ones slowly and painfully. But we are all a bunch of apolitical ignorants and we are unable to understand the obvious. People are dying, and we have their blood on our hands.
aurore
A bit disappointed to see there is not one woman on the list of people contributing to EU identity. Jane Austin? Queen Mary? Olympe de Gouges? Come on, we can do better!
The European Union’s role as an international actor must be strengthened and the Union’s common foreign and security policy must be made a reality. You have nothing to fear because Finland is part of the EU. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=psH6TQL1u7A
Europe is the value, both arbritrarily and actively.
Caro
To me, Europe is about common roots and shared past. This makes us in turn have common values and interests, knowing that only together we can go on safely in the future.
Freedom to independently think, freedom to travel, to live and work in another country, get to know the others and accept the differences is priceless.
This is why I feel so deeply European.
Urkreator
I’m French and I’ve learned English (of course) but also German, Italian, Spanish, modern Greek, some Russian and a little Dutch and Croatian/Serbian…
Speaking other Europeans’ languages enables you to understand them much better than with a few words of English.
Europe is democracy: it was invented in Greece 2500 years ago. Greece is the mother of our civilisation: we should treat our old mother with respect and love, even if she is poor and we are well-off. This is why I don’t approve of the way “Europe” is treating Greece and its democratically elected government.
I’m a European citizen; we are all European citizens: the EU is US, not the bureaucrats in Brussels. As free citizens, we should never accept to become the slaves of finance, of banks of the markets. We should take our future in our hands and build the Europe we like.
Europe is based in shared market, which means imperialistic antagonism for more profits. Obviously, the recreation of the German giant after the fall of wall reformed drasticly the imperialist fight between the so called allied countries of EU as also the Maastricht treaty, which categorized the rates of production between the countries set that fight in the real basis that it should be. 22 years after that “magnificent” treaty for the conclusion and unity of EU, the heavy industrial countries managed to overpower the less industrial countries, disabling them to grow and evolve as nations and economies and also desmantling every possibility of them to be independent. So the example of post communistic democracies and also of south european countries as victims of such policies is what we stare now. The vision of a Pax Europana with populations co-operating into a general growth patern that it would be fit for all failed (normally i could add because the price of an appla can be adjusted to the price of car) and the European systems is going steadily to decay. Goodbye EU, in the new decade the return of nation states will bring flowers to your grave because you failed to prove that a Greek, a British, a German and a Polish can work together in order to live together and prosper, because you as overnational organism failed to share the profits…
Jan
I don’t agree with your dependancy perspective. If you look at economic growth rates than also non industrial countries developed. Sure in terms of equality there is still a lot to do, but I think that is more an aim to resolve than something that is fixed for the future. Nearby also non-industrial countries like Denmark have a high level of living quality including a high level of economic development. I don’t see how heavy industry countries like the UK, France, Germany, Italy or Spain among others hindered the other EU countries in development?
Urkreator
Before they can work together, a Greek, a Briton, a German and a Pole (let’s add a Frenchman, an Italian and a Spaniard: there are not only northern countries in Europe), they should be able to TALK TOGETHER.
Now tell me when and where they have the opportunity to talk together !
Only the governments talk together, the citizens never do !
And the European citizens don’t necessarily approve of what the goverments decide in thier name.
British Patriot ;)
To me being European means I am very lucky. Lucky to have been born in the most vibrant, diverse, exciting and beautiful part of the world.
The EU has nothing to do with Europe. I do not consider Europe a Nation. As a British citizen, I do not feel like I share an identity with Spanish, German, Swedish people etc, but what we do have in common is history and fortune. All Europeans are lucky in a sense. To me it means I am lucky
Urkreator
Europe is Unity in Diversity, just like India when you come to think of it.
Diversity is the variety of our languages and cultures (which should be respected and protected of course)
Unity is the fact that we all belong to the same civilisation: the European civilisation that was born in Greece 5 centuries BC. This civilisation has its own values such as human rights, democracy, freedom, equality, brotherhood…
Greece is our mother; this is why we should all respect and love Greece as you respect and love your old mother, and we should do everything we can to help Greece and the Greek people.
The EU is a misunderstanding: it’s quite opposed to the dreams of the European “founding fathers” which were to achieve peace, harmony, cooperation between the nations. The EU is subject to a dictatoship of the markets, financers and bankers.
It’s high time we got rid of the Europe of Money and we replaced it with a Europe of the Heart – I mean a Europe based on solidary and brotherhood between European citizens.
I found an acronym for this Europe in French: ECISS or E6 if you prefer, that is “Europe des Citoyens Indépendante Sociale et Solidaire.”
.…
Few Europeans are satisfied with Europe as it is today, but changing Europe depends exclusively on US.
As the East-German demonstrators shouted just before the fall of the Berlin wall: “Wir sind das Volk!” (we are the people)
WE are Europe; Europe is US
(it’s not something which is imposed on us from the outside)
Let’s just become aware of this, and act accordingly.
Danica
so true! and such a nice comment, finally after all of those!!! I completely agree ith you.
Thanks to Germany the European identity is the thing of the past, just like elections in Italy. Funny that everything they touch they destroy, since the era of the Roman Empire
The point is we not European…British Russians Spanish etc..How can be all the same,just don’t get it.Taking away people’s identity,to suit the people in power??..
Jan
I wouldn’t say that its about taking away identities but about supplemenary identities. Someone who states being British can also state to be European at the same time.
Stephen Pockley
Sorry Jan
There is no such thing as British and European and never will be, only British or European.I am British never ever will be European makes me feel sick just at the thought of it.Still we will be out of the EU soon thank god.
Ágnes
Dear Stephen, How about being British and Scottish/English/Welsh at the same time? Is that not a problem? I think conflicts of identity arise where they are created. Although I am also not sure if it can ever be avoided that some politicians create such conflicts and make political capital out of them…
European identity? Who we are? It is a very critical question. Where we belong? Who we think we are? Perspnally I am a mixed identity. Mediterranean has always been a melting pot. Italian- Greek Turcish or Arab? All together and nothing clear
European identity? Means my passport’s burgundy instead of blue. My identity is English, British, Irish, Swiss, Greek, ROM, Tinker, peasant, working class, artist, epileptic, spastic, psychotic, and so on but yeah, within that is a fellow feeling for the countries around me. That means Europe but not as defined by politician. I feel closer to a factory worker in Guangzhou than I do to some old Etonian carpetbagger with a PPE degree from Oxford and a lust for power.
my ancestors have French, Italian and polish origin ( maybe German as well, but that’s unsure), so I feel European. Thanks to the European construction, we haven’t had any war within the EU’s boundaries and we have mobility possibilities that we could not have dreamt of before. There is much potential, so it’s a pity that there are so many hurdles: mentality of people, administrative burden of the EU institutions, complex and lengthy decision making process, etc..
to be neoliberal and laissez faire and lax on regulation and a free-for-all for multi-national companies – unfortunately a social Europe is a memory only 80s kids and older will remember
‘European identity’ is just a meaningless slogan created by Brussels to fool the simple minded into believing the 500 million people of Europe & Great Britain are one and the same people.
I wouldn’t say so. Actually I conducted some research among people and a number of them answered that they are European when being asked about their identity. Sure, most of them named the national identity as the first one, the second mostly European, but there were some who stated they are European (as well as some who stated that they are Amsterdamer or the like),so actually it appears that people identify with Europe. Now you can discuss whether its about the EU or Europe as a whole, but nevertheles there is a European identity.
Stephen Pockley
There will never be a European identity only British.I personally could give a monies about the rest of Europe all the EU is a sponge
I don’t think there is such a thing as the European label.
First of all European union was mostly created for economic reasons. Also, the differences between folks are so huge that it’s very hard for them to first consider themselves Europeans instead of French, Spanish, Greeks, Germans etc.
Ask any european the question what he/she is and i think only a small minority will first tell you that “I’m European”, even if you’ll ask him outside of Europe.
Definitely people in Europe don’t feel Europeans like the people in the United States feel first of all Americans.
Europa was a beautiful nymph but she is now about a new feudalism where individuals and small producers are taxed into oblivion to favour tax-exempt multinational companies, prvate banks who benefit from soverign Debt, resulting in obligated and desperate aggressive Nato expansion policies.
Historical aspects, to respect Christian background and European values such as autonomy, freedom, social welfare. All are welcome to Europe who can respect and share those common values!
“If Europe were once united in the sharing of its common inheritance there would be no limit to the happiness, prosperity and glory which its 300 million or 400 million people would enjoy. Yet it is from Europe that has sprung that series of frightful nationalistic quarrels, originated by the Teutonic nations in their rise to power, which we have seen in this 20th century and in our own lifetime wreck the peace and mar the prospects of all mankind. […] Under and within that world concept we must re-create the European family in a regional structure called, it may be, the United States of Europe.” W. Churchill
For me its democracy, peace and freedom of mobility as well as also the economic perspective. Living in Switzerland at the moment I appreciate the free borders in most parts of Europe and also the liberty to settle where you want. The European idea is also about the same comon values and overcoming cleavages across borders.
Free traveller , salesman , tourist . I suggest to those who don’t like it to get back to live in close states with tall walls and “help” their internal bureaucracy to live nice and easy , as once was in Yugoslavia , Romania , Checkoslovakia ,Hungaria ,Albania etc,.etc.etc.
And there go the Greeks and their naming issues. Get over it. You don’t see Italians sulking around the world for all the Latin words we use…
Maria B.
Europe has a collective meaning, like the symbol of the young woman who rode on the back of a taurus who turned into dolphin…because she caressed him. She was the most caring of all girls on the meadow and the taurus, respectively the dolphin was Zeus, the Sun God, who liked and preferred her.
The EU is just an antidemocratic waste of our money for the benefit of a few federalist fanatics hell bent on forcing their will onto the peoples of Europe & Great Britain.
Finding back the family which we all come from … I know I am Italian and I love being so … But I am also proud to track back in the faces of my European cousins the roots that let this wonderful tree grow tall! Different but united
We are all citizens of the planet Earth regardless of where we live. We all need to eat, sleep and crap, that’s being human. There is an abundance of wealth in this world and properly managed we can all live as we are supposed to. All this splitting up of people is ultra-nationalism, a thing of the past.
Everyone wants a better life but we must stop the 1% and their unbridled capitalism that keeps the 99% under control, and move towards a socialistic order of society, Europe, USA, Australasia, Middle East, far East, Russia…..
Unless we do this we are doomed to disruption, failure, disease, revolution…
and in the final solution, depopulation engineered by the 1%.
The UK are waking up and seeing through what is happening and voting for Jeremy Corbyn for leader of a political party in their thousands.
We are Europeans even if we wanted or not.The issue is” do we feel members of the European Union?”.We are all so different.We have our own history ,our own principals,our own ethics.There are wounds that haven’t healed yet.We are so different even in little things.The way we see life,family,love.All the countries of the EU have their own identity and i can only talk about the Greeks we can not and won’t relinquish.The Americans are a mixture of people with no identity that’s why they have created their nation.Because they have created an identity for all.
Javier
I agree with Ukreator that Europe is unity in diversity. But I must point out an aspect that the introduction’s article missed: a common language. European identity will be highly reinforced once the European citizens can talk to each other sharing a common second language.
I think it was the most stupid idea ever…oh wait it was for monetary gain…not for the people! so geographically we are next to each other….so? i miss the days when we all had our own currency….culture….Canada is next to USA…..but?
My country Bulgaria is an independent state from 681, with some interruptions. Now because of the EU we are “advised” to lose the national identity, but with not gaining a real EU identity, solidarity, civil rights protection, etc…
Stephen Pockley
Take no notice of the EU ,if you are smart you won’t join at all.It is a terrible cult ro be in .Totally tries to destroy sovereign states identities.Horrendous financial money pit of which there are no benefits.Stay sovereign stay free.
Hugo Oliveira
BCE is a franchise of FRB. FMI is a puppet and France, England and Germany are under the orders of major lobbies. Is there something else we need to know to realise the kind of gangsters we have operating here?
For me, being European means sharing truely European values. And here they are: “The Union is founded on the values of respect for human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law and respect for human rights, including the rights of persons belonging to minorities. These values are common to the Member States in a society in which pluralism, non-discrimination, tolerance, justice, solidarity and equality between women and men prevail.” (art. 2 TEU)
Austerity… Poor… Unhappy… is what it’s in Portugal.
Kostas
For me being european is everything!! I belong to the West.I live in a democracy.I share common values with many countries.Also,European Union protects peace and human rights,and i am proud of it.Furthermore,the borders between countries are not close and there is no bureaucracy for those who travel across Europe!!!Even,one of the biggest advantages of the EU is free trade between member nations, making it easier and cheaper for companies to export their goods to Europe!
Stephen Pockley
As a British subject I feel the open border policy is probably the biggest problem we have in our country quite simply it doesn’t work and other EU scroungers have milked our system .The sooner were out of the EU the better.
Europe is our past and our present. And should be our future, if we go further in the political integration. Politic needs a new way of being, and Europe could be the answer. We need to adapt our countries to the new ways of living. And that sure can not be done if we stay closed in our old vision of national sovereignity.
Just as Pedro Pais de Vasconcelos said earlier in the comments : i am an european born in France.
Stephen Pockley
We British will never agree with this it goes against everything we stand for,however we will be out soon and I wish yoy the best.But I feel Madame Le Penn may win so you will leave the EU too.
I’m really unhappy with the politics here in Portugal but in Germany , sweden (for exemple) you still can live and not survive (as here in Portugal)
I’m trying to be honest what are you going to do with 450€ of minimum salary. And if you come here you see almost everyone in the commercial service has the same salary witch you can’t really survive.
And my father works for a portuguese company for more than 20 years and his salary is not increased since 2004. And as know your salary should be increased every year…
And things are getting expensive everyday so yeah the situation here is not so good.
But it feels good to be european at least it’s a passport to another foreign country… For exemple Australia. Cause if someone gives me a chance to leave this country i maybe wouldn’t choose another european country cause the situation here
Stephen Pockley
Your country needs too leave the EU it is a failed project and totally controlling .I’m happy to say us Brits will be out soon I suggest all other countries do the same.
We are forced to accept stupid rules such as accept illegal immigrants because they say a multicultural country is stronger. If I do not agree I am a racist. Europe has been losing its characteristic for a long time.
Kate Calder
Nobody says you’re a racist for objecting to illegal immigration – though that’s a favourite line of people who are opposed to any and all immigration, because it advantages them if they can present themselves as the victim in the debate.
You’re a racist if you object to the presence of someone in your country on the basis of their skin colour, their accent, their mother tongue, the traditions they embrace, their ‘foreign’ name, or simply where they’re from.
Most of us, it’s worth pointing out, have those tendencies – even though the debate tends to be framed as a matter of ‘racists’ versus ‘non-racists’. It’s simply an evolutionary holdover to prefer the familiar and fear the unfamiliar. But civilisation is about learning to transcend those and other instincts and act and judge and think as beings independent of those constraints. We can choose not to bow to our own fear or uncertainty, and do the things we judge to be morally right.
As for immigration, much as the isolationist parties in Europe want to promote the idea, there are many different ways in which a person can gain access to a country – of which ‘illegal immigration’ is but one category. That’s immigration in direct violation of the laws of the receiving country – so ‘illegal immigrant’ doesn’t include anyone who moves to a place without breaking the law. It doesn’t include refugees and asylum seekers, though the media and the said isolationists very deliberately use the terms in a way that implies illegality, because – again – it serves their own interests to do so.
‘Illegal immigration’ is a real thing, and it’s an offence, and it’s every citizen’s right to be concerned about how that offence is dealt with. But ‘illegal immigration’ isn’t the same thing as ‘immigration’.
While space is relative and discrete, energy is absolute in discreteness! The rational view may hold up for continuity of parallel timing in relative matter forming issues! There are no countries, only barriers of objective point – languages, mind sets, resources, and intelligent objective open systems!
It means being robed every day by German bankers, it means having to watch young people leave the country because there are no jobs. It means the privatization of the Social State, the institutionalization of privilege education for some, the privatization of my country main companies, etc…
Shared values( democracy , human rights , freedom , equality ) , shared INTERESTS ( human development , economic development , education) and security ( we have peace between EU members for the first time in our nightmarish history ) .
Europe was about making trade easier, nothing else. The European experiment has failed as with Greece being told how to run there country by richer nations.
I am ashamed to be European these days. Basic human rights are existing only on the paper, one country makes millions on the back of smaller countries, weapons are sold for to make wars, banks have the power and Europe asks, why there are so many refugees? Europe only serves the white and rich, no one else.
Nothing. From monetarian perspective it is just another money sink on top of the topmost layer. From geological perspective it is just another area with borders. From biological perspective I’d say the species called homo sapiens are a tad more valuable than borders and money sinks.
Europe for me (Portugal) means Excellence, Diversity, Leadership and Integrity. If you compare Europe to other regions, that is what comes to my mind but it still has much more to do. We still need more unity, sustainability, environmental respect approach, social justice, meritocracy, transparency and mostly more Democracy. I mean more Democracy as for example:
– Elections for Europe closer to each citizen. Such as:
> Any UE citizen should be able to set their own application for deputy
Ivan Burrows, the fear, misery and unemployment are caused by very complex background corporations, banks worldwide, it is not a European “value” only, so we can resolve those matters only together as your British corporations are involved as well!
What we think it means to be a European is just the marketing scam of EU which is truly the conglomerate of European monopolies and capitals that commands our lives.
I am and will only feel portuguese. The EU is nice as a group of countries that work to attain the same goals but I will never be “European”. Anyone that travels can see there is cultural difference between countries, even if the metropolitan culture looks the same at surface level. Just because european countries share some values it doesn’t mean it is a european identity.
To be European for me means first to live in peace with the rest of European nations and so to avoid the war that was habitual in the past. Second for me is a first big step towards a word without boundaries where everyone is citizen of the word and third is to be able to survive to the economic globalization and to the impact in the global market of the increasing power nations like China, India and Brasil. Looking at the present we need more political unity and the power of the financial institustions must decrease otherwise shitty nationalisms will increase.
Europe will face a lot of global challenges. If each European country rather decides to be on its own and in competition with China/Asia or the Americas – well good luck. Europe has to proof that it is more than just a club for debates. Fighting corruption, establishing a European army/police, a common financial government (at least in the eurozone) and much more solidarity with the crisis countries in the south with regards to refugees and social projects/investments – this should be Europe.
Steve P
No thanks we will keep our own money,sovereignty,Armed Forces,we already fight corruption in our own country sort your own out,forget the crisis countries and immigrants not our problem,close our borders and close channel tunnel,This is Britain or at least soon will be.
European identity is about shared values and a shared way of life, cooperation,communion and creating positive social examples for the non European nations. It is not about empires and conflicts anymore, but humanitarian actions, tolerance and mutual help -this is the Europe I believe in, because together we are stronger and Better!
Steve P
ahhh words from someone from a very poor country,well this is my thought each European country sort out there own affairs ,humanitarian policies will ruin you in the end, harsh but thats the facts leave them to there own devices.Separate our country is way stronger and better out of the EU.
“Self-indulgent politicians ignoring arithmetic and the lessons of history trying to run Europe on the basis of fantasy economics. As a result people are unhappy, divided, pooerer. A nightmare that doesn´t care about people but only about euros. A continent where things like transparency between UE instituitions and citizens, democratic cooperation, more union in the world stage or even safety have no more meaning.
Ivan Burrows
You can’t just leave us like that, you were one of the founders country of the E.U
and you’re part of the good and wrong leading of the institutions as well as finance and banking..
So, we would miss you but U.K. won’t leave, it would rather contribute to a better organized leadership, less burocratic management and more of a nations approach in E.U. You should rather take the initiative now…
Steve P
Ferenc
We will leave the British have had enough of the EU and all its policies.We benefit in NO way shape or form from being in this farce of a club.We were not one of the founders we joined later in the 70s but god i wish we had not.
Britain will leave but im sure that you all will survive and possible leave yourselves.
It is paradoxical to say Europe is just a name of a continent, because if it was just about finding a geographical term for naming a continent , than it would have been called Eurasia, as it is attached to Asia, and not a divided continent. Traditionally speaking, Europe is not just a geographical term on a map.
It meant some shared values and culture. Now it means just corruption and the destruction of democratical values and cultures by the tirany of German banks and neocon leaders.
All of you, the european parliament, are in a nonsense of the develope of the EU project! You must make One internal LAW, One ARMY, One internal law for salary, One internal law for Medical Right….. SHAME OF YOU!
When I hear the word European for me it means culture, humanity, adventurous spirit, respect of nationalities and great history; an identity not larger than our national one, but of a different concept all together.
As Europeans we had to live two world wars in a continent where democracy, dialogue and humanistic ideas first show up. Hopefully, through the E.U. we will become a great example for all nations who know how to respect nationalities and nations work as an allegiance.
As a Hellene I feel it is my duty to work the best towards ariston= my very best, as my ancestors have been doing. As a European I feel it is my privilege and my duty to share our values and keep up to our standards.
National and individual identities are as important as our common European identity, and each European country’s past history.
Personally, I’ve always felt like an European-Portuguese – and proud of it!!!
Nowadays, the EU is mostly a bunch of politicians and bureaucrats serving their own political interests and international agendas, not the best interests of European countries and their people.
Steve P
I dont feel European never have im British not European,and i believe vast majority of Brits feel the same,as we will prove when we leave the EU.
In the name of the profit, destryoing every welfare state, democracy and popular sovereignty, and in the end a lot of decent jobs…
Thanks for poverty and unemployment.
It means being a part of something that some decades ago started with the purpose of achieving peace, respect and economic and social growth for all countries inside, but that throughout the years have become nothing more than a imposed dictatorship achieved by a few, creating unemployment, debt and hunger for many countries such as Greece, Portugal and Ireland…
…For me, being an European SHOULD be an honor of a union in which it’s founding were of right and equality, and it CAN be, but for that, some people have to stop destroying it from the inside with so much corruption, inhuman cuts, and a totally fair market inside the EU zone.
It means to be degraded as a US colony, where politicians & bureaucrats have sold their soul to parasitic financial institutions & the military-industrial complex. National governments – out of fear or corruption – bow to the US even when it harms Europe (see: sanctions on Russia). As a citizen I have no power and I am not protected in any way. I am forced to emigrate in order to find a job, or face a future of poverty and civil war. The EU is a construct conceived and brought about by the US (see: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/1356047/Euro-federalists-financed-by-US-spy-chiefs.html). It has been achieved because European journalists and financial institutions were complicit and did not alert the citizens of a very known fact: that the common currency would be a total DISASTER, as Prof Richard Werner relates: https://professorwerner.wordpress.com/
When we say “I am a European” of course we have to mean: 1)ancient Greek civilization 2)graeco-roman civilization 3)enlightenment . In other words, the European culture for which we are proud. Also when I say, I am a European, I don’t mean the E.U., because I am ashamed for this failed, non-democracy and bureaucracy, organization, that control the European peoples.
Europe is my ‘homeland’. It is the part of the world where I feel at home. We share history, culture, values and hopefully (at least I feel that way) identity. The country of Europe where I live, the Netherlands, is a part of my ‘homeland’ with ‘own’ twits on these shared values etc. but that counts for my hometown, Deventer, too when I compare it to the Netherlands…
To be european means sharing the values of european civilization and all the heritage of its History. It means to be born and raised in one of the many, many, many political or social entities that existed in – and defined – Europe over time and space. Well, I guess in a third place, being of native european descent is also of some importance in being…european.
Ser Europea y pertenecer a la UE significa tener las mismas oportunidades. En este momento no es así. La crisis ha afectado con mucha intensidad a los países del sur de Europa y nuestros jóvenes necesitan mucha ayuda y solidaridad del resto de la UE. El riesgo es tener una generación perdida.
To be European means to have a nondemocratically chosen entity make legislation for all countries while simply ignoring inherent social and cultural differences between countries. And let’s not forget that wonderful TTIP treaty that was simply pushed through and will allow companies to sue countries. As a European you can also benefit from useful legislation on how bent cucumbers and bananas are maximally allowed to be and the introduction of low power vaccuum cleaners. As a cherry on the cake you get “leaders” like Guy Verhofstadt who with the assistance of his trusty round-bellied friend Hans van Baalen basically declared war on Russia with their little “we have won” speech in the Ukraine. And of course we get all of this wonderful stuff at a very reasonable price. No useless spending of money or tax free salaries will ever be found in Brussels. Oh wait…
But it’s like Jean-Claude Juncker, president of the European Commission, already pointed out: “Most Europeans don’t understand what’s being decided anyways.” So in other words, shut up, we know what’s best for you (meaning us) and pay your taxes.
“European feeling” or “the art to play with your emotions with beautiful words to make you to accept worst things” such as the current giant hold-up from banksters undercovered by national debts. Everyone should look at the process of money creation (money = debt), also look for TTIP/TAFTA and how Europe is going to be privatized by multinational companies !
Let Greeks talk about what means to be “European” !
The Paradise: the place where policemen are English, the cooks are French, the mechanics are German, the lovers are Italian, and where everything is planned by the Swiss.
The Hell: the place where policemen are German, the cooks are English, the mechanics are french, the lovers are Swiss, and where everything is planned by the Italians.
If you can understand that joke, maybe it means that there’s no European identity.
Some day Europe will be the united federation of Europe with individual countries as member states as what they are today but each governing themselves using their cultural values and teaditions. The world is shrinking.
Urkreator
I’ve read most of your messages since the beginning of August and the funny thing is… I agree with most of you, even when you have apparently opposed opinions…
Europe is our PAST.
Socrates, Aristotle, Plato, Shakespeare, Cervantes, Dante, Dostoyevsky, Chekhov, Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, Verdi, Michelangelo, Rafaele, Picasso, Goya, Turner, Voltaire, Hugo, Goethe, Lorca, Joyce, Kant, Kirkegaard, Spinoza, Bergman, Fellini, Almodóvar, the Beatles, the Rolling Stones… and so many others made us what we are today…
But Europe is also our FUTURE.
In a globalized world, how can we resist the competition of the new giants – the so-called BRICS – like China, or India ? Britain, France, Spain, Italy, and even Germany are no longer what they used to be: there is no British Empire left, no French colonies, Deutsches Reich or Siglo de Oro any more.
We have no other ALTERNATIVE: either we UNITE or we DIE OUT.
The big question is: What Europe do we want ? That of Brussel burocrats imposing the dictatorship of banks, finance and multinationals, or the Europe of Citizens based on democracy and solidarity, ecology, full employment and social welfare. We, citizens of Europe can decide; Yes We Can !
hans van veen
After 2002, to pay for political mistakes in countries other then my own.
Kate Calder
For me, the European Union is a step towards a greater future. It’s unity, and that is the best hope humanity has. We are a small species living on a tiny, isolated world orbiting a single spark of light in the midst of a vast, endless ocean of night.
We have spent our entire evolutionary history fighting, squabbling, trying to mark out ‘our’ space and defend it from ‘them’. We have killed each other in the billions in the name of fear, of greed, of jealousy, or simple spite. We continue to point weapons at each other even now – some of those weapons potentially capable of extinguishing our tiny light from the universe forever.
Am I being over-dramatic? Perhaps – but it doesn’t take much but to look at photos of the Earth from a great distance. The Pale Blue Dot image is a good one, along with Carl Sagan’s quote that goes along with it. He highlights how tiny everything we’ve ever fought over has really been, and how fragile we are. Earth from a distance – and then understand that that great distance is, cosmically speaking, no distance at all.
For me, the European Union – just as with other similar endeavours at all sorts of scales – is about unifying humanity; about bringing us together as neighbours, as brothers and sisters who, while we might have different languages and cultures, all share the same basic common hopes and desires. We want safety, security, freedom, dignity, friendship, love, and to have faith in a better future. The Union is about creating a unified continent that recognises people’s differences and works with those differences to create harmony.
It won’t happen quickly. The EU isn’t perfect. It’s not even close to perfect. It’s mired in bureaucracy and subject to too many vested interests – but it’s better than the alternative. I was British. Now I’m European. And even if Britain takes the decision (as I very sadly believe it will) to leave the EU after our referendum, I will always consider myself European, if not simply ‘human’, no matter what my passport might say. I will not go backwards. I don’t believe humanity can afford to keep going backwards.
And one day, I’d like to think there’ll be a website asking me what it means to me to be a Citizen of Earth.
Urkreator
LANGUAGE
Javier is right: one othe the major problems in Europe is language.
In the USA, every newcomer, whatever his original nationality, language and culture, is melted into the melting pot and becomes American, using one language: English (although the use of Spanish is spreading).
In the EU there are 24 official languages and we don’t want a European melting pot: we are attached to our languages and cultures.
But the drawback is Europeans don’t communicate with each other. I’m just back from Greece where I met a lot of people, Greeks and tourists. But the exchanges between all of them is strictly limited to the most basic needs: sleeeping, eating, drinking and visiting the sites.
They never have real conversations.
When you learn a foreign language, you start understanding the people who speak the language as native speakers, you become a native speaker a little … but of course every European cannot learn 20 foreign languages or so, and thus, even if we don’t make war against each other any more, all our prejudices remain and we don’t understand each other any better.
What we need is a COMMON language for Europe, not a SINGLE language, a language that is ADDED to European languages, and doesn’t REPLACE them. We want to preserve our diversity and at the same time acquire a certain unity.
Adopting the American model of life, adapting to the labour market – low wages and no security. Welcome illegal migration, caused by the constant foreign meddling in the Middle East by America. Constant surveillance by all types of media.
Of course the whole idea of “Europe” is some form of shared identity, but it should never be forced, and people should always be able to fully express themselves in their national, regional and individual identities if they wish to do so.
I am grappling with the following question: If we all agree that solidarity, equality, and inclusivity are core values of being European (which I agree they are/or ought to be) then should the EU membership of an already existing EU country that acts against those core values be capable of being legally challenged? For example, if a country, in this case Poland for example, decided to be against those core values, why should they (or would they want to for that matter) remain in the EU?
This white race goes on diminishing as they have not faith in family bondage and more in materialistic than spiritual since this race have no faith of the desert religion which had ecploited to a maximum levek by takibg them into revolution like french russia and two world war by germans made them to suffer to a maximum extent added to this thd refugees from arab world put them in dark .this leads to discomfert and disturbance among themselves and also disunity among the white .may god with whome they worship has to save this race .
I feel very better me of certain people that come only here to criticize. I feel me part of something greater. With some potentialities not yet express. But I hope in the future.
It mostly mean to be privileged, and that means that we enjoy this privileges over other people, for example people from the “third world”. So that is not a good thing, I mean at least if we are not selfish. That is something that we need to fight against, in order to live in a world with more equality and respect between nations.
However, some European people are more privileged than others, think for example about German-Greek people. :/
I do not feel so much proud of Europe these days.
Europe was powerful, secure and cared in the first place for it’s own citizens.
Now crime, insecurity, terrorism, unemployment, demographical problems are increasing, because Europe is showing us that she cares more about the new economical leeches, who do not care about our culture, traditions and being an European but only about the easy money and social policy, while there are hundreds of homeless, poor and insecure Europeans across Europe…
We are leaving in a huge Illusion, dwelling in a sweetened Dream, powered by our incompetent Leaders…
Europe is just a name in the map. The EU is a fake build up as a manger for second class -and retired- politicians. The EU and the € has brought misery to every individual country.
John Zervas
European Identity is a complex and shrouded concept. It has to do with what the Union wants for itself. If it wants to become a political supranational state then the EU identity needs common education and a shared Community, which does not exist at the moment. If however the EU wishes to stay as it is now and only deepen its economic aspect indefinitely, the Eurozone, then European Identity is doomed to remain an elaborate front for simplifying the reasons multinational actors like companies wish to overpower member-state goverments.
Europe is a name on the map and nothing more…….no such thing as a european identity and Eurpean is just my ethnic grouping and has No other meaning for me.
Well, I am European because I had the chance to be born in a country on the continent of Europe. I felt European far before my country was included in the EU without the consent of its people.
I have dual nationality; born and bred in London, married to a Finn and living in Finland. On retiring, we spent winters in Spain for over 10 years and have travelled widely throughout Europe. We have two family members settled abroad, one in Scotland and the other in France which keep us well aware of events that happen outside our borders. Personally, I feel very European and am a little suspicious of nationalistic sentiments as arousing negative prejudices without proper cause.
We were just today talking with 6 different nationalities in the coffee table, and we agreed on boys being more, and longer dependent on their parents, which might be a European trait. Dependent means choosing clothes, and other organisation of every day life. Girls are naturally more independent.
It’s clear that in Europe the general values are more social based. There is a common way of life that evolves depending on the country. But there is not such thing as European identity and it will never exist until 100% of the people speak a common language and exchange experiences between countries. Also, nobody will like Europe if we keep being governed undemocratically by Merkel and Hollande.
It is definitely not like in the US, an American identity is very strong even there are 50 states. In Europe different languages and nationalities are so solid it will take at least half a century to create a European profile.
Considering half of Europe’s response to the migrant crisis coupled with the whole of Europe’s reaction to Russia, I would say that “European” values are in decline and we are seeing a resurrection of nationalism.
Used to mean being free to explore a part of the world without unnecessary obligations, knowing that you’re free to live wherever you want. Used to mean being in a family and having guarantee that you have the same chances to achieve your dreams no matter if you’re Balkan or French or German….. Now since I m greek, it means being budgered by Germans I occasionally meet who think that I am broke, not trustworthy, lazy etc. Feels like being inferior to the “elite ” countries of eu. Guess what? I don’t believe in eu solidarity, or in eu at all for that matter.
Indeed the Eurpean idea has only reached the rich students at good universities, who will lead the EU soon and poor migrants sending home the money they earn abroad and the German mncs it looks like! Rest is happy with no borders and no hassel with currency.
Being European for me primarily means being part of the European Union. I regard this a big priviledge and a strengthening of supranationality in the EU as the best and only way for our future development. However, I also see and understand that many EU citizens don’t directly feel how they’re profiting from being part of the EU and concentrate on the national focus, especially at times of different European crises. As I am able to feel and appreciate this priviledge by travelling, using Erasmus+ and so many other factors in my everyday life and thus can easily feel “European” and take the European perspective I regard it as my responsibility to stand up for the European idea despite all critical topical political questions and try to bring it closer to European citizens who don’t feel this priviledge in their everyday life.
Stephen Pockley
I am not European I am British nothing more nothing less.
As for the EU sooner were out the better and we will leave.we are fed up of been financially fleeced and out voted for no benefit for us.
How is that for feeling European.
To me, being Portuguese and being European are two indissociable facts =) I never did have the chance to feel the slightest conflict within me about my it, though… I was born European, with full European ancesty, into a Christian family and raised on European values… Not to say, of course, that all these requirements ought to be fulfilled in order for one to be able to consider himself or herself European. I’m just saying that I, myself, never questioned my own European identity…
Urkreator
I will never agree with people who say “Europe is just a name on the map”; you cannot simply blot out 2500 years of European civilisation! I would advise these people to open a history book.
…
I agree with Athena and Angie Par that solidary, equality, social welfare and human rights are core European values and that they should be followed and put into practice in all circumstances: there are no “super-Europeans” and “under-Europeans”, (Übermenschen und Untermenschen).
…
I do sympathize with the Greek people (I speak modern Greek and often visit the country). I think the way Greece was treated recently is just intolerable. We are simply manipulated by unscrupulous politicians who turn us against each other and incite people to think that Southerners are lazy people who don’t want to work, whereas the OECD has shown that Greeks, for ex. work much more than French people and Germans.
…
But may be things are changing… at least, let’s hope so !
Laurent du Béarn
En tout cas, c’est un thème qui fait parler
In any case, Europe is a theme that animates
En cualquier caso, Europa es un tema que anima
Em qualquer caso, a Europa é um tema que anima
In ogni caso, l’Europa è un tema che anima
In jedem Fall ist Europa ein Thema, das animiert
In ieder geval, Europa is een thema dat bezielt
Under alle omstændigheder, Europa er et tema, der animerer
I vilket fall som helst, är Europa ett tema som besjälar
Joka tapauksessa Eurooppa on teema, joka elävöittää
Igal juhul, Euroopas on teema, mis elustab
Jebkurā gadījumā, Eiropa ir tēma, kas atdzīvina
Bet kuriuo atveju, Europoje yra tema, kad gaivina
W każdym przypadku, w Europie to temat, który ożywia
V každém případě, Evropa je téma, které oživuje
V každom prípade, Európa je téma, ktoré oživuje
V vsakem primeru, Evropa je tema, ki animira
U svakom slučaju, Europa je tema koja nadahnjuje
În orice caz, Europa este o temă care animă
Mindenesetre, Európa egy témát, amely éltet
Във всеки случай, Европа е тема, която съживява
Σε κάθε περίπτωση, η Ευρώπη είναι ένα θέμα που ζωντανεύει
Fi kwalunkwe każ, l-Ewropa hija tema li animates
In aon chás, tá an Eoraip téama go animates
… En qualsevol cas, Europa és un tema que anima
… Edonola ere, Europak animatzen gai bat da
Urkreator
When you think you have to learn all this each time you want to communicate with Europeans !
But I do like it: it shows our diversity… it’s much more difficult to find our “Unity”
Lamborghini P.
Everything. Very proud to be european. I have born in one of the most great place on earth… but still imperfect. I still hope in the future to find our Unity, still distant but possible once clear us of the destabilizing elements.
To me being European is part of my identity, brotherhood, common history, sharing good and bad moments, co operating and sovereinety. On the other hand it means being rejected as the most hated country member in this company. I feel as I need more struggle to cope with the others. It is really sad to be at the bottom of the group
Alexandru S.
I have to make two important distinctions here. What does it mean for me to be European and what does it mean for others.
I see myself as belonging to a small national community and through it to a larger one which is, in this case, Europe. Europe is a family of nations that share a common history, culture and above all else, common values. The importance we place on peace,democracy, freedom of speech and human dignity is what brought us togheter and we should pursue these ideals togheter. Especially in a globalized world where European states in particular have no chance against larger ones such as USA, Russia or China.
However, I doubt even if myself and other people have this sense of a European identity I actually doubt that most European citizens share it. Many of the problems we are facing today (like Brexit, or Poland’s and Hungary’s extreme-right) are due to the lack of a European identity for most people. They feel more connected to their own national identity rather than what they perceive as an abstract European construction. We haven’t done enough in this regard. We haven’t done enough to build a common European identity at the social level.
George Yiannitsiotis
The common European identity was destroyed by the EU-ECB-IMF gang May, 2010 in Greece. Since then, the respect of the common values you referred to, has been replaced with the persue of the international markets interest to the expense of the peoples of Europe. No hope of going back on track for Europe, except if the EU bureaucracy be demolished along with the ECB (usurers institution).-
Simone Muffolini
Together, prospérité, joie, libération, justice, vertu, je suis citoyen européen et les douze étoiles sont la clé pour comprendre la plénitude de mon temps, j’ai confiance en une interprétation uniforme, raisonnement et la sensibilisation sont la force de l’Europe.
To be from “the old continent”; to have centuries of culture and history. A shared identity, unified in our differences. Working together to bring ourselves up to the same high standards.
It means nothing, because I’m not and have never been “european”. I love Britain, Norway, Switzerland or Greece, I like Germany and France a little bit less, I admire Turkey and Hungary and keep my fingers cross for positive political transformation in Romania. We’re all different one another, with different origins, roots, histories, languages etc. No one’s asking asian or africans “what does it mean to You to be Asian/African” because it only mean “this is part of the World where I happen to live on”. We are very lucky, Europe is the most interesting part of the world (historically and politically) , relatively rich and peaceful, so I’m glad that I’m living here, but please EU, stop imposing, that we are all the same country.
Simone Muffolini
J’imagine que l’Europe prend en charge les citoyens de bonne volonté.
Democracy , human rights, justice , peace and equality . Everything what religion fight against :
STOP FINANCING RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS AND CANCEL YOUR CHURCH MEMBERSHIP, THEY DON’T HELP , THEY JUST
CREATE DAMAGE AND STOP HUMAN DEVELOPMENT , YOU JUST MAKE THEM RICH .
the most old civilation of letters science colleges theology but now is a big super Market of unuseless things without any God.. medenistes and any culture except Euro taxes and loans.Human happiness art defence from Asians and new scientests are all in America who is our.. children
Europe its not going to be united after some time…
Matt
Europe is a continent, a landmass made up of different countries. Nothing more.
I am not European and never will be. I am English first and British second. I prefer to be a subject and not a citizen. I don’t want to be part of this doomed project. I am hopping this is the year the the uk leaves the eu. Even if doesn’t I will continue to do my bit to get the uk to leave at some point in the future and offer no support in any to any part of the so called “eu project”.
I couldn’t care less if this upsets or offends anyone
European union now means plutocracy – government for the wealthy by the wealthy. We were tricked into this with temporary teasers of a “social Europe” which all vanished as soon as we sold our souls
It means among many things, we can date people freely from all of Europe and try many cultural and sexual flavors that go beyond mere trivialities such as food :) happy new year!
If we love democracy and principle of self-determination of peoples, we shall come back to a collaborative European Community between sovereign Countries and destroy European Union, Brussel technocrats, ECB and Euro, that serve the interests of lobby groups and financial powers. In Star Wars terminology, we have to choose between Resistance and Galactic Empire. :)
1/ a group of persons organized for a social, literary, athletic, political, or other purpose an organization that offers its subscribers certain benefits, as discounts, bonuses, or interest, in return . Yes. The EU is a club, and thye ones called Europeans, are simply the members of that club. No mistery, no family, no other ties except the things you agreed upon. Is not DNA, is not the same political or social view, mot the same language or religion. The terms agreed are mobility, same money, and other minor things. Making it huge or really binding is too much to ask. I see great things that cme from the Union, but asking too much is fiction. CLUB EUROPE.
Can you tell me what makes me European? I am from former Yugoslavia(Europe). My country collapsed because of dreams of united Europe. I can’t make steps towards improvements in my country because it looks pointless and we stuck in deep mug and i need to accept reality which is impossible to accept. On the other hand i can not make steps towards go to EU because of your visas and fascism and you keeping us out this fucking club. So what is my point, there is lot of Europs. I am Europe, you are Europe. There is another Europs also. Only thing is that you (EU) are the worst part of it.
There are + 50 countries in ‘Europe’ & only 28 (soon to be 27) in the EU but the arrogant pro EU fanatics claim the name ‘European’ for themselves, making the label meaningless.
You may as well ask what does it feel like to be African. Whether it feels good or bad depends which country in that continent you live in and who is in charge of it. For the poor, the sick and the disabled in the UK it is not a good time to be British with the Conservatives in charge.
Urkreator
Alexandru S.
” I see myself as belonging to a small national community and through it to a larger one which is, in this case, Europe. Europe is a family of nations that share a common history, culture and above all else, common values. The importance we place on peace,democracy, freedom of speech and human dignity is what brought us togheter and we should pursue these ideals togheter. Especially in a globalized world where European states in particular have no chance against larger ones such as USA, Russia or China.”
HEAR! HEAR! HEAR!
” Many of the problems we are facing today (like Brexit, or Poland’s and Hungary’s extreme-right) are due to the lack of a European identity for most people. They feel more connected to their own national identity rather than what they perceive as an abstract European construction. We haven’t done enough in this regard. We haven’t done enough to build a common European identity at the social level.”
I think you are right Alexandru, we haven’t done enough, not to build a European identity, but to discover a European identity that already exists: you only have to live in Asia or Africa for a while, to discover not only that we ARE European, but that Asians and Africans consider US as Europeans.
Marcel Lesik
” No one’s asking asian or africans “what does it mean to You to be Asian/African” because it only mean “this is part of the World where I happen to live on”
You’re wrong: many Africans are concerned abour African Unity: they have understood that this would be the only way not to become the preys of the new colonists: China, the US and the old ones: Europe.
To be a white Chrisyian living in a European nation state.
Sonia
I don’t know what it means to be European? I am not European. I am British. At least that’s what it says on my passport and the box I tick in all official documents I’m asked to sign.
We might share some values but that isn’t European identity.
Europe is a place on a map – a continent made up of different countries. If your born within this continent in a particular country I think this is what gives you your identity. You might if born on the continent consider yourself to be European ( I don’t know) but I do not. I was born on an island called the British Isles or United Kingdom so I suppose I consider my self to me British and part of a United Kingdom. I don’t consider myself to be European.
I’m not sure about the result of your info graphic I think that’s a percentage of people who are confused and are sitting on the fence. They want to be both or are afraid of saying one or other.
Just my opinion. I’m entitled to it. Please don’t send me replies commenting on how stupid or ignorant I am. By all means though I am happy to hear your opinions on the question asked not your opinion on what I think.
Urkreator
Sorry Sonia (this is also my daughter’s name, by the way), but I find this very hypocritical: “I don’t know what it means to be European? I am not European. I am British”.
As far as you can go back in time (1066 and even before) Britain has ALWAYS meddled with European affairs… The Hundred Years’war,and so on… and thank God you did in the last World War, otherwise we might still be under the Nazi rule: Thank you very much Sir Winston! (who was a great European, by the way).
What do you expect ? A little referendum to cancel hundreds of years of history? Are you planning to put up a fence around your dear little island ?
What made Britain Great Britain in the past was the British Empire. Now Britain is isolated; how could it compete with the new giants: China, India, Brazil… ? It would be the same for France, Italy and even Germany if we stood alone: we are too small in a global world. This is why we have no other option than to unite in order to be able to face the challenges of a global world.
This will take time, because changing people’s mentalities is much slower than issuing directives from Brussels. On the other hand, I think the EU should change too. It should be based on democracy and solidarity and not on finance alone. But this change can only be brought about from within.
George Yiannitsiotis
“the EU should change too. It should be based on democracy and solidarity and not on finance alone. But this change can only be brought about from within.”
Obviously, you are German or live in Germany. Since May, 2010, Brussels obey to Mr Schauble’s orders, squeezing the “bad-lazy-tricky-corrupt(!)” PIIGS. The EU has been over when puppet Oli Rehn stated to battered Greeks “Game over”. Slavery is the only condition at least Greeks can not afford. Bye-bye German-centric “EU”.
Please do not confuse/mess-up the “EU” with EUROPE. The EU ended up as a bunch of greedy USURERS to the benefit of the German economic-political elite. EUROPE has nothing to do with this usurers’ gang.
Urkreator
Δυστυχώς, Γιώργος, δεν καταλαβαίνεις ο τι εννοώ.
I’m French and I support the Greek people (I even wrote a tale about what happened last summer). If you’re interested, here’s the link: http://uropi.canalblog.com/archives/2015/08/02/32435468.html http://uropi.canalblog.com/archives/2015/10/12/32765038.html http://uropi.canalblog.com/archives/2015/10/22/32811012.html
(in fact there are 3 articles).
…
The problem is not Germans versus Greeks, Spaniards, Britons or Italians. The problem is financial ultra-liberalism that turns people into slaves everywhere in the world. These people, the Troika and their friends are NOT Europe: they have seized power in Brussels because people don’t bother to vote in the European elections.
WE are EUROPE ! WE the citizens of Europe.
George Yiannitsiotis
Je comprends tres bien me mon message est clair: L’union europeen est en train de se desagreger. Pour la Grece, sa pose une question des nouveux allies (la Russie?) pour survivre. Pour les Francais se trop tard d’ equilibrer la force financiere Allemande. Les Anglais ont une strategie d’exodus. Pas seulement une question d’ultra-neo-liberalismus mais une question d’existence pour tous les pays membres de l’UE
Urkreator
Yannis Varoufakis has launched a pan-European movement, because any country in Europe (including Germany) is too small to face global challenges and compete with giants like China, India, the USA… etc.
Too small to resist the power of gigantic mutinationals and banks. US banks engineered the present financial crisis, giant laboratories are poisoning our food everywhere, and it doesn’t really matter whether they are German, American or Swiss: the results are the same.
If we, the people of Europe cannot unite to fight together and build a new Europe, not based on finance, but on solidarity, I’m afraid there is no hope for the future.
George Yiannitsiotis
Solidarite? Anecdote pour la Grece!
Too late, too little. For Greece, it is a question of survival to abide by the old geostrategic rule: never clash with the naval superpower; keep doors open to Russia; be afraid when France loses power vs Germany in the center of the Continent.
Austrian aggressive act against last firday’s EU decision regarding the handling of refugees (to call a summit with non-EU countries of W.Balkans to fence off Greece!) is the latest proof that there can be no unity and solidarity in a “Union” where Germany dictates the rules of the game.
PS I have great esteem for Mr Varoufakis’ effort to alleviate the burden of an unpayable Greek debt last year. However, his pro-European, pro-eurozone effort, stroke on deaf ears. That was the last chance of a really “United Europe”. Game over. Ο ΣΩΖΩΝ ΕΑΥΤΟΝ ΣΩΘΗΤΩ!
Urkreator
You are talking about governments, I’m talking about peoples (not about people, but peoples with an -S: οι λαοί). In a democracy (you know that old thing that was invented in Athens 5 centuries BC) normally the power belongs to the people. We have to demand the power back. There are demonstrations almost every week in Athens: it won’t change anything, I’m sorry to say. Now if there were demonstrations of the same size and much bigger in Paris, Madrid, Rome… at the same time, Brussels would undoubtedly hear it.
This is what Yannis Varoufakis has understood: alone you can do nothing; united we can win.
Just imagine, if in last spring’s negotiations France, Italy, Spain… had stood together in solidarity with Greece… the result would have been completely different.
Whar solution do you suggest ? Grexit ? Brexit ? Frexit ? Spexit ? Italexit ?
George Yiannitsiotis
There is no sand left in the hourglass (ΚΛΕΨΥΔΡΑ) for pan-european democratic movements. The SECURITY situation is deteriorating day-by-day and Greece faces (as a people and a state) existential threats due to the tripolar equilibrium that has been imbalanced since the collapse of the Berlin Wall. Peace and Security are prerequisites for Democracy. And the “EU” has already proven impotent in safegurading PEACE and SECURITY for Greece and the Greek people. In the contrary: the EU directly undermines our defense and security potential via Memoranda I-III.
James M.
What does it mean to be European? What does it mean to be British?
Urkreator
British ? tea and scones, eggs and bacon for breakfast and a pint of bitter at the local pub. French ? Camembert and vin rouge… etc. Spanish ? Paella, calamares en su tinta…
European ? To be able to benefit from all this.
…
Γιώργος, αν σε καταλαβαίνω καλά, η μόνη λύση είναι η Χρυσή Αυγή, και όλα τα φασιστικά κινήματα που εμφανίζονται παντού στην Ευρώπη;
George Yiannitsiotis
Δεν με καταλάβατε. Η Ελλάδα υπάρχει ως κράτος σ’αυτή την γωνιά του κόσμου ως σημείο εξισορρόπησης αντίρροπων δυνάμεων που συγκλίνουν εκεί:
1. Ρωσία (ΒΑ με στρατηγικό στόχο την πρόσβαση στην Μεσόγειο)
2. Θαλασσοκράτειρ (εως το 1947 το Η.Β. έπειτα, ΗΠΑ)
3. Γαλλία (κύρια δύναμη ελέγχουσα την ηπειρωτική Ευρώπη με διπλή πρόσβαση σε Μεσόγειο & Ατλαντικό-Β.Θάλασσα).
Οποτε, ιστορικά, η Ρωσία υποχωρούσε και δεν ήλεγχε την βόρεια ακτή της Μαύρης Θάλασσας, η Γαλλία ΔΕΝ ήταν κυρίαρχη στην ηπειρωτική Ευρώπη και το Η.Β./ΗΠΑ στη Μεσόγειο, η Ελλάδα αντιμετώπιζε υπαρξιακό κίνδυνο. Δείτε το 1915, το 1940 και σήμερα. Οι κινήσεις στην σκακιέρα επιβάλλουν ΕΘΝΙΚΗ Πολιτική με αναζήτηση νέων συμμαχιών τόσο σε οικονομικό όσο και στρατιωτικό επίπεδο. Αυτή την στιγμή, η μόνη αντίρροπη δύναμη στην γερμανοκρατούμενη “ΕΕ” είναι η Ρωσία (υπό προϋποθέσεις) και οι ΗΠΑ (υπό τον όρο σύγκλισης με την Ρωσία και σύγκρουσης με την γερμανοκεντρική ΕΕ). Real politik αγαπητέ.
Σημείωση: Η Γερμανία και η διεφθαρμένη “ΕΕ” γραφειοκρατεία στήριξαν και εξακολουθούν να στηρίζουν λυσσαλέα την διεφθαρμένη (αγορασμένη από την Siemens κ.α. πολυεθνικές γερμανικών κυρίως συμφερόντων) πολιτική & οικονομική elite της χώρας. Η “λύση” στην οποία αναφέρεσθε, ΔΕΝ είναι λύση. Λύση δεν μπορεί να δώσει ο υπόκοσμος της νύχτας που απλώς αυτονομήθηκε προ 4ετίας από τον υπόκοσμο της ημέρας του οποίου τις βρώμικες δουλειές διεκπεραίωνε εως τότε.
Absolutely nothing. I don’t consider myself European, I never have done and I never will do. The fact that Britain is in Europe is an accident of geography.
Europe is freedom, culture, richness, democracy, civilization, power, gold, fashion, food, modernism, taste, the good part of the human beeing. IM PROUD TO BE EUROPEAN. Beeing European means beeing citizen not slave. <3
well I am human, I really don’t care about being Austrian or European. Happened luckily by chance! I care about individual freedom, equal opportunities and human rights. and we are loosing all that for the wealth of some greedy bastards.
The EU is trying to create an EU identity before the people feel they have an EU identity. This is why it is not working. Euro-scepticism exists because the EU has not put people first within the EU [austerity, bail-ins, pro-corporations profits first], nor outside the EU [Worker exploitation, abuse, drip-fed genocide, poverty, starvation]. People do not identify with these acts or silence on these acts. To inspire a natural felt EU identity the EU must be the pioneers of the world of putting people first within the EU by abolishing poverty, reigning-in corporations, taxing the rich and externally by refusing to trade or profit from countries who exploit or abuse their people, terrorize or murder others. There are some people who call themselves pro-European Euroskeptics because they are hoping you see sense soon and create and abide by a moral and social code of ethics and responsibility.
Those are the reasons we joined and accepted the EU : peace;
security;
sustainable development of the Earth;
solidarity and mutual respect among peoples;
free and fair trade;
eradication of poverty;
protection of human rights (in particular the rights of the child);
development of international law (respect for the principles of the United Nations Charter). http://europa.eu/scadplus/constitution/objectives_en.htm
All of these European virtues people are listing as if Europe has always been that way, it’s only been like that since the fall of the Berlin Wall, too much and too little of something destroys you, that’s blindingly obvious with the current slow disintegration of the European project
In the broadest sense possible, it means being a citizen belonging to one of the various administrative divisions (countries) that are geographically ascribed to the European continent. In a narrow sense, it means being a citizen of the European Union.
Being blessed with a life on it, something many people don’t have, so it’s our job, it always was a Europe job, to make a world better place, instead of bringing those poor Muslim refugees here, let’s bring Europe law order and life standards to them
European we are but just don’t like to admit it. Romans shaped then Saxons and Normans built. Vikings traded. Celts moved. Kings and queens married. To be British is to be European.
comin from a part of the world where social justice, humanity and freedom are supposed to be the main target – reality, though, looks different right now
European means to pay yourself the debts that other people and istitutions have created like the banks meanwhile the banks have already steal everything and without having any kind of protection by the laws which have the bankers paid to be done..
Adrianopoulos Orosius
Europe is culture, but in multiple context. We share mediterranean, atlantic cultures. We have diferent shapes and sizes on ethnic matters but we understand each other as an advantage on knowledge of history and ancient culture. The geographic issue is the less important, but we have a hard work to do with this criteria. The recent discussion about Turkey be or not be Europe was disgusting and shamefull for Europe. Turkey, Ukraine, Finland and UK are almost on border line of Europe, but still are Europe. If religion is not a issue for Europe, we have a way to achieve our goal. If human rights, respect of minorities, right of self-determination of countries are european issues, then Europe must advise, Spain, UK, Belgium, Greece, France, Italy in order to update their agenda in domestic conflicts. Not just with Turkey.
I’m Greek and i’m European.Why does it have to mean something. In Greek mythology the name Europe is mainly known daughter of Phoenix and telephassa. By some considered the daughter of Agenor (Phoenix was the son of Agenor). Zeus kidnapped Europe and together have acquired at least three children: King Minos, Radamanthys and Sarpedon..Ok.Dias loved women…………..
Understanding that I am part of a large family, with my local (country/village) connections as well – all being important. Being able to stand united in all aspects of life, friendships, work, trade, well-being, fun, culture, equality and rule of law. A lot to expect – and it is possible.
Urkreator
Reading people’s interventions of April 3rd and 4th I was struck by one thing.
Most of us agree on:
Freedom, democracy, human rights, tolerance, respect, solidarity, peace, sustainable development, eradication of poverty…
in a word “making the world a better place”
All these values make the European identity; we don’t need to invent it: it has always (or nearly always) existed.
“European we are but just don’t like to admit it.” because we lived quarelling with each other (when not slaughtering each other) for centuries… and the hardest thing on earth is to change people’s mentalities and habits.
GREECE IS EUROPE
It’s so evident ! Greece invented Europe and not only the word… our whole civilisation was born in Greece…What Rome did was simply imitating the Greeks except for two things: Law and imperialism (but we could do without the latter).
I think today’s Europe is plagued by two serious diseases: one is (in French) “fricolâtrie”, or in Greek χρηματολατρεία (which could be translated by money-worship).
The second is “mediacracy” the omnipotence or all-powerfulness of the media which manipulate people’s opinion.
European leaders are just the slaves of finance, lobbies, big business.
jonathan
Greece is not Europe just like bulgaria or turkey aren´t, They are just a no-mans-land between a socialist hell (Europe) and a religious hell (the middle east). I actually LOLed when I heard that Greece had it´s own white supremacist group. To be clear, I hate racism but it was funny to think of them all studying their own family trees only to discover that, logically, they should: hate themselves.
What does it mean to be european?…mmmm.. well, currently, it means to be trapped in a deepening socialist hell for a start off. Where the word “rights” has been twisted from things like; I have the the right to freedom of speech — to — you have the “right” to not be offended by other people speaking therefore all others should silence themselves about anything that differs from the mainstream dogma. I feel emasculated by an over bearing socialist state that stole our guns and told us that it was “for our own good”. To me,looking at the more long term picture I know that it also means that a cowardly, secretive, cockroach-like elite have ruled us for hundreds of years constantly metamorphosizing into whatever is necessary next in order to maintain the illusion and maintain power. We live with a silent knowledge but ever-present knowledge that we will never really beat them and dream of the day we might pluck up the courage to actually leave and experience real freedom.
When I lived outside Europe I used to be proud to be European, When I came back around 1978 I used to be proud to be European. When I worked and Lived In Greece untill the early 90ties I used to be proud to be European, I have 2 (NL + GR) European nationalities and I used to be proud off them! But the last years I feel ashame to be Western European, because the so called values are nowhere to be found anymore! I’m ashamed to be NL European, living in Belgium both countries and some more, who have forgotten that to be European, means to be together with all EU countries. I’m proud to be GR European, people who do not look away from helping refugees, who do whatever they can even though they have so many proplems, still open their houses and give and share. While I’m ashemed to be northern EU who close their borders and ingnore all the human rights treaties now that it is coming to our own back yard, while we where always pointing our finger to the countries who where not following those treaties. So what does it mean to me to be European? I hope we will find a way soon to be proud again, otherwise I rather would like to think before the EU, maybe each country would be fighting again to become united.
It means to me to decolonise my mind and be open-minded as much as I can, in order to accept and respect other cultures, always considered as “other”, overcoming all prejudices.
Fact is there is not one european feeling. There is the northwest-european one, the southern-mediterreanian, the central and eastern european feeling. Without forgetting the scandinavian part. All have their habits and traditions. The only thing that could be something lile a european identity is something like shared humanist values, thats all. Since the idea of the nationstate and even before that there hasnt been a european feeling. The only thing that connected countries in the past were christianity…
Giorgio Clarotti
I fell in the European potion as a kid. The son of one of the first Eurocrats I am definitely a Eurobrat. But I have gone out of Brussels’ bubble and know that less than 5 % of Europeans have either worked or studied in an EU country different than the one they were born in. And if you add working for a “foreign” company, you do not top 10% of all Europeans.
However, benefiting from having worked or studied in 5 EU countries and having an “enlarged” family with grand parents on both sides of the former Iron Wall, I see Europeans as descending from 4 common trees.
1. The palm tree of the Christian religion, whereby God shows the way, but leaves mankind free to follow it, or not.
2. The olive tree of Democracy, whereby each citizen has a vote to decide who will rule the society, or not.
3. The mediterranean pine tree of Roman law, whereby each citizen or king must obey the same, written rules.
4. The Oak Tree common of Northern Europe, where both economic liberalism and social democracy were born spurring each other to deliver more effective and fulfilling societies.
It is underneath these 4 Trees that Europe must develop.
George Yiannitsiotis
Obviously, three out of four trees are Mediterranean:
1) the ancient Greek olive-tree of ΠΟΛΙΣ (Polis-City) and ΔΗΜΟΚΡΑΤΙΑ (Democracy), based on and nurished by the concept of ΕΛΕΥΘΕΡΙΑ (Liberty-freedom) of ΠΟΛΙΤΕΣ (Citizens)
2) the Roman pine-tree of Law (having roots in ancient Greek concept of ΔΙΚΑΙΟ (just-right-legitimate) and
3) the Middle Eastern palm-tree of Christianity (a backward trend that burried the Greco-Roman civilization, dumping the Medditeranean belt into a medieval dark era)
I fully agree with you that the olive, pine and oak trees shall be developed further in the European Continent. However, there is a great obstacle at least regarding democracy and liberty: the ECB/EU/IMF usurers’ gang that follows the totalitarian tradition of central-eastern Europe, imposing its “free will” on peoples whom they either have been deprived of their right to decide on their fate or their democratic decision was thrown to the garbage.
A pan-European revolution and a good performance beheading some EU politicians and bureaucrats would definitely strengthen the European identity, and give us the chance to make Europe the greatest power on Earth.
:D
A pan-European revolution and a good performance beheading some EU politicians and bureaucrats would definitely strengthen the European identity, and give us the chance to make Europe the greatest power on Earth.
:D
Federico Montagnini
Don’t the values that we live by define us more, both as individuals and as a society, than the language that we speak and the food we eat?
If there is something I learnt studying European literature, it is that the values at the core of our nations and constitutions and the ones we try to live by every day, are European values. They stem from centuries of cultural, philosophical, literary and artistic exchange between Europeans and they are at the ground of our society.
This is why we are European, before being Italian, French, German, British or anything else.
It means to be part of the greatest place in the world, the place which has 70% of the entire history, the zone when you can (should) be free to be who you desire, the area in which are spoken 24 and more languages, the area where more than 28 peoples can and should live together in peace…
The native place of the Big people, like Martin Luther King, Emmeline Pankhurst, Karl Marx, Franz Kafka, Dante Alighieri, Cervantes, Carlo Magno, Alessandro Magno, Jeanne D’Arc, Elizabeth I for example..
It means (at least it should mean) Freedom, Social, Culture, History, Languages, Respect, Unity, Diversity, Rights, Laws, Democracy…
Europe should be only one Federal State in my opinion…
this is no Europe, everybody in Europe is just a fucking nationalist, there is no common which bind each other. And the EU is a bunch of criminals no more
It’s the place in the world where enlightenment has most advanced, what took so much pain. Where still so much is to be done that ‘sapere aude’ would mark the place, really.
To live my life with Respect and Forgivness, because all my possible enemies will remain here, close to me, in the next 3 generations as well – as they were in the last 3 ones. If I decide to move, even only 200 km-s, that will be a completely different culture. You can not change everything too often. :) So you have to solve the porblems with your neighbours peacefully.
Culture, open-mindedness, beauty in all its aspects and forms. Respect for the human race. Liberté égalité et fraternité. Life, love. Art. Food. Fashion. Respect for the environment. Proud of being a European! United in diversity. Have a fairer system. Accept and help others. Live in peace.
elvin
I know this may offend the pro European’s.. but as an Englishman I feel no connection to the term European citizen. but I have noticed the European’s talk a lot about solidarity in Europe. well in the UK solidarity has very little meaning and is a term very seldom used. its almost as if solidarity is an alien concept within the UK.
Eurobrat
Well Elvin, I for one, thank the Brits who, according to you, do not know the meaning of the word solidarity, proved that they could be solidar with the rest of Europe. At least once during WWII.
To be European it’s not about being proud. It’s about being valuable. That’s all about. The European values are the highest level of actual civilization on Planet Earth. Freedom and justice is the key for human beings and these base values are actually in a best level in Europe compared to the rest of the world.
This does not mean that is perfect, still can be better.
So, a United Europe means United Values and a model to follow.
H ELP! AUXILO! , SOLICITO AYUDA ANTE ESTE ORGANISMO INSTITUCIONAL DE LA EU, PARA ERRADICAR EL ESPIONAJE QUE LOS PERDIDA TIENEN A TRAVÉS DE EL TELEVISOR. ESTOY EN MI CASA Y ELLOS SON CAPACES DE VER A TRAVÉS DE LA TV ,QUE HAGO , QUE HABLO, HASTA EL PUNTO ABOMINABLE DE HACER COMENTARIOS DE UNA CONVERSACION RECIEN DESDE MI CASA .
ESTO ES LEGAL EN LA UNION EUROPEA LA PERDIDA DE LOS CIUDADANOS QUE HABITAS EN EUROPA Y EL MUNDO A NUESTRA INTIMIDAD DENTRO DEL ÁMBITO DEL HOGAR?
POR QUE HE ESPECIFICADO EL MUNDO ? PORQUE LOS INSCONSCIENTES PERIODISTAS A TRAVÉS DE SUS COMENTARIOS DESDE SU PLATO HAN DICHO QUE DONDE QUIERA QUE YO VAYA CON SOLO EL NÚMERO DE TELÉFONO TIENEN POTESTAD DE ENTRAR EN TODA MI VIDA POR LA RED.
ESTO ES TERRIBLE PIDO AYUDA! !!!!!!!!
Stefanos Georgas
I do not know if it’s the best.. but definitely one of the best parts to the civilized world.
The following bright spirits among so many others found their exceptional inspiration, moving through the following places throughout their lives :
– COPERNICUS : Torun, Cracow, Bologna, Rome, Padua, Ferrara, Allenstein, Nuremberg.
– ERASMUS : Rotterdam, Cambrai, Paris, London, Oxford, Torino, Basel, Leuven, Anderlecht, Freiburg.
– DESCARTES : La Flèche, Poitiers, Breda, Frankfurt, Ulm, Pragha, Budapest, The Hague, Florence, Rome, Venice, Innsbruck, Paris, Deventer, Stockholm.
– EINSTEIN : Ulm, Aarau, Zürich, Bern, Pragha, Berlin, Stockholm, London, Bruxelles, USA.
– Marie CURIE : Warsaw, Paris, Sevres, Stockholm, Bruxelles, US, Geneva, Madrid, Sallanches.
– FREUD : Freiberg, Leipzig, Vienna, Manchester, Paris, Berlin, Nancy, Trasimene, Athens, Salzburg, US, The Hague.
– HEISENBERG : Würzburg, Munich, Göttingen, Copenhagen, Leipzig, Como, Bruxelles, US, Berlin, Godmanchester, St.Andrews.
– And so on …
This is it : Europe for me (with somewhat less success than had resulted for these illustrious predecessors) is just that : inspiration. Where we expect inspiration, there is our desire, there is our hope.
Thks Jeremy, loved the end “Europeans are forced to face the world together, then they probably won’t. That said, it is just a matter of time before this identity is forced upon us and we have to ‘make of what others make of us”.
Realising that the affirmation of national identities resulted in two European Civil Wars which destroyed much of the wealth they had created over the last 5 centuries and gave USA the world’s leadership, European leaders fostered the creation of the Union. They did it: if it had been put to referendum, most Europeans would have voted against it. Lucky Europeans trusted them then.
Europe is a first, trying to have some democracy in diplomacy with rules and votes all should respect, even if they dislike the result. Most Europeans agree because they have seen that their identities and values can become abusive and lead to total military and moral defeat. Having not lost a war for the last 3 centuries the Brits (and the Swedes), do not have this common sense. That’s why I think England should leave the EU for a while. Maybe to show us that we Eurocrats and brats are wrong and that the worlds is now sufficiently multilateral that England can stand its ground alone. Or to realise what it is has lost and feel the cold of facing the US, Putin, India and China on its own.
Urkreator
Thank you Henny Moonen for your testimony; I feel exactly the same.
…
We, as Europeans, have long since shared the same values, respect for life and human rights, solidarity, humanism, freedom and justice, as Graziano said “Liberté, Egalité, Fraternité” … since Socrates and Plato, the Athenian democracy, art and beauty, the Italian Renaissance, the Enlightenment, Kant, Voltaire, Rousseau… we share the same civilisation.
As Federico said…”the values at the core of our nations and constitutions and the ones we try to live by every day, are European values. They stem from centuries of cultural, philosophical, literary and artistic exchange between Europeans…”
…
Europe, a socialist hell ???? You must be joking ! No other region on earth is as capitalistic as the EU, not even the USA. British humour, I presume.
And this is why so many people are disappointed by the EU today: the EU is more concerned with serving the interests of lobbies, of banks and mutinationals, of those huge chemical concerns that are poisoning our food, our water and air with pesticides, than with the welfare and prosperity of European citizens. EU leaders have betrayed the European ideals.
…
I quite like the 4 trees metaphor, but please, PLEASE, don’t bring religion into it. In a European democracy each citizen should be able to choose the religion he likes, he could be a Jew, a Christian, a Muslim, a Buddhist … or an atheist… if he wants to.
…
Europeans tend to forget about their own history, but let us remember that before nationalism was invented after the French revolution, religion was the main cause of bloody conflicts: in the Middle Ages, the so-called “heretics” were burnt alive (cf Joan of Ark), let us remember the Spanish Inquisition, Giordano Bruno and Galileo, the Hussite wars in Bohemia, the French wars of religion with the infamous St. Bartholomew’s Day massacre, the Thirty Years war in Germany… etc. (not to mention the Shoah and Auschwitz).
…
We Europeans, don’t really have different cultures, we have more or less the same culture. Was Béla Bartók specifically Hungarian, or Mozart specifically Austrian, or Verdi specifically Italian, or Picasso specifically French (he was Spanish), or Shakespeare specifically English (his Hamlet is located in Denmark, Othello in Venice, Romeo and Juliet in Verona… etc.) ? No, they all contributed to our common European culture.
…
What we have is different languages, but our languages are like the different instruments playing the same symphony. They are all indispensable for the symphony and if it was played on a single instrument, it would be very poor indeed.
Eurobrat
Thks Ukreator for your several contributions to the debate. On religion I rather agree with you that, most of the time, religion (coming for most from the latin religare, to bind) was rather a force for hate and separation. Lately it has not been that helpful in building Europe. I even told so to the Pope… (not this one), but the Christian religion is a founding element of Europe and of the European Union. All the founding fathers had this in common, which helped them bridge the hatred still active 5 years after the end of WWII (just see how far former Yugoslavs, Sri-Lankans or Iraqi are 5 years after the end of their own civil wars…). As a committed Ecumenist I am for all religions to prosper, so Europe has been founded by Christians, but should not be for them only. However, non-Christians coming or living in Europe have to accept its principles of individual freedom (from God’s wrath), loving thy neighbour and separation of Church and State.
Urkreator
Eurobrat
I’m tempted to say I totally agree with you, since I do not underestimate the role played by Christianity in Europe especially in the Middle Ages. However, I wouldn’t say that Christians were the founders of Europe, because this would be ignoring the part played by Greece and Rome in creating the European idea.
I would prefer to say that Europe rests on two pillars: The Greco-Roman pillar and the Judeo-Christian pillar.
Thank you for your ecumenist views: all religions should be welcome, provided they accept and respect the others: the key-word is tolerance. Above all, we shouldn’t fall into the trap set by the terrorists that would take us back to the time of the Crusades.
As for the Yugoslav wars, they would deserve a much longer development.
matt
I am reading the above. Flowery words but meaningless to the man and the woman on the street and they are the people you need to convince if you want a “European” identity.
Europe’s unemployed youth aren’t interested in the Renaissance. Couldn’t care less about Shakespeare, Plato and all the rest. The EU is letting its citizens down. The EU is alienating its people.
Mine and my partners family’s are immigrants from Europe. Neither of us identify with Europe or European values. We don’t identify with our parents or grandparents countries in any way.We are both English with an English outlook. We see Europe and the counties that make up that continent for what they are. A bunch of countries that happen to be next to each other.
Europe will always just be a continent and I will never be a European.
Eurobrat
Well Matt, I taught at Fordham University (that’s in New York) and I can tell you Ukreator’s words were of interest to them. Especially to Europeans. Many, like Ukreator, objected to the “religion tree”, but the objective is to have a debate on that, building bridges, not walls.
The man and the woman in English street should know that UK was a declining nation when it joined the Common Market, and that it now leads the Western World in terms of GDP growth (well, after Ireland, though) and assertiveness. The EU must have done something good after all.
As for the unemployed English, they, for one, should care about the Renaissance. Without the Renaissance, most of us would still be ploughing fields. It’s in the Renaissance that the notion of “progress” was born. Before, sons had to do their father’s job, go to war or become a priest. Girls had even less choice. Most historians see the industrial revolution and Europe’s hegemony – and thus eventually today’s jobs – result from the Renaissance.
Plato? He brought thought to government. Shakespeare? He made the masses laugh at the powerful, reminding them in an elegant way, that they owed their power to the people. He wouldn’t live long in today’s Russia, China or even US under Donald Drumpf.
It is strange that as immigrants you only feel English. My experience is that you would rather feel English when being abroad, but would always be somewhat foreign to true Brits. All that of course depends on when your ancestors crossed the Channel, but I bet that, if you cross the Atlantic or the Urals and go the US or China, you will feel very European.
Urkreator
Matt, on the one hand I agree with you, the EU has betrayed its promises: we were promised full employment when we voted for (or against) the Maastricht Treaty in 1992.
But the EU is not directly responsible for unemployment; globalisation is. How can a British or French worker compete with a Chinese or Indian worker unless he accepts to be paid € 400 or even less?
The EU which used to be dead against M. Thatcher at the time of J. Delors has now adopted Thatcherian policies; all the economists know it: we are heading straight for disaster.
What we need is a New Deal for Europe, carrying out Keynesian policies, for example a large-scale sustainable development project which would create thousands of jobs, develop our industries instead of closing down plants, grow our own (healthy) food instead of buying tomatoes from South Africa or junk products from China. This is what the EU should be supporting instead of backing banks and multinationals.
…
On the other hand, I totally disagree with you, because, whether we like it or not, we are the products of our own history.
We are not a “bunch of countries that happen to be next to each other” and though I’m far too young to have known this period I cannot thank Britain and Sir Winston enough to have continued the fight to save us from the Nazis.
You cannot simply live contemplating your own navel; you cannot live on coke and hamburgers and video games alone, even when you can afford them. “Culture” in the broadest meaning of the word is as necessary to human beings as bread… we don’t want to live an animal’s life: eating, drinking and f…, do we ?
matt
Of course we can blame the eu for unemployment! Globalisation is the future. Like it or not and the eu has not seen the future and reacted to it.
Its not workers from China and South Africa that a lot of UK worker are worried about. Its the workers from eastern Europe who are competing directly for the jobs in the UK. Some of these jobs are only advertised in counties like Poland or Romania. How is being part of the eu or being “european” working for these people.
So where do you think the money comes from to run your country and the eu. The BANKs. With out the banks we would all be in the crap. Where would the money come from for your large scale sustainable(what ever that word is suppose to mean) project? Don’t ask me to pay any more tax so the eu can build a few more roads in Spain. So its back to the BANKs.
My grand parents never talked of freeing any one from the Nazis. They were only interested in saving their families and their country. To do this they had to liberate Europe and it was the Politician’s who talked of freeing people. Liberating Europe happened to be the best way to save ourselves.
Coke, hamburger’s and video games are what people want. People want to eat drink and F”£k. Look around you. Watch TV. That’s what people want. That’s culture in the real work.
Europe is a landmass. Fact. This landmass now happens to be made up of various different countries. I do not identify with the concept of “European”. It is meaningless
Eurobrat
HI Matt, my latin ancestors spoke of “Panem and Circenses” , which I would freely translate in “Bread and Gladiators”. Them and I agree with you there.
I also agree with your definition of Europe as a landmass at the end of the Eurasian continent. It has been almost conquered twice during history, by the Arabs and the Huns, but they were both stopped before they could grasp it all.
Lately Europeans have rather been the conquerors and you drink Coke because Mr. Pemberton, born in Rome, adapted the italian Vin Mariani receipt. As for Hamburgers, the name says it all, and I hope you live in Europe and not in the US, because, in Europe, thanks to EU law, they are hormone free, whilst the one eaten by our fellow americans stastistically shorten their lives by 5 to 7 years.
If the Brits had not stood for Europe, you might not be drinking Coke and might have to eat more Hamburgers than you would like.
And eventually, if Europe doesn’t unite and stand for its values and is, for example, conquered by China, even the F”£king might not be as free as it is now.
Eurobrat
HI Matt, my latin ancestors spoke of “Panem and Circenses” , which I would freely translate in “Bread and Gladiators”. Them and I agree with you there.
I also agree with your definition of Europe as a landmass at the end of the Eurasian continent. It has been almost conquered twice during history, by the Arabs and the Huns, but they were both stopped before they could grasp it all.
Lately Europeans have rather been the conquerors and you drink Coke because Mr. Pemberton, born in Rome, adapted the italian Vin Mariani receipt. As for Hamburgers, the name says it all, and I hope you live in Europe and not in the US, because, in Europe, thanks to EU law, they are hormone free, whilst the one eaten by our fellow americans stastistically shorten their lives by 5 to 7 years.
If the Brits had not stood for Europe, you might not be drinking Coke and might have to eat more Hamburgers than you would like.
And eventually, if Europe doesn’t unite and stand for its values and is, for example, conquered by China, even the F”£king might not be as free as it is now.
Urkreator
Sorry Matt; this time I can’t agree with you on any point.
– I don’t know what your grand parents did, but the British government might very well have signed a peace treaty with Hitler. Winston Churchill didn’t do it, not to protect your fish and chips from German sauerkraut, but to preserve freedom and democracy – and we will always be thankful to him for it. Otherwise we might all have been a big happy Nazi family.
– Millions of Britons spend their holidays in Spain (1M 600 000 each year in Benidorm alone)? I bet they’re quite happy to benefit from decent roads susidized by the EU.
– Ask the Greeks who ARE in the CRAP what they think about what BANKS did to them: τοκογλύφοι they call them; that is usurers, people who make fat profits on other people’s misery.
– “to eat drink and F”£k” is necessary to live, but it’s not enough to live as a human being, as a free citizen; it’s not what people want: (of course this is what the TV wants to make us believe… but WHO OWNS the channels ?). You should read what George Orwell (a Briton) says about the “proles” in his book “1984”, pp 59-61 of my Penguin edition… among other things… “As the Party slogan puts it: ‘Proles and animals are free’.
– Now you may well wish to get fat and die young of a heart attack or cancer because of all the junk food full of pesticides, and claim… “this is what people want !”… You may well want to ignore history and the rest of the world and be happy with your close friends and family… you are free to do so.
But you have to accept the fact that other people are also free to have a broader vision of what might be a less pessimistic future.
Martin Jones
What does it mean to you to be European?
Names I identify with Europe and European culture are, Dumas, Zola, Voltaire, Goethe, Schiller, Cervantes, Dante, Aesop, The Brothers Grimm, Hans Christian Anderson, Homer, Bach, Beethoven, Mozart, Vivaldi, Strauss (Johann and Richard), Monteverdi, Hippocrates, Democritus, Epicurus, Copernicus, Kepler, Einstein, Marie and Pierre Currie, Pythagoras, Saint Augustine of Hippo, Luther, Calvin, Thomas Aquinas, Pascal, Plato, Aristotle, JP Sartre, Simone de Bouvoir, Kant, Hegel, Nietzsche, Kierkegaard, Wittgenstein, Descartes, Spinoza, Erasmus, Machiavelli, Rousseau, Marx, Da Vinci, Michelangelo, Caravaggio, Rembrandt, Picasso, Dali, Monet, Velasquez, Goya, Van Gogh, Titian, Munch, Magritte, Cicero, Alexander the Great, Charlemagne, Julius Caesar, Demosthenes, Napoleon, Garibaldi, Mazzini, Metternich, Robespierre, Danton, Louis XIV, the Bourbons and Hapsburgs, Ignatius Loyola, Savonarola, Richelieu, Otto von Bismarck, Tacitus, Plutarch, Gordano Bruno, Giovanni Battista Vico, Michelet, Renan, Taine. Shakespeare, Wordsworth, Coleridge, Shelley, Keats, Tennyson, Dickens, Marx, Engels, Wilde, Byron, Milton, Blake, Orwell, Tolkien, Conan Doyle, Mary Shelley, Bram Stoker, Tallis, Purcell, Elgar, Vaughn Williams, Britten, Lennon and McCartney, Newton, Harvey, Boyle, Hooke, Bacon, Fleming, Jenner, Occam, Wycliffe, Hobbes, Locke, JS mill, Hume, Russell, Tyndale, Burke, Paine, Wollstonecraft, Turner, Constable, Duke of wellington, Winston Churchill, Disraeli, William Pitt, Robert Walpole.
Also Europe has created ideas about politics, government and religion that we have exported all over the world, such as Democracy, Rule of law, Freedom of thought/speech/expression, Tolerance, Liberalism, Socialism, Conservatism, Marxism, Social democracy, Republicanism, Christianity (Both catholic and protestant varieties), Oligarchy, Aristocracy Tyranny, Monarchy, Plutocracy, Anarchy, and we still view the world through the prism of these ideas.
Also I identify Europe through the historical movements or periods which include the Roman Empire Holy Roman Empire, Middle ages, Renaissance, Spanish inquisition, Enlightenment, The Wars of religion, Industrial revolution, French revolution, Napoleonic wars, 19th century nationalism, Crimean war, Franco Prussian war, Entente cordiale/ triple entente, Russian revolution, 2 world wars , Spanish civil war, and the Cold war.
Europe represents 2500 years of accumulated culture, knowledge and history. This history is our birthright as Europeans and part of our collective identity which should be treasured and protected for future generations. The people who have settled in Britain over the past 2000 years include the Angles, Saxons, Romans, Vikings, Normans, and Huguenots. We are part of Europe and Europe is part of us for good or ill. These British figures that I quoted above should not be seen as being separate from European culture and history but an integral part of the European cultural tapestry. Outside the EU the Europe would be diminished and we would be diminished. The point of the EC/EU was to promote peace and security and it has been successful.
1. There has been 21 years between First and Second World Wars.
2. 43 years between The First World War and the Franco Prussian war
3. 15 years between the Franco-Prussian war and Crimean war.
4. The last war within the area now covered by the EU was 70 years ago (not counting Croatia which was not in EU in its war against Serbia during the 1990s.)
I suppose because I have had access to this culture since childhood, I have taken if for granted because I never had to think about it before. European values and history are incredibly important and therefore have to be defended. Maybe the EU should adopt the motto of the United States – E Pluribus Unum – out of many, one; united through our values and beliefs. One of the reasons why no Pan European civil society has developed is because of the language differences, which has prevented the emotional connection and feeling of ‘Europeanness’ between the peoples of Europe.
People have a tendency to confuse Europe with the EU. Migration and terrorism has had contradictory effects such as the way Europe pulled together after the attacks in Paris and Brussels and how the migration and refugee crisis from Syria put EU cohesion under strain because of the Schengen Agreement.
Any attempt to impose uniformity or federalism would lead to the EU ripping itself apart. Given the diversity of countries, languages, cultures etc in the EU it must remain a confederation. Also, if countries are unwilling to live by the same rules as everyone else they should be expelled, Hungary leaps to mind. Also there should be a limit to the number of countries within the EU. The fact is that there are some countries who should not have been allowed to join in the first place (Greece, Bulgaria) there are also some countries should not be allowed to join such as Turkey and Serbia. Serbia because of its links with Russia and Turkey because of its proximity to Syria, Iraq etc, its overwhelmingly Muslim population and its issues with human rights and the fact it is not, and will never be, truly European.
Euro sceptics argue that the EU did not prevent war in the former Yugoslavia, however neither did NATO. They also argue that NATO has preserved peace in Europe. Although the former Yugoslavia was not in the EU at the time. A strong EU is necessary to counter Russian imperialism. Putin’s Russia at best wants the EU weak and at worst wants it destroyed, because it believes it is encroaching into its sphere of influence e.g. in the Baltic states of Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia as well as the former Warsaw Pact countries such as Poland, Hungary, Bulgaria, Romania, Czech republic, Slovakia etc. What Russia want’s is its own version of the America’s Monroe Doctrine which will prevent western countries interfering in central and Eastern Europe but allowing it to do so? Eurosceptics could argue that NATO membership alone could protect countries but without the political and economic stability provided by the EU and constant interference by Russia this protection would be unsustainable and expensive.
George Yiannitsiotis
1. Idelalism is a nice way to dream about; however, reality is hard to ignore without risking to pay a very high price at the end
2. Greece was admitted as the 10th EEC member-state (1981) for mere political reasons. Holding the key to the Balkans, it fit well in western cold-war strategy to incorporate Greece into the EEC, depriving the then eastern bloc from a quite important trade partner.
3. The EU (primarily Germany) not only did not prevent war in f.Yugoslavia: they made things worse by recognizing in particular the seccession of Bosnia-Herzegovina. The irrationality of that policy (to expect Serbs and Croats to live at a single state the same moment their federation – old Yugoslavia – had fallen apart) led to worse fighting, destruction and bloodshed
4. The incorporation of ex-Warsaw Pact countries (2004), as well as the Baltic states was to the benefit of Germany since they constitute vital economic space for it. The EU lost balance to the expense of the old members after their mass admittance in 2004 and 2007.
5. The core-EU member-states’ support in subversive activities against UN member-states (Iraq, esp. 2003; Afganistan 2003; Serbia 1999; Libya 2011; Syria 2011; Ukraine 2014 et.al.) put a real burden in EU periphery, esp. in Greece who lost its main trade-path to the EU center since 1991. That trade-path has now become the main refugee path (called “the Balkan route”). Besides, Greece lost all non-EU trade partners (mainly in the Middle East, the Balkans and the Black Sea areas). Such a development led to bankruptcy 20 years later (2010).
6. Considering that all problems started with the re-unification of Germany and its attempt to redraw the balance of power within the EU and beyond, one can easily understand the root question of the EU crisis: the ressurection of a 4th Reich in the core of Europe undercover of the “European unification project”, having as main promoting vehicle the germany monetary projection over the rest eurozone members: the euromark that fits only to German monetary, fiscal, financial and development needs.
END OF EUROPE
being European is letting human rights not enter from Syria Ethiopia Afganistan and let all the corporate industries smash the workers and slave them with debts
European mean leaving with social and emotional dignity in Europe enjoying a good meanigfull life.There are all the means but not the powers to create it.
How can Europe be a joke? It’s the home of 500 million people. It’s also the economic powerhouse of the world, producing nearly 20% of the world’s wealth with just 8% of the population.
Europe is dynamic, diverse and fascinating. So happy to be a part of it.
It used to mean so much… and I expected much more… as for the present it means disappointment for the quality and determination of our leaders to solve problems without being taken for cowards and fools. .
It means to be white and christian….to support democracy to believe in solidarity,freedom,private enterprise to be aware of our history ,culture and tradition and to protect our heritage from all outside agression including uncontrolled migrations ,low cost products,unfair competition,terrorism,agression of our abroad interests…
In my opinion the the European values are bought cultural and economical like the idea of the large middle class which is a cultural and economical standard as well. Also, the rule of law is hugely important.
Franco Zappettini
Here’s what transnational Europeanness means to an association of active citizens http://ow.ly/2COH3001YT8
It means to be able to live together without stupid wars on the same continent..it means to have a culture of freedom and respect and democracy,it means to have solidarity and compassion for the citizens, it means to be treated by other european nations on the same level and with fairness.
Truly ‘Pragmatic and United Europe’ is the key to the future coexistence and respect of european citizens.
Maurizio Giambrone
To be being European means being a citizen of a country in the best continent in the world. A continent of culturally diverse nations. Sadly, the EU project whose goal is to homogenize the individual nations and cultures of Europe and merge them with Asian countries like Turkey is destroying this diversity and the continent I Iove.
it means to belong to a modern slavery in disguise. where we are not put in chains, but are subjected to harmful laws, created by corrupt politicians and CEOs.
It means to live in a comunity where there are rich and priviledged countries, like germany and other northern countries, where people get paid well and have (for example) lower costs with internet, eater, electricity… hence allowing them to live comfortably, and then there are poor exploited countries, like portugal, where our politicians sell their own countries, in brussels, to the interests of the richer countries. where people with te same job as germans or danish, earn 1/4 of what they do, but pay higher internet, electricity costs.
The EU must start to be a real union and unify what is unifyable: some jobs are the same, they should pay the same, same kind of taxes too.
and there should be a universal legal system. a specific court where EU politicians should be tried, and not in their country where they are always getting off the hook.
many european countries are the “maids” of some rich and priviledged countries, and we were sold by our politicians who get the envelopes under the table to sell out their own people.
This is Europe!
Joao
It means I happen to be born in the European continent. Most people that happen to born here by pure chance share a few set of similar values, mostly human values. Also we share our common history, our language roots, etc. Some people keep saying Democracy, I don’t know where it is in Europe, I don’t see it, so I’m leaving this one out.
What these people want us to answer is how connected we supposedly are, as different people from different countries, we were indoctrinated into being part of this fascist political and economic union that is plundering the rest of the planet resources, waging wars to satisfy our masters (the elite bankers, the big corporations and the political agents) while exploiting its own people, leading 500 million citizens of the European continent into poverty and dependence. They are not doing a bad job at all. The EU is a failed project, let’s use a bit of common sense and let it go before the wars turn inwards.
It is sad that the first time we had a Portuguese citizen leading Europe it was the hardest times for Portuguese People.
We love Europe but we don’t trust in our representatives in Europe anymore: They lie about Portuguese People to protect financial and banking system holes and this is not acceptable.
Solidarity is the base to achieve Peace and Progress…
Have a Happy European Day with hope of happy moments in this journey. Thank you for all, sorry for something, we are all Europeans belonging to the same star flag…
…means to be in the lead of history that grows every day for the human specie. If we lost that advantage to be in we should consider to be off the books and hopes. To be an european is to stand for rights and values that some just can dream.
EU is the best we had in the European history . Democracy , human rights , equality , peace , justice , economical development , security , sustainable development of the Earth .
ΔΗΜΟΚΡΑΤΙΑ, common roots,common history, common market, culture,religion,willing to live happy with prosperity,be competitive as a hole market to all other big markets of th world,common borders,being proud for Europe, being optimistic and being determined especially today, to resolve all problems and walk the road of a mutual society with same laws, defence,institutions etc and not only being a common market.
It means problem. 20 countries, 100 languages, 50 constitutions… What does it means for you!?
Michael Hales
Flags, symbols and national posturing are all nothing but a lot of hot air and should be a thing of the past Democracy, truth, free speech, human rights, tolerance and equal opportunities are the qualities that matter and are to be found, albeit in varying degrees, in the EU.
It means I’m from the European Continent, but since you mean “European” as in “EU”, than i have to say I do not feel “European” at all. I’m not “European” and I will never be.
It used to mean pride and dignity, hope in the future. Now? Support for mass illegal immigration. Forcing hundreds of thousands of people on Europeans despite the opposition of the vast majority . Discrimination between EU citizen and EU citizen. Blackmail. And oppressors like mama Merkel and Mr. JUNKer who only care about their utopistic visions and not even a tiny bit about what the average EU citizen wants. Britain, please vote OUT and start dismantling this monster of Brussels. Time to go back to economic co-operation!
What “Europe” meant for millions of people 50 years ago is no more. The ideology behind the word “Europe” represented “human rights, high quality of life, democracy, stability” in contrast to intolerance, inequality, racism and instability.
What we have today is a corrupt system which calls itself “Europe” but is controlled exclusively by bankers and funds.
Europe as a geographical term yes…as anything else sadly no.
John Connolly
Europe is too soft and too liberal, for example when a criminal is convicted of a crime and sent to prison, the press are not allowed to print their name or show a photograph. I say we name them and shame them. Where does it leave the rest of us law abiding citizens, if we are unaware that our neighbour or child minder was once convicted of a relative offence. In the U.S.A. there is not this problem. You can find even on the Internet mug shots of famous stars who were once arrested. Protect the innocent Europe and get real and tough on crime.
Live in a continent called Europe, but not European’s citizen can write some laws but today Europe smell so bad, like a trash.
1. Euro € is a fraud.
2. Spain don’t care about refugees, BIG HYPOCRISY… in 136 finish own civil war whit thousands people go away.
In 2016 still had about 150.000 people underground. Killed for Franco Government 70 ago.
Popular party don’t care because PP are sons of this regiment fascists.
Poor workers.
5.740.000 unemployed only in papper the rest, unknown.
In Melilla and Ceuta borders have jailhouses for immigrant people.
Now UE do the same in Greece.
Grecce first the banks stolen this country and now ask for the money. 3rd rescue… And try to help a thousand refugees because Bruselas is blind.
Etc etc…
Happy birthday fucking Europe
#15Mglobaldebout
Yanis Sfytides, l know what Portugal lost: We had a growing rate of 4 to 7%, now we have 1.3%. Our industry participated in 60% on our GDP. Now it is only 13%. Our unenployment rate was 4-5%. Now it is 13%. Officially! Our big companies paid taxes in Portugal. Now they pay taxes in Holland and Luxemburg. There are no successful countries without industry. Do you think Germany or Holland are interested in our countries develope industry? I rather have an association deal, as Switzerland, than to have a full membership
For me, being a southwestern European, specifically of the North of Portugal, is to ascend of the greatest Celtiberian Tribe, the Lusitanians… is to live in a nation with 837 years of existence. I know that my people conquered the world between the sixteenth and nineteenth centuries. But nowadays we live well, but in a country that was once rich and is now poorer.
According to ancient Greek mythology, Minos was considered the son of Zeus. Zeus fell in love with the daughter of Phoenician king Agenor, Europe. To approach her he transformed into a white bull and the charm mesmerized Europe who sat on it. Then Zeus kidnapped her and transported her across Europe today and then took her to Crete where he married beneath a tree in Gortyn. From this marriage were born Minos, Rhadamanthus and Sarpedon. The story depicted in the currency of 2 Euros.When you sit on someone think.Think before …………………..
questa canzone rappresenta come ci hanno “venduto” il sogno europeo. Fin da bambini siamo stati bombardati da simili spot e canzoni. ” Europa unita, la voce della fraternità, un unica nazione , solidarietà ” Eh è stato cosi ??? Noi italiani ce l’abbiamo messa tutta ma ci siamo ritrovati in un incubo che non vediamo l’ora di svegliarci da questa bruttissima esperienza della UE ( che non è l’Europa ) https://youtu.be/tN_87H2LbA0
From me it’s should have been a red day today and no work allowed. It’s my only and most important day to remember the unity of Europe and not to forget what happens if one does not change and are intolerant against others. Also a reminder to the many heroes of today that smuggling refugee during WWII
A better social security system than the USA. Better language skills than Americans. And unfortunately, lots of Nazis who think Europe is white and christian.
Ashamed.
Our great western civilisation – birthplace of Einstein, Newton, Descartes, Da Vinci, Shakespeare, Rembrandt, Aristotle, Dali, Planck, Bohr, Darwin, Arrhenius to name but a few Europeans – is being invaded by an idea of religious fundamentalism that in our weakness we have no defence against. Our meek tolerance of the intolerable will not deliver the peaceful United States of Europe that the fantasists dream of but a divided Eurabia that will be constantly at war with itself.
Being officialy European was a long-dremt, long anticipated wish come true for my fellow Bulgarians and me. Despite of living more than a half of my life in Germany meanqhile, I rarely felt the wish to acquire a German passport and never did so. Being European means to me to overlook and forget the borders (especially in my mind), celebrate the diversity and the sameness and to be compassionate and human.
Being European… is above all a question of freedom…
It means I can go where I want and when I want, that I can work and live where I feel like working… not just being stuck in one stupid fucking country like an illiterate peasant with clones of myself. It means I don’t lose money on the exchange rates when I travel and that I feel at home wherever I go… because all our MS are relatively safe
Mind you I made sure that I could find a job anywhere in the world in the first place so I’m not particularly affected by any of the national legislation most people complain about whilst happily, ignorantly blaming it on the EU generally because they never made the effort to understand or get out of the vassal condition imposed by their locals…
I don’t feel French or British… they are just passport nationalities.. a remnant from my grand fathers past… they make me think of silly movies like Indiana Jones with that Rolls Royce phantom II… or when people were stupid enough to fight for their countries in the name of belligerent ideals or in favour of one politician or the next… often less fortunate than me… and those are both things which today no longer have a place in the face of globalisation unless you’re a terrorist…. or a submissive idiot.
By being European, I can further take control of my life, escape from the promised misery of XXth Century life transposed into the XXIst…. the sleep, sub and work ritual… I can eventually take a direct part in the decisions made for me through the public consultations rather than rely on the national elect few and the self interested ideas they try and convey…..Escape from the sadness of only knowing so much when I could continuously learn and discover by creating new bonds and alliances….
It means that I have no limits and that the world is mine…
I’m not stuck in a village and I don’t have to rely on others if I don’t want to…
I am me and my only ruler… if i lose one job it’ll take a bout a minute to find another or create a new one…
I don’t owe that to being French or British…which use every trick to use and abuse me…. in favour of God knows which donkey… I owe that to this European freedom… and my balls…
bert van santen
Congrats to Juncker, Merkel etc.
Your brainwash experiments have had succes! At least one person repeats the EU propaganda as it were his own thoughts.
Happily to be Dutch AND thinking with my own brains.
The EU only excists in the mind of bankers and politicians!
Europe means freedom, civilization, multiculturalism. On the other side, it means inequality, injustice, restrictions, powerful countries swallowing and enslaving the small ones. Egalite, fraternite, liberte – Utopia land.
eusebio manuel vestias pecurto
I did not create the Europe I live It my political ideal is democracy three democratic principles that always suggested me I- presents you as a finite II always says what he has to say III always use commom sense Maype you can help restore some democratic principles
Quella bandiera nella guancia non significa niente perchè essere europei significa far parte dello stesso continente e portare RISPETTO ad ogni popolo., alla sua lingua, cultura , origini, usanze ..Anche la Svizzera è europea
Means working “together” to face common challenges. Resist to selfish behaviour and work for the common good. This is, to me, what being CIVILIZED or EUROPEAN means.
First of all, ensuring peace across the European territory, then, free excange of ideas and common values like the protection of vulnerable populations, and finally facilitating excange and transport of products, and also people………..
Means respect for common space but without lost sovereignty and political decisions. Means that in my country we decide if we fish in our own waters means that we produce our own products without restrictions meaning I don’t have to buy milk from France when I have enough means respect and that’s not what’s happening. In this moment is an oligarchy. In my country along with others the constitution already protects human rights. Nobody in bruxelles is going to teach us that
To share Christian values to be citizen of one member state to be democrat and accept democratic values to défend european culture to pay tax in Europe and take davantage of social and médical assistance to protect european borders
To me being European is more than being British. Its a shared value of peace, exploring different culture and wonderful ways of life. Its about the freedom of movement, expression and freedom of choice.
hummm means been fooled by politics all the time;pay everything double price than he actually cost;and vote on some referundum where you’re response doesnt matter because at the end ”they” already figure out for you!
It means il have to leave my life that i have built up over 5 years of Living and being educated in the UK to another place where as a Romanian im already looked with reticence anyway thank you England and Wales , great job there :D set the place on fire why don’t you .
Actually,I think I’m Anatolian from east black sea cost,therefore ancient European and It means that I belong the land where modern civilized human originated.Also probably I have little bit a barbarian-pagan origin and it makes me fun.
Being European means to me being part of the greatest civilatory achievement in history. So sad that 17.4 out of 65 million Brits – in their majority rather uneducated, elderly and rural people – dragged the whole UK out.
Matt
Peter I’m glad I voted out. 17.4 million was still the majority. The rest should have tried harder. As for being elderly, uneducated (you arrogant twat) and rural well so what. The people that I campaigned with were not old, uneducated and none of us live in a rural part for the country. So what if we did. You expect me worry about the young metropolitan middle class. No one dragged the uk out. You lost. It’s called democracy. Deal with it
Εννοειται μεταφορικα χρησιμοποιησα την εννοια αγαπητε χρηστο και αυτο εχει να κανει με το τι σημαινει η Ευρωπαικη Ενωση του 2016 για μενα, . Αν εσεις νιωθετε οτι ειναι κατι διαφορετικο , ειναι δικο σας αναφαιρετο δικαιωμα να το πιστευετε, οπως και το να διαφωνειτε μαζι μου, οπως και εγω μαζι σας…
To be one citizen a mong 500 million others. To see a Brite future for us if we can get together and stand strong for our values and to be giving for less fortunate
Αλλα το να προσπαθειτε να προσβαλετε καποιον επειδη εχει ριζικα αντιθετη αποψη με εσας , δεν ειναι πρεπον νομιζω.. Για αυτο θα σας καλουσα να πειτε εσεις τι σημαινει η ΕΕ για εσας οπως ρωτα το post και η αποψη σας θα ειναι σεβαστη. Καλη συνεχεια!
Peace, prosperity, safety, stability, civilization, christianity, human rights.
Marco Peel
To be European means to recognise we are more than the sum of our parts, that diversity is our strength, and cooperation is better than competition. The EU itself though seems to be losing sight of that.
STOP THE GREEK GENOCIDE NOW. STOP KILLING GREEK PEOPLE EVERYDAY WITH YOUR ECONOMICAL WAR – MEMORANDUM. OUR SLOGAN IN GREECE IS “DESTROY EUROPE BEFORE EUROPE DESTROY YOUR COUNTRY” AND THE U.K. START IT ALREADY. CONGRATULATION TO THE U.K. PEOPLE FOR VOTING !!! IT’S TIME FOR ALL THE EUROPEAN COUNTRIES TO LEAVE FROM THE EUROPEAN UNION BEFORE IT’S TOO LATE FOR THEIR PEOPLE !!! EUROPE IS BANKER’S LOBBY AND THE POLITICIANS ARE THEIR PUPPETS !!! THEY DRIVE EUROPEAN COUNTRIES TO AN ECONOMICAL POVERTY !!! THE SOLUTION IS TO LEAVE FROM EUROPE NOW !!!
Being part of biggest and greatest family in the world, European family!
Elise
It means to me being part of a unique construction, which was originally meant to prevent a whole continent from being at war again, and succeeded so far. Europe may have many defaults, but it’s not even 50 years old, and has achieved so much yet. It may not be an eldorado, but think of what it may have been if bold and committed people wouldn’t have fought for it. It may disappoint you, but remember that it’s nothing but what you make of it. To me, Europe is my responsibility, and I want to take it.
Being part of a great family of different cultures and people, but deeplly with the same values. I would prefer to have an European Federation instead of European Union, with a federal governament elected by the people.
I was very happy, till I saw transfer of wealth to the “elite” once again and them telling us we will prosper and not to worry when people are suffering.
Thanks God, I,m not one :D But being European to Europeans means, to be governed under diverse idiocratic systems common and shared across European countries 8-)
To be critical, with power, with religion, with everything, love the detail, hate de generalizations, have civic courage, and feel all the culltural heritage and European history as their own, without partisanship feeling for his own etnic or nation or religion. Love and respect every european languaje. And to be a good reader of George Steiner.
To be critical, with power, with religion, with everything, love the detail, hate de generalizations, have civic courage, and feel all the culltural heritage and European history as their own, without partisanship feeling for his own etnic or nation or religion. Love and respect every european languaje. And to be a good reader of George Steiner.
I am SZÉKELY, as a Nation “european” does not exists. Europe is just the continent, where my home country, region, county and town are.
Do not mix European countries, nations with the artificial construct, deadbirth eu with its eurocrats trying to inhale that creature some life.
AGAIN…??? Just like I thought, you people DO NOT LISTEN… I’m starting to repeat myself, but here it goes: it’s all about shared values, shared history, cultural values and cultural identity throughout history… and partnership… (it’s not some countries taking advantage of others, or leeching resources from the neighbour next door)… I am European because I’m from Europe… you know, that place in the map (and history!), with several different countries… :-)
I never felt European until the anti-EU campaign emerged in the UK. Now I really feel like I belong to the EU and when I am asked where I am from I usually say from the EU. Very new feeling, but feels OK. Something good for the EU out of Brexit I suppose:)
open minded, friendly, peace, respect for minorities, freedom! Love Europe. I have many friends in Ireland, Austria, Germany, France and Spain. That’s Europe and the EU to me <3
IhateEU
Huh, this shows it all. If you are a Western European, you’re fine, if you however are from Central or Eastern Europe you,re scum to both Western and fellow Central/Eastern Europeans from other countries.
At one point I would have said, being lucky enough to be born to the most civilized continent on Earth, but now I fear many Europeans no longer care about preserving their rich heritage or even learning about it in the first place.
let me first of all say: I’m a boomer and I’m a European, and we boomer Europeans are many. Let’s not take the fact that so many of my generation in the UK voted for ‘Leave’ as that the older generation is anti-Europe. Being European means for me to not get the ‘other’ in the way, but exhibiting an open-minded and welcoming attitude towards anyone and everyone. We are after all one family of humans on in this continent which we call Europe. It would be sad day for Europe if we began to close our hearts and minds to others because they are … not like us.
That’s the question. Reclaming our identity of Europeans means to be part of definig Europe and acting on it.
Athena Lambrinidou
I love being European because in today’s planet Europe as a Union gives me real hope and makes me excited as some of the most progressive political agendas around this planet are being implemented here in a continent totally diverse fm each other yet, we all know it, somehow connected. I love being European regardless, in spite of, and in full awareness of the disfunction. Disfunction can be fixed. A vision cannot be remade if it gets completely broken and there is something cool about the vision. I think. Or at least we need to all talk about it. Not our politicians, business people, banks or mainstream media. We as a people. How many of us voted in the past 3 Europarliamentar-ian elections? Can we all decide on a common vision of a political union that respects the color of our diversity as countries as well as everyones’ human, environmental, and social rights? Even if we don’t agree, what do we have to loose by seriously, intelligently, thoughtfully all talk about it?
Urkreator
I’m extremely sad because of Brexit. But reading your messages did me good.
I actually wrote an article on Brexit on my blog, explaining why I feel European. I added, with his permission, a message by an Italian baby-boomer like Dagmar who also explains the importance of Europe for him.
…
It would be too long to publish the article here, but if you are interested, here is the address: http://uropi.canalblog.com/archives/2016/06/27/34012078.html
I think we all feel european. But it means certain values and certain guarantees, which the commission is now failing on drastically, if it wasn’t, Greece in its current state would not exist, and brexit in its current state of chaos, fragmentation, xenophobia and economic free fall would not be happening. I think those of us from the ‘limbs’ of europe have more of a sense of needing proper boundaries, peninsulae and island nations, or those with only one eu land border may have more of a sense of the ‘nation state’ i don’t know. but I think it is different sense of how one thinks of one’s country in relation to europe than maybe the franco germano benelux do, their borders with each other have always been nebulous and shifting. But when most of your border is the sea and one other eu state you feel a little more precious about it.
Being European to me is, striving to make the world a better place, trying to have a society that is fair for everyone not matter where they are from or who they are as a person. I think we as European strive to be accepting of others.
I am proud to be an European. I can travel free around Europe and meet other people with different opinions, but the same values. I can buy product from Italy, France, Belgium, … without paying extra taxes. My parents are from Belgium, I live in The Netherlands and I became Dutch. So that is a prove of a United Europe. We have so much human values in common. Lets unite in diversity and our life become so much rich. Peace, solidarity and prosperity thanks to the European Union.
I am proud to be an European. I can travel free around Europe and meet other people with different opinions, but the same values. I can buy product from Italy, France, Belgium, … without paying extra taxes. My parents are from Belgium, I live in The Netherlands and I became Dutch. So that is a prove of a United Europe. We have so much human values in common. Lets unite in diversity and our life become so much rich. Peace, solidarity and prosperity thanks to the European Union.
people don’t see the benefits of the EU because primarily it is responsible for trade and corporations. It is not a social EU. There needs to be social policies EU-wide following one set of regulations. E.g. There is a conditional Guaranteed minimum income in Cyprus. An application can take a year to be processed. If you are an EU citizen who worked in another EU country it takes more than a year to be processed, rejected, disputed, processed, amended. This would not happen if the GMI was under the EU strict guidelines and regulations. All this time there is no financial help for these people in the year long [or more] application process-disgusting and inhumane. Then people wonder what is the point of the EU if it is not helping the people directly, in their daily lives or experiences or time of need.
EU idea fits to all Earth. When time comes to be united and start to colonize space, people are still like stupid monkeys “fighting for place in sandbox”.
Being European does not mean much to the rich who are leaving Europe , especially France in ever growing numbers , and heading for countries where there will be no problems with migrants and Muslims .
What really means to me? Nothing. It means conservatism, stress, struggle, disappointment. We will never be like all other Europeans, we will never be accepted as equal.
Nothing much… From Soviet Union to European Union… First Moscow dictated us how to live, now Brussels.
Now waiting for Union Army at our lands to ensure no “rebels” would appear speaking about independence and leaving union.
it means I am a victim of neoliberal policies and it means I am ashamed of European governments in Britain, France and Germany, among others, which export death around the world in the form of weapons sales
For me to be a European means to share and represent worldwide a set of common values such as the non violent solutions to wars, the refuse to death penalty, the respect of the environment. All of which derives from the European history that encompasses various centuries of divisions, wars and dictatorship among the European people. To correct these mistakes EU is born. Se should never forget why the EU project is born.
la bellezza di essere europei è nella diversità culturale di ciascun Paese e va preservata non distrutta . Eravamo europei prima della UE e lo saremo anche dopo la UE .C’è chi vorrebbe amalgamare i popoli come fossero MASSA , numeri ed è un errore. La vera integrazione si ha con il RISPETTO delle identità
the beauty of being European is the cultural diversity of each country must be preserved and not destroyed. We were the first Europeans in the EU and we will be even after the EU .There who would mix the peoples as if they were MASS, numbers and it is a mistake. True integration you with RESPECT identity
Tolerance, open mindedness, freedom, equality, unity, democracy, culture, progress, stability, innovation, humanity…. Well at least all those that I would like Europe to stand for, not that it does, sadly…
It doesn’t really mean anything to me, unfortunately… I think they failed to grow an European feeling… Europe could have been something great but now it’s crashing down because every country is taking his own path and everyone is minding his own business…
Having family and friends. Speaking as many european languages as I can. ☺ To be or not to be european, that’s the question: http://www.euromeblog.wordpress.com
Well i think Russians and ukraine are europeans too :D ,Georgians etc.. and the EU is considering Russia an Ennemy so make it clear what u mean by european ;) some Europeans want to make Turkey European even if its geographically not
Alex
The problem is not geography. Turkey might as well become a european member if it shared any of the so-called “values”. Instead Turkey occupies for decades half of Cyprus, having killed and displaced thousands and constantly threatening to invade Cyprus and Greece (and its other neighbours) and Europe has done nothing to protect the common borders, instead we are casually discussing when will Turkey join , as if nothing has happened. If anything Europe at its most difficult issues (Cyprus,Ukraine,Financial crisis) has shown how divided,weak and fragmented it is . The solidarity is only to protect the central elite banks and major corporations all the rest has gone through the drain.
For the term “European” to actually mean something to the citizens of Europe, a common ground in the mentality, calture and tradition, political and economical principles of people is required. What is the common ground between a Greek or an Italian with a German? Let me tell you, there is no common ground. As long as EU, treats people as numbers, there will never be a common ground for anything
Democracy and sciences books new ideas.Not islamization of ancient europeans nations.When they stop killing christians for…blasphemy in their theocraties countries,we can accept them.We build mosques everywhere and they destroy churches.Patriarchs lives under threats and fear.Since then must Stop killing eatcother… siites against sounites and blaiming always West. Yes to refugees who are in danger from islamists.No to migrands who think like islamists.No schools no music no beautiful clothes no books no universities except koran….and
Europa é um continente onde alguns povos sempre lutaram pelo poder. Para não desaparecerem, perante boas doses de carnificina alguns sonharam meios para a fraternidade e solidariedade que , em tempos de dificuldades económicas, logo se afundaram e trouxeram à superfície os preconceitos e ódios . Europe , is a big bag plenty of wild cats.
As a Brit..it means very little. I feel ive more in common with America, Australia, Canada and many Commonwealth countries than the majority of European Countries.
Difficult question. Europe is a very big umbrella that encompasses different approaches. For me the European ideal is summed up in Enlightenment values, liberalism, freedom, science. The values that ended the obscurantism of the Mediaeval age. It should also mean peace and tranquility, safety, low crime – which are really bound up with freedom – egalitarianism of rights and opportunities.
I wouldn’t say there is a unified consensus across Europe on what Europe means. I like open, international, multi-ethnic society – not thereby renouncing, however, any of the aforesaid values. I don’t believe in conflict with more insular European countries to force them to open, however. That is not the way forward.
Being a proud member my nation (about its achievements, culture and traditions), in a loose community other nations and nationalities all over the continent Europe.
Means that as every passing day I loose more freedoms and wealth due to politicians I didn’t get an option to vote for. It means my country, which is forced into poverty by forced budget cuts by the same ppoliticians I had no option of voting for, is last in line before receiving aid while foreign nations get billions of our taxed Euros. It means that as a once self employed tax payer, when I closed my business I had no right to unemployment or any type of aid, while migrants and “refugees” receive government aid in the thousands monthly. It means my daughter goes to school in what looks like a 3rd world school because there are no funds due to forced budget cuts to repair the school. So this means they use schools were it rains in them, theres mold, paint is falling off walls. Yet EU sends billions outside of EU to school children. It means we have over 50% young unemployment rate which means my daughter most likely once out of school won’t find a job.
As a Greek Cypriot born in England, and now living in Cyprus I never felt British, nor Cypriot. I am neither and both at the same time. I feel more European now, especially since I have seen DNA test done on TV and online, that shows we are not just one ethnicity. We are global really. Humanity is one family and we should make sure none of us suffer and we all have a good quality of life. And the EU I think can help bring this about-if they want to. With trade laws preventing worker exploitation in non-EU countries. And a guaranteed minimum income for all citizens, or 4-day work hours for job-sharing, or better workers rights and transparency that stop worker exploitation by business within the EU. Plus tax the mega-rich and mega-corporations.
Alex
I think a major priority for EU ought to be the solidarity to your homecountry Cyprus. During these last few years EU has only tried to contain the financial crisis but has offered nothing at all to protect Cyprus from its invaders and protect the European borders.If Ukraine teaches as something , when/if one of the peripheral European countries gets invaded, the core and the north and Brussels will at most inflict sanctions. Most likely will willingly tradeoff some more european ground or islands so as to avoid conflict or to avoid spending to bolster our borders. The most important Europe should provide which is protection of its people lacks completely especially for the non central countries who are like a buffer to the central european and financial elite.
For me it means a natural evolution from identifying as Irish to Irish-European. I incorporate the wider European cultural identity into my natural born island identity.
I like feeling part of something bigger. It gives me a sense of security, pride and community.
Celtic, Greek, latin inheritage, democracy by Republic, ready to fight for my right, Rousseau, Voltaire, aso, but it’s maybe more about being french than being european.
Europe doesn’t exist as a “country” or a kind of as the “Wild kats” have been trying to make us bellieve. An economic commun espace whithout a commun economic planification doesn’t work. The order is to competitivity. In a “kind of country” union??? What union? When they thought in an economic union they should have think a unic economic program. A unic finance program. And also in other strategic things that are necessary to go on as a “kind of country”. Meanwhile We are Just toys in does hands. That is what i think.
Andy Ramirez
Soy citizen bizantino, negocios, buenas amistades. Tengo amigos y familiares lejanos en europa.
I agree with Jo Leinen’s definition of what a European is. I would add that Muslim immigration combined with their proportionally much higher birth rate is a threat to this European identity because Islam’s values are totally opposite to European values of equality of sexes (surah 4), freedom of religion (surah 4.89, illegality of apostacy etc), pacifism (eg. surah 5.33).
It meant something… today means depression, corporatism, conservatism, fear, nationalism, authoritarianism, centralization and less democracy. What a pity… :-(
In my honest opinion to be “European” means being part of a community that has understood after centuries of war that we can live in peace, respecting each other, allowing the other to be different as long as their diversity does not harm.
Davide Zaottini
In my honest opinion to be “European” means being part of a community that has understood after centuries of war that we can live in peace, respecting each other, allowing the other to be different as long as their diversity does not harm.
Facebullying? Que sensível é sua excelência. Bem, trocando para menos abonados (e isto sim é bullying), quero dizer que a Europa nunca se regeu por esses valores e a União Europeia muito menos. Só alguém sem qualquer noção histórica ou da realidade poderia colocar um comentário tão infantil. Ou então alguém de má indole cujo único objectivo é vender a banha da cobra que é a UE.
Ok. PNR? Ouvi falar vagamente. Uns tipos muito estranhos que volta e meia são presos por arruaças e crimes vários? Que defendem uma porrada de idiotices? Meia dúzia de fulanos que bebem ovos e dão coices no arado? Conheço vagamente.
Secular doesn’t mean being against a faith and if you open and read a history book you’ll discover that we have been Christian for almost 2000 years and this is one of the few things we really have in common.
The presen EU is not my european dreaming. Too differences from different peoples and coltures and no correct idea about free market and free rotation for EU peoples. There is not an european people but only an european market and world finance capitalism reducing the working dirict and the their well-being. I do not like this EU.
EU is NOT your family. Where did you get this stupid idea from??
Urkreator
Jorge wrote “If you are a banker it means a lot, if not, it means trouble!”
…
Absolutely not ! Banks are global not European. Take Goldmann Sachs for example: it wields more power in Europe than any European bank.
I agree with what most people are saying here, Europe is our civilisation; our languages and cultures may be (seem ?) different but they have so much in common.
As one of you said: you only have to live in Africa for a while to understand what Europe means.
One thing I disagree with: Europe is not christianity: Europe means to be free to choose our religion (or no religion at all if we like), Europe is freedom of thought. We do not want to go back to the Middle Ages and the Crusades (this is what ISIS wants us to do: let’s not fall into their trap).
…
The election of Trump has at least one advantage for Europeans: Let us awake from the American dream; let us make the European dream come true!
Europe today, with all its shortcomings may not correspond to what we really want; let us build the Europe of tomorrow, a Europe of Democracy, Solidary, Equality and Freedom as Maria said.
The future is in our hands !
George Yiannitsiotis
The future is in the hands of IMF/ECB gang (at least regarding the PIIGS)
Being part of a multicultural, multilingual, forward-thinking and critical-thinking, open-minded continent, which values the differences existing within European countries and furthers the freedoms, rights and values that the European ideal is based upon. Being European extends far beyond a common market or currency, it’s about culture and identity, about rejecting small-minded nationalism and embracing democracy and its values.
If you know that nationalism means that one’s nation-state is perceived as being superior to other countries for whichever reason and that that supposed superiority warrants aggression towards said other countries, I’d like to know what you’re doing on a page such as Debating Europe. If, however, you are confusing nationalism with patriotism, perhaps you have a semblance of a point.
Blagovest Nikolov what is chauvinism if not an extreme expression of nationalism? That being said, certainly nationalism is a widely debated term with both positive and negative connotations.
Nationalism is as European as Leonardo Da Vinci and Beethoven. It was literally invented by us. It’s in our blood. You may desire a ‘multicultural’ society but there is certainly nothing European about.
Watching diferent sorces of news makes you smarter and larn you to think deaper then your own idea in head. Let me ask you a question and give me the honest answer,ok?.. Ok here it comes” are the refugees inrichment of western culture oor not?.
Dumb question, most important being EUROPEAN doesnt depend on being called so by a bunch of unelected nobodies in Brussels, whose loyalty isnt even to Europe or the Europeans they claim to be leading.
Before 7-10years we had a dream, an united Europe, no borders and prosperity for all Europeans… Now Europe is a nightmare a place where you have to forget your original traditions because international gangsters like soros and rotscilds have decided to transform Europe in a kind of afroasiatic union mixed with a little bit of European lefty coulture
I believe i wrote that Europe was a continent. Not a union. Being European to me is that i come from the beautiful Country of my birth, that is geographically on the Continent of Europe.
Romania – nothing !! although are part of the EU, nothing changed for better … only that a lot of people went to work in other countries !! and we were invaded by the big corporations. other than that there was no significant change
so, denial is your strongest argument ?? f politics !! what did the EU do for us ?? wtf are you talking about ?? besides the corporations, they came with there EU regulation !! that fucked everything up !! there is no legislative, social or economic cohesion with the EU !! and the EU is not doing anything about it !! above all, they are not permiting Romania to enter the Schengen Agreement!! wtf … they took our banks, ensurance, resurces … even the best people , and they didn”t give anything back !! only the finger …
Buj Alex before schengen and any more privilige, please give the right and equal treatment to your minorities, especially Humgarians. Even better, let Transylvania become autonom!
Gabriella Anderson autonom ?? lol!!! you have an imperialist mentality, but on that ideea we should`ve kept Hungary under our rule when we had the chance!! you`re a vicious nation and you don`t have any right on our lands !! and F YOU … it shouldn`t be up to you !!! Schengen should be a comon right for EU members … Transylvania will never be autonom, because there aren`t enough minorities … you can`t claim rights over a land with a 5-10% population !! that is stupid, nobody will even think about debating that !! but do you know what we can do, we can take our lands back even more, from you!! and make the border Tisa, as it once was !! even saying that, shows how vicious you can be !! what does it have to do, with question put under debate …
We should concider ourselves not only European, but we must concider ourselves as part of the worlds humanity. Instead of being competitive with the rest of the continants, is it not wiser for all humanity to live as one, in a peaceful, harmonious and abundant World, where everyone is treated with dignity and repect ? Let us unite with the rest of our the planet and end the hardships many are facing in their precious and priceless lives <3
Anthropogeography & civilization. Language, culture, history, value system, habits, perception, forms – norms, economy – politics – social structure etc.
The most antient people of Europe are Albanians, Macedoninas and Greeks. Albanians and Macedonians were Eurpope when you were called Barbarians. When we fell under the Turkish invadion and we fought to protect Europian values, you Europians of today didn’t help but went overseas to colonize, to steal other countries. Now after 500 years of Turkish invasion we are poor and you dont acept us in BE. Or worse you want to call Turkey Europe before us. But we dont care we have been Europe when you were called Barbarians , and we still are the true Europe.
For me it is the natural evolution from small nation states to a larger nation state.
It is inevitable so why fight it? Why are people so attached to their nation state?
Pride, comfort, duty, patriotism.
Its possible to remain loyal to your nation state and embrace the new reality. I look upon Europe as an extension of my Irishness.
I can do this because I choose to.
It means opresed by liang media, means that EU has no democratie and is pure capitalisme, means replacing good life standard with poor one,means that corporations can buy they way of interes by buying the politician on the power, means that future off EU is in hand of people nobody woted fore, means mass imigrations and rape of europe rights by imigrants themself, means destroying each countrys pride by destroying there culture in name of profit organizations, means war soon between religions orginize by rich wich would be loong on safe places untill is done,menas end of life as we know it !
Greek genocide?? Really?! Do you know what genocide is? Read about Cam region in 1913 where 200,000 Albanian men women and children got murdered on their doorstep by Greek terrorist army!
And today survivors are not allowed to even visit their ruined homes!!!
We know very well what genocide means. You must say a big Thank you today, to the Greek people and to Greece because for over 20 years you live with money from Greece. So next time before you decide to write somnething think it better. You are talking about the war of 1013, today in Greece we have an ecomomical war from European Troika and IMF. You know nothing about the Greek genocide today, that’s why you are talking like this. When europe start destroing the economy in your country, come to talk again about the “Good” europe.
Europe have gone threw many … wars, religion transforming, revolutions, many nations… this continent gave birth to what we call western civilization. made evolution from middle age mind to human rights ideals. and this big unseen work made so many threw past 50 years… it was great ideas of great people- continent with human dignity and peace. this is what is Europe actually made of now. and i proud to live here. but… i am afraid, there are some changes in structures- change of people there. it’s not these great people who created basement for things we can be proud and safe people… how many of people just doing business and job , instead of having this great visions left in institutions?… so… we face the collapse of all was achieved by now… is money so worthy?… many gave life just to make it… and now… some pure pure persons just making small deals and business on it… ma… we are so unconscious for to keep it and understand… ” but freedom, freedom.. is never greater, than it’s owner…” that’s how it is… we want these values- we have to became it… or we still wait for master like a slaves?… let’s think
Being European means to reject the EU and to be of native indigenous European bloodline. Moving or being born in Europe does not make you European unless you have European blood
“together” is just a dream. In the reality, it means nothing but propaganda.
UE = competition between people. That’s the reallity.
Germany industry is in competition with French Industry. Look at the cars factory for exemple.
It’s not beeing “strong”, it’s beeing weak.
“Safe?” Why are there no terrorism in Switzerland? Because Switzerland is not in NATO and NATO = UE.
Go to Lybia and Syria and say to them UE is peace. I’m not sure you’ll be back.
Europe was created for one reason, to avoid the horrors of a ww a third time. It doesn’t matter what it makes me feel as a European, it doesn’t matter that the rest of the dump mob thinks about. As long as there is no ww3 and steps to prevent it are taken, Europe works. Simple as that.
Absolutely agree – we should never forget the main reason this union was created. There is a Yiddish proverb – “The worse peace is better than the best war”
Ivan, you are so simplistic there are only a few possibilities 1, you are trolling 2, you are part of the mob described in my comment above 3,you were never educated. Choose one or more. I feel it’s 2/3
Propaganda? Is there a ww3 right now? No, is there a prospect of ww3 in any time soon? Not likely! You think peace is kept just by force and nukes? No! Peace is primarily kept by TRADE and globalization. Everybody owns money to everybody and has trade with everybody.
The war is not avoided mainly by trade but by the balance of terror, by the fact that the most power countries own the atomic bomba. Moreover, the most powerful countries are indirectly at war in the Middle East or in the China Sea, but they also run an economic and cyber war.
Because of the atomic bomb, war is done by proxy or in a hybrid way. It’s certainly not the EU that prevents war, EU even adds oil to the fire.
A correlation is not a cause, it’s not because EU exists that there is no war.
Thank you for showing your hatred of freedom of speech and your ‘ignorance/denial of European history.
The fact is the last European world war was started by a bunch of Europeans with a flag and a plan to unite Europe and it was Nationalism and peoples love of their Nation that stopped them.
NATO was formed to stop the lunatics from doing it again, unfortunately that is exactly what you pro EU fanatics are doing.
Nazism, Fascism, Communism and now Europeanism, only the colour of your flag as changed.
I have the ground that there is no WW3. You are arguing against that somehow Guillaume. On the other hand we have an fanatic, Ivan. A nationalist British redneck practically, who is present in the majority of European forums. Illogical since England sadly left. They practically did what they said scottland shouldn’t do. Again illogical, that’s why it’s hard to argue against people who do not understand reason, they do not see all facts (Just those who are beneficial to their points of view, the rest are disregarded as hatred of freedom of speech [another illogicality, since you are denying my freedom of speech], hatred and ignorance.
Stop posting wiki links, that my self go edit right now, and see the actual facts. Is there a WW3? Yes or No? End of story. That’s my argument. If you have another issue with the EU move on to the next forum.
the fact is there is no WW3 for the moment, it’s true but the cause of this fact is not the existence of the EU , that’s a correlation, it’s a fact too. End of story. And by the way, a correlation is not a cause, so that’s not an argument, that’s just a correlation. Try again. https://el.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cum_hoc_ergo_propter_hoc
C’est l’inverse mon petit bouchon. L’U.E a été voulue par les U.S.A pour que les Européens se foutent sur la gueule avec leur ennemi Russe. De cette façon, les Américains ne se salissent pas, et bénéficient de l’affaiblissement de leurs rivaux économiques.
L’U.E est un projet totalitaire contre l’auto-détermination des peuples, complètement piloté par les Américains, et soutenu par les fachos.
Being ‘European’ just mean being a citizen of one of the 51 Nations of Europe, it as nothing to do with being in the EU, we will still be European when we leave the decaying European Experiment.
Ivan Burrows Don’t miss Lituania, Slovenia (I don’t even know where it is) and Poland… :-)
And as a French, I think I’ve more history to share with Russia than with these unknown countries. But strangly, it is not in UE, and média ask me to hate it. Strange?
UE = propaganda
UE = idiots factory
Ivan Burrows I think Europeans – white caucasians do share or shared history in the past with Turkey, Kazakhstan & Azerbaijan. Turkey was a part of the Roman empire before the turks and moors took over, Kazakhstan & Azerbaijan were caucasians that slowly have been invaded by coloured people from the south, exactly that is happening today in the rest of Europe… Just reading history is not enough, you also have to understand and see the continuity of what happened during the centuries…
Democracy, Justice, Respect, Dignity, Cooperation and Prosperity for EACH AND EVERY EUROPEAN CITIZEN… this is what should have meant… But it isnt working towards these values… Thats why so many Europeans start questioning the very existasnce of EU, if it doesnt meet the purpose it was created for.
I am sorry. I had no intention to offend you. But since our countries signed to be a part (and not yet out) of European Union we are members of the union. The point i would like to stress though was that the union should try to ensure that some values and principles would prevail against each states interest, for the good of all the people. If this can’t be done, then its not serving the purpose was made (irrelevant, if we were asked or not,to join in, that time..)
It means finding solutions to problems together. It means helping each other, growing together. It means exporting our model of dialogue, cooperation, solidarity and peace to other parts of the world. The reconciliation between Germany and France is the most amazing and important success story in global history. That is sadly unimaginable between China and Japan: only think how different it would be if they had their own Asian union.
It means being part of a society where freedom and democracy prevail. Though I cannot exactly enjoy the latter, being a pro-independence Catalan in a country that trials those politicians who set ballot boxes for referendums.
Being richer sharing our diversity, having common values and History. Europe is for me the most progressive and valuable concept in the early XXI century.
Europe was created by usa to face the soviet union!!!!!Once the soviet union collapsed! There was not any “barbarians” at the gates and the the process of disintegration started !!!!!!Eu is now desperately seeking for an enemy!!!!??”Russia””‘!!!!!?!insteand of preventing a war!!!Europe is creating one!!!!!
Yor rhetoric exercise is useless. The war has begun already and it’s a non-traditional conflict. Unfortunately I have to disagree with you: the enemy IS Russia. Or, better said: Russia’s enemy is US and EU. My opinion…
To be European is the contrary of unilateral and hidden position taken by private and biased dangerous interests. This is the wrong agenda,not an agenda of change and Peace, which is officially our first priority, but an agenda of destruction. Please stop to play with that, manipulate the peoples opinions to increase the miltaro industrial business and stop to deny these facts and speak about them loudly. https://planetes360.fr/forces-de-lotan-menacent-russie/
Gioacchino Giorgio Nastasi
I believe that Europe has in the end, despite its diversity, a strong common cultural roots that has permeated and permeates its history and that of the world that Europe for many centuries of history dominated and created: the Greek-Roman Culture ;also, Christianity arrived and spread to Europe in the time of Roman Empire,..Europe (Including Russia) is much more than the individual Member, is a tree with many branches but with strong common roots whose seeds have come across the Planet that is, for a large part, the son of the European explorations and conquests..But is certainly the Roman Empire the great father and mother of the European Culture and history In the history and geology (see the movement and the disintegration of the landmass with now movements for reaggregation) there are moments of separation and re-aggregation, and this may be the time to regroup, (this time by consensus, without wars of conquest that have exterminated the European population) a Europe that is certainly until now still a best and greataest beacon of civilizations in the World…
I believe that Europe has in the end, despite its diversity, a strong common cultural roots that has permeated and permeates its history and the history of the world that Europe for many centuries of history dominated and created: the Greek-Roman Culture,Also The Christianity arrived and spread to Europe in the time of Roman Empire ..’Europe (Including Russia) is much more than the individual Members, is a tree with many branches but with strong common roots whose seeds have come across the Planet that is, for a large part, the son of the European explorations and conquests .But is certainly the Roman Empire the great father and mother of the european Culture and history .In the history and geology (see the movement and the disintegration of the landmass with movements riagregazione) there are moments of separation and re-aggregation, and this may be the time to regroup, (at this time by consensus, without wars of conquest that have exterminated the European population) a Europe that is certainly still a biggest light of civilizations in the World.
Se l’Europa avesse una squadra di calcio propria, triplicherebbe i suoi supporters!
Enzo
I am proudly European!
It’s about loving different cultures, languages and much more. Even if we are in a difficult period I strongly want to think that my future will be European.
The financiral rape of my country, the Trojan Horse invasion of Islamist fighters, the freezing of bank acfcounts, and defamation of our history and culture. It is not working, shut it down and send everyone HOME.
Wrong. I live in Greece, and as if this morning unfortunately we are still in EE. Europe has made God’s creation a hell hole, and it is all because of Merkel and the EE decisions being made by people that nobody voted for. The Brits are leaving, it is time the rest of us leave too, and Merkel can stay behind and hold the bag.
What I would like it to mean is a good basic standard of living for all. Free education, same benefits, same minimum wage, free healthcare EU-wide. A more social Europe that puts people first within the EU and outside the EU with obligatory fair-trade product standards for countries that trade with the EU, or corporations that use labour from non-EU countries
To me it means Taking the good out of diversities – more #connection than the contrary of division. I want more (then being European) but I’m relatively happy with one step at the time (for now).
It means Juncker and his bunch of crooks can steal my money through tax escape everyday and then order that I pay more taxes to balance their thievery.
that my country is going bankrupt, both on a human level, aswell as a economic level, when politicians, that noone in my country voted for, is trying to “harmonize” sociaty into the lowest common nominator, in the EC.
basically EC could go burn tomorrow, and ill ask what sandwich you want to eat, while we watch it smolders.
We are European as this is the continent we were born on and where our ancestors were born on , where our home is. It has nothing to do with being a part of the Most corrupt organization EU
Freedom of movement, the idea of a social capitalist society which embraces private enterprise while caring for a harmonious society, individual rights of privacy, freedom from police brutality and a shared interconnected cultural heritage which is the foundation of an enlightened world.
I feel united in diversity is also a big part of the European cultural heritage but it is certainly hard for Europeans who don’t interact much outside of their local communities to grasp the significance of it.
Being European means subscribing to certain values inspired by Christianity and the Philosophies of Greece and Rome. It means every one of the continent having innate rights and duties and a belief that our countries are not lines on a map but a collective enterprise to improve the lot of those who live within the nation states and the EU
European means to embrace the European values. European values are fedined in Article 2 TEU as: “The Union is founded on the values of respect for human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law and respect for human rights, including the rights of persons belonging to minorities. These values are common to the Member States in a society in which pluralism, non-discrimination, tolerance, justice, solidarity and equality between women and men prevail.”
It means to be a member of one of the European nations and be white and of Christian descent.
Urkreator
With the election of Donald Trump, it is perfectly clear: the American Dream is dead. But what about the European Dream ? Is it also dead ? Is it stillborn ? Or not born yet ?
Europe lacks a vision. A vision that could mobilize all of us together and make us dream and hope for a better future. Let us remember Martin Luther King: “I have a dream… I have a dream, today!” *
Europe does not need more money, more bankers and financiers, more speculators and tax-evaders; Europe needs more dreams. Because only dreams can make people stand up and unite.
Our children must be able to think that their lives will be better and not worse than those of their parents.
This is why we should forget our little “selves” for a while, and should all work together to make life better, to make the world a better place, and build a better Europe.
Joschi
Sorry for my english, but I try to lay some english words into this discussion. I live in Berlin. I and I think the most of the younger, and of cause, educated older germans haven’t lived without the European Union in real and in our heads and feel more like a european than a german, because only together we can reach the maximum of our power and unfolding, of cause every individual person has better conditions when he lives in a anxiety-free society. And today, there is only one way to create this atmosphere of anxiety-free society of peace and unfolding, the European Union and, my personal, but after the Brexit, more unrealistic dream, the United States Of Europe, like the americans have it, only better, peacefuller, because, and thats the answer of this question on this page, because of the one thing, in wich we europeans are unbeatable: The most of us know, what it is, to be a human…
I hope you’ve unterstood, what I mean, it came from my european heart! Our countries historys, melted together, to go foreward
I am not european. Europe was known as the land of free people; now the European Union has become a land of poverty, of oppression from a lord far away from us.
A land for the banks, for the financial markets. The people of europe are not allowed to speak freely; to have their own voice heard.
I dream of a free union of free people. The people’s land not the bankers’ land..
Is not this europe.
And i don’t think this europe is redemable. There is no will to change. The EU is not a democracy and never will be.
I suggest that all the nation oppressed by the EU should secede from it to rebuild a new federation of free people.
Being European means to me living in prosperity and peace, with liberal, but human values, free of fundamentalism or extremism, free from slavery and cheap labour, where every individual can live as he/she will, where people can live a full and creative life. Unfortunately this is only an Utopia, a dream, an idealistic fantasy!
essere europei per me è amore , significa essere accettati ed accettare per quello che si è. L’Unione europea però non è l’Europa, non mi fa sentire a casa , non mi dà sicurezza, non mi ascolta, fa cose insensate contro il popolo , lo ammazza ! . L’Unione europea per me è la maledizione dell’Europa che mette il mercato al di sopra di tutto , ha rovinato la vita delle persone be European for me is love, is to be accepted and accept it for what it is. The European Union, however, is not Europe, it makes me feel at home, does not give me security, he does not listen, do foolish things against the people, kill it! . The European Union is for me the curse of Europe which puts the market above all else, he has ruined the lives of people
grazie del complimento. La bandiera che sventola nel tuo profilo ti ha insegnato la buona educazione ? Il tuo non è dialogo è offendere , gli fai “onore” alla bandiera che hai messo. La UE è esattamente come te da cui prendo le distanze
Per te invece cosa significa? Andare su facebook raccontando idiozie per sentirsi meno falliti? Dove sono le tue argomentazioni? Dove sono i tuoi dati? Te lo.dico io…non esistono. Sono solo puttanate basate sul nulla, la UE è l’economia più grande a livello globale, il luogo in cui i diritti individuali e dei lavoratori extra frontalieri sono tutelati in maniera maggiore. L’UE ha permesso ai nostri paesi di vivere in pace per il periodo più lungo della storia. Questi sono fatti, facilmente verificabili, quello che dici tu invece? Dovresti vergognarti!
dovresti vergognarti tu non io. Io sono fallita ??? Grazie a quelli come te che hanno fatto fallire i valori nobili che potevano essere inseriti in Europa. Se è fallito è colpa vostra . Vergognatevi !
Ti rammento che l’Italia non ha ricevuto nessun beneficio dalla UE. Ha solo pagato, pagato, pagato e pagato per far star bene quelli come te che dopo aver usufruito del sacrificio nostro ci chiama anche falliti. Che gentaccia !!!
1) l’Italia ha sempre beneficiato dal progetto europeo, come tutti gli altri stato del resto. Il miracolo economico italiano è iniziato quando eravamo giá parte della comunità.
2) io nella mia vita mi sono dato da fare, ho studiato e usato le possibilità che l’Europa minha dato. Tu non puoi lamentarti se l’unica tua occupazione è stare su facebook ha scrivere cazzate. Se sei una fallita è colpa tua, non dell’Europa.
hei ho 49 anni di età ed ho 35 anni di contributi lavorati fino all’ultimo giorno. Quando avrai maturato il lavoro come me allora stizzi. Sai benissimo che l’Unione europea non era nel progetto europeo. Le svolte sono state nel 1981/ 1992/ 1997/2001.
L’unione Europea è sempre stata parte del.progetto e io mi auguro fortemente che si arrivi ad una federazione unica il prima possibile. Non hai cmq risposto alle mie domande, hai fatto delle accuse e supposizioni ben precise senza argomentare. Quali sarebbero le colpe, in pratica dell’Europa non l’hai spiegato mentre io ti ho elencato dei meriti indiscutibili. Io sono britannico, italiano ed europeo e sono assolutamente fiero di esserlo.
io le ho argomentate, sei tu che non vuoi capire quel che ti dico. Guarda , noi stiamo talmente bene nella UE che non vediamo l’ora di uscire e non per un fatto di popoli ma per un fatto di non rispetto dei nostri principi costituzionali. Le uniche regole della UE che riconosco sono quelle in sintonia con la mia Costituzione. Detto questo ho detto tutto
European to me means being constantly in an inner fight between the need to unite with other Europeans and also the desire to institute a harsh dictatorship for “the nation’s purity and progress”
Thats what europe has been all these decades
Lots of things we should appreciate. We don’t, though, ’cause we take them for granted. Most people of these generations, haven’t seen war, dictatorship and brutality. And they just moan
Being able to live (at least) anywhere and everywhwre in Europe. In the most basic sense, the world was meant for us t on be travelled and a human being should be able to enjoy the world and not feel limited by imaginary lines that we cannot cross called borders.
Renato Tuveri-Ellis anyone can get a British passport nowadays. It’s meaning has been somewhat diminished. You should probably note that your life is governed by English Law and enforced by English courts. Whether you like it or not…this is England. As for being little…:-) yes we are…but big on stature, human and civil rights(thanks to English Law), world changing inventions (including the one you are sat typing at right now) and a host of other amazing English…..things…..:-) ….I wish you happiness in your identity….please do not begrudge me mine in my own country…..which is called England……sits here and wonders if the Scots should be allowed to call themselves Scottish without fear of being belittled…or the French…and any other European country…..I wonder why some feel the need to diminish England to a non identity…almost as if they wish to steal the very country itself….and re-identify it….think they may view the kindness of us little Englanders as a weakness. ;-)
There is no such thing as a european nationality. if we are european, then we are so because it describes where we are from purely in a geographical sense. The EU is not a nation, although it thinks it should be. But Europe is not like the USA. We are not all one country. The EU is a re-run of the Austro-Hungarian Empire – too many different peoples and languages trying to fit into a single state. It can’t work in the long run.
As Spengler described it,the Faustian white soul,but the EUSSR is a foreign construction meant to go against the will of native Europeans ,see the Coulden Hove Kalgeri plan :(
meme
Well, the EU is in a very tricky situation because its first aims was to constitute an economic union. Now, it’s both an economic and political union, which means more problems to face.
Putting aside the economic and monetary aspect, the shared values are very noble, but perhaps beyond them there is not so much that we have in common between the different nations.
I am not saying that having differences is not a good thing, but probably there has not been so much effort to make EU citizens feel part of the EU. Cultural difference should be used as an advantage in order to create a strong concept of the EU institution. Indeed this aspect is not exploited entirely, so EU people do not have a total awareness of what it means to be a EU citizen.
it means to me: …….. Absolutly nothing, they promised more work, more security, AND whe had no vote yes or no , so absolutly without a doubt non democratic elected that european “coalition”. internationale clicke ….. i was sceptic when it came in from the start, i see the night from the francs to euro all prices wend up, and they never wend down again, only up….. and the wages are basicly the same or even lower in some cases. what does europa mean for me? conroled bye a few elite who think they are allowed to have the balls to talk for us all, wich they DONT ! and u know what? im belgian….. EU is in brussels, i should say, hmmm i gives jobs to belgians and bla bla bla….. FUCK THAT. European union is corrupted to the bone. created to de-evolve us, not make it better……. it sucks the money away from he people, and francly ? on the streets? its so quiet now for over 2 years……. the people feel betrayed, are affraid , one giant depression. cafes not running as it should, nothing really , anymore…. to be honnest.
and dont get me wrong i feel nothing bu love for the lands arround me, and beyond, but it has no benefit claiming we are one, wich we are not; we can get allong without this leftist nazi filantropic plan that we name the EU. people ofthen make the msitake to asume AH. was right winged, he actually was more left than he was right winged….. but for that u need to study the subject and it helps to understand german… AND…;its not easy to look to this subject with neutral eyes for a lot of people.
An old continent that is aging fast, lost its soul, mission & vision, letting its old aged bureaucrats ruin the future of millions of youth & poor. The old guard want to keep being the captains of the ship, even when it’s proven that their thoughts, leadership, and policies can lead to its sinking! The problem of many of the EU leaders is that many of them can’t think or act noble because their BREAD is at stake! EU leaders want change everywhere in the world except within their continent! They are dissatisfied with everyone one, & can’t see that everyone is sick of them!
I’m afraid I agree, although that’s not the full description: it’s a continent of culture, science, beautiful nature, etc. Not the only one, of course, but we also have that ;)
Just wanted to say that if you don’t like EU food and traditions you might consider other options instead of coming here wanting to change “for better”.
I don’t deny anything Samia, just noticed that normally you don’t come to stay in EU if you don’t agree with its rules. As obsolete it might look, these have insured a climate of stability.
One can’t deny that the EU needs to take an inside look, reform itself before there is no time for sorrow, & put it’s own house in order(Poverty & Unemployment is just too shocking). & what about we want a better Middle East when selling arms like crazy for everyone?! What was done to the ‘Quota System’ for refugees, or any other proposals to help them! There is a lot of potential & possibility in the people there, but it’s all messed up’Politicians Fault!’ Peace & love friend , & my discussion was with good intentions & meant to be constructive.
Why do you even ask this question? EU leadership don’t want Europeans they are doing everything to disassemble the concept. The corporations just want a single consumer and endless cheap labour. The liberal elite only want people like them , talk like them, think like them. The UN actively promote migration to Europe to swamp its Europeness. Most Europeans want to have a stable relationship, a home, a couple of kids in a community they grew up in. Most Government policies actively make this harder while diverting resources elsewhere.
Every European knows in their heart they are European, they have no doubts and do not need it defined, it’s something you feel. If you have to ask, your not.
market? What about democracy? Justice?
If people only think in markets, then the Union ends working for finance greedy people who only want their money in Singapore…
Democracy of course, just take a look of what happens around EU? As far as I know a small county in the Nederlands almost blocked an important trade agreement.. And yes again market, without a decent level of wealth you cannot talk about arts or health care funding.
Putting up with austerity, lack of vision, plutocracy bellicosity, right wing nationalism, fear mongering with regard to refugees and yes the Euro, how could I forget the Euro and of course the three freedoms, how could I forget our precious freedoms.
Marios Nicolaou
EU is based on each member’s own interests. In practise there is no solidarity between the member states and the EU citizens are not equal between each other.
As an example, EU has taken actions against Russia for Crimea but has never taken any actions against Turkey that occupies a part of EU, that does not recognise an EU member state, that does not allow EU citizens to enjoy they human rights.
EU in practise offers nothing.
Therefore EU means nothing. We were much better before EU.
Nothing. I´m a citizen of the world…And it was Europe that was (and is) killing other people from other countries all the time long…YES, we (europeans) were always the murderers and STILL are! Who killed the native americans (from US to Brasil)? Who killed the africans and made them slaves? What about the aborigenes and maori in Oceania? Shall I talk about Asia? Come on…! Let´s be serious, hã!? I´m ashamed of being not only european, but HUMAN as well…! And they don´t get enough: WWIII is around the corner…What kind of world are we leaving for our grand-children to grow? This´s INSANE!!!
Things will change dramatically as climate change kicks in and there are problems of food and water in Western countries , and major problems for developed countries to buy food from elsewhere as they are too populated to be sustainable.
In the future countries could refuse to sell food , and many countries which had water could have none
Could you please explain how this could be possibly be consided as ‘spam’ ? or is it the case that when you get an answer to your question that does not fit with your pre-defined set of answers you remove it ?, so much for the debate part of your page tile.
—
To me it just means I live on the Europe peninsula of the Eurasian continent, but it seems to most pro EU’ers it means a belief in the idea of:
* One people = European
* One Nation = European Union (or United states of Europe)
* One Leader = President of the European Commission
It’s not spam, it is just innaccurate. We are, or at least we were, one people. We all descend from the same people (indo-europeans) who spoke the same language. You cannot be British without being European. And by the way, “British” itself is a generalization. British people are of both of Celtic and Anglo-Saxon descent (both Europeans). Liking the EU or not does not change thousands of years or genetics.
When you say ‘we are one people’ do you include Russians, Turks, the peoples of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, etc ? after all there are 51 ‘European’ Nations and not just the 27 trapped in the pointless EU,
As Brits we are perfectly aware of who and what we are thanks, which is why we reject your fake interpretation of what it means to be ‘European’.
I think I already answered your question below, and this is not an interpratation, but the true meaning of the adjective “European” in the English language: belonging to or related to Europe and its people.
It does include part of Russia of course. It does not include Turkey because the Turks are not a people from Europe, even if the currently occupy European territory.
Living in Greece, I see that it’s also easy to walk across Albania, Turkey, ex-Yugoslavia, despite they’re (still) not EU countries and people from those countries can also walk in Greece and grow businesses.
Generate opportunities, share and boost knowledge and respect different identities, we are not in this world to continue with divisions and incomprehension. Trust, work and opportunity are the words that I want to represent Europe, but there is still a way to go and many things in Europe today to improve, European civil society will continue working.
You can not speak for me .As far as I am concerned , Muslins should be welcomed anywhere in Europe .Also ,I am not a Christian either . Most ,if not all countries in Europe are secular countries .
free society yet you are not allowed to be Muslim? Let me guess, you also have to be Catholic and not Protestant? Do you know how many almost purely ‘Islamic’ countries there are in Europe where the majority of the people believes in Allah instead of God?? Macedonia, Bosnia-Hercegovina, Albania and Kosovo are for me just as European as Portugal is…
it means bombing people in Syria, actually helping ISIS,bying petrol from him, and then not selling lifeboats to countries for people leaving the bombings
To be European is about bringing together eastern and western European countries in a federal state with a liberal constitution and fine ,competent government composed of 12 ministers elected by the EU citizens.
Europa como está só serve porque evita mais guerras, de resto as desigualdades continuam, o tráfico de pessoas, drogas e armas nunca foi tão fácil como já apareceu em vários documentários…
If you ask a guy from Nigeria what it means to be an African, he will probably say that it means being black. Why should it be more complicated than that.
If you consider the fact that Europeans originate from India the race/colour factor doesn’t count – especially if you check out all the races involved in all the invasions that took place here…it’s our civilization which must be allowed to continue to be perfectioned and defended – thats our job as Europe!
Our civilization is the product of a unique people (just as any other civilization). It is impossible to separate it from who we are. We created our civilization, we are the only ones who can allow it to survive. The place where we decide to move doesn’t change this primordial truth: Europe lives within our DNA, we would still be Europeans even on Mars.
In the corse of time we’ve gathered the best of human civilization and the worst’with the Union we’ve avoided those worsts for 70years-not bad for a continent that for centuries used to send their youth to peril.There’s a long way ahead but we’re trying,we’re in the same boat after all
You cant choose color’mentality you can.The first doent mean much any more,the second can be everything-that doesn’t mean we should give iur vital breathing space to anyone desides to come over,but those who’ve grone up peacfuly and legaly in our countries there’s no point to rool them out of society if the want to ofer,just because they look difrently’
To be European for me means to be one with all the other 27 european countries and the possibility of speaking to all of them at the same price is a tangible feeling of being European….thankyou!
Mino Álvarez of course there are many immigrants in Europe but all these people have left their countries for various reasons, to adopt the European way of life and thus become European – Years ago Europeans left Europe and went to USA, Australia, S. America, Africa….In your simplicity you have said just that my dear Mino!
Patrick
Being able to read and understand brilliant literature in Latin – the roots of our European heritage!
There is a European identity. We share a common past and the future too. From my point of view is clear. However, please, let me suggest, to shed light on this matter, reading ‘Robert Schuman, père de l’Europe’ by Réne Lejeune.
Ylism without civilitation. Banks money investment but not really new experience to sciences. Usa took these progressive institutions. we live to consume the moneys of some rich who are leaders of the banks. What is happiness?
No no you are not alright to ask them that question in that way…An individual born there is not enough but has to appreciate that highly costs paid by the previous generations untill reached that stage…..The nature of a human being not reached that age and never been abroad is not serving the purposes of understanding his national identity, their national intrests and being a lucky human…. I would like to congratulate them and able to say that ” being a European citizen means that you born and the luck was there waiting for you”…whoever does not like his European identity, I give him my Iraqi citizenship with all that years unpaid my own shares of the exported oil and the money taken out to your banks awfully…… As Being Iraqi or Kurdish of Iraq means that you have to watch them how they are robbing you and your country…
SLAVERY to COMPANIES and loss of all creativity, soverignty, and dumbing down of schools, and bastarizing the peoples with influx of ISLAM, which brought the dark ages for 1400 years in Europe in the past. People just do not learn.
I think that European Identity is going parallel with EU integration. European citizenship is complementary to national citizenship. And Europeans are identifying themselves with a dual identity, as Europeans and on national bases.
The 39% of the EU citizens who identify themselves only on national bases do so simply because for the moment they choose so. I believe that most of them have a dual identity: as Europeans and on national bases.
To me to be European means to be European, which implies holding an EU citizenship.
I have published a book titled “European Identity: The European Demos?” and can continue longer on this topic but I think this is enough…
randomguy2017
Europe:
-respecting Christian values (doesnt have to be faith, but can be).
-respecting tradition
-being “white” with some origins from Europe.
-accepting that every nation from Portugal to Russia, from Ireland to Italy
has good and bad people.
Bert van Santen
If You`ve asked me that question 35 years ago, I would `ve answered I feel proud towards the EC !
Today I don`t feel connected anymore to the common project.
I `am proud to be Dutch, Ashamed of what MP Rutte did and does.
And Europe? As truckdriver I drive through it and realise the economical damage the EU did with the beautiful continent Europe.
Thomacz Mulka
Having european root’s and ancestors… for example my Forebears lived in europe for over 1000 years. Well but in modern times people from other countrys can become european too… if they leave their cultures at home and integrated in our beloved traditions and values.
Thomacz Mulka
The european success is because leave behind of theocratic ideologys… now we get this extremist ideologys (with even political agenda) islam in our beloved continent. The EU should be more restrict to religions and religious expressions… it shouldn’t be allowed to express this medieval ideologys in the public. Religions should be only allowed in private space. 20 years ago I saw religious expression as human right… but now I am wiser and see that religions was honly peoples brains and are a danger for all societys.
mar
It means going forward
Steve Daniels
I always thought that the term European meant, the group of people (Christopher Columbus) who migrated from Spain to discover America. Although Columbus was Italian, the history books seem to somewhat suggest that he and his group of emigrants intent was not only to discover a new continent, but to take total ownership and control of this new world. For example, initially, the group of emigrants made fair trade for the land that was owned by the Indians. They later resorted to inhumane tactics. Overtime they gained control and ownership of majority of the new continent. And as the years passed by, the group of new emigrants set sail for a continent that was willing to trade men and women for goods. These group of men and women were called Slaves.Which the emigrants owned.( Free labor.) The point I’m trying to make is, at that time, that being European was to be in total control and ownership of the new world, which seemed to me to be Arrogant and Entitled. But thankfully today things are much better, yet we still have a ways to go in this racially inclusive and politically correct New World.
Lai Wesely
Thank you a lot for sharing this with all people you actually recognize what you’re speaking approximately! Bookmarked. Kindly also visit my web site =). We may have a hyperlink trade arrangement between us!
It means everything to me,I feel as if my heart is being torn out
Okechukwu
it is well Jocelyn…
r jacobs de pulderbos
Glad to see this discussion. But it is not very widespread, not in the media, not in the big political debates. EUROPE is not promoted as it should be.What is happening to make this a real big debate and an issue for the next EU-elections? Or has “the identity discussion (identitarian movement)” become taboe or politically incorrect? One’s identity is always multi-layered: you belong to your family, village, sports club, region, country etc. There is nothing wrong to cherish and to be proud of that. It gives a good feeling. Unfortunately EUROPE ‘s common heritage is often based on conflict. The Romans invaded Britain (+the rest) and left us a whole heritage…, the Irish monks kept the faith and Christianized the continent, there was once the “lingua franca” of the European merchants, there was Latin and now there is English. The religious wars brought the Spaniards to the low-countries. Charlemagne invented school for everybody, the Austrian empire reached far out, up till today pilgrims from everywhere in Europe go to Santiago De Compostella, after the French revolution Napoleon tried to united a big European Empire, twice, the whole of Europe had to fight back the Germans…. and finally from all these “cultural exchanges”, from a common Judeo-Christian heritage came a COMMON PROJECT which unites us. Too often the focus has been on mere economic advantages. A project from the Europeans for the Europeans, a project with freedom of thought, freedom of speech, separation of church and state and with respect and encouragement for the EUROPEAN diversity and the self determination of all EUROPEAN people.
In Groesse 62 4Xl
Gute Arbeit. Danke.
Schlupfjacken
Chris
1. Respect or the democratic principles on which modern Europe is founded.
2. Feeling European
3. Living in Europe
Mike
It means having a cultural, ethnic and social background linked to Europe, common ou very smiliar values regarding politics and life in society – there are often exclusive or stronger of and in Europe –
We can argue anything we want about this but the question (and answer) would be the same if it was “what it means to African, Asian” or any other natural background, not counting the New World because they are artificial Societies…
Władysław
Being a citizen of and being indigenous to a country in Europe
Patricia
living in a country that is part of the land mass called Europe
Jocelyn
It is in my heart and soul
Valentin
It means less now because the financial system is taking decisions at high level. EP and EC are just puppets gatherings. EU bureaucracy is inefficient and useless. There is no strategy.
Николай
Supporting all the bureaucratic plankton in Brussels
Enric
Just to be born and live in Europe. If you mean the EU, I feel ashamed.
Mateusz
Native European blood, Christianity, and culture.
Gregory
No jews. Got it. You sure about that?
Alfredo
Nothing
Bernard
Being descended from people who have lived in Europe for millennia.
Chris
Living in a completely free country but part of the continent of Europe. No political or economic ties but free trade with each other. I love travelling to other European countries and seeing their own unique Cultures but don’t wish to become a United States of Europe at any point ever. I am concerned the traditions of Europe are being eroded by immigration
João
You guys scared away all the pro EU people
Jocelyn
João not scared me
Oscar
Nothing. Europe is a subcontinent. The Union was and should be a way of fostering trade between nations that have an intertwined history. Not only, these nations have been in contact and exchanging goods and people for centuries.
Being European has no significance since the Union does not promote a cultural identity. All that being European seems to mean is that you need to accept whatever is decided in Brussels without dissenting. What are the European values that the Union gave us?
Gregory
Got it. No cultural identity to promote racism, and nationalism, and you want values……..America is in the state it’s in, beginning with people who talked like you. Oh, I see you are in america, Carlsbad? Plenty of repubs in San Diego.
Oscar
Racism where did you get that from? What “state” is America in? What is bad about Nationalism?
Anne Bracher
Well said my friend.
George
The future!
Franck
Being a Celt, a Nord, a Latin, a Greek, aso, belonging to your territory as well as it belongs to you, having real practical ties with a land for generations is the only way you can take care of it, humans are not meant to behave like a bunch of crickets, no more are they standard replaceable utilities, it takes plenty of time for operative coevolution to occur. The denial of this fact is what’s actually killing the biosphere and has always triggered human civilizations decay.
George
Accepting everyone
Noname
How about no?
Tomislav
To be a descendant of peoples, civilization, and spirit of Europe.
Chris
Nothing I’m British
Gail
Chris unless you’re British and your family have served our Queen and country you wouldn’t understand
Vassiliki
British are Europeans as UK is part of Europe.
Chris
part of the continent of Europe yes, but I don’t acknowledge European as an identity. I am English then British. European is a fabricated identity to try and dupe people into accepting the forth reich of the EU
Alexandru
It means being given the label of “European ” due to randomly being born in this geographic space at this moment in time, through no merit of my own
Dionis
No merit of your own? Same goes to whatever possession are given to you as gift or by inheritance. You despise those stuff too? You can give em all to me anytime. ;)
John
To be constantly disheartened by a Union that lets bullies like Turkey threaten it and everything it stands for.
Bódis
Global minority. :D
I bet you didn’t think of that.
Vassiliki
Living in Europe.
Artur
Born in the European continent, where countries have a shared history and some common values.
GP
It means that you live under the dictatorship of the EU and that your free opinion is censured.
Helena
Being European means to belong to a group of countries making an effort to unite despite their differences, giving another step forward to the ultimate goal that should be all countries United.
Anelia
The same thing like, a Asian or African or Australian……just name of continent right
Jocelyn
Every thing
Jason
Such glaring handwriting on the wall casts light on a rapidly approaching fork in a road set before leaders in particular quarters of Europe, requires each and every to, after all hamstring traditional problems. That primordial barriers to energy, to happiness, and to fortitude—hanging in the balance—an epic fight of the ensuing crisis still exists.
Therefore, inviting greater, if certain, doom and gloom—swelling the guest size at the banqueting hall—as it were—else we witness a remarkably familiar path embarked upon, a high wall assembled once more, “an offense not only against history but an offense against humanity.” Whichever pass we choose short of the disposal of our common problems, the abyss in which parts of Europe finds itself may, indeed, proliferate amassing others, as quarreling excessively with fate is sure to see Europe chasing resources before coffee or tea is served.
Ian
To be part of a family group of people (nations) who are quite smart and thus able to achieve a lot of positive goals as well as to defend them from onslauht of destructive ideologies like socialism of all colors (brown, red, blue, and green). This defense is lacking in EU and therefore Europe is turning uglier and uglier.
Chris
Free person
Chris
I live in a continent called Europe that’s it, I am British first
Florin
Now? Like a genius in the bottle.
Manos
EU talks about the Mediterranean countries came with the invitation of Turkey (A NON EUROPEAN COUNTRY) and excluted Greece, a member of the European Union. I would say betrayed at least.
Róbert
I don’t share much “core values” with Jo Leinen but we share same ethics. Instead of solidarity I favor charity, instead of equality I choose equity and justice, and instead of inclusivity (in the Borg collective maybe?) I choose individualism and creativity. We don’t have to think alike, we only have to share the same, basic morality, like respect for the freedom and dignity of every person. Solutions should be open for debate and arguing, but morality should be absolute. So, Europeans don’t have core ideological values, but common ethical and moral values.
Tatjana
I am actively following the presidential election and the overall situation in USA and everyday I am more and more happy to be European. Universal health coverage, low tuition fees, non student loan, unions and stabile work contract. I lot of stuff must be improved as well, like unemployment and salaries but I don’t think Europeans know how similar we are in our values. Is sometime you realise only when compare to very different societies.
Franck
I’m a Celt, born on the lands of my ancestors, I’m an European.
Paul
the Celts were also migrants !
Maria
It means that I live in a continent caled EUROP. Nothing more, because this is a failed project, in the hands of the bureucrats. Following Soros agenda.
Riccardo
To be European means to be haunted by the spectre of communism! 💖
Patricia
live within the geographic area
Artur
It means I was born and raised in an European country.
Michael
It means straightening any curvy banana I come across. 😜
Ivan
Free safe open mind, but Europe dont help greece with turkey so better grexit so the oil and gas go to some where Else, hungary didnt help in immigration problem where is solidarity 🙄🙄🙄
Jocelyn
It means my heart and soul,they are breaking now
Anna
It means to work for the European elite and banksters…of course we have values and democracy but lately those are walking out the back door l live in Greece l have no dreams.
Rémi
Not happy to be a slave?
Anna
that’s a silly question …would you be??
Paul
A geographical accident…..a shared, albeit combative, history, a still privileged status.
Zdravko
It means that the blood of my ancestors which has watered the soil of my land in defense of our people and our faith also runs through my veins and that blood is more precious to me than anything else in this world for there would be no me without it.
Filip
To be able to say saktabaš at public places
Manuel
it has to mean nothing…
I am European.
José
fight politician corruption, for social rights
Valentin
It doesn’t mean anythting.It will if we turn this neomarxist Union into libertarian one.
Jude
It means trouble, poverty, taxes, bureaucracy, submission to undemocratic rulers, lobbyists, greedy recycled politicians, unemployment, loss of sovereignty…..and hypocritically” helping “a country by destroying its economy in order to control it even more.
Bartek
That if they told me to go and kill other Europeans, I would say no.
bob razovski
But you could kill anyone else if you were told to ?
Alex
Just nothing ! You are only born in this continent, there’s not a common European identity and never will in the short term..if you want to destroy Europe do the EU’s work: trying to repress countries identity
Rémi
Coming from the european continent, I’m French before all!
Ivan
Free safe open mind, but Europe dont help greece with turkey so better grexit so the oil and gas go to some where Else, hungary didnt help in immigration problem where is solidarity
Adri Hulshoff
Europe means ‘Home’ to me. This is where I belong. Of course I am from Deventer, so I am from the Netherlands too and I love it, but Europe is my country. And I think it is beautiful to live in a country where we have so many different cultures, languages and customs we can embrace. Europe doesn’t mean one culture or language, it means shared values and solidarity and above all… peace! That is the aim Europe as a project started with. There is one problem with the project Europe. It is not democratic. We tell each other that we share democratic values, but Europa as a project lacks democratic control. That’s why I think Churchill was right when he stated that we should move towards a federal Europe. So not just an economic project, but a true political, one man, one vote structure with a chose parliament and a democratically controlled government.
Jose
In my opinion it means, not only financial interests, but also, Social justice and Peace.
Julia
Stronger together. Still needs a bit of reform to balance the unequal mess though.
Avelino
I would like to think has a nationality…
Miguel
To me it meant supporting each other, respecting each others culture, however it seems that for many decades it has meant to consider the Europeans like low lifes even trying to turn us submissive to others.
Artur
To be born in a country located in the European continent.
Chris
Nothing, I’m British
Andrea
To be in the European Union means to share the same idea that some things can be sone better toghether (market, climate, resezrah) than by your own. And with it you can help interconnect poorer areas (structural and régional funds) and régulate when there is too much (farming). It also includes the recognition of the of diversity and solidarity and a social state.
Being geographically European is broader and should include Russia and Ukraine and other countries and thus the common denominator is lower but still parts of the includes the previous list. Interesting data can be found on the Eurobarometer statistical queries.
Bernard
To have ancestors who lived in Europe over centuries.
Constantinescu
PEACE!!!!!!!!!!
Dionis
Hopefully it doesn’t mean “to feel ashamed and guilty for the European cultural heritage” for too many people. We’ve all seen that sort of people.
Olivier
I feel it before when I am a student. I was for a federal union. Now it means nothing EU betrayed Europe
Matt
Am English, never classed myself as European!! English, British then a citizen of the globe.
Tatjana
This is why you are out of EU.
Tatjana
Your history makes impossible you British to feel part of a union where the countries are equal. You are use to dominate and exploit countries not be in a group with equals.
Matt
Whilst I completely agree with you about the 2000+ year history of Britain and not feeling or wanting to be part of a union, you really cant not be serious when you say ‘where the countries are equaly’.
If only the 27 countries where treated as equal you would not be having ever increasing calls for independence from the EU in several of the 27 countries. During the Brexit campaign it highlighted how the EU neglects many issues in countries, this neglect was just one of the reasons why so many British voted for independence.
Andrea
To be in the European Union means to share the same idea that some things can be sone better toghether (market, climate, resezrah) than by your own. And with it you can help interconnect poorer areas (structural and régional funds) and régulate when there is too much (farming). It also includes the recognition of the of diversity and solidarity and a social state.
Being geographically European is broader and should include Russia and Ukraine and other countries and thus the common denominator is lower but still parts of the includes the previous list. Interesting data can be found on the Eurobarometer statistical queries.
Chris
totally agree, it’s a. Fictitious entity created by tthise who want to centralise power for their own gain
Chris
@Tatjana or we are sick as tax payers, paying for polish and Lithuanian roads while ours crumble, maybe we are tired of not being able to vote for the commission, maybe we are tired of bailing out a failing block. Nah its just the empire obsession of course
Matt
Wow…but it hasnt or doesnt provide this so called ‘Equality’ that you’ve summarised. There is a vast difference in many ways between the northern countries of Europe vs the southern and eastern. Why, if the union is aiming for an equal status quo??
Andrea
The union of any N countries will obviously always have richer and poorer and those that contribute more and less. In the distribution of Regional and Structural funds (a big chunk of the EU Budget) the idea is to help the poorer ones by funding infrastructure that is useful to boost the market and thus its economy (e.g. roads, rail,.subsidy to airports). So its targeted.
The Union objectives are not a status quo of its Member states which have the 99% of their budget (1% is for the EU – see current negotiations at the Paliament for the Multiannual Financial Framework) to use internally using the EU supported infrared to help.
Matt
Having lived and worked in Spain, with family living in Italy, Spain and France I like many Brits are fedup with seeing OUR taxes being poorly used by the EU, with regulations being ignored by many countries, with democratically elected parliaments being dictated to by an organisation which cleary the British do not want to be part of.
Chris F
@Tatjana This all comes from a son of an immigrant from a former part of the British Empire. Proud to have been borne on this GREAT Island, Proud to be British and Proud to be leaving The EU mafia.
Joel
scots dont agree with you, mate. Nor Ireland, do they? LOL and which dictator did you crush? Funny though, most ex british colonies, see britain as dictators. Even though I dont believe in EU, your british snob its ridiculous. Dont forget 50% of brits wanted to stay in the EU
Matt
Spot on Chris!! My wife is from South America and their history is full of Spanish atrocities. Everyone criticises the British empire but without it the world would look very different, especially after 2 World Wars. You just have to look at the ever increasing popularity with the Commonwealth, these countries really value the union.
Thodoris
You are on drugs or something?? You are one of the most hated nation in the world and you are proud of colonisation??? That’s ridiculous..
Chris
seriously? And who was dominating with us? I seem to remember a short French fellow, not the current one, trying to invade the whole of Europe, a strange German fella with weird facial hair also trying to dominate most of the world, oh and the whole purpose of the EU is to dominate Europe and bring it under centralised control. I’m not sure if you were being tongue in cheek or just have selective historical recall.
Chris
well said
Chris
Are you stupid or just ignorant, we are part of a union, the greatest Union ever created. Great Britain, A Union of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. A union that for the past 200 years as stood up to every European dictator, and crushed them. So when a Union ( the greatest Union in the world) tell a fledgling Union that they need to reform as it dose not work, you should probably listen to us. Or don’t, and this is why we are walking.
European ignorance towards Britain has always lead to your demise. Napoleon after Britain declares war ” HA they are but a Nation of shop keepers” Then Looses to Britain in the Napoleonic war. Kaiser Wilhelm the second after Britain declares war on Germany “Ha we will just send out the police to arrest them” 1st battle of Ypres shows Germany what a small but professional army can do, also looses WW1 to Britain.
Chris
I would also like to point out that we colonized during a time that everyone was doing it, it was how things are done back then, what pisses the world off is that we are a small insignificant island that did it better then anyone else. Also when other empires reseeded they striped their colonized country, where Britain left Infrastructure, education, law, democracy and a standing army for them to defend themselves. Look what France did, look what Spain did look what Germany did and look what the Netherlands did.
Chris
yeah and there wouldn’t be 48%now Chris. Way lower especially after the disasterous reaction to corona and the was they have tried to steal our resources, less public sympathy unless they are hardcore remainiacs
Isabelle
To be born and to be raised in the European values.
Chris
which are? Rob as much money off nation states who have it and let unelected meddlers live lavish lifestyles? Ignore other countries struggling with covid 19? Bankrupt weaker countries with a one size fits all currency so Germany can get richer? Cause wars every 50-100 years? Continuously antagonise Russia by creeping ever closer to its borders?
Chris
ha, certainly not a communist or rabid socialist. Socialism destroys lives, capitalism lifts peoplecto better lives. Enjoy your eu before it implodes
Thodoris
What??,You talk about EU… Isabelle said about European Values.
Chris
Europe is just a continent, there are no European values
Thodoris
Oh you are Boris Johnson supporter…. I will not use my brain cells to argue with you.
Chris
oh just so you know Boris has 55%aporoval rating, any of your European leaders boast that?
Thodoris
Let’s see, Scandinavian Countries have a lot in common. Mediterranean countries have a lot in common. Greece and Italy they have a phrase which literally means same face, same race… I can continue but an ignorant colonialist will not understand.
Chris
eah and Europe is so pulling together at the moment eh? Not to mention the bankrupting of your own country. Never mind colonialist, a bit of a brain dead attempt, what do you call those who conspire with outside agencies against their own country. Here we call that a traitor
Demetris
It means sharing culture, values, and history. Living and standing together
Apostolos
Shared culture and values inside specific borders which have historically been associated with being the homeland of these values and traditions
Христо
1. Nation state of European countries
2. Liberal democracy in European countries
3. Secular character of European countries.
4. Social character of European countries
5. Human rights in European countries.
These 5 things + the geographical region make me feel a European.
Josef
simply PRIDE
Bernard
Descent from people who have lived in Europe for centuries and millennia.
Kovács
Europe means culture, ethics and a way of thinking. It means more than just geography or institutions. And it’s more than empty phrases about living together. We have a heritage and a rich history not to be cast aside.
Franco
I agree .
Franco
I´m “European ” with or without EU , I feel Home in every country since I lived for short short time in several europeans countries and now I live in one of them, european culture is linked to each other and I don´t criticize the local values and naturally I will never forget the country I was born in.
Alessandro
It means to be open minded and not merely a nationalist
George
My culture is everything my history is my past I am Patriot and European. This is European European Union – EU for me. What we do not need is a fasle national what we need is solidarity for all Europeans and only Europeans rest of wolrd we Don’t Care. I am sad that there aren’t Patriots in poletician in EU Look what is happening with the east Mediterranean a European sea is threat constantly by a non member State of European Union what we do the half European Union says come become a member that is not solidarity by any means.
Vassiliki
To be citizen of one of Europe’s countries.
Rene
For me, being “European” means being hungry for decades: the dirty national political games are now played at the European level. It remains “the European dream” because you have to be dormant to still believe in it.
Jocelyn
Everything
It has been stolen from me and I will never get over it
David
I’m not sure what you mean by that, how has being European been stole from you?
Jocelyn
I cant live,work,travel freely and retire there
David
But you are still European the EU is just a modern construct and has absolutely nothing to do with you being European.
Jocelyn
I think you are purposely missing the point
David
I’m not it just baffles me how people think Europe is the EU. Europe existed a long time before the EU did.
Jocelyn
that is not the point
Of course I was born in Europe
But my citizenship ,that I valued so much has been stolen
Delete, hide or report this
Drogeanu
…Europe mean civilisation and democracy…comme europeean je respecte l etat de droit et la societe civile…
Dionis
For the new generations, it means nothing
Ntinos
the dream never came true
George
“European” means to be a proud of your own nation, honor your ancestors traditions and culture, which are from Europe.
Marc
How Europe equals nation when it’s made of many ones?
George
Europe is not “one nation” :)
We (European nations) are all different, and we like and respect each other’s differences.
We don’t need to be all the same (as sheep), do we? ;)
Marc
No, we don’t, but we don’t all need to be put into these nations that aren’t more than one more idea in the spectrum like sheep either, right?
Joshua
Nothing more than geography
Julia
Strength in unity for the people, for trade and for defence and security.
Chris
Not this again, Europe is a continent and doesn’t make me feel anything. I am proud of my nation, its history and culture. Trying to create a false country and sneak in a united States of Europe without consent or interest is the biggest nail in the EU’s coffin
Marc
Yeah, yeah, have a nice day in your little corner.
Chris
I will thanks, underestimate Great Britain at your peril. Just pick up a history book
Vivian
why would a Briton feel that answering this is relevant though ….. the UK has already Brexited
Chris
and with the eu kissing the turks backside get ready to give up Cyprus shortly
Simona
don’t worry, it’s not your problem anymore because you are not part of it now. I don’t know why you even bother following this site on Facebook anymore.
Vivian
you can’t physically exit Europe anyway.
But this is an EU site.
Chris
because its called debating Europe and unless the UK suddenly moved its still in Europe just not the eu mafia
Chris
called debating Europe?
Simona
the internal machinations are still no longer your concern.
Vivian
don’t be spiteful now. I wasn’t.
I admit that I was expecting a lot more from on the Turkish issue. I would have thought the Hitler experience would have taught govts sth, that appeasement doesn’t work and that Hitlers must be stopped. Sadly there is room for improvement in a Union where some members are a lot more important than others.
Chris
they are until we stop paying the bills on the 1st of Jan. Until then we are one of the largest contributors
Olivier
To be ruropean means to me to adopt the judeo Christian values… And our greco roman heritage…. Which is not compatible with Islam…
To be European means to accept democracy as our political system and capitalism as our economic system
Liudvikas
For me, it is having the heritage of Greek philosophy, Roman law, Christian faith. Today’s libtard Europe is nothing but ruins of a once-great civilization, which is getting even more ruined by European libtards today.
Russell
The protection of abuse by one’s own government
Yvonne
Yvonne..From Ireland and the EU…it means that altho i live on a small island that im part of a Larger group of like minded countries..all looking out for eachother…we can work study and shop and visit each others countries with minimal or no currency changes or need for visas..thats just so good..:D
Simona
It means sharing Culture, Ethics and History. Also I used to think in meant standing together to solve continental issues, sadly at the moment it seems like Europe has become each country looking out for itself.
Yannick
Diversity, openness, tolerance, freedom of movement and residence, solidarity, organised, fairness, efficiency, education, science, peace and diplomacy .. Europe is many good things and I can only think of my home country, Canada, as a potential contender for quality of life. (Ps I have both citizenships)
Luis
I don’t know… I would like to be proud but i can’t be… Not when there are people that run other countries and call the people from the south a bunch of drunk and party people…
Luis
no thanks. Why don’t you give that to the minister of netherlands that allows portuguese companies to pay taxes there (similar to an offshore) and avoid taxes in portugal so the same minister that allows this makes statements like he does. Ue market regulation is a great idea, but needs tax regulations as well… That is the only way to have a fair judgement about who is drunk and who is a party boy…
David
To be European for me is to belong to a large family with a diversity of cultures and peoples that should be friends forever, maintaining their cultures and developments so that we can circulate amicably throughout the European continent.
Antonello
you mentioned only the romantic side of the story. But with that surname you are justified.
David
I am not asking for anything I am ashamed that this beautiful country of mine has so many corrupt people and has to live off handouts from the EU and it is to no fault of the normal Tom and Harry.
Savu
Equall !!!!
Ingrida
Free movement and common currency almost everywhere within Europe. But that funding of projects….in order to increase development of weak countries…that’s source of money laundering and waste of money. It also makes other countries lazy as they expect funding from the EU instead of solving problems or creating smth useful to get funds themselves Ask those who fund the most, others just take it If someone renovated the house of many offices or school in Post-Soviet country, partially with EU funds, you’ll need to renovate again as money were washed for bad materials and etc
Frank
For me any of the above. Shared geography, history, affiliation, loyalty, culture, values, blood… #IamEuropean
Common Europeans Podcast
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1,869 comments Post a commentcomment
I think that being European means sharing common values. Most important is democracy, freedom of speech.
These things we take for granted are the foundations of a common European identity.
Freedom of movement within the EU is a specific right reinforcing that identity.
Those adamant values need to be protected against those who want to deconstruct them.
You need to add “of Workers” to your freedom of movement statement
That is what the fundamental right was and it is an important distinction which seems to be getting conveniently ignored these days by the Euro-fanatics
Spanish people agree with the freedom of speech, and i am glad to share values with all non “under-crysis” countries in Europe. Values, educational system, Corruption taks forces, Justice system and all that makes Europe a wonderfull place to live in.
Freedom of speech is one thing , being able to influence politicians and their decisions is another . Politicians listen more the financial and business sectors than to voters who elect them , and the EU itself is far from being democratic with appointed officials .
Freedom of movement within the EU but not simply freedom of movement? So you see Europe as distinct from the rest of the world but not nation-states as distinct within themselves? Europe is Europe – the EU is quite a different animal, it may be advisable to absorb the distinction while you still can.
Freedom,justice,legal certainty. The three my government despises,but the society don’t. Long live Europe,long live the hungarian freedom.
word!
Peace, freedom,democracy… Eu is necessary in Europe…
Oh yes…. Certainly the results of that necessity are showing…
stealing the natural resources in third countries… do you know there is more food coming from africa to EU than the food we send to africa from EU?… Being European means being sorrounded by colors and plasmas and speacking about economy without having worked hard in your life while despreciating ancient culutres that still have conection with real life! Stealing their houses for the benefit of big corporations.. etc… etc… this is what means for me being european nowadays!
You re right!
Unfortunately all western, european, modern, developed and strong countries have built their strengths by plundering the rest of the world.
Jaume you have highlighted very well the concerns with the direction that the Eu appears to taking and which concerns even the most pro EU citizens. The liberal economy must also have rules to stabilize it and equally the EU Courts and Justice systems have been very quiet on some of the worst acts of bullying by some countries towards others within the EU and many of those heading up Europe’s institutions coughing contemptiously on democratic values. If we cannot build a strong sense of ethics within the EU, it is unsurprising that a number of EU countries and the Union as a whole can be said to be guilty of appalling Neo-Colonialism else where.
But in terms of capital, it is the opposite. So much financial and physical help and so much investments are being sent to Africa. Not much of it is utilised properly there unfortunately.
you make some very good points here.
Jealosy of success is a terrible hatred that you should erase from your mindset
Speak for yourself!
In my country we work our asses off to pay for your rich western ass!
And a shared destiny!
European shared values are probably common market, democracy and freedom and mobility. Apart from that one can discuss other democratic elements like transparency or the like. Personally, democracy and mobility as well as the achievement of peace across the EU are most important.
Just a short comment on the infographics, I thought United in Diversity would be a general slogan for federalism?
And finally with the European identity does it make more sense to speak of primary and secondary identities to give them a ranking, but I would be among the 2% that say European :)
Firstly, I’d be interested in hearing some of the explanations of nation building by some of the comments authors here, since I’ve already read things such as: ‘you don’t build a nation in half a century’ (well, Germany and Italy did it) or ‘Europe is just a geography name and there’s nothing as shared values’ (yes, tell that to Renaissance).
I’m not imposing you an identity upon your desired one. Rather, I think the European identity is complementar to the national one. Moreover, is not choice free. You are European, not only because you were born in the mainland, but also due to hundreds of centuries of cultural matrix and some fast forward decades where the common market or, more recently, the Erasmus highlighted being European.
For me, being European is not something you can run from. Of course there are cultural divides, e.g. West/East, North/South, UK/Continent. Yet, in the US, you can also find these cultural divides: West/East coast, North/South. These are a product, rather of axiological disparities, geographical certainty.
look at the eyes of this girl… do you see the emotion in her? is she listening to a liberal speach? Is she thinking she will get rich? To do a hard work to increase her salary even if she hast to go above other people’s life…
well to be honest Jaume, it is such a predictable picture of a starry eyed young one with an EU flag painted on her cheek and the reply to Neil from the German (was he an MEP? I can’t scroll back up), was hardly inspiring. Europe has a long way to go before it can federalize, and this must be by consent. Why does the image of the young girl not speak to me, well I am a lot older than she is, for starters, I have adult children, I am divorced and to be honest Europe’s wonderful convention on Human Rights seemed to ignore mine. Equally before we can have federalization, we need to have a degree of equity between States in relation to economy, welfare, proper cooperation regarding tax and pension and health insurance, there needs to be equity in levels of transparency, consumer power, and accessibility. Equally Europe has been very partisan in how and whom it arm wrenches to comply with directives. Why is it that Southern Europe has the life sucked out of it through contortionate Bureaucracy which is unhelpful (that is not to say that some of the systems and rules should be thrown out), its tax systems kill off enterprise and a whole caste of professionals are protected by legislation and fixing of salaries, making their services both expensive and with an absence of responsibility for the work done. If Europe now fined every single one of these, then they would soon change their tune. Yet it doesn’t. Equally how can we have federalization when we already see how the Euro has caused concern (not the currency, ) but rather the absence of proper tensions and relationships and the reporting in mainstream national media thereof, between finance, justice, parliament and commission. Before marching ahead, let’s take a pause and get this right. I do feel European but I also feel quite Italian, and Irish and English as these are the three countries which are responsible for forming me as a person, but I feel that I have less and less in common with this lovely, and very pretty mittel european young lady.
@Rosy in other words never.
The ECB ran a study that said south and eastern Europe will not reach parity with western Europe by 2060.
So..yeah…
I am British. European is just a racial type , nothing more and as far as i am concerned there is no such thing as a European identity ,. And to answer the questions……European identity means Nothing at all to me and Yes Europe is just a name on a map.
David, you are quite ignorant. Please, go read something and get your facts straight, and than come back and make a comment.
So “Danica” – because David Fuzzey does not feel that European means anything to him – he is ignorant and should stop posting until he learns to feel the same as you? You could better be labelled ignorant; but I think one of last centuries description of “facist” is more appropriate – ie. “believe what I believe – or else”
Actually, Dave Ratters, I think David Fuzzey might want to check on his facts as, Danica states. European is definately not “a racial type”… and here is where things start geting a little fascist… Reading Danica’s comment, I do not have the impression she necessarily wants him to be of the same opinion.
If you really want to convince people to have some sort of shared set of values – telling them they are ignorant would seem to me to be the least likely to entice them to change their views. You can continue as you will – but don’t expect anything other than resistance to such an approach – the exact opposite of what I expect you would like to happen. A better approach would perhaps have been to explain your views and what you think the definition of european is. Carry on doing what you are doing if you want to destroy any chance of some common identity.
I am British and British only.Also you can stick your EU too,get us OUT.
If you don’t believe in EU identity you should indeed vote to leave. However European is not just a racial type (very racist way to see from my point of view), Europe has a common millenarian history. We have much more in common that you think.
Most of us use the same alphabet, our languages are all coming from the same main branch (Indo-Europeans), English for instance has 60% of words deriving from Latin. Policies in Europe are very similar, we all have free public health systems, welfare and education.
As Mr Allessandro Mogavero points, Europeans have much in common.
1. A common root in their culture, namely the Ancient Greek civilization and its Latin byproduct as well the Greek alphabet and its “children”, the Latin and Cyrilic ones
2. Many Greek and Latin words that can be traced to more than 80% extent in most modern European languages (esp. Engilish, French, German, all the latinogenous ones, namely Spanish, Portugese, Romanian, as well as the ones of Slavian origin, namely Russian, Bulgarian, Serbocroatic, Slovenian, Czech, Slovakian, Polish…)
3. Common values, especially the tripolar Liberte-Egalite-Fraternite of the French Revolution (Liberty, Egality, Fraternity) and, of course, Democracy (4 words, 3 of Latin and 1 of Greek origin – 4 notions of ancient Greek civilization)
4. However, the only mistake in Mr ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΣ (Alexandros – Alessandro in Italian) Mogavero’s approach, is the confusion between EUROPE and the “EU”. The “EU” has divorced itself from EUROPE the very moment it opted for the salvation of the banking system instead of the Citizens of Europe back in May 2010 (don’t put the blame on the PIIGS please; it is a fallacy of the euro-structure).
Taking all the above thoughts into account, as well as the prosperity that brought to your country the built-up of the rule of (democratically adopted) law (an ancient Greek advice since Solon and Cleisthenes established the 1st known democratic regime in Athens, 5th century BC), you may decide on your future as a free Citizen of a sovereign country. I can’t state the same regarding myself (a debt-slave, sharing a common future with our Italian partner in this short discussion should the euro not be modified to accomodate the needs of southern-peripheral eurozone countries, ceasing to be a projection of the German domestic monetary order on the rest of the eurozone)
David, now it’s time to trigger article 50!
it means our will for a united democratic Europe for prosperity and peace is being used to turn it to a liberal undemocratic area with its “money lords” sucking the workers’ blood as in the deepest hours of monarchy, making their own laws and money to steal our citizens rights and wealths , which will lead to some more revolutions and eventually the Union to be broken again .
Tolerance
Not everywhere. This is the wish, but contemporary political currents suggest the end of this lowest of the virtues.
There is no such a thing like European identity. We are consolidated nations here. Only in Russia some 180 nations have been stripped of their natural identity and offered the Russian one. Which actually is artificial in itself, the so called “Russians” are a Finnic-Mongoloid hybrid people known for centuries as Muskovites, Moskals, Muscali. No wonder that the term was brought to new semantics by Barroso, a well known Maoist.
“Is European identity about shared values and a shared way of life?”
There is no EU identity and there never will be
The UK has more shared values with the US than most EU countries
Eastern EU countries have more shared values with Russia then central Europe
Southern EU countries have more shared values with North Africa
Turkey has more shared value with the Middle East
The EU is where all these vastly different cultures collide so just which of the externally influenced “ways of life” should the EU adopt as its own?
@Paul X
Well said!
Imagine for a moment that Europe is a way of bringing all those alliances to one table
Imagine knowing so little about eastern Europe lol…
Identity, freedom and diversity.
@Debby Teusink
A bit of a contradictory sentence BTW.
I think that seeing ourselves primarly as Europeans locks us between whites-christians countries, leading us to war against the rest of the world (especially the arab world today, though some european countries have strong bonds with theses states).
I hope that someday my country will leave this racist organisation called “European Union”, will “return” to the World and will be able to share and collaborate on any specific topic with any country, in accordance with the interest of its people.
@Xeno
Well said!
.
The term ‘European’ is used to attempt to convince the people of Europe they are somehow the same within the fake nation that is the EU while at the same time being distinct but not nationalist, clearly an idiotic position..
True nations (with real nationalities) take generations to form & a political & federalist dogma from the last century for problems of the 1950’s is never going to achieve nationhood.
Well said! It won’t. We are never going to achieve nationhood especially because the majority of the people of Europe don’t want it! No matter how the media and your EU puppets want to put it, if referendums are done, the results will be clear as water.
Peace, a common culture although the differences, and a way for a united and political Europe. I am a citizen of the European Union before being a french citizen , because we ‘ve a common destiny since the beginning on the Eu building, although in this dire time, europscepticism seems to be a model. Eu has done more in 60 years than the many centurys torn between few years of peace and the rest of war. We must’nt forget the past and the reason of the fondation of european contruction in the early 1950’s, according to the foundler of this project as Schuman and others.
@Gaëtan Mellinger
FTR, the EU has NOT existed for 60 years.
BTW, the EU’s imperialist expansions are now a destabilizing force in Europe.
Until 1973 there was only 6 members of the EEC (not EU back then) – it’s a falsehood that the EU has existed for a long time in any significant size. It has not kept the peace – it has never been able to keep the peace. NATO and the threat of the Warsaw pact + the fear of nuclear war has kept the peace. Claiming otherwise is just baseless propaganda – otherwise known as lies.
We have a multitude of languages and cultures, which will continue to keep european identity a dream of federalists for many generations. There is no common european identity – and thank goodness for that. Forcing it down our throats is likely to backfire in a viloent way. Stop it – stop trying to dictate to us – let it happen naturally. The first method to do this is to stop the senseless waste and corruption endemic in the eu structures – fair pay for eu employees – stop the Brussels-Strasbourg toing and froing to appease the French, make the commission accountable to the people, make the parliament have power to create and stop laws (not just by will of the commission).
Means nothing for the majority of us. Europe is (still) not a country. Not even close. The economic union is not enough to create a nation. New techs will provide better tools of communication, like instant language translation, which will allow the communication between people talking different languages. The strong countries of europe need to control the weak ones. Even tho, socialism is killing europe, is unsustainable, and demagogy (always called democrcy) is clearly, clearly overrated and a bit useless in decision making, so definitely there’s some problems to be fixed in the union before talking about nation.
“The strong countries of europe need to control the weak ones.” Another dangerous pseudo-thinker…… I hope you never go to politics.
Christian, Regionalistic and proud minen Folk !
I consider myself a European citizen first and a Portuguese citizen second. I dont have any particular allegiance to a flag or a piece of land. The place that offers me the best living condition s is what matters.
@Antonio Pedro Bernarda
If I was Portuguese I would feel the same too.
António, the first two sentences are just contradictory. But I’m not surprise… after the stupidity of the first one……
My sense of being European is purely cultural. It will never be political. In that sense I am proud to be a part of a continent that is so rich in culture, diversity, linguistics, cuisine, history and peoples.
And federalism is the drug of the Moronic .
Everything i work, live, travel go on holiday in Europe.
Freedom, common values, opportunity to move and act in a larger geographical, political and economic space, but first of all avoidance of another great war .Maintaining peace is an existential need for Europe and it is best served by EU.
http://www.losio.com/rue/Federalismo.html#vision
@Gastone Losio
I agree!
The EU must be fundamentally reformed if it is to persist.
To be considered a European we must all share the same language (English of course) and we must ALL adopt a Northern EU ethos as opposed to the discredited Club Med EU ethos. Simples!
@ Gastone Losio
Your link is very comprehensive, very interesting, and unfortunately too much Italian to follow & understand to say- “I can agree”- but congratulation for a sterling effort! It would take time to filter through & catch up! Thank you!
If it should seriously assist to reinvent Europe- not only Italy- please offer your web page in at least the next 3-4 major European official languages, with a simple abridged version highlighting the principles of such “federal idea” of the “Homelands of Europe” & about “Die Neue Mitte”- which was openly discussed before Maastricht & Lisbon was signed. Was such an idea ever seriously contemplated on open political forums before the EEC was remodeled into the EU?
I appreciated to find a reference of the myth of “Europe and Zeus” and names of all past great European Statesmen- but do question how names like Clinton, Blair, Schroeder, Berlusconi figure in the mix- to allay fears of an early attempt to further the school of extreme American neo-Liberalism/global domination by capital?
Here is one of several papers what was discussed in 1999:
http://www.wsws.org/en/articles/1999/06/thrd-j17.html
Europe is one nation, all who say the contrary fail to understand what nationality really is.
Literature and philosophy have spread throughout Europe without knowing of borders, one idea influencing the others, not to mention european science!
Borders in Europe have always been incredibly fragile. States would easily conquer new regions, just to loose some itself after a decade or so. In the history of Europe one family could easily have been italian, austrian and french throughout the centuries; or french, german and belgian.
National divides in Europe are not anything natural or given (they only have an age of 2 centuries, compare it with the millennia-long history of our continent!), they are something YOU yourself choose to identify with.
I choose to remember that european history is one of multiculturalism, it has been from the roman empire to the start of WWI, until the TRAGIC insurgence of nationalism that ultimately led us to two world wars and millions of deads, why? because national pride.
Let’s all delete together that error of history.
Cultural differences like religion and language enrich us, they should never be used as reasons to tear apart the one european identity that was born with the first european civilization, not in the 20th century as someone wants you to believe.
Europe is ONE, it has always been and always will be.
@Gianluca Weibling Galassini
Please note that NOT ALL cultural differences ‘enrich us’, egs:
Napoleonic Code.
FGM.
Mafia.
Language – who needs to sexualise inanimate objects?
Nepotism.
…
Europe is not one nation – wake up! Only those seeking to extract money from it think this.
You are the one to fail to understand what a nation is – a nation is bound together by it’s common heritage – whet does europe have as a common heritage?
Two years later it’s just funny to read your post. I guess your nation failed you widely. It was so obvious, that’s the funny part.
Aww, poor David is upset. I wurth iz little feelings.
I am a European citizen and I do not consider myself with a specific nationality. European identity exist, of course it did not exist for all who prefer to stay at their comfortable ignorance.
It means to be the slave of THE UNION……..
You keep using that word. I dont think it means what you think it means.
If the shared value is tolerance to diversity with a zest of equality then yes
do side of a people
It means dictatorship of Germany
To be European ..should that be something good ?
Being European means being collectively strong so we neither a victim of Russia like Ukraine or a puppet of U.S. like U K.
@Seán Rohan
…or a puppet of the EU technocrats.
European is the new Feudalism.
Tyranny…
To be European means to support the Nazi who run Ukraine in our days and to support the EU who supports ISIS. It also means to stand behind the free trade agreements between the EU and USA whereby corporations will rule over any EU government and the people will be just serfs. We will finally live again under feudalism or worse.
Meaning has most to do with definitions. And, being European is, at least if YOU, in terms of biologically existing human being were born and raised by mothers and fathers, whose citizenship is belonging to with nationality and ancestry of E.U. states. Not elsewhere but E.U.
To be european means to have a common currency, common taxes, common public debt, eurobond, common army, same rights and same opportunity in all states of Europe, the same lenguage. At the moment this doesn’t exist. I feel Italian, not european, and if Europe won’t take strong decisions on these themes, Europe will be remembered only like a beautiful tale.
If only it was about the rights of the people,not the interests of the rich
It’s mean to search better way of life for us and lead the world on the way of democracy ; refuse domination of USA, China or others ; protect environnement =) !
Protect and stimulate personal identity and diversity, but make sure that in the Union we are paying the same taxes and recieve the same services.
It means to me being controlled by American Imperialism. And wishing the proletariat understood this reality. There is a newspaper article in the Independent today that explains it. Except they tell you we, the British, not Europe, are desperately trying to reduce our debt for the first world war, yet, throughout the entire article they don’t say who it is we got the loan, we are still paying, from. How odd is that?
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/britain-to-repay-2bn-first-world-war-debt-9830086.html
Could it be if the public had this information it may upset those Americans with whom we have a ‘special’ relationship.
Nothing.
Nothing. It means I have European passport
Peace, freedom, democracy… but unfortunately I’m Hungarian so we miss all of this!
Freedom and equality.
@ Antonio Pedro Bernarda . Upset me??lol , a non entity like you upset me?PMSL.An amobea has more chance of upsetting me than the likes you.
http://www.express.co.uk/comment/columnists/frederick-forsyth/529457/Frederick-Forsyth-Why-are-we-still-kowtowing-to-EU
Gatan Mellinger
Please remember that it was NATO & the UN that has kept peace in Europe, your EU had nothing to do with it.
Here is a little update for you about war and NATO, who, from your point of view, has kept the peace. ROTFWL
This list goes back some long way, but if you scroll down to WW1 and take it from there you will see the US and its off Shoot, NATO, is simply a war machine that cannot get enough business without creating the the catalyst for its services. Which, as war is a nice money maker for those who supply the arms, etc., is not a big surprise it.
http://www.ilaam.net/sept11/americanwars.html
The tone of posts that come here from US military men and propaganda machines are so obvious they really ought to change their tactics. Regimented sticks out like a sore thumb. And banging the same wordage drum reveals a sheet to read from.
And how European ‘German’ sponsors are said to think about this run on war games. Of course the British love to be in there with it no matter who is in power. They, too, like the spin offs it gives.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ugB5r2OLf74
And here we see and hear a journalist spilling the beans on the entire facade.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MAufGfCQXKw
To Bosniaks (from Bosnia and Herzegovina), it means being the bridge between the East and the West. They are a part of Western civilisation by genetics and culture, but they embrace Islam as their religion.
Those parts of Europe where mediëval cathedrals were built define the outer limits of Europe. The cathedrals were the spiritual pinnacle of western civilisation. But the Plague stopped spiritual progress and led Europe choose the path of materialism and “progress”. This resulted in big avances in technology and wealth but also in wars and exploitation. Europe should not be proud of itself beause it started most wars, colonialism and rising inequality!Now that other continents let go their own spiritual traditions by taking over western materialistic “civilisation” , living conditions and the envirnnement are rapidly declining. It is therefore time that Europe starts a new era, this time one of spiritual progress and true global solidarity ( and I don’t mean socialism or communism). Today, the EU is not based on solidarity, each country tries to get more money out of it than investin it. Northern countries blame the Southern and viceversa. This cannot last and I believe some countries will leave the EU. People crave for spirituality and real democracy and solidarity. They are waiting for things to change. It will probably take a new financial crisis or a pandemic situation before people realise that things will have to change and I hope that Europe will lead the necessary transition. So I believe that Europe has the creativity and the will to bring HOPE to mankind. And I don’t believe that change will come from existing religions that at this moment are everything but spiritual and will defend the present situation they are comfortable with.
@Jan Vannieuwkerke
Many Northern countries gave money for the purposes of SOLICHARITY to some of the Southern EU nations BUT they lied and robbed the Northern EU net contributing nations – hence the reticence on the part of the Northern EU net contributors towards some of the perfidious Club Med nations.
Nothing
Nothing… for me Europe is just a continet, I’m Romanian.
I am Rumanian and I live in 4 country eu …I feel European…. at start I feel sheet in all country but little and little I adapted ….now I live in a Nordic country …I love Europe is a beautiful continent a very different culture and nice….
ce inseamna sa fi european ?ei bine sa ni se impuna preturi europene iar noi romanii sa avem venituri romanesti,
Gianluca above has a strong point. Excessive nationalism has created havoc and will do so in future. Just look at all present and historical ubernationalistic countries.
While I’m proud of my national heritage, I’m also proud of Europe and being a European. In that sense, you might call it a kind of double nationality.
Of course the EU doesn’t work perfectly. What would you expect when even this thread with no more than about 50 comments so far includes a high percentage of very hostile people. EU needs reform, sure, but the idea of Dante Alighieri (who lived at the turn of the 13th and 14th centuries) “political unity is the solution to war” shows amazing far-sightedness.
If it wasn’t for the EU, you couldn’t study abroad, go to live abroad, do business across borders or participate in decisions affecting all of us at all as easily as you do now.
It would be nice to get inside the heads of the Eurohaters: what do they actually want? Everybody to coop up in their plot of land and point guns at everybody else? Sorry guys, that was tried already and it didn’t work.
Im european all my live, i was born here. Stupid question
I want out of your union Kimmo
If going to Spain I maybe have to explain that I am a german living in Sweden, but if I go to China (for example) I definitely am an EUROPEAN!
It means that I can travel freely and work in different countries in the EU, and I have used this right 5 times. Grew up in Germany, studied in the UK, took a year off in Italy, worked in Belgium and now live in France. It means that I live in a place that has been peaceful for many decades now. It means that I grew up with democratic values, and have a rich and diverse cultural background. … I wish more people could remember what it was like, just 30 odd years ago.
United are we strong and the only way to hold up against the kapitalism of the day. Also to defend the social security that we have we need to act as one or we will lose the battle and details back to the unsecurety of the all days.
Unemployed and homeless?
skata pete me rigani
Unity means that you share same values same identity and you are part of multicultural community. This for me is the same as you are sharing the country, that you are living in with people from different parts of the world or originating of an ethnic minority. European is exactly that, to share the knowledge, information, culture, legal base, economics, rights, obligations and freedom of any kind with unique people originating from different nationalities. You are European as part of a great history and cultural heritage. This union now has people from different civilizations like Thracian, Celtic,German, Roman etc. This also is a responsibility to the next generations to sustain this history and cultures.
On the other hand to be European means to be part of bigger form of a public entity with the same priorities and same political interests. This entity has the most advanced legislation which unites people and is above the national legislation of each member state. It gives different opportunities for each sphere of our life and most of all it connects the member states through economics, freedom of movement of capitals and people. It connects through regulations for a new level of common law for competition, fiscal politics etc. Still we don’t have active common legislation regarding tax politics.
I am proud to be European!
That we have born in one of the most great place on earth.
To have no job, no money, no prespective, no future. Well, a big piece of crap.
Being part of wonderful European family.
To serve Germany, and be treated like if i were not German. I just don’t like and i hope some day we end this. Good idea bad management.
nothing ?????? but it means a lot to me not to be european as european is now
when ‘europe’ lives up to its own European Convention on Human Rights, then europe will be europe to me.
http://www.echr.coe.int/Documents/Convention_ENG.pdf
SLAVE !
Mozart, Elgar, Turner, Goya, Lennon, Shakespeare, Goethe, Chaucer, Dante, Sibelius, Grieg, Rembrandt, Caravaggio, Dryden, Blake, John Ball, Milton, Bartok, Tolstoy, Ibsen, Kropotkin, Winstanley, Paine, Foucault, Wollstonecraft, Dostoevsky … The list of people who make me feel European could continue for a very long time
Homer, Plato, Aristotle, Sofokles, Thucydides, Epicures, Cicero, Marcus Aurelius, Montesquieu, Rousseau, Locke, Hume, Descartes, Erasmus, Spinoza, Hegel, Kant, Marx, Luther
Etc etc
DO NOT put British people in this list of names for being European.We are not European we are British and British only.Thank You.
Europe is having the opportunity to live in different countries while feeling as protected and as free as in the origin country. It is considering different approaches based on different experiences to deal with European problems. It is sharing values and wishes for a common future while appreciating the national diversity. Europe is a dream come true for past generations and a chance we should use and profit from everyday. Whether it’s France, Poland, Germany or the Czech Republic – for me Europe is home.
Everything. Very proud to be european
Democracy, liberty, equality, solidarity, celebration of the individual, human rights, non-discrimination on the basis of gender, religion, beliefs, origin, sexual orientation, the richest and most influential cultural heritage and the most vibrant cultural scenes nowadays – from Warsaw to Rotterdam and from Athens to Tallinn, Europe is just awesome and Europeans too.
europe needs a new geography of human rights
being european in this age means being americas 51 state.
Not europe and never will be
Not european and never we be. British by birth, English by the grace of God.
Europe is ok to visit but I’m glad I don’t live there
Sorry Matt, but weather you like it or not, even with Brexit, Britain is still geographically part of Europe. What continent is it part of then- Asia, Africa? South America? Of course you have the right to identify yourself as British first, but (politics aside) why be ashamed to be part of the most culturally rich and amazing place on earth? Europe isn’t all the same anyway, there may definitely be some similarities between us but it is made up of a diverse range of cultures and languages.
Europe must be one country, one people and one voice to the other countries. It was with a change like this that the United States is the country that exists today. 200 years ago didn’t exist americans, but Newyorkerns, Southerns, Texans, Californians, etc. When they decided to be together they grew up united.
No.
Dont ask to italian people…. they are very angry and next year will be a revolution. :)
The European identity is about inherited values evolved and passed on over its historic but turbulent history- starting with Zeus as the first immigrant bringing his princess Europe to our shores and creating unbelievable achievements thereafter!
It seems, it ended in an unfortunate unhappily married continent- by an arranged marriage with the EU- dictated by some architects & its present manipulated political system.
This poll will have little value since different generations have/had different experiences and therefore different opinions. The age group 15-80 years represents ~66% of the total & includes ~three generations! The 24 year group was just born when the Berlin wall fell in 1989 and the 50 year group when JFK said “Ich bin ein Berliner” in 1963 and not- I am an EU fan!
First my countries nationality, than an European continental, than……………………… EU as what- what? No, no- waiting for better!
I actually feel European.
This does not mean I am naively happy of the EU or not disappointed about many policies.
But I think nowadays the most important thing is having the willing to be an European. Because EU integration is on its way, and, as history teaches us, it takes time to build up a shared identity.
I’m just imagining the EU in the long term, as a future emblem of culture, respect and wisdom.
Please, critic strongly the EU, but do it constructively. Take a look back at the history, and be positive, we passed very worse periods. Be proactive, be united.
I agree that reform is necessary – it’s one of the main reasons there is such a negative view of the eu, but to force through more integration when it’s obvious the people don’t want it is a grave error, especially given the distrust of the eu and it’s far too many and various corrupt institutions
Feel that way too. Well spoken.
To be European means to give up old crazy obsessions with culture , nation , language , religion , borders , history and mad fighting with all neighbors . To be European means for the greatest percentage of EU citizens : peace , human rights , democracy , equality , The rule of law : https://www.google.com/url? sa=t&rct=j&q&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CDMQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fec.europa.eu%2Fpublic_opinion%2Farchives%2Feb%2Feb66%2Feb66_highlights_en.pdf&ei=obdeU4C9NsjUtAbc2IHgBA&usg=AFQjCNGa4J66iXzCVSBU192oM4Qv_TkQgQ&sig2=mwFVYVieG89Dq97f1LDTfA&bvm=bv.65397613%2Cd.Yms
?? be european ? what for ? europe is a union , who blackmails , who destroys nations , is a war of the south against north. NO i dont like to be one of them. Europe is the 4rth Reich .
I’m actually proud and happy to be European. It means I share a history and culture that is thousands of years old, and has brought about some of the highest ideals in human history. It means that I recognize the right of every person’s dignity and the right of every person to express their opinion in freedom. It means I also am honest enough to see historical failures, and with wisdom learn from those failures and advocate for a better way.
I’m actually proud and happy to be European. It means I share a history and culture that is thousands of years old, and has brought about some of the highest ideals in human history. It means that I recognize the right of every person’s dignity and the right of every person to express their opinion in freedom. It means I also am honest enough to see historical failures, and with wisdom learn from those failures and advocate for a better way.
Europe is my countru, my culture, my citizenship.
EUROPE always ! for what it means and for what shall stand !
EU is a dictatorship. Being European is something really different from EU!!
Paying high taxes, being unemployed or working for very little money!
Paying high taxes, being unemployed or working for very little money!
@Theodoros Petriotis
Please add enslavers [due to lax border control].
Please add smugglers [due to lax border control].
Corruption [due to ‘bias’ in some Club Med countries].
‘Business Before Beings’ [due to EU business-centric laws].
But all of these things have been going on before the EU was even conceived as an idea, Tarquin and, actually, the further back in the past you look the more so. It would seem your problem is with human nature…
@Yvetta
PLEASE read the forum topic before posting, otherwise you [AS IN THIS CASE] will appear FOOLISH!
I was responding to you, Tarquin, and not the forum question…foolish?
@Yvetta
You clearly responded to me BUT I say again please READ the forum question. You’ll find that my points about what it means to be ‘European’ still stand.
The purpose of the debate is so that people can respond to each other, you silly fool…If you can’t deal with the responses get off the website!
Its a financial unity. There is nothing to feel european. I feel more a world citizen respecting his roots. Europe is a financial unity which can only be saluted but his little to do with identity
Danmark and UK will out of EU its a SCAM
… EUROPEAN <3 GEORGIA
Means I live in Europe. Means I can travel throughout many european countries without monetary exchange. Nothing else?
@Ivone Picarote Martins D’Alte
Hmmm, a Freudian slip perhaps? Have you not heard of the Pound Sterling or the Swiss Franc?
To travel free with no borders, to participate on the free market.
It means lack of democracy, increasing of poorness and the supreme domination od the finance
I’m not proud to be european. I’m not proud of an union who sacrifies democracy in name of the inflation and currency stability, who sacrifies thousands of people in name of free market, that’s a hell,that’s horrible and I’m sad you still didn’t realize it, because of course pourness hasn’t got to you.
yet.
@Mirko Celii
Unfortunately, much of what you posted is TRUE.
Being European means being free.. or it had to be so. ;)
Being European should mean the share of values like democracy, equality, acceptance, respect for the Human rights, ……however, the economic crisis has been putting all this at risk. Those values were like a “cloud” that has been vanishing slowly : there is a visible gap between north and south Europe, the countries policies promote inequality, poverty, break of the Human rights and unfortunately we dont foresee an immediate will to change this . We need a change of paradigm, a new way of seeing things that respect Humankind and our planet . We need “men of good Will”, “real politicians”.
Being free, building a new world and ready to get rid of the old countries and their religions source of most of the world’s pain for thousands of years asap…. Terminating France England Roumania, Scotland, Italy Germany, Poland etc building a region-based still boarder free european society hopefully on a less pyramidal system than now and reconquering the incapable (those who like to fight) parts (or ex colonies) of the world to end endless constant news reports about the same thing… accepting differences of culture and language but not caring about them anyway cos you do have to move forward sometimes… and destroying nationalism patriotism pride of nations… in brief the stupid educational conditionning people have accepted into their lives through laziness and stupidity which are terrible reasons… seriously… fighting for a land which you’re taxed on..(were you ever anywhere at home???) ….voting for someone else than yourself… ???? first form of procrastination!!! You don’t vote to get something done… you just do it! Anyone wanna revisit and update Plato? I’d support forums.. the elect few, elite society, majority based (and we do have a majority of idiots – including myself) decisions rather than simple comon sense and humanity isn’t something I can relate to… at all…
Oh and it would be nice if in the EU institutions we hired different types of people… not 2000000000 versions of the same well-polished robotic employee of any form, sex or nationality….. and competent leaders or bosses…(I had that in the commission… and for three years thought about suicide for managing to get myself into such a position – under such useless people) Its very hard to work under someone you wouldn’t even hire to do your garden…… let alone run a government… but apparently competent charismatic people are kept away from responsibilities…. sacrificed to diplomacy and other politically correct nonsense… on the other hand it is funny to watch Putin walk all over them… makes you feel good about not being one of them :-D
We have to stop giving people positions based on friendship and start giving them to people with leadership skills and merit (merit not being time spent somewhere)….who you could imagine following into battle.. not those you imagine being in battle and you watching and giggling with popcorn… while thinking bloody hell… blooody hopeless…
@Maria Jose Machado
The poverty, inequality and lack of human rights EXISTED at higher levels in many of the Club Med EU nations EVEN before the EU was created.
Money/charity from the Northern EU nations helped hide the poverty, inequality and corruption that was always endemic in some of the Club Med EU nations.
If one is labelled as a European, one can only assume such an entity woud possess a schizoid psyche:
Northern intellect, wealth and power
v
Southern corruption, inequality, lack of democracy and poor human rights.
Europe…..the landmass across the Channel….which is Much too close to us.
Being “European” is sharing the Chart of Fundamental Rights for everyone. Is hoping to consolidate and develop our Welfare Social Model, based on freedom, respect, tolerance and opportunities.
Means being governed by a pile of fools
a) “European identity” is much broader than “EU identity”. In fact the latter is probably limited to a rather small group, to those who directly benefit from the destributive policies of EU institutions.
b) However, “European identity” is tightly linked to Christianity as well as to the pre-Christian heritage of the European tribes who adopted Christianity. The latter makes the main cultural difference inside Europe. And, Christian beliefs nowadays are often secular (including atheists, agnostics, humanists etc.).
c) Empirically there are no coherent or lasting “Europen values”, bottom up.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Values_Survey#mediaviewer/File:Inglehart_Values_Map2.svg
For example, even if most people on this continent might identify with “human rights”, it will not always mean the same (see currently UK or Hungary).
The “European values” propagated by EU institutions are top down imperial values and not representative for EU populations.
d) Following (b), also Australia, the Americas and Australia share some “European identity”.
e) Historically “EU identity” will most likely play only a minor role in the flow of “European identiy”.
What does it mean to YOU to be “European”?
The feeling of belonging to something great.
Think Young
Az n Eurpm fiatalos,cselekv?kpes,lendletes,s ami volt fel lehet r nzni!!!T
To live in peace.
In Unity there is Power and however the differences actually we are one big nation…
Being European means forced to witness that complete economies have been distroyed in the name of EU and euro.
And what`s even worse, the responsable politicians and bankers show no regret at all, and proceed their own way.
By economics mentioned as the lost decade.
“What does it mean to YOU to be European”?: F@CKED
To be European in XXIst century? It means being a citizen in a huge fairytale theme park for the joy of rich Asian tourists, that becomes a horrorland at nightime (when visitors go out and ordinary locals remain on a sad daily life). Now I ask: What it means to be Mediterranian? Well, there are more cultural links between in the later, but for some agenda it has been hidden constantly by almost all politicians.
as catala, the EU has never supported our democratic efforts be an independent country, so in this moment the eu doesn’t mean nothing good for us…
We will always have Paris..
My favourite is Hector though…
It means……… Wel it means……………. Ican tell wat it means to be azorean
It means having a set of values like democracy, justice and culture different from any other country, it means beeing the birthplace of democracy, it means beeing moderate and helpfull regarding the world it means defending differential points of view from the US and others, it means that we are the descendents of thousands of years of culture and we live together with peace and not war who can say that anywhere, it’s not the euro that defines us it’s our way of beeing and seeing the world that makes us Europeans and we should be proud of it!!!
For me being “European” is an Utopia; we know we don’t live by the same standards of living within The UE.
There is rich northern European countries and poor Southern European countries who for a brief moment, aspired to be like our neighbours in the North.
My country produces young people with high education Degrees that are being literally “exported” to Northern European countries at zero cost.
The ones who are fortunate to be employed are the poorest workers in Europe and basically we can define ourselves as a country of waiters and waitresses, eager for foreign people and rich north European pensionists to spend their money here while pensionists of my country live with pensions less than 250? and have to beg for food.
Does any of you earn that much money up north?
I don’t think so.
There is no equal opportunities therefore for me being an European means absolutely nothing.
As a Greek,i agree completely with you.Europe is a place of exploitation from the rich to the poor,a place of racism and contempt from the north ro the south,a place of stagnation,a place of misery.
There’s nothing in Europe any more but the power of eurocrats,bankers and vested interests.
Being a citizen of the greatest counting the world.
It is mean to be stupid …
In 1940 all British felt British, you can see it on their faces. If our planet Earth was attacked by an alien power, we would all feel Terrestrian. In times of peace our identity tends to fade, so what Europe needs is simply a common danger or ennemy: then by enchantment we would all become European, even the British.
European great men are practicall standards of Europeanness. Thus Winston Churchill defines European courage, stubbornness, love of freedom, hatred of tyranny.
To be European is to love Winston. (This is just an exemple.)
Our common enemy is the undemocratic Eurosoviet Union.
Are you insane? Your say we need a war to feel more european? Churchill did not mean for Britain to be part of europe. The country’s of europe to be european and Britain to look to the sea.
To Matt,
In wartime the British are staunch defenders of european values. This is why Winston Churchill is a magnificent European.
Share values means similar wages free health system for survival first.
Yes we have seen that in the UK, similar wages for all for us means lower wages for us ,free health system means ours , join the queue
am not ,will not and never have been ”European” . I have never been asked ,never voted for it and I reject the notion that I may be .
It means having a unique culture that is shared by every single european that is distinct from the entire world.. It means being united in our diverse and yet homogenous culture.. It means being the most priviledged continent and union in the world with the greatest economic opportunities in the world and the best social security net.. It means the ability to live and work almost anywhere in Europe, and not being restricted by anything, disregarding the obvious language barrier.. It means having the best possible life in the world and the ability to absorb the world’s greatest culture in a way that has never been seen before or anywhere else in the world.. Yes, being European is impossible to describe briefly, but it is what you feel when you travel abroad and realize how rich we are economically, culturally, socially, technology wise, green with the best standards in the world, and much more.. To be a European is something that is unattainable and yet so highly desirable outside of Europe
europe’s just a name on a map
Seems some still don’t know that if every country is to get to a somewhat similar wealth level, that will require the ‘richer’ countries (a relative word, since the western world is technically bankrupt) to surrender a significant chunk of wealth.
Do Germans who like the EU realize that with equalized wealth they need to give up some 20-30% of their income? Or do some still harbor the illusion that wealth can be aggregated at the highest level?
To be European means nothing. Tired of seeing our money disappearing into the Brussels black hole or in the hands of Franco-German bankers (via Greece) and our larger cities flooded with EU migrants who displace the locals by working for lower wages.
1. Common market and standards; 2. Common security systems; 3. Common currency; 4. Common rights; 5. Common taxes, regulations and legal system, all within 100 years. Within 500 – common language.
What you are backing, as wonderful as it sounds, is the move of the globalists who are against fair distribution of wealth. Homogenised people become robots. And the top of the human tree of money men are using this idea of commonality to reduce all mankind to Global slave workers. They are promoting the idea of us all being shackled to a minimum wage so low life becomes a survival chore without quality. What we should be fighting for, is, ‘quality of life’ with a standard of living throughout the European states that cannot fall below the level deemed worth having.
And a common language that does not diminish any of the languages we presently have and love at birth. A second language being one we can communicate with across the globe. Just as we do on this forum right now.
Europe is not EU!
German dictatorship.
Agree with this comment but not the severity of the language used.
I agree completely.
means having austerity measures all the time..
Maybe also achievements in science and technology in general, and in space exploration in particular would strenghten the european identity.
It means to be free from petty nationalism…
NOTHING!
It means austerity for the poor, and great give aways to economic thief’s that steal banks. At least in Portugal, part of Europe it has been like that. 3 stolen banks by right wing people, and lots of billions to cover it, while taxes get higher and higher, people get minimum wage of 400 some ? after tax, but hundreds of new millionaires… new millionaires while hunger and poverty are at almost 30%…
The Europe of today is pretty unfair, and if does not change and respect the founders and their ideas, i hope Portugal leave the EU, just like the English also want it.
Why does Angela merkl from Germany has to call the shots? Is she the leader of Europe? Is Germany getting what they always wanted? the power to Germanize almost the entire Union? They do now with pens and money, what they tried before with bombs and could not do it.
I really hope changes these unfair system, and have some rules in the way to redistribute wealth, and don’t have people starving and getting minimum wages that are not enough to live, while some CEO’s get paid hundreds of times more than regular workers. I don’t mean equal for all, but now is almost slavery for some.
Europe today is rotten and unfair. Don’t take me wrong, i believe in the early principles of Europe and the objective it was first created, and i believe that European Country’s should be together in some points, but now it is just too unequal from State to State, and that is rubbish.
Manuela Mcmoura
So you pro EU’ers would replace it with fake ‘petty nationalism’… ?
No thanks.
The question you should be asking is ‘Will France leave your undemocratic EU before or after Great Britain ?’
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/11/01/national-front_n_6087082.html
.
Nobody wants the EU.
A poll carried out by your European Parliament found:
. Choosing the future President of the European Commission only motivated 5% of voters in the May 2014 elections.
. Only 14% of people in the EU are “in favour of the EU”.
. Only 13% of people in the EU feel “European or a citizen of the EU” .
http://www.euractiv.com/sections/eu-elections-2014/commission-presidential-race-only-interested-5-european-electorate-309685
ser europea significa compattir los valores espirituales y materiales fundantes…..el problema viene cuando comienzan los requemores y las sospechas entre los distintos paises por las medidas a tomar ( por aquello que cada cual lleva el agua para su molino).
Being European or Asian or African or whatever means nothing when there’s no work and no food on the table and a roof over one’s head…..
you are missing the single most important: language
.
Your quoting the great man Churchill as a ‘ cultural contributor of European unity ???, as a Brit I find your using his quotes actually quite offensive.
The only reason he wanted Europe locking together was to stop the ‘Europeans’ from starting their bloody wars, he never intended for Great Britain to be part of it.
You are aware that he also said ‘?If Britain must choose between Europe and the open sea, she must always choose the open sea?.
Why are you using the 2013 info when there’s a 2014 set of results ?
http://www.euractiv.com/sections/eu-elections-2014/commission-presidential-race-only-interested-5-european-electorate-309685
Blair & Schröder presented a joint program in the 1990’s: pursued by Blair for some time under the designation “The Third Way” – “New Power- New Responsibility”. In Germany- the “Partei für Soziale Gleichheit,” (SPD’s U-turn)
http://www.wsws.org/en/articles/1999/06/thrd-j17.html
It appears the EU directions of today where already decided between the UK & Germany in the 1990 or earlier! This needs a strong EU coalition to correct. Why be so conservative & wait until 2017? There is a good reason at present!
” The fact is that the top 0.1 percent dictates policy and essentially selects the personnel tasked with carrying it out.”
Mountains everywere, xenofobia and a blue flag. No more.
Why Europe ? A question of survival.
★ ★ ★
Facing the clash between giants (China, India, the USA…) that is shaking our planet, Europe has no choice: either we unite in order to make our voice heard in this world and preserve a space to live in, or we die out.
But what is Europe, then ? It is not only a Commission in Brussels, directives we don’t understand or reject, a Parliament in Strasbourg whose powers are rather limited, it is not only a blue flag with a star-studded circle, an anthem (dedicated to joy, ironically) that nobody knows…, Europe is a civilisation. A great several-thousand-year-old civilisation, just like the Chinese, Indian, Muslim civilisations, just as the Egyptian, American Indian civilisations and the African empires were.
I was born and grew up in this civilisation that nourrished me, trained me and educated me, shaped our way of thinking. Our Masters were Aristotle and Plato, Marcus Aurelius and Cicero, Saint Augustine, Dante, Montaigne, Shakespeare, Cervantes, Voltaire, Rousseau, Kant, Goethe, Bach, Mozart, Vivaldi, Verdi, Chekhov, Dostoyevsky, Picasso, Goya, Botticelli, Michelangelo, Sartre, Camus, Bergman, Fellini, Almodóvar … and hundreds of others… Moretti, Haneke, Das Leben der anderen (The life of others) … and then… nothing else… Why has Europe become silent ? Is it asleep or half-dead ?
Benumbed in the flow of cultural products (music, films and series) and foodstuffs (coke, burgers and ketchup) made in USA on the one hand, and overwhelmed with masses of low-quality products manufactured by the Chinese industry on the other hand, Europe no longer responds, no longer reacts, no longer produces anything (except, perhaps, in part, my Volkswagen): its industries are leaving, its brains deserting, its currency is threatened. Indeed Europe seems rather moribund than asleep.
The problem is Europe no longer has a vision of the future. Perhaps its citizens are still too fascinated by the “American Dream” in spite of all its setbacks and failures (the most recent one being the subprimes crisis). Dreaming of America prevents us from seing Europe and thus from imagining and building the Europe of tomorrow.
If you’re interested in reading the end of this article and many others on the subject:
http://uropi.canalblog.com/archives/2012/10/29/25451234.html
an arbitrary name on a map
To feel like an European means to me: breaking the barriers by feeling and caring for each other in thinking and doing
Bail-out
Just a name on a map.
Free traveller and free market commerciant. Still I am not. On the neighbour borders of Croatia, officials are still checking me.
Europe is a Ancient Greek God… the one we are trying to destroy whith our new coin!
Stop putting people in 1st 2nd and 3rd place, or in different class , every human is the same , the people in Syria were living in better conditions than many European country’s ,
So what if I’m European and I don’t have a work and my family is starving !
More than the common ground values, important part of being an european for me is accepting cultural diversity in this unity. Knowing that i am part of a community that have an agenda and accepts the dialogue with minorities agenda’s is a big deal.
Europe and Europeans lack a vision: how shall we stand up to the new superpowers like India, China, Brazil… ?
We live in the same part of the world, under the same climate (though it’s a bit better down south!), wear the same clothes, listen to the same music, eat more or less the same food. Why don’t we just stick together, instead of waging the Hundred Years war over and over again ?
I feel we would be much better off !
You may say, I’m a dreamer, but I’m not the only one… hope one day, you’ll join us…
John Lennon
EU means peace. EU means freedom, democracy, human rights. EU means common values shared by 28 countries.
More people with negative future perspectives than with positive. What will you do ? Can you improve the Situation of those many disappointed? http://www.WWSEEP.com .
Beeing ripped off moneywise, freedomwise. Becoming a slave of globalist elites corrupted by banksters.
It means destroy a whole continent in name of free market
Being European always comes into competition with the national identity, and national identity wins over regularly. In the end its nothing more than being different than American, Asian or African.
If you read this Guardian article below you will see clearly what being European is to thousands of very poor UK citizens.
The British government is telling the world it is on a roll, that we are the best economically functioning state within Europe. And they bring out figures as proof that we are on the road to doing away with unemployment and making a full recovery. This article shows a different perspective, that in fact thousands of people in my country are being forced to work forty hours a week for no pay at all. Single mothers, forced to do this rather than care for their young children at home, the elderly, the young, all in the name of keeping a Conservative government afloat on a dirty lie, as they take our tax payers money to torment and humiliate our own citizens who pay for this torture.
http://www.theguardian.com/society/2014/nov/03/dwp-benefits-electrician-work-placement-labour
The very fact that the EU would allow this to take place inside this union without, at very least, creating a world wide knowledge of its internal slavery is atrocious. Being European means living ‘le grand mensonge.’
.’
And here we see why the EU officials are so angry with Cameron and the UK over the pretence it is the European immigrant who is the cause of our UK unrest. This hidden truth that our government is doing deals in the Indian sub continent to bring in their cheap labour, in their thousands, whilst hiding it from the UK public tells the real story that none of our media outlets want to reveal. Now why is that? Why the UK governments hatred of the European. And, from the surface of this report, the hatred of its own tax payer.
http://tompride.wordpress.com/2013/03/25/immigration-bombshell-camerons-very-secret-deal-to-allow-a-flood-of-cheap-labour-from-india/
And from what I read on Wiki this morning, from 2013 to April 2014 560 thousand immigrants entered the UK seeking work, the majority from China, followed by India. It is a bloody joke. These people should be strung up for the lies they are perpetuating in the UK. And it must mean that Nigel Farage is very aware of these figures or he would not hammer on about the problem being a European influx.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Modern_immigration_to_the_United_Kingdom
Why doesn’t Europe expose this reality to the world?
I believe that big percentage of people don’t care for national identity . For me is national identity important like for which handball you team are . To be “European” , who cares ? EU is excellent for human development , together we can develop economy , peace, education , justice , democracy and many other things we could never develop in small countries .
Death at the borders #FortressEurope. Drowned migrants in the med to protect power and privilege of a minority. Project Europe is graveyard.
Paying taxes, waving flags.
The whole thing is finishing quickly but they are cooking the stats and tightening their grip on the media. The whole thing does not look or feel what was meant to be European years ago.
you can only strengthen unity among eu people by rendering nationalism irrelevant. this implies that across europe living conditions shoul be similar. then will we sit arround the table with our national stories and not our national pride. will never hapen.
It means tolerance, the rule of law, freedom of speech, secularity, human rights and a land of lights. We certainly are not perfect but when we look around, oh boy … from China to the U.S, from Africa to East Russia… I’ am glad was born here.
Pedro: I totally agree! Europe is the very best! GO EUROPE! :)
Being European means we put our national differences aside for the sake of our common future. This is the only way to compete countries of the size of one continent : US, China, India, Russia, Brazil. Our beautiful countries are getting smaller and smaller in this crowded planet we live. So ,united we stand, divided we fall.It is as simple as that.
I don´t want to compete as one continent. We can compete better without dead weights like Greece holding us down.
Marcel, Greece is paying its contributions to the EU without the issue even making the headlines and has saved the Euro by accepting a bail-out, ie a loan which it is repaying plus the interest on top. This also meant that Greece avoided extreme poverty (double of what it is now). There is no specific country that is a dead weight. That is the concept of a Union. One could claim the UK is a dead weight, as it takes up EU time and energy with constant complaints and remonstrations on things that itself has signed in the past, an attitude mostly meant for internal consumption. Or perhaps you are referring to the Parthenon marbles as dead weights?
It is an identity indeed, it means a lot of individual freedoms such as freedom of speech, freedom of religion etc. Just a pity that as far as the EU is concerned too much emphasis is put on the economic and financial aspect.
It is an identity indeed, it means a lot of individual freedoms such as freedom of speech, freedom of religion etc. Just a pity that as far as the EU is concerned too much emphasis is put on the economic and financial aspect.
Being European means all of what you have mentioned previously, do not worry too much, it has them all, the good and BAD parts! (probably there are more bad than god ones…)
To be European means:
1) to be born on the European continent;
2) to be white;
3) to be Christian;
4) to value more the present, rather than the past.
On point 4) UK is not a European country because British people give highest importance to their history where they think their greatness is. All countries from the continent look to the future for inspiration but only UK holds on to the past and tries to stop the inevitable process of change. They cling to the feeling of being separate, greater and more important to the world than other nations just because they are richer. What a self-deception! The value of human beings can never be measured with money. The last unsuccessful attempt for that was in colonial times – slavery. It seems this is still a lesson that most British people need to learn, unlike poorer nations who have already figured that out long time ago and have no problems in this respect. The question is what experience will bring the necessary wisdom and the answer is – poverty!
PMSL
If anyone clings to the past it is the French. They suffer from post colonial stress disorder. They lament the loss of French as the major diplomatic language.
Who is going to fill the gap (in terms of money) if the Eurosoviet Union loses Britain´s net contribution? Is France going to cover the shortfall?
Dave, keep on laughing while you can.
Marcel, don’t worry, we will manage somehow, life goes on. Some adjustments will need to be done but that will not be the end of the world. There are other, more important things in life than money.
In the meantime, UK will prosper in its Commonwealth union with countries such as Pakistan, Bangladesh and Nigeria, open its borders to more immigrants from there and in 20 years we might be referring to UK as Great Pakistan, not Great Britain.
@David &/or Dave, Marcel, Maia & all well meaning- Good day!………& what a happy occasion!
This battle over, in, or for Britain or is it the EU viza GB/CW (which is it?) highlights the meaning: diversity in (& dis) unity- or was it unity in diversity? Really more & more confusing & complicated! We need to engage more EU lawyers to sort this out!
Isn’t Britain with its inherited Commonwealth engaged in a serious battle on two fronts? Maia has a valid point. If one studies the GB-Commonwealth a bit closer- especially the “Schedule 3 British Subjects”, their “RIGHT TO ABODE”- their “CERTIFICATE OF ENTITLEMENT”, the UK with its full complement of its C.W. will, if they become a full EU member- bring with them half the world into the EU- or not?
Is that not another good reason to go back to 1953 and put the thinking cap on?
http://www.findlaw.co.uk/law/immigration_emigration/citizenship/30295.html
What about Ireland? We’re not on the continent, but the vast majority of us most definitely regard ourselves as European. I don’t believe you have to be born on the actual continent to espouse European values or to consider yourself European.
Europe said to me I’m citizen
..but i feel i’m just a costumer
http://www.euractiv.com/sections/uk-europe/british-townsfolk-burn-barroso-bonfire-309788
Egyltaln Eurpa mg Eurpa? Mert az identitsa mr nem teljesen.T
Egyltaln Eurpa mg Eurpa? Mert az identitsa mr nem teljesen.T
Europe means a shared history:
Many wars were fought
Borders evolved a lot in 2000 years, creating a HUGE mix of cultures.
In each culture we can find the mark of another culture:
– Common words
– Common food
– Common traditions
– Common values
Many leaders tried to unit this continent by force and the countries are now uniting through democratic ways pushed by the will and ideals of its citizens.
European union means peace for all the nations that fought each other for so many years and are now working together toward the same goal.
More than peace, European union means friendship and sharing between a wide variety of cultures that have so much to learn from each other.
European union means influence in the world’s affairs. At a time of globalization, all the knowledge is shared and countries evolve fast. Any small country like France, England, German will eventually mean nothing in comparison to large countries with a lot more population hence larger market and GDP. The only way for us to exist in this world is to unite.
In the near future, I see myself as … Only European!
It’s time to shed the skin of tribalist thinking. The anti-europeans have their place in the Dark Ages, not in the 3rd Millenium!
When I was young, it meant: Democracy, Security, Welfare State. Those 3 pillars consituted the core pro-EEC propaganda of the era.
15 years later, the 2nd pillar collapsed a stormy night in SE Aegean Sea (at the western rocky island of Ymia, 30-31/1/1996 that came under foreign military occupation for a couple of hours without any EU reaction)
29 years later, the 3rd pillar collapsed, turning us to debt-slaves (being – defacto – deprived of “fundamental” human rights, primarily the right to private property)
31 years later, Gauleiter Merkel demolished the first pillar (“Referendum? Verbotten!!) replacing the then democratically elected Prime Minister of a member-state (a puppet of the International Usurers Gang took office!)
Asking a citizen of the once Independent and Sovereign Hellenic Republic what does-being-“european” means, here is the answer: in accordance with the acts of the West European Usurers Corporation (disguised as “European Union”)
Europe has always been the most advanced center of culture, democracy and technology in the whole world.
One cannot but be proud of being European, for our history and for the contribution WE brought in the World history.
I dream the time when I will be able to say “I’m from Europe. Italy.”, just as any American does.
Edoardo- EU, Italy
“In Varietate Concordia”
Anti eu. the eu and Europe are not the same thing.
Correct! Only the Council of Europe and Europe coincide!
As an American who wandered over here from a google hit on something else, I notice all here read and write English. Is it now the language of united Europe (EU)? How can Europe be a people, ethnicity (and for some here, a race, I think) without a common language?
Old English confronting Norman language, pidginized until it became Middle English. Will European (EU) languages pidginize, then become something else? What about the non-Indo-European languages in the Union (Finn, Estonian, Magyar, I think), So far, a thousand years or more, they have not assimilated to Indo-European.
This is a serious question.
The e.u might be crap, beauracratic and corrupt, but, one thing it has done is prevent wars in Europe. That’s a start at least.
The e.u might be crap, beauracratic and corrupt, but, one thing it has done is prevent wars in Europe. That’s a start at least.
@Richard Osborne:
Unfortunately, not any more. What is Ukraine? The EU/US/UK set that alight by instruction from the IMF. Or, did you miss that little fact of life?
And it isn’t going to stop there. The US are once again drafting in their army to ‘fight’ on European soil. And how many do they still have in Germany? Funny how they don’t pull that crock on their own borders isn’t it. With all the trouble they are having with South America, no massing of soldiers and artillery openly lined up on their borders threatening to sort those aliens out is there? No, they save that privilege for Europe and its ‘friend’ NATO.
This is a myth – before 1973 there were only 6 members of the fledgling EU. What kept the peace before 1973? The same entities that kept the peace from world war 2 until now – NATO and the Warsaw Pact and mutual assured destruction – ie. nuclear weapons.
Until 1989 and the fall of the Warsaw Pact alliance the global stalemate between the super powers and their allies have made large scale war too existentially dangerous for the potential combatants.
Today NATO and lowered animosity have checked large scale war. And the ever present threat of nuclear war – the UK and France both possess nuclear weapons, and it is they that ensure that large scale war does not occur in the european theatre. Not anything at all to do with the EU – which is more likely to create the tensions for war than against.
Balkan war?
You’re taking about Bosnia/Herzegovina? Sarajevo/Kosovo? I’m not sure but I dont think they were e.u members at the time. If they were, then my argument is in the dust
Still Europe….and Nato did the most to prevent a big war
A common culture, shared values, desire to put differences aside and work together towards peace and progress.
It means to be able to get on a train with your friends and sing your little song freely: http://youtu.be/UcjzRuFkJP4?list=PL0457E7EF3C66EE61
And it means to enjoy a summer day riding slowly on a scooter: http://youtu.be/pwTDL25N4xg?t=1m2s
For us, we think that being European means to be in a place where there is democracy, liberty, equality, solidarity, non-discrimination on the basis of gender, religion, beliefs, origin, the richest and most influential cultural heritage.
Then, we can say that we’re European people ! Thank you EU !
Be European is being a part of an union, it is sharing common values, and be stronger for economy, etc. But it is also care about the weaker coutries or union.
According to us, it is the share of common values such as culture and History. In France, Europe is present in many topics we study like in Geography or English and that’s why we feel involved in Europe.
Moreover, be European is having a sort of freedom, as for traveling as for speech.
Furthermore we want to progress together, as an united “nation” because it’s a part of our identity.
Nevertheless, we think that it isn’t really developed ad we hope that it will be in a near future!
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We are British not ‘European’.
The term ‘European’ is nothing more than a political term created to try and convince the peoples of Europe that they are some how the same people, clearly they are not.
‘Europeanism’ is just the latest fanatical ideology to control the peoples of Europe.
Different flag, different anthem but the same antidemocratic lust for power..
Thank god we are leaving the EU.
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We are British not ‘European’.
The term ‘European’ is nothing more than a political term created to try and convince the peoples of Europe that they are some how the same people, clearly they are not.
‘Europeanism’ is just the latest fanatical ideology to control the peoples of Europe.
Different flag, different anthem but the same antidemocratic lust for power..
Thank god we are leaving the EU.
Nothing. Zero.
in today circumstanchece they need slaves european . the germans.holands etc,
To be a member of the cradle of civilisation
it means centuries of struggle for democracy and human rights were not in vain
To make peace with myself accepting the whole complexity of my life and history that the nationalism of the sovereign states stole from me and us. W Altiero Spinelli and the Manifest of Ventotene
Freedom
Now only shame for the anti Israelian politic!
It means calling a continent that has so much culture and history home!
What Europe has done to Portugal…
nothing more than to remember that half of the europeans destroyed my country 50 years ago
For the time being please do not ask Greek people .When the problems are solved then ask us again this question …Thank You
To be able to travel all around Europe and explore different cultures. Europe has some amazing cultures in general.
To belong to the West.
To live in a democracy.
To be open-minded.
To be liberal,and not to make differences between two men only because they are not the same coloured.
To love the EU,and to make a United States of Europe,because it is the only way to make a third,”balancing” state between the USA and China in diplomacy.
To know other people with different cultures.
…and so on.
https://www.debatingeurope.eu/2014/10/31/what-does-being-european-mean-to-you/#comment-200609 That could be the case before May 2010…
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What being ‘European’ really means.
Being responsible for:
40 + million dead in the First European World War to unite the peoples of Europe under one unwanted flag, one unwanted anthem & one unwanted fanatical ideology.
60 + million dead in the Second European World War to unite the peoples of Europe under one unwanted flag, one unwanted anthem & one unwanted fanatical ideology..
How many would you like to kill in your next European World War to unite the peoples of Europe under one unwanted flag, one unwanted anthem & one unwanted fanatical ideology?
Being called ‘European’ should be an insult to every right minded human being.
Which continent has the history of largest wars in human history ? Even withtou WW1 and WW2 this continent was build on blood of our ancestors who I believe want nothing more but see us united. And in modern economy we have no chance to compete with anyone if we cant stay united.
Lee Tong
So your plan is to repeat the blood letting of your ancestors ?, by capitulating to the EU you have thrown away all that your ancestors fought & died for.
As far as the EU competing with the rest of the world is concerned your EU has been a catastrophe for the peoples of Europe while nations outside of your EU have thrived.
That Germans owe to Greece one trillion Euros since the end of WWII.
To me it means to be free to travel or live where ever I like within the union without discrimination but i dont think its possible.
Freedom and help each other in difficult times
I’m not european, I’m french! I’ve never seen somebody with a EU-flag showing a world cup match!
It means letting unelected officials decide the fate of my country
I grew up feeling an european, even tough my Portugal only joined in 1986. It’s obviously geography, but also history, culture, and so many other things that are envied by any other continent. Being european also means that we’re under fire from the so called “markets”. A few things need to be changed – the main one is to have great leadership. If we manage that, we’ll succeed and will gain the freedom to continue to be different and special.
This is not true.
In the first WW,anti-democratic nations fought against democracy to RULE.(For Germany’s king it was mainly cuz they wanted “space under the sun”)
The second WW happened because the winners of the first WW(yes,it was mostly Britanny and France) forced too much tribute against the lost ones,and new theories infected people with the hope of vengeance.
I don’t think anybody would want another european war. We have learned from the past. All of us. The uniting must be done in peace and harmony.
It seems that those lessons are not learned in the corridors of power.The difference is,at the place of then Britain and France is now the northern block (essentially Germany) and in the place of then Germany is now the european south.
I travel quite a lot for business and I feel home in Europeus, so to me it means being home. Politics is another issue…
The European Union has created America to joint forces to attack Russia! and have a 3-uw world war! It is a pity that Europe did not see. Europe is the only military tool in the hands of the United States. Europe without America, can not receive nor any political and economic decisions !!!
For me, to be european means to be part of the injustice against people e.g. from Africa, Syrians etc. From this Europe all the injustice and crime has its roots. Americans came from Europe and killed the Natives there. Colombus etc. came from Europe, the British and many other european countries exploited many countries for centuries. Now we build walls to defend all the wealth we stole from the people whom we stole it. Nice cradle of civilisation indeed!!! A nest of criminals and corruption, this is Europe! And I am very ashamed to be european.
NATO-Killers!
For me , being European is about taking the best parts of all cultures in Europe and molding it into ones own character, which results in the creation of a very Cosmopolitan European. So that means I have the best of everyone’s culture in Europe in me. – The height of cultural sophistication. That is why I have developed a European Panache that demand’s ONLY THE BEST. I wont settle for second best!!!
False expectations !
It means NOTHING
Being European , to me, means to be able to go to any country in Europe and be greeted and respected as a fellow European. As with everything some people are happier about this than others because they want to blame some of their problems on the whole of Europe. This is because of irresponsible politicians who prefer to win elections and be corrupt and don’t lead their countries….
For me , the super powers help each other to guarantee the tomorrow, and for the small nations and community’s leaving them vithout choice.
Being European feels a heck of a lot better than being of a specific nationality. It allows me to feel at home in places and communities that speak other languages, have other ways of being, have other hopes and fears. Being European it allows me to feel safe with a single passport, it allows me to build a future that is way more and better than what I could have built had my country stayed “independent” (quotes were intentional) for there is no such real thing as an independent country of yesteryear.
Communicate, sharing, culture, history, connection. It means cooperation on common matters as equal members despite lots of differences.
Im not European.There is no european identity.I as a greek for sure got nothing in common with citizens from north europe,i got more common stuff with Turkey than Holland or whatever…..you think so yourselfs afterall,for instance im lazy and corrupt while you guys are hardworking and respectfull of law and on top now you are saving my country and we live in expense of your kindness.Right?Ofc im being sarcastic.
I am greek. Born and raised in awesome Netherlands. The continent is europe and thats it. Dont push something in peoples throat which is absolutely nonsense. I am proud of all countries in the EU seperately. Roots heritage. This is what makes europe great!!
Well, what does USA or Russia mean to you ?
I’m a greek-cypriot, as long is concert me it doesn’t meen a s**t.
To be without work!
Second class citizen?
To swell with most awesome cultural heritage pride in the universe
My first nationality.
What it means for us to be a european? It means a common history of the oldest countries in the world and the beginning of the civilization. But the most important, the common feeling that we don’t want to fight each other and repeat the horrors of the past. The common feeling in democracy as the best kind of political system, the common feeling in the Peace and the respect of human rights. The common feeling we need a unique market and a unique voice in the international system in the world. It means the biggest GDP in the world, thus the most important economic power in the world, even in time of the worst economic crisis that remind us we have to change some aspects and improve mistakes of the past. It means Erasmus Programs and interchange students. It means the democratization of the neighbour countries with a normative power, putting a positive conditionality to change countries that don’t respect the human rights. It means the biggest power in humanitarian aid in the world, so it means also the most generous power and we have to be proud about that. It means security for everybody,peace, democracy, human rights, but security as a normative and economic power not as military like China or USA, and also, we’ve to be proud about that. It means to be something in the world because every european country by itself, is no more than a litlte ant in the international system if you compare that one with China or USA, and probably a puppet of that one if this country moves alone. We have to change a lot of things, the way will be difficult, because also the challenge is really great. This crisis is an opportunity to improve, giving up is just too easy and just a excuse for some nationalisms to return to the past we don’t want again.
free traveler-driver
E.U. has killed Democracy in Rumania when it stated taht 7.5 million citizens = 0 when it comes to what E.U. beaurocrats want! Europeans for me means I live in Europe! E.U. means E.U.S.S.R. led by appointed beaurocrats that have nothing to do with Democracy and serving the citizens!
E.U MEANS carreers opportunity in Europe, Representative in European Union
There is no Vision with which we can Identify. We would need an Organisational Project. And in my opinion we should go an own way. http://www.WWSEEP.com
european union means stupid people giving away their countries to foreigners.
Nothing!
Peace, liberty, and equality.
As well as culture and pride.
The EU is the only chance for the small, old European nation states to be independent both from the US (the West, including the UK) and from Russia (the East).
Give up old nationalism and religion and accept new values : democracy, peace , human rights , equality , justice .
the beginning of the collapse of my country
It pays the goverment of each countries and the European Union.
To be european to me means to belong to an area where people respect each other and every effort is done to promote peace and solidarity toward other nations. It means respecting our individual cultural heritage along with everyones else’s, it means putting people’s interests above everything else, it means defending our region from attacks of speculators and from those trying to impose their interests and agenda to achieve access to european resources. It means to help less developed countries in their way to a more fair and solidary way of life.
Unfortunately the Europe I aim to belong to is no longer alive, it has been sieged by financial marauders whose only target is to drain the europeans resources and put the majority of europeans into slavery.
The Europe has been sieged by the EU bureaucrats and we, european citizens, have to take back our power to get rid of them a rebuild a true Europe of citizens insted of a corporate block subdued by warmongers hipocrytes.
Belonging to a good Family!
nothing, eu is such a bluff. we need to become more integrated and have one constitution and common laws.
‘European’ means ‘submission’
Europe mean to be more strong together!
‘Europe’ means defecating on 3000 years of shared history; on ignoring the deaths of millions and the raping of individual nations mineral wealth.
You’re right Jason but that belongs to the past, in the mean time Europe has evolved (not allways in the good sense) and became the land where there were better living conditions for citizens and more respect for human life. It somehow started to change a while ago and that is the reason we must change the way things are being conducted…
To face the various challenges.
.
The question is, will France leave the antidemocratic EU before or after Great Britain ?
http://www.express.co.uk/news/politics/548252/51-per-cent-vote-quit-EU-poll-result-sparks-new-demands-early-referendum
Guarantee of democracy, freedom of speech and press, travelling, economy. Diversity. Choice. Challenges. And if this is too little for you or means NOTHING, then please, bring the communism and USSR back and live with them. For Eastern Europe 45 years were enough, i think.
To be in a non-democratic union controlled by finance and Angela Merkel.
To watch with your own eyes the destruction of nations such as Greece.
A Nation that 30 year ago, cancelled their WWII credit from Germany, even if they where much less advanced and they would have needed it.
What kind of europeans are you talking about? The rich onde, or the little poors like us Portuguese??!! Wake up Europe!!!!!!
European mean to Live and to work inside europeus, every people.
means no more democracy. No more human rights (work is a human right). Means that a private, non-governative elite writes the laws and imposes them to the nations, laws that serve to put profit before the citizens progress and wellness. The mean is the crisis the target is to arrive to a feudal-like society, with no equality and where democracy is an empty word.
Without UNITY it means nothing !! But if we are united as one people, no first class Europe, second class and third class, we might just be the greatest nation in the world !
Without UNITY it means nothing !! But if we are united as one people, no first class Europe, second class and third class, we might just be the greatest nation in the world !
First of all, being European means defending European Union from all its haters! :) Oh, and there is a certain person here named Ivan that is copy pasting the same poll from Uk that apparently shows that Brits want out of Eu. Lets get your facts right! Things have changed in Uk! ;) https://www.ipsos-mori.com/researchpublications/researcharchive/3463/Support-for-EU-membership-highest-for-23-years-even-as-UKIP-rises-in-the-polls.aspx
“First of all, being European means defending European Union from all its haters!” Best comment so far <3
Not much
To me, it means being exploited by international bankers and crooked politicians.
It’s sharing such a long history with so many European countries.
Good point
Be european is want the be part of a constrution of comuns values in a geografic region , europe: respect the values of others peoples, back groud of cristian heritage, acept and pratice democracy, solve problemas by negociation never by war be proud of what europeans people did and do in beahave of world well fare and development
the girl in the picture is very very stupid.You can judge by her look
I beg European Union not to send us any more robbers and killers.Please have pity on us.
Be a free person :)
To hopefully have the best policies of every EU country being implemented into the worst countries to raise standards higher than what they were. But this does not always happen. http://www.lesleymcdade.blogspot.com
All of you are correct in your statements. You’ve been pointing out the matters we don’t like in Europe or what in Europe is good but the real discussion should be what kind of Europe we want in the future. I for once wish an Europe of citizens instead a Europe of corporations, an Europe of freedom and development instead one of financial speculation, an Europe willing to help those in need and promoting peace instead of one supporting the predatory goals of their american ally rulled by warmongers and speculators. Call me utopic or any other name you want but this is the Europe I think is worth fighting for.
That will never happen.European Union was built for the corporations and serve only corporations and vested interests.
Remember,at first it was called Steel and Coal union.
To live in a safe part of the world…
To be part of something bigger and greater.
that you are free to travel to every state of the EU/Schengen without any issue, to be able to work and live there too in just an instant, that you have the right to say what you feel and think without being locked up in jail (negative thing is that u won’t even be put in jail when you are discriminating someone…) that you can be(come) who you want to be and that you have the right to vote and to go to school. And not to forget to listen to the “Ode to joy/Ode an die Freude” with your hand on your heart when you are proud to be European :-) Live ALDE Party ? Liberals and Democrats for Europe and thanks for the people in the past who made our dream come true for at least a big portion, let’s hope now that more people will realize that they are European!!!
Peace
O que comeou como um projecto para a vida das pessoas est acabando num inferno financeiro e agiota. Os bancos e os mercados dominam a Europa e as pessoas voltaram simplesmente a ser nmeros. A Europa existiria na verdade se todos tivssemos a mesma qualidade de vida, emprego, educao e cuidados de sade.
being able to accept other cultures as yours!
It means being a member of politically incoherent, socially incompatible, economically challenged and military incapacitated area. An area where law means nothing, standards are just for fun and regulations are invented to levy more and more taxes.
http://www.kontranews.gr/koinonia/item/29741-eggoni-biasmos-kriti ROMANIAN SCUM RAPED HIS EIGHT YEAR OLD GRAND DAUGHTER
A “european”, it’s a person who live in Europe (continent). Like when we say an african. It’s a personn who live in Africa. Nothing more.
I am european american. idk lol
How about changing our way of life, instead of being passively living in Europe what if we all start building a different Europe?
One that meets our expectations, that becomes a model to be followed instead one conoted to a imperialistic one, allways looking to medle in the internal affaires of other soberane nations, one that promotes peace instead of feeding terrorism and uprisings to create instability, wich final goal is to sell more weapons and to get access to coveted resources?
Well,countries are punished for their democratic decisions or they are forced to make the “right” decisions,sometimes by voting again and again until the “right” decision is voted.
Keep the flogging until morale improves.
Ask to Greek people what does it mean to be European. Child mortality as increased after the financial golpe of 2011 in Greece (the lancet). Euro technocrats must be judged by a new Norimberga tribunal and killed for crimes against humanity.
To be European means to belong to the common Christian civilization. Being Bulgarian, I am European, but only through my nationality and ethnicity.
Europeann values: democracy, repect the others, will of peace solving problems by conversation ( never with bombing)
To me it means that I was lucky enough to be born on the continent of Europe. I am first and foremost a British citizen and secondly an Englishman.
I am a European in the same way a Peruvian and a Brazilian are both south Americans. There is no sense of citizenship in Europe for me, other nations are seen as friendly neighbours with their own house and not fellow citizens sharing the same house.
At this moment, NOTHING!!!!!
Has European “Identity” any meaning? What is “Identity”? Follow The Gerald Keogh Identity Series (#GKISeries) from 25th April 2015 to the end of 2017 on ourownidentity.com
I would not say what it means to me since I am not an European. But I could suggest what it looks to me. It looks to me the Europeans are more practical and less about ideological fuss. That’ll pin them into an selfish image, since they are less likely to contribute to their International responsibility. That’s being said, they make less errors and cause less damage than the Americans. I hope the EU could offer an alternative for global leadership to the US hegemony in the forthcoming century.
I always considered myself to be European,didn`t need to join to feel it for sure !!
Debt. That I’ll be paying my whole life for, and my children, and possibly their children.
Absolutely nothing
To be ruled by lobbies I cannot vote
Thinking local, acting global, spreading Liberty, enhancing Equality, supporting Fraternity.
Sheet………and again…..sheet. …
maybe follow european (not asian or american) values
Being European means to be “roots of civilization”, the democratic state started with ancient Greece and Rome. Being European also means that we can keep and respect each other’s nationality, religion and freedom till it doesn’t harm other’s! Europe tolerance is right but we have to learn how to be tough with those who think our tolerance is foolishness!!!
I am from Cyprus and i feel European. but there is no Union, it look like Cooperation not really a Union.
Being a European is very important to me. I feel that we can only make this place better if we join. This doesn’t mean I reject being Dutch also, or an inhabitant of Deventer (the town I live). I just think it is coloring my life, looking over borders and meeting different cultures, having friends in different countries etc.
To be European is to be part of a large whole that “tastes like progress” in many facets of life. To be European is to feel privileged everyday.
Model: Graziella Aime Puritscher ;)
Proud to be European.
Unemployment,debt.
A hope.
I am a Romanian European and for me to be European means to belong to Europe ( geography,language,heritage,culture,way of living,)
EUROPEAN FOR ME IS BEING BORN IN THE AREA OF EUROPE. BUT NOWADAYS THE REAL MEANING IS NOTHING AND GENERAL GLOBALIZATION FOR ME IS LOSING MY COUNTRY’S TRADITION.
Being European is very important to me. I have always felt European and of course I am, historically, linguistically, culturally And the aims that I aspire to achieve, they all reinforce my various identities!!
I am a British National which makes me Both European by birth and more importantly to me, choice!
The collective values that define our common and diverse identities make me feel a greater sense of fraternity, unity and equality, aims I believe we should all work towards,for the collective good!
Why does it make you European by birth,it makes you British mate and the only goal we need to work towards is a Brexit thanks
To live in a continent where good is bad, where antisemitism is the order of the day, where lessons from history were not learnt and where idiotic tolerance of intolerance actually are fast destroying the Europe we knew!
Nothing, je suis Franais!
What it DOESNT mean is having a bunch of unelcted Wall Street bankers “ECB” playing god telling EUROPEANS wether they are “European” or not, or “kicking” them out of their financial slave camp/system, American puppets telling us wether we are European or not is definately what being European does NOT mean.
On the spot.
Being European, should mean having a positive & proper sense of belonging, whilst upholding the vision and values of all that makes us Europeans. However, this should imply protecting our cultures, traditions, rights to safety and build a strong economy. Regretfully, all that E.U evolves around nowadays, is standardisation across all member states, which might result in the decimation of different countries unique characteristics and features. Moreover, the current E.U policies re: Illegal migration are resulting in negative implications for member states such as Malta, Italy and other states which are located around the Mediterranean sea.
I m not european, I m ALBANIAN <3
I was not given a vote on it!
Im spanish and european and i love EU because promotes the freedom and democracy. No Russia, no China, no USA: YES EUROPE!!
Melancholy
It means a lot…sharing same continent. …avoiding wars, feeedom,freedom of movement, beautiful different cultures ,heritage, .
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ccu_KITkyPY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kMAXGHWl1Bo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Ut2sfjilJA
Europe will soon end!
United States of Europe and European citizenship, that will mean for us to be Europeans in the near future : English European, French Europeam, Greek European, Estonian Europeam, Spanish European, Romanian European, Dutch European, Irish European, German European and so on.
It will never be English European ever,maybe English British but never European
Hellenic-romean forms of civilisations that could lead to a political union but the legislation procetures blow the dream as it stands in favour of the big fish that eats the little
Europe is what I am! it is everything I believe in, the way I view the rest of the world. Europe has defined me, and I have defined Europe.
europen is one of the most important think tanks of humanity, as i see from comments above, not a lot of hope is actually spread by the eu for this word,
For me it means a nationalism at European level, so nothing better that nationalism itself.
The European Union?s key objectives should be to increase European work, prosperity and competitiveness. The European Union should preserve European cultural resources and support the creation of new ones. Developing and complying with Community environmental legislation all over the European Union is indispensable for our future. The European Union must also be aware of its responsibility for people, human rights, human suffering and the environment outside Europe.
Unemployment, bankruptcy, racism, xenophobia, austerity, poverty,debts, biuroucracy,ravaging nationalism…thats why i wanna leave it! Then import ppl from somewhere else
Where would you like to go Bronco? As for importing people, it looks likes we currently have no shortage of willing immigrants – at least in Europe.
A combination of 1) embracing the good values that the most advanced ones of the european civilisiations have so far reached(philosophy, art, laicism of states and societies, interest in science, human rights, equality, efficiency at work, ecc), and in the mean time 2) having the luck of living in Europe so you could embrace those values even better. Europe is not just EU, and anyway there are nations in EU and further in Europe which have to try harder into embracing those European values which are good ones.
So many eurotrolls well paid by EU commission to make ridiculous euro-propaganda. There is no united europe. That is the reality.
To me it means to have deep humainstic values from the Ancient Greek times
I’m European much more than I’m Italian, thankfully. I would hate to be confined in a provincial national identity (all nationalism is narrow-minded and provincial). And although he’s the actual inventor of my mother tongue, I disagree with Dante’s idea that a European Union must be brought about by a German-based Holy Roman Empire (Heiliges Römisches Reich – see infographics above).
For most of Ukrainian – is just oposite to Soviet Union and Russia
Europi was daughter of Dias. So knowlwdge studies universities happyness and good connection between the differend countries of Europe(christians) means and east Europe of course. Americans are like kids with guns
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10204639869223402&set=pb.1435356157.-2207520000.1427633547.&type=3&theater
Total demagogy and inequality and prejudice for europeans or non euro citizens, specially those living abroad.
We have two options only: to be European or to be slave. The Europe must be united, otherwise the future is darkness.
Ask the peaple un the war zone, what they need first,then we have to make space for the peaple,they can help make hauses,make nothing,minus comfort,we can to make tipis in the forest,this peapel now to live like this,spain,nord kastaniastrees,food,and much things,and the saudis can bring water in the sahara, and help wurh money spain,and spain help,syria,and ectr
It seems to me you are awake. Congratulations. Sorry to tell you, but most of the world is still in the dark ages. Drop seeds, not bombs! ;)
Free traveller .
Mamma mia me english fatal
Yes no border
No close borders
For me is Europ a Long wey of Historie of Culture Wars Peace and a Hope That Same Day er all gut Nr First European and then Greek Italian German or datch or wahr Ever
.
40 million dead in the first ‘European’ world war to forcibly unite the peoples of Europe under one flag, one anthem & one dogma.
60 million dead in the Second ‘European’ world war to forcibly unite the peoples of Europe under one flag, one anthem & one dogma.
Conclusion:
To be called ‘European’ is to be known as a warmongering fool.
Ps.
We are British, never ‘European’.
Amen my brother
The people. All different, but all same at the time.
I’m British and European & I love the EU because it connects us with our neighbouring countries. I have always felt European because I was born that way.
I don’t and never will
Free mobility within EU
That needs to end before major in rest starts
Europe is ruled by dictatorship and financial mafia. No reform possible, Europe is garbage, just put it down in dustbin !
No boss , no one rule the others !
Everyone keep they own culture
Opportunities same for all
No dirty games from Germany to be leader !!!
Language as it is now (every one his own language and international English) if not than Greek because is the mother of all !!!!
We can have one bank for euro but must be cut in small banks for each country inside
If anyone have problem like my country (Greece) than the other help only to bring jobs in this country NO LOANS BECAUSE MAYBE HAVE DIRTY POLITICIANS (LIKE GREECE BEFORE) AND GERMANY ALWAYS !!!
GERMANY KNEW IT BUT THEY KEEP SEND MONEY TO KILL LATER !!!
NOT TO KILL IT WITH HIGH INTEREST !!!!
FREEDOM FOR EVERYONE AND GERMANS MUST PAY TAXES AND STOP PLAY PROPAGANDA THAT WE DONT PAY OR WORK !!!!!
As a Portuguese, i subscribe. If Europe wants to help, it needs competent people to see what is being done with the money, or all of it is going to the same hands, the dirty ones.
An EU of diversity and EU offer the individual 28 time more opportunities that each MS do alone.
.
Definition of ‘Europe’.
The most common definition of Europe excludes the Greek Islands, Malta, Sicily, Sardinia, Corsica, the Balearic Islands, Iceland, Ireland, and the United Kingdom and its dependencies. Most definitions extend the boundaries of the continent to its standard boundaries: the Ural Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian Sea, and the Caucasus Mountains.
So not part of Europe = Not ‘European’.
Europe is merely a peninsula of the Eurasian continent so you would be correct in saying we are all ‘Eurasian’ but the term ‘European’ is just a political tool to convince the simple minded that we are all the same, clearly we are not but in most case’s on here it as clearly worked.
http://cesran.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/LocationEurasiaEXTCIAfactbook.jpg
Freedom of movement
It means to be European for me it is to be member of the best civilization of the world.
For me being European is to be part of Europe by representing my country and its rights, culture ,religion, history, education! To feel that you are part of a family!!!
living more relaxing for laws, if you see the world in the news.
For most Europeans being European is like being proud to be part of the greatest family in the world, the European family!
Free Health care with the European Health Card.
To work without restrictions across Europe
That needs to end it’s killing the British identity that why we want to leave
Freedom, democracy and human rights
Freedom, democracy, human rights, rule of law, proportionality and separation of church and state.
It means being a servant o Merkel.
European …means to share ,to give ,to care ,to protect ,to remember ,to respect ..
EUROPE the continent of the enlightment / humanitarism secular religion belief western/eastern values with a massive history of conflicts and the origin of 2 world wars overcame her legacy of divide and establised a economic/monetary trade work area created most global institutions un unesco etc a leading cultural and economic power that needs through her institutions to allow her citizens to thrive at the global civil arena..
Being european is not dependent of the EU. Being european is one of the most well defined identities in the world. Mean being heirs of an heritage of mixed elements, that combine in different ways and with different results in time and space, across history and across Europe. The indo-european heritage, that defined our languages and concepts of the world. The mixed celtic/roman/german/slavic (all of them belonging to the same indo-european family) elements, the experience of Christianity, the appearence of the State, the experience of the Renaissance and, later, the Illuminist movement and the liberal revolutions. The experience of the age of the Discoveries and the mass migrations to the Americas. The R1a and R1b genetical predominance across the continent. The complex net of permanent inter-dependence, resulting from ultra frequent exchange of ideas, technologies and, frequently, the transfer of entire populations from one corner of the continet to another, made of Europe what it is: a very solid historical, social and civilizational entity. Remember that Europe is not technically a Continent, it is just a peninsula of the Eurasian continent, It have the status of a Continent because Europe is home to the europeans.
Is living in a state where the government is ruled by sovereign institutions…look at Greece, Spain and many others…the financial sector is crushing our democracies
Be part of the same cultural matrix, respect each country customs and traditions, all embedded in co-lateral cooperation between members :)
Slaves have many names. It does not matter what name we call ourselves, but how we behave toward each other. Behaviour is the key element, the last piece of the puzzle to create true breathing freedom. Currently this is limited by ignorant, neglective and desperate governance of all kind within individuals and groups alike. Governance in the current form reduces the ability to move and therefore we have less freedom. Whenever the logistics are solved in a comprehensive manner through tolerance, integrity and confidence i.e. understanding of behaviour, we become free of slavery and thus we are able to fathom what it is like to be truly free.
It men’s that I live in ONE big country that allows me to speak multiple languages and share my work with other people, regardless of their race or speaking.
Please visit http://www.eeuf.net about common European culture
On Being a European: A proud team mate in the greatest Team ever!
It means being part of a line of history starting out as small neolithic groups fighting to survive and now being part of a very interesting project building democracy and equality in old Europe. It means less borders and more freedom to be me. It is good.
There’s no European nationality, so to me European means to be someone that was born in the old continent, in the European continent. Nothing more. The people of europe is starting to see behind these political federalist propaganda for the wet dream of the United States of Europe. The people of europe know better. The European dream is over. Lets build the future now.
Our core values are the same
Our core values are the same
Got you first time mate ,but I disagree with you anyway I’m British not European
It is great to study and work in difference part of EU
for me it means to uphold our European values. See Article 2 TEU:
The Union is founded on the values of respect for human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law and respect for human rights, including the rights of persons belonging to minorities. These values are common to the Member States in a society in which pluralism, non-discrimination, tolerance, justice, solidarity and equality between women and men prevail.
Angela Castello
Being European is a matter of birth, heritage and values. Fortunately to be European we do not also need to be members of the EU which undermines true European values in so many ways, not least in challenging national sovereignties hard won over centuries and by imposing a quasi-Stalinist bureaucracy to restrict the freedoms we otherwise enjoy within our nation states.
The formulation of the question is problematic in the first place: “Whether you feel European, and what EU citizenship means to you?” Does it mean that having a EU citizenship is a precondition for possessing a European identity?
The formulation of the question is problematic in the first place: “Whether you feel European, and what EU citizenship means to you?” Does it mean that having a EU citizenship is a precondition for possessing a European identity?
Europeans are the inhabitants of the European continent, free peoples with equal rights & freedom of speech
Europeans are the inhabitants of the European continent, free peoples with equal rights & freedom of speech
To be subaltern of germany.bettet to be european with our identity of the land that we come.to be free from germany burocratie.
To be citizen of huge and incredible entity which once will be a States. With common values, freedom of speech and expression, States of right, a christian culture. But also to be citizen of an entity that need to find a way to legitimate itselfs with regards to some part of its citizen. The elargment process due to UK pressure was a wrong step and now we need to moove forward.
To strive all together for our common values and needs and at the same time to give our differences a new and better perspective in order to coexist with each other.
To be civilized. Liberal, free and open minded.
That s EUROPEAN.
I feel European, because I AM European, but still I feel inferior because I am from Romania, a poor country. And citizens of rich countries let us feel we are not equal.
The Union is founded on the values of respect for human dignity, liberty, democracy, equality, the rule of law and respect for human rights, including the rights of persons belonging to minorities.
very good go ahead….
I am Portuguese and European citizen advocate the shared European values of social sustainable liberal democracy
An areal and mental union of countries, where equal understanding and aplication of democratic procedures are in place, so that all persons within are allowed and able to think freely, choose freely and act freely to the exted the commonly accepted regulations allow.
e para vocs!?
Absolutely nothing ! The crisis proved the lack of cohesion and solidarity between EU members
To be European means for me to live solidarity and broderhood. Which is the contrary of what happens between Germany and Greece. Both of them are acting as if they could go on better without each other but the contrary is true.
It’s good to love your homeland, it’s a part of who you are. But an intelligent person will always sustain peace, union and cooperation with other countries, in the spirit of democracy and care for all citizens and their rights. Protests should be all peaceful, violence is just a way to agravate a problem, not to solve it. Europe should be more united at the level of civil society, and that is possible only for the young intellectuals for the time being, until the mentalities will evolve in the future.
I think UK will leave EU, and it’s better this way for both them and Europeans – the UK is actually in an union with the US, and their policy is not compatible with Europe’s interests, in my opinion. NATO is good as a military alliance, not a political entity. Cooperation between Europe and the English-American states will even be more efficient by removing any political element.
It’s a good way to mingle with culture and people so get more united. The free movements is my favourite part
It means to respect cultural, religious and linguistic diversity #Catalonia #SelfDetermination #Time4sd
it means they live off of American tax dollars, we fund the Imf and the International Montery Fund takes that money, and lends to the european on High interest guaranteed backed loans.. ridicilous #foxbusiness
Living in the greatest country on earth.
To be a free person living in a place of great culture.
It means: To have the same family and the same rules, of course – no borders!!!
respect of the differences both of a person and a society. Free to move to work to live
It means Nothing.
European is to be a humanist, a secularist and an environmentalist.
In Portugal, it means one more hole to put money in. All European Parlament seams to be is another group of people deciding wich companies will get the money this time, and usualy banks win every turn. With the BCE, FMI and FRB in the mix, i would say that a Portuguese “European” is a sad, angry, fed up citizen of a country sold to higher purposes.
Falao muito mas acertao ao lado do penico muitos debates fazen mas resultados zero
Sharing a common tradition and dreaming a common future
The chance to test that it is not necessary that a single Nation must have a State. It is possible to be part of a Nation, belong to a country, and live all toguether in a suprastate.
Have u ever read to Schumann, Monnet, DE Gasperi, adenauer, spinelli, otto habsburgo, ….try it.
No superstate for me thanks the EU is finished
European like the old USSR tyranny? No democracy, what political system is this EU?
Free citizen and free traveller
thats piece of bullshit
:)
I think it’s very important to feel European. I’m a student in a school French and I’m learning European’s culture. Even if you aren’t European on your identity cards, it’s a large community about the principal values ; harmony, economic development.
We must no forget why the Europe is like that today, because we’ve got a common story about wars, geographic localization.
This is why we have to develop the European’s identity.
kikou je suis francais
For me be european is not necessary. It’s just if you want be european YOU are european if you are like me you are not european.
sorry i’m european and i love it
Hey everybody I come in peace
i’m norman #thomas
My sense of being European is only cultural, we all have a common past especially with the 2nd World War. It will never be political. In that sense I am proud to be a part of a continent that is so rich in culture, diversity, linguistics, cuisine, history and peoples. I feel French and European.
Peace and love
I think the feeling of being european is fake, that don’t change my every day life, like, apart from that, you have rich countries who give to poor countries like the Greece, who don’ want to pay her debt. Of course, there is good point but I don’t feel european, only French.
Europe is not a country but just some economic regroupement of countries.
I personnaly don’t understand the people who says they are european. This is just some countries who just shares a history of war.
I’m portuguese and I’m not european…
I’m French, only french and I don’t feel european
I am french, but I only feel european , because i was born in italy and the French culture and Italian culture are not the same so i feel more close to Italy.
“What does it mean to YOU to be “European”?”
This is a fundamental question: I’ve been thinking about it for years and I’ve written a few articles about it.
Unlike Warriors, I’m French, but I don’t feel ONLY French, I also feel European: I studied English at the university, I married a Spaniard, I have friends in Germany and Italy, Greece and Britain… Anywhere in Europe, be it in Prague or Cracow, Heidelberg or Nauplia, Madrid or Amsterdam… etc. I feel at home.
You only have to live in Africa or Asia to feel European and the people there consider you as such.
But there are two other fundamental questions:
The first is:
What is Europe ?
It is not the bureaucracy in Brussels, the Commision, the lobbies… Europe is a civilisation, just as China is a civilisation, just as Ancient Egypt was one. We all belong to that civilisation which was born 2500 years ago in Greece, which invented democracy, the arts and sciences (look at all the Greek words in those fields). All the great cultural movements were European: the Renaissance, the Enlightenment, Romanticism, Cubism…etc.
The second question is: What is identity ?
It is never limited to one dimension: every identity is a multiple identity.
You can be a footballer, a protestant, a Breton, a Frenchman, a European… and a citizen of the world… AT THE SAME TIME; you don’t have to choose one dimension of your identity in opposition to the others.
I have written several articles on these topics:
Identity, otherness and solidarity
http://uropi.canalblog.com/archives/2009/12/13/16128225.html
Why Europe ? A question of survival.
http://uropi.canalblog.com/archives/2012/10/29/25451234.html
Better come to earth than fly to the sky. Many times in history, ideas have helped Powers to hide their colonial ambitions. My view of the EU has been stated above. To help you understanding that European is as much the French as the Greek or the Russian or the Icelander, the Norwegian or the Portuguese, I post it again:
George YIANNITSIOTIS November 6th, 2014
When I was young, it meant: Democracy, Security, Welfare State. Those 3 pillars consituted the core pro-EEC propaganda of the era.
15 years later, the 2nd pillar collapsed a stormy night in SE Aegean Sea (at the western rocky island of Ymia, 30-31/1/1996 that came under foreign military occupation for a couple of hours without any EU reaction)
29 years later, the 3rd pillar collapsed, turning us to debt-slaves (being – defacto – deprived of “fundamental” human rights, primarily the right to private property)
31 years later, Gauleiter Merkel demolished the first pillar (“Referendum? Verbotten!!) replacing the then democratically elected Prime Minister of a member-state (a puppet of the International Usurers Gang took office!)
Asking a citizen of the once Independent and Sovereign Hellenic Republic what does-being-”european” means, here is the answer: in accordance with the acts of the West European Usurers Corporation (disguised as “European Union”)
Be free, think free, fight for others rights :)
Last time I nationally declared myself as “European”
It’s about a common history and culture, now linked to economic issues…. :)
“unis dans la diversité” is the only real motto. I hate it when I hear people judge the Mediterraneans or the Eastern Europeans for having a different mentality, as if there was a Northern European model that is to be followed.
As for shared values, I think as a common ground Europeans are influenced by the grecorromanian civilisation, the impact of European Wars during the 18th-20th centuries, the French Revolution and the repercussion of Christianism and Atheism.
To live in a European country that have and respect the same values,rulls,rights and freedoms.
Whereever I am in EU, I am home!
Austerity
For many years I was proud to be European and I believed in the social project … TODAY I’M ASHAMED TO SEE WHAT A FASCIST ORGANIZATION THE EU HAS BECOME.
I’ m afraid that here in Greece, it means nothing to us anymore.
The best part of the planet
Right now…it doesn’t mean anything ….
I think the easiest is for Europeans to travel outside of Europe and stay/live in different societies, and then it will be much clearer that there is a European identity :)
A future that is away
Unrestricted flow of hot tourist girls.
Freedom Democracy Progress Culture Humanity
The Swiss nationality is the example: more cultural identities (Italian, French, German), but one national identity. ;)
It means 50000 years of inbreeding and imperialism both of wich have ups and downs: on one hand blue and green eyes, blond and red hair are esthetically pleasing, on the otherhand high IQ means we designed systems that destroyed the planet. See The Bell Curve.
Just call me human. That will suffice in any occasion.
Express my opinion, accept difference, share culture, fight for others rights. Be humanitarian and keep co operating to solve problems.
to wake up to an espresso and be able to make it to a macchiato late in the night
We need a lot of work to become a real union, but I think its ahead
Nothing has been done to develop an effective European Identity in the course of the last twenty years. Read carefully the ‘Federalist Papers’. Very though provoking.
Nothing,nothing at all.
Not as much as it should mean.
.
It is meaningless.
The term ‘European’ is just a political construct used to convince the simple minded into believing we are all the same people.
Clearly we are not..
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BqtuE8oCIAApQmj.jpg:large
I’m European. I live in Spain and some English people make me cringe!!
There is indeed an European identity. Every European find they have more things in common among themselves than to Americans. I suppose the main reasons are Christianity as a common ground, the Roman Empire, the French Revolution, the value of Democracy and Freedom are the main shared values.
European means the habitant of a continent who has been educated by the values of the french revolution ,equality,liberty,fraternity and the principles of greek philosophy .United nations that they dont have anything to seperate but they work for their common interest.That was happening till 10-15 years ago.
Nowadays your principles are austerity,pay the (made by the golden boys)debt ,unemployment,luck of pruductivity ,more money to the richest .
You are following a path that it is leading only to a new war,fascists are appearing again 70years after the Holocaust of Europe ,capitalism that you love ,brought his children fascism and racism and you care more about the digits than human beings…Shame on you,you achieved to destroy the european mindset in only 5-10 years…But you ll find us against you ,fighting for our rights,you bastards fascists burreaucrats of bruxxels,die in hell
I think that what makes people feel part of something is the feeling of sharing something different, together. Under this argument, I think that the biggest contribution Europe has given to the world is the development of the human rights concept. If we look back to the past, there are many things that certain important European figures have given to the world (like Freud, Hugo etc) but at the end of the day, there was still a nationalistic perspective in their work, because of the way the world was functioning back then. However, we can nowadays say without any hesitation that the biggest development of the human rights concept came from all the European states all together (Council of Europe and EU inst. focused on HR). I think this is one of the most fundamental values that we can share as Europeans.
At the same time, one must understand that being patriotic does not exclude feeling European (e.g if you feel proud of being a Bavarian, that doesn’t make you any less proud of being a German, and vice-versa). The national belonging is complementary to the European identity.
Viribus unitis
.
A poll carried out by your European Commission found:
. Only 14% of people in the EU are “in favour of the EU”.
. Only 13% of people in the EU feel “European or a citizen of the EU” .
. Choosing the future President of the European Commission only interested 5% of voters in the May 2014 elections.
The peoples of Europe hate the antidemocratic EU just as much as we do.
http://www.euractiv.com/sections/eu-elections-2014/commission-presidential-race-only-interested-5-european-electorate-309685
I’ll start to feel little european identity when u’ll start share migrants from africa with italy dear european union! United just about our money
Thank the Lord we have an opt out of the migrants .if Cameron had taken them we would have riots .We have had enough
United states of Europe
No thanks because we will never be part of that rubbish
It means to pay more taxes than usual to mantein other countries, to have less rights than in the past, not to be free at home, to be invaded from foreign factories destroying our economy, not to be free to decide if we want to remain in this Eu, not to be free to decide if we can choose another value out of €uro and so on.
Living in the greatest country in the world.
Bill Alpas
European means all of our countries uniting closer so we are free from outside interference, big enough together to compete against the giants like China and India and don’t fall under the control of either the United States (U.K.) or Russia (Hungary)
Means Nothing to me.
i have no other identity. Everything i am and have been always is European, born in one country in Europe, got education in another, living and working in a third. Thats Europe, i am free to choose
To be part of a common destiny
Free man , free traveler , free commercial salesman
Grams maths.. Oxford…Ancient Greek. Technologia and science. Economia with respect..metro..Ylis-material-destroy European lifes
Hm..i think that is good to have an identity with european citizenship and the same time our nationality. For me…we have the same culture and the same civilization. We have the same values..from ancient greece, from grecoroman and enlightenment
.
I am in the 2% of only european, I like the diversity and the values of the EU. Of course there will always be multiple nationalities in Europe, of course there will always be people feeling they don’t belong to Europe, and sure there are many things we could improve from the current situation. But I think in Europe we are where we are mainly because of the common ground that unites us as europeans, social rights and the welfare state. To sum up, when I go outside Europe, I am very proud to say that I am european.
For me, it’s all about shared values, common basic principles in life, common past experiences from which we all learned similar lessons throughout our history.
Our ways, our traditions, the way we think, the matrix of social values we live by, etc etc, don’t clash. And interacting is quite easy, it’s very very easy to find common grounds without any significant effort – it all comes out naturally.
I was born and raised both as a proud Portuguese and as an European (specifically from the South-Western tip of Europe, Iberian Peninsula), since generations I can’t even remember. It was passed on to me by my parents, grandparents and so on…
Plus: a decent European adds value to another fellow European. Most non-Europeans don’t hesitate to “sweet talk” us into taking advantage of us, generally for their own selfish purposes, according to their own financial interests, regardless of anything – which makes me feel a bit more uncomfortable when I travel outside Europe.
I feel safe and at home here in Europe, anywhere in Europe really :-)
Lies that are discovered. (Y)
thank you my friend. good read
“An arbitrary name on a map”? You mean, like Metternich said of Italy, before it became a nation-state, that it was “just a geographic expression”?! Europe was already an identity before it had knowledge of itself. The fact that the romans considered the gauls and the egyptians equally foreigners must not make us forget that the romans were genetically, linguistically, religiously (and on and on) related to the gauls and not to the egyptians. It means that europeans, before christianity, had no conscience of themselves as such, but they already shared an identity. Christianity, even if a foreign ideology imported from the middle-east, gave Europe that conscience of itself, that was absent before, when the world was largely unknown.
European means more honest, more tolerant and more generous! Regrettably Europe is more ignorant these days.
To be a european means that he must not repeat him self to much.
Σημαίνει ότι είμαι κάτοικος ευρωπαϊκού κράτους. Τίποτε περισσότερο, τίποτε λιγότερο!
OK. I can see you have a deep insight of all the topics you are going to debate and vote.
EU is on its right track, if it does not allow xenophobia taking the lead…
Europe’s strength depends on its diversity. We all have a common cultura and economy multilaterally influenced throughout centuries. Even though we may have slightly different way of interpreting certain values, these vlues bring us together: We all defend democracy, freedom (in its many forms and states), tolerance and a strong social environment that’s inclusive, primarily in terms of healthcare, education and social security. These are the fundamentals of being European. We cannot let that be destroyed by petty politics, economic policies that exclude citizens and countries and xenophobic behavior.
It is our home, our people..our history..we have to give it a meaning, far above all economic interests..
Shared values and respect for many great nations on a small Continent.
For me Europe means hope.
The history of the European subcontinent was marked by centuries of fighting, but also of interweaving and mutually influencing cultures. Europe, not just one country or another, is the geographic area that shaped much of what the World is today. Are the European peoples identical? No, they are not, there are various differences, from political systems and worldview to practical everyday aspects of life such as languages. But there is an undeniable influence each European nation had on the others throughout history. The European Union was and still is a way to alleviate past conflicts by giving a limited say to each nation on the actions and policies of every other nation. As far as an identity goes, we are bound by these common values for now, but in the future we will likely become so much more. We will see if the European peoples will eventually want to form a federation of states, but if this will happen, then the European identity will even supersede present day national identities. I, for one, feel European as a distinct part of who I am.
Free to choose, free to speak, with decent work, decent occupational safety and good healthcare decent wage. that is wat European must have. Then it is good to live in this world, a free world that is Europe.
I am Maltese because I was born there,I am British because i was brought up there..as for the rest ,although I bear no malice,they mean nothing, or next to nothing to me..
Shared values and european culture..
Being European has ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to do with being EUropean.
I feel European. Sharing values that are frm all European countries.
Citizens are too busy in their daily routines that they forget about the values we have in our societies. Rights and obligations, culture etc. are hidden parts of our lives. Please go ahead with the European passport, this will provide all citizens with something more tangible than values. It gives the “official label” of being European, then the nationality…united in diversity :)
Nothing, I’m French and when I see a EU flag, I hang it down!
European identity certainly is not about sustaining the EU instituions
I am Portuguese citizen and I consider myself European classical liberal Democratic values of social and Democratic European values
Thank you new technologies
European means being united so we are strong enough to get the Americans out of Europe and keep the Russians out
it means nothing. It means way to much AUSTORITY and German Ruling over National maters
To be European means to be someone who wants to share a common history and a common set of values with my neighbours: to want to be a friend of my neighbours who actually live as do I; to want to walk down a street in Denmark, France, Germany or Slovakia and feel at home; to want to know that my fellow passengers on the train understand my experience as much as I do theirs; to know that I can see the country of their birth as nearer to mine, than anywhere else in the world; to know that if they are annoyed with me and my politics, then we will argue around a table and not put on black suits and kill each other’s children. Europe is everything me, my father, my grandfather and all those before me wanted. Those who do NOT want it are frightened little slugs.
Oh, and to all the Kippers – the greatest advert for European Union is the Royal Family – a hybrid of German Protestant aristocrats, married to the Greco – Danish Royal Family, whose Great Grandmother was related to the Russian, Prussian and English royal families, with vague Dutch connections and don’t forget your finest queen – Elizabeth I – was Welsh !!!!! So stop your idiot nationalism, and be what you are – multi-cultural
.
It would seem being ‘European’ means being ruled over as subjects of the unelected Emperor Juncker.
http://uk.reuters.com/article/2015/06/07/uk-eurozone-greece-idUKKBN0ON0N520150607
Europe is an idea that some people think they own.
To be european means to me to have the right to speek free to work and leave in a secure environment, to travel , and to dream your future . Unfortunately all this is crumbling….
SPQR, Roman alphabet, Roman religion, Roman law, Roman days, months, Roman republics and monarchies, et cetera.
Roman art, Roman city’s, Roman lands..
For me being European means freedom, cooperation, humanity. At the same time, I do not think that an European should look at others as being the enemies or the outsiders. In the end, we should all become a big nation. We know from the past – and I hope we have learned from it – that segregation means conflict and stating that one nation is superior to another will always lead to pain and suffering.
It’s true that we are all europeans at the same level?
Europe!
I feel like the citizen of a common State. It is better to be European as an American. Greetings to all.
Europe means history, culture, christianity, it means to share common values, go back to the roots! DON’T FORGET- NO ROOTS, NO FUTURE, SO DON’T FOLLOW U.S.A IN THEIR WAY OF LIFE.
Shared values!
Gender equality. Peace among state members, human rights, scientific research, environmental care, even animal rights (as usual some more than others); job opportunities, quite liberal, a bit Christian (I’m talking on average); amazing culture(s), art, food, wines… We need to spread the sense of community, the responsibility of it, the greatness of it, instead of running away because there is a financial crisis. I thank the British inventions, the courage of intervening in WWII before anybody else did. How come Churchill talked about the need for a United States of Europe but some think they know better than Churchill? It wasn’t any better back then, it was much more difficult. Maybe the current actors don’t go so well together, but the work is brilliant. Let’s see when the Euro Zone starts growing again in 2017. Don’t text us drunk then.
I always compare Europe with the country I live in Europe is like the Netherlands, only a little bigger… We share values, at least I hope so, laws, et cetera. But we also show solidarity with each other. In the Netherlands there are some regions that are, economically, very successful and some regions that are not. Just like we see in Europe. In the Netherlands we try to share the wealth of the country, just because it is impossible for every region to be equal successful. It would be nice if we learned to share wealth within Europe. Personally I believe that we would be better of if we had a United States of Europe. But than a little bit more democratic… One man, one vote et cetera. I know that a lot of people are against, afraid to lose their national identity. This, of course, is a dumb thought. Even in a small country like the Netherlands there are large cultural differences between the regions. If different cultures can stay alive in a small crowded country like the Netherlands, it certainly will not be a problem in Europe. I have friends in almost every European country and yes we differ, but what we share, friendship, is far more important.
Unfortunately I see history repeat itself. Nationalism is growing, like it did in the beginning and middle of the 20th century. It lead to two world wars and it just seems we forget, although we just remembered the 70th birthday of the end of the second world war.
For me Europe is about friends, peace, freedom, equality, solidarity and all the good things we were trying to achieve the first 30-40 years of the EU. I hope Europe can get back on track, I hope we will find a way to find what we have in common more important than what differs us.
A very efficient political, social and economic tool with great potential. Very useful to avoid war, to be significant internationally, to facilitate trade and research and social welfare. Bringing together the different cultures of its people leads to the synthesis of new ideas and creates new perspectives for European citizens, in a democratic environment.
https://www.debatingeurope.eu/2014/10/31/what-does-being-european-mean-to-you/#comment-200609
When will be decided to have European passports like in America; you are hundred years back!!!
As a Mary Boleyn descendant, European denotes Anglican and elegant ways.
Used to mean a lot. Then the bank nation attacked.
Who is the bank nation in the EU, the UK ?
The real sense of Europe (specially European Union) is that to be a member you must hate other members and consider that you are superior and you must have the right to be the boss of EU. This happens specially with people who never travelled around.
This is a joke, but not a lie: it happens, that’s why there are no integration at all.
Checalo Majo Ezquerra
It means I was borne in the European continent.
European mean for me that we share the same history, values, interests and future.
European mean to me that we are free to travel, to know each other and to accept our differences.
European mean to me that I am able to think for myself and I can be what I want.
European mean the stability the we never had in history. I am from Romania but this is not very important – I am an european citizen.
The European comunity represents the interests of the rich and I should like to get out of the Euro.
As long as the East side is kept enslaved and milked till exhaustion so the West can evjoy life to the full, EU is just an illusion
I think it is about shared values. People that have problems with the system can ask for help in another country. This is progressing more and more each day, and I think it is positive. Since Europe is about democracy, human-rights and progress.
Oh you are right about the other countries help comment .that is all we in UK and we’re sick of it,that’s is why we are going to leave along with our 55 million pounds a day in net contributions and get next to nothing back
I think it is about shared values. People that have problems with the system can ask for help in another country. This is progressing more and more each day, and I think it is positive. Since Europe is about democracy, human-rights and progress.
Before the implementation of the ECB/EU/ I was proud to be European…now it’s a mess and everyone can see this….we have too much US influence on our lands,just think about the sanctions against Russia..
Interesting, what made you feel proud before 1998/ before 1993 and what changed since then? I am asking because I think the EU made a lot of progress since 1993.
“Not european and never we be. British by birth, English by the grace of God.
Europe is ok to visit but I’m glad I don’t live there.”
Are you reading or writing comments like this? There are many of them here, and about this one the most impressing thing is the stating “I don’t live there”. There where? Some of the british people think they are not part of Europe just because of a little channel separating them from the continent. So, even Corsica, Sardinia, Iceland are continents apart. Plenty of these superficial reasonings have been written here. People, especially people proud of their country’s identity, should know that each identity of each country was invented. Every identity is something built up by our minds, do you think that when the whites european started to colonise North America, they found the “USA Identity” already there waiting for them saying “Hello! you’re late!!”. The identity is something built from nothing, from separating a group of people, choosing a single language, imposing a single govern, a single code of law, a single religion etc… It’s all artificial. British identity was constructed by the centuries, since Britannia was nothing that a island dwelled by Celts, Angles, Saxons, and Vikings tribes. Then, the time and the kings did the rest, through a history of wars, empires, colonisation, literary production we arrived to the formation of an “England Identity”. I can say the same for every country in the world. For me to be Italian and to be European has the same meaning, the “Italians”(Greeks, Latins, Etruscans, Celts, Germans) have been made up not long ago; choosing a language, a capital, a law, a flag. People saying that an Europe’s identity don’t exist should open their minds. I can say that it exists since we started to discover the other worlds(America, Asia, Africa since XV cent.). An other comment asked sarcastically “What common Heritage do we share?”. I can say that we europeans share a great common european heritage, I suggest these peoples to visit one of the libraries of a european city to see what we share, science, art, discoveries, literature; through the centuries(especially the Age of Enlightenment) we were unconsciously mixing us over and over. The European Identity is already on the making, the European Union Identity could be built as it was for all our countries. It’s just up to us to take it forward or knock it down.
There’s nothing special in demolishing. It’s far easier than building up.
And sadly, I see many demolitors here.
I aree and would like to add that the European identity is also complementary not exclusive.
Ξέρετε κανένα λαό στον κόσμο που δανείζεται για να ξεχρεώσει τα χρέη του και αυτά αντί να μειωθούν αυξάνονται με ταχύτητα ;
Ξέρετε κανένα λαό που οι δανειστές- εταίροι του «κλαίνε» και οδύρονται γιατί του δανείζουν τα λεφτουδάκια τους και έτσι κερδίζουν πολύ περισσότερα από όσα του δάνεισαν ;
Ξέρετε κανένα λαό που η ανάπτυξη της οικονομίας του σημαίνει κλείσιμο καταστημάτων, εξάρθρωση μισθών και συντάξεων, ανεργία και μηδενισμό της αγοραστικής δυνατότητας των πολιτών του ;
Ξέρετε κανένα λαό που οι επιχειρήσεις του για να ορθοποδήσουν πρέπει να πληρώνουν τους μεγαλύτερους φόρους στην Ευρωπαϊκή Ένωση ;
Ξέρετε κανένα λαό που το κοινωνικό του αγαθό της υγείας «προστατεύεται» με το κλείσιμο νοσοκομείων, δραματική μείωση του νοσοκομειακού προσωπικού, αύξηση των τιμών και ελλείψεις των φαρμάκων, εγκατάλειψη ολόκληρων περιοχών χωρίς γιατρούς και φάρμακα ;
Ξέρετε κανένα λαό που να «λατρεύει» ένα νόμισμα που τον έχει καταστρέψει, έχει εξοντώσει την εγχώρια του παραγωγή λόγω εξωθών «προσαρμοστικών¨εντολών και έχει μετατρέψει την χώρα του σε ξέφραγο αμπέλι ;
Ξέρετε κανένα λαό που οι πολιτικοί «σωτήρες» του είναι αυτοί που τον έριξαν στον γκρεμό και ακόμα κάθεται και τους… λιβανίζει ;
Ξέρετε τέλος κανένα λαό όπου το σβήσιμο της ιστορίας του, της θρησκείας του, της ίδιας του της ταυτότητας και η επίσημη υιοθέτηση κάθε διαστροφής της φύσης του, να την θεωρεί «πρόοδο» και εκσυγχρονισμό και προπαντός προσαρμογή στα ευρωπαϊκά στάνταρτ ;
Σίγουρα θα τον ξέρετε αυτόν τον λαό, γιατί ο λαός αυτός είναι η ΕΛΛΑΔΑ!
Ως πότε ;;;
it’s mean nothing at all if there isn’t any equallity and democracy between their members
Do you know any people in the world who borrows to pay off his debts and they instead reduce increasing rapidly?
Do you know any people that lenders partners “cry” and laments because he lend their money and thus earn much more than they lend?
Do you know any people who develop the economy of means closing shop, dismantling of wages and pensions, unemployment and reset the purchasing ability of citizens?
Do you know any people that businesses in order to find their feet should pay higher taxes in the European Union?
Do you know any people that the community of good health “protected” with hospitals closing, dramatic reduction of hospital staff, rising prices and shortages of drugs, leaving entire regions without doctors and medicines?
Do you know any people that loves a coin who has destroyed, has destroy the domestic production of these extruded adaptive command and has turned the country into an unfenced vineyard?
Do you know any people that politicians “saviors” are the ones who threw him over the cliff and sitting still and caressed?
Do you know any people end where erasing its history, religion, of his own identity and the official adoption of every perversion of nature, to consider ‘progress’ and modernization, above all adapting to European standards?
Υου will definitely be know this people, because the is the Greek people !
For how long ;;;
What would be really interesting would be to see the by country breakdown – which countries citizens feel most/least eurpoean etc. I can guess who it would be slanted – the northern countries less, the southern and eastern more! But I would love to be proved wrong.
Unless we realize that the EU is the source of all the evil going on in southerng countries, especially Greece, we are doomed. It is the result of imperialism, made to serve imperialistic purposes, to create classes, to make the rich richer and destroy the poor ones slowly and painfully. But we are all a bunch of apolitical ignorants and we are unable to understand the obvious. People are dying, and we have their blood on our hands.
A bit disappointed to see there is not one woman on the list of people contributing to EU identity. Jane Austin? Queen Mary? Olympe de Gouges? Come on, we can do better!
Like you say: A name on a map!!! I am very disappointed!!!!
The European Union’s role as an international actor must be strengthened and the Union’s common foreign and security policy must be made a reality. You have nothing to fear because Finland is part of the EU. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=psH6TQL1u7A
Europe is the value, both arbritrarily and actively.
To me, Europe is about common roots and shared past. This makes us in turn have common values and interests, knowing that only together we can go on safely in the future.
Freedom to independently think, freedom to travel, to live and work in another country, get to know the others and accept the differences is priceless.
This is why I feel so deeply European.
I’m French and I’ve learned English (of course) but also German, Italian, Spanish, modern Greek, some Russian and a little Dutch and Croatian/Serbian…
Speaking other Europeans’ languages enables you to understand them much better than with a few words of English.
Europe is democracy: it was invented in Greece 2500 years ago. Greece is the mother of our civilisation: we should treat our old mother with respect and love, even if she is poor and we are well-off. This is why I don’t approve of the way “Europe” is treating Greece and its democratically elected government.
I’m a European citizen; we are all European citizens: the EU is US, not the bureaucrats in Brussels. As free citizens, we should never accept to become the slaves of finance, of banks of the markets. We should take our future in our hands and build the Europe we like.
Europe is based in shared market, which means imperialistic antagonism for more profits. Obviously, the recreation of the German giant after the fall of wall reformed drasticly the imperialist fight between the so called allied countries of EU as also the Maastricht treaty, which categorized the rates of production between the countries set that fight in the real basis that it should be. 22 years after that “magnificent” treaty for the conclusion and unity of EU, the heavy industrial countries managed to overpower the less industrial countries, disabling them to grow and evolve as nations and economies and also desmantling every possibility of them to be independent. So the example of post communistic democracies and also of south european countries as victims of such policies is what we stare now. The vision of a Pax Europana with populations co-operating into a general growth patern that it would be fit for all failed (normally i could add because the price of an appla can be adjusted to the price of car) and the European systems is going steadily to decay. Goodbye EU, in the new decade the return of nation states will bring flowers to your grave because you failed to prove that a Greek, a British, a German and a Polish can work together in order to live together and prosper, because you as overnational organism failed to share the profits…
I don’t agree with your dependancy perspective. If you look at economic growth rates than also non industrial countries developed. Sure in terms of equality there is still a lot to do, but I think that is more an aim to resolve than something that is fixed for the future. Nearby also non-industrial countries like Denmark have a high level of living quality including a high level of economic development. I don’t see how heavy industry countries like the UK, France, Germany, Italy or Spain among others hindered the other EU countries in development?
Before they can work together, a Greek, a Briton, a German and a Pole (let’s add a Frenchman, an Italian and a Spaniard: there are not only northern countries in Europe), they should be able to TALK TOGETHER.
Now tell me when and where they have the opportunity to talk together !
Only the governments talk together, the citizens never do !
And the European citizens don’t necessarily approve of what the goverments decide in thier name.
To me being European means I am very lucky. Lucky to have been born in the most vibrant, diverse, exciting and beautiful part of the world.
The EU has nothing to do with Europe. I do not consider Europe a Nation. As a British citizen, I do not feel like I share an identity with Spanish, German, Swedish people etc, but what we do have in common is history and fortune. All Europeans are lucky in a sense. To me it means I am lucky
Europe is Unity in Diversity, just like India when you come to think of it.
Diversity is the variety of our languages and cultures (which should be respected and protected of course)
Unity is the fact that we all belong to the same civilisation: the European civilisation that was born in Greece 5 centuries BC. This civilisation has its own values such as human rights, democracy, freedom, equality, brotherhood…
Greece is our mother; this is why we should all respect and love Greece as you respect and love your old mother, and we should do everything we can to help Greece and the Greek people.
The EU is a misunderstanding: it’s quite opposed to the dreams of the European “founding fathers” which were to achieve peace, harmony, cooperation between the nations. The EU is subject to a dictatoship of the markets, financers and bankers.
It’s high time we got rid of the Europe of Money and we replaced it with a Europe of the Heart – I mean a Europe based on solidary and brotherhood between European citizens.
I found an acronym for this Europe in French: ECISS or E6 if you prefer, that is “Europe des Citoyens Indépendante Sociale et Solidaire.”
.…
Few Europeans are satisfied with Europe as it is today, but changing Europe depends exclusively on US.
As the East-German demonstrators shouted just before the fall of the Berlin wall: “Wir sind das Volk!” (we are the people)
WE are Europe; Europe is US
(it’s not something which is imposed on us from the outside)
Let’s just become aware of this, and act accordingly.
so true! and such a nice comment, finally after all of those!!! I completely agree ith you.
We are not Europe in the UK and never will be
Thank you Danica !
Thanks to Germany the European identity is the thing of the past, just like elections in Italy. Funny that everything they touch they destroy, since the era of the Roman Empire
The hope for a better international future. It is not easy, but we will see.
Europe is just an greek name on a map
The point is we not European…British Russians Spanish etc..How can be all the same,just don’t get it.Taking away people’s identity,to suit the people in power??..
I wouldn’t say that its about taking away identities but about supplemenary identities. Someone who states being British can also state to be European at the same time.
Sorry Jan
There is no such thing as British and European and never will be, only British or European.I am British never ever will be European makes me feel sick just at the thought of it.Still we will be out of the EU soon thank god.
Dear Stephen, How about being British and Scottish/English/Welsh at the same time? Is that not a problem? I think conflicts of identity arise where they are created. Although I am also not sure if it can ever be avoided that some politicians create such conflicts and make political capital out of them…
European identity? Who we are? It is a very critical question. Where we belong? Who we think we are? Perspnally I am a mixed identity. Mediterranean has always been a melting pot. Italian- Greek Turcish or Arab? All together and nothing clear
I’m not European. I’m portuguese and my country is in Europa, that’s all
European identity? Means my passport’s burgundy instead of blue. My identity is English, British, Irish, Swiss, Greek, ROM, Tinker, peasant, working class, artist, epileptic, spastic, psychotic, and so on but yeah, within that is a fellow feeling for the countries around me. That means Europe but not as defined by politician. I feel closer to a factory worker in Guangzhou than I do to some old Etonian carpetbagger with a PPE degree from Oxford and a lust for power.
my ancestors have French, Italian and polish origin ( maybe German as well, but that’s unsure), so I feel European. Thanks to the European construction, we haven’t had any war within the EU’s boundaries and we have mobility possibilities that we could not have dreamt of before. There is much potential, so it’s a pity that there are so many hurdles: mentality of people, administrative burden of the EU institutions, complex and lengthy decision making process, etc..
to be neoliberal and laissez faire and lax on regulation and a free-for-all for multi-national companies – unfortunately a social Europe is a memory only 80s kids and older will remember
I call myself an Italian European. It is too soon to only call European. For now…
You must be joking I’m British never ever be European I will fight tooth and nail to prevent this European integration,makes me sick.
I call myself an Italian European. It is too soon to only call European. For now…
.
‘European identity’ is just a meaningless slogan created by Brussels to fool the simple minded into believing the 500 million people of Europe & Great Britain are one and the same people.
Clearly we are not.
https://www.facebook.com/OfficialNOtoEU/photos/pb.891615804230125.-2207520000.1439277925./901464649911907/?type=1&theater
I wouldn’t say so. Actually I conducted some research among people and a number of them answered that they are European when being asked about their identity. Sure, most of them named the national identity as the first one, the second mostly European, but there were some who stated they are European (as well as some who stated that they are Amsterdamer or the like),so actually it appears that people identify with Europe. Now you can discuss whether its about the EU or Europe as a whole, but nevertheles there is a European identity.
There will never be a European identity only British.I personally could give a monies about the rest of Europe all the EU is a sponge
Spinless mess
Ivan, I think we all know your an American want to be, supporter.
I don’t think there is such a thing as the European label.
First of all European union was mostly created for economic reasons. Also, the differences between folks are so huge that it’s very hard for them to first consider themselves Europeans instead of French, Spanish, Greeks, Germans etc.
Ask any european the question what he/she is and i think only a small minority will first tell you that “I’m European”, even if you’ll ask him outside of Europe.
Definitely people in Europe don’t feel Europeans like the people in the United States feel first of all Americans.
Now if this is good or bad, that’s another story.
To be Christian and not to be Arabian or African.
To be European means to share some same values in cultural, social as
Europa was a beautiful nymph but she is now about a new feudalism where individuals and small producers are taxed into oblivion to favour tax-exempt multinational companies, prvate banks who benefit from soverign Debt, resulting in obligated and desperate aggressive Nato expansion policies.
Historical aspects, to respect Christian background and European values such as autonomy, freedom, social welfare. All are welcome to Europe who can respect and share those common values!
Eu is a “Comunion of mix cultures” as it really is under “Christian values”.
“If Europe were once united in the sharing of its common inheritance there would be no limit to the happiness, prosperity and glory which its 300 million or 400 million people would enjoy. Yet it is from Europe that has sprung that series of frightful nationalistic quarrels, originated by the Teutonic nations in their rise to power, which we have seen in this 20th century and in our own lifetime wreck the peace and mar the prospects of all mankind. […] Under and within that world concept we must re-create the European family in a regional structure called, it may be, the United States of Europe.” W. Churchill
TROUBLE.
It means helping german banks
For me its democracy, peace and freedom of mobility as well as also the economic perspective. Living in Switzerland at the moment I appreciate the free borders in most parts of Europe and also the liberty to settle where you want. The European idea is also about the same comon values and overcoming cleavages across borders.
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It means unrestricted profiteering for Germany.
http://www.rt.com/business/312080-germany-profits-greece-debt/
Free traveller , salesman , tourist . I suggest to those who don’t like it to get back to live in close states with tall walls and “help” their internal bureaucracy to live nice and easy , as once was in Yugoslavia , Romania , Checkoslovakia ,Hungaria ,Albania etc,.etc.etc.
And there go the Greeks and their naming issues. Get over it. You don’t see Italians sulking around the world for all the Latin words we use…
Europe has a collective meaning, like the symbol of the young woman who rode on the back of a taurus who turned into dolphin…because she caressed him. She was the most caring of all girls on the meadow and the taurus, respectively the dolphin was Zeus, the Sun God, who liked and preferred her.
Such a mess?
.
The EU is just an antidemocratic waste of our money for the benefit of a few federalist fanatics hell bent on forcing their will onto the peoples of Europe & Great Britain.
It will fail.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/11795146/EU-spends-500m-a-year-promoting-itself.html
Finding back the family which we all come from … I know I am Italian and I love being so … But I am also proud to track back in the faces of my European cousins the roots that let this wonderful tree grow tall! Different but united
After being a europeist all my adult life, I have came recently to be just ashamed. That’s what means EU for me after Greece: shame
Gernaoeuropa Enion is now ..! So let’s out !
Only to live in an European country, no more!
Nothing, I’m french, not european, don’t recognize this “flag”.
there is no such as a european national identity
We are all citizens of the planet Earth regardless of where we live. We all need to eat, sleep and crap, that’s being human. There is an abundance of wealth in this world and properly managed we can all live as we are supposed to. All this splitting up of people is ultra-nationalism, a thing of the past.
Everyone wants a better life but we must stop the 1% and their unbridled capitalism that keeps the 99% under control, and move towards a socialistic order of society, Europe, USA, Australasia, Middle East, far East, Russia…..
Unless we do this we are doomed to disruption, failure, disease, revolution…
and in the final solution, depopulation engineered by the 1%.
The UK are waking up and seeing through what is happening and voting for Jeremy Corbyn for leader of a political party in their thousands.
We are Europeans even if we wanted or not.The issue is” do we feel members of the European Union?”.We are all so different.We have our own history ,our own principals,our own ethics.There are wounds that haven’t healed yet.We are so different even in little things.The way we see life,family,love.All the countries of the EU have their own identity and i can only talk about the Greeks we can not and won’t relinquish.The Americans are a mixture of people with no identity that’s why they have created their nation.Because they have created an identity for all.
I agree with Ukreator that Europe is unity in diversity. But I must point out an aspect that the introduction’s article missed: a common language. European identity will be highly reinforced once the European citizens can talk to each other sharing a common second language.
Means Nothing. Portugal is a proud Nation since 1143.
Travel for studies, for job, building on centuries of culture and knowledge
Total rubbish it’s a pathetic concept,look after your own country and they can look after there’s.
I think it was the most stupid idea ever…oh wait it was for monetary gain…not for the people! so geographically we are next to each other….so? i miss the days when we all had our own currency….culture….Canada is next to USA…..but?
Very true Julia
To pay from my taxes for the EU programs funding the infrastructure projects in my country, what gives 30% “return fee” to the local politicians.
First we are #Humans, then we are #Europeans, then we are members of a proud State! Thats how I view it at least! 👍🏼
First I am British,then English,member of Yorkshire my county.Never ever European or this pathetic organisation.
My country Bulgaria is an independent state from 681, with some interruptions. Now because of the EU we are “advised” to lose the national identity, but with not gaining a real EU identity, solidarity, civil rights protection, etc…
Take no notice of the EU ,if you are smart you won’t join at all.It is a terrible cult ro be in .Totally tries to destroy sovereign states identities.Horrendous financial money pit of which there are no benefits.Stay sovereign stay free.
BCE is a franchise of FRB. FMI is a puppet and France, England and Germany are under the orders of major lobbies. Is there something else we need to know to realise the kind of gangsters we have operating here?
To belong to a comunity which values I share, the most highly civilised in the world. I am an European born in Lisbon.
I am British ,born in England most definitely not European and never will be.
For me it means to fell home in every part of Europe, from Canary Islands to Tallin :)
You would be wrong then .
For me, being European means sharing truely European values. And here they are: “The Union is founded on the values of respect for human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law and respect for human rights, including the rights of persons belonging to minorities. These values are common to the Member States in a society in which pluralism, non-discrimination, tolerance, justice, solidarity and equality between women and men prevail.” (art. 2 TEU)
Means im poor so big companies can make bigger transactions while gypsies can travel more.
It means that only few countries can benefit from that… They have easy access to the other countries to sell their products… Just like supermarkets
It sucks
Shared values and shared INTERETS. the rest of the world is moving towards a period where only large continental-size states will count.
Crisis, Unemployment, Austerity, Racism, Beauraucracy…
Poetry. Fashion. Travels. History. Yes. Freedom. Liberty. Art. Love. Life…
Austerity… Poor… Unhappy… is what it’s in Portugal.
For me being european is everything!! I belong to the West.I live in a democracy.I share common values with many countries.Also,European Union protects peace and human rights,and i am proud of it.Furthermore,the borders between countries are not close and there is no bureaucracy for those who travel across Europe!!!Even,one of the biggest advantages of the EU is free trade between member nations, making it easier and cheaper for companies to export their goods to Europe!
As a British subject I feel the open border policy is probably the biggest problem we have in our country quite simply it doesn’t work and other EU scroungers have milked our system .The sooner were out of the EU the better.
Europe is our past and our present. And should be our future, if we go further in the political integration. Politic needs a new way of being, and Europe could be the answer. We need to adapt our countries to the new ways of living. And that sure can not be done if we stay closed in our old vision of national sovereignity.
Just as Pedro Pais de Vasconcelos said earlier in the comments : i am an european born in France.
We British will never agree with this it goes against everything we stand for,however we will be out soon and I wish yoy the best.But I feel Madame Le Penn may win so you will leave the EU too.
I’m really unhappy with the politics here in Portugal but in Germany , sweden (for exemple) you still can live and not survive (as here in Portugal)
I’m trying to be honest what are you going to do with 450€ of minimum salary. And if you come here you see almost everyone in the commercial service has the same salary witch you can’t really survive.
And my father works for a portuguese company for more than 20 years and his salary is not increased since 2004. And as know your salary should be increased every year…
And things are getting expensive everyday so yeah the situation here is not so good.
But it feels good to be european at least it’s a passport to another foreign country… For exemple Australia. Cause if someone gives me a chance to leave this country i maybe wouldn’t choose another european country cause the situation here
Your country needs too leave the EU it is a failed project and totally controlling .I’m happy to say us Brits will be out soon I suggest all other countries do the same.
We are forced to accept stupid rules such as accept illegal immigrants because they say a multicultural country is stronger. If I do not agree I am a racist. Europe has been losing its characteristic for a long time.
Nobody says you’re a racist for objecting to illegal immigration – though that’s a favourite line of people who are opposed to any and all immigration, because it advantages them if they can present themselves as the victim in the debate.
You’re a racist if you object to the presence of someone in your country on the basis of their skin colour, their accent, their mother tongue, the traditions they embrace, their ‘foreign’ name, or simply where they’re from.
Most of us, it’s worth pointing out, have those tendencies – even though the debate tends to be framed as a matter of ‘racists’ versus ‘non-racists’. It’s simply an evolutionary holdover to prefer the familiar and fear the unfamiliar. But civilisation is about learning to transcend those and other instincts and act and judge and think as beings independent of those constraints. We can choose not to bow to our own fear or uncertainty, and do the things we judge to be morally right.
As for immigration, much as the isolationist parties in Europe want to promote the idea, there are many different ways in which a person can gain access to a country – of which ‘illegal immigration’ is but one category. That’s immigration in direct violation of the laws of the receiving country – so ‘illegal immigrant’ doesn’t include anyone who moves to a place without breaking the law. It doesn’t include refugees and asylum seekers, though the media and the said isolationists very deliberately use the terms in a way that implies illegality, because – again – it serves their own interests to do so.
‘Illegal immigration’ is a real thing, and it’s an offence, and it’s every citizen’s right to be concerned about how that offence is dealt with. But ‘illegal immigration’ isn’t the same thing as ‘immigration’.
While space is relative and discrete, energy is absolute in discreteness! The rational view may hold up for continuity of parallel timing in relative matter forming issues! There are no countries, only barriers of objective point – languages, mind sets, resources, and intelligent objective open systems!
It means being robed every day by German bankers, it means having to watch young people leave the country because there are no jobs. It means the privatization of the Social State, the institutionalization of privilege education for some, the privatization of my country main companies, etc…
Shared values( democracy , human rights , freedom , equality ) , shared INTERESTS ( human development , economic development , education) and security ( we have peace between EU members for the first time in our nightmarish history ) .
more or less the same as nothing
Europe was about making trade easier, nothing else. The European experiment has failed as with Greece being told how to run there country by richer nations.
power inbalance , unemployment and less democracy
It means living under a terrible financial dictatorship.
I am ashamed to be European these days. Basic human rights are existing only on the paper, one country makes millions on the back of smaller countries, weapons are sold for to make wars, banks have the power and Europe asks, why there are so many refugees? Europe only serves the white and rich, no one else.
It means being governed by foolish bureaucrats and the financial cartel
Strangers in our own countries…
Nothing. From monetarian perspective it is just another money sink on top of the topmost layer. From geological perspective it is just another area with borders. From biological perspective I’d say the species called homo sapiens are a tad more valuable than borders and money sinks.
In a selfish way we can say we are from an individual country, but in reality we are just Europeans
Everything…Its the center of our life…Despite the money etc problem.We need to make it our Europe..not the money Europe..CHange it..be one change..
Interesting if you have to ask that question, don’t you think?
Europe for me (Portugal) means Excellence, Diversity, Leadership and Integrity. If you compare Europe to other regions, that is what comes to my mind but it still has much more to do. We still need more unity, sustainability, environmental respect approach, social justice, meritocracy, transparency and mostly more Democracy. I mean more Democracy as for example:
– Elections for Europe closer to each citizen. Such as:
> Any UE citizen should be able to set their own application for deputy
L.O.L
Europe is the best part of the planet.
Ivan Burrows, the fear, misery and unemployment are caused by very complex background corporations, banks worldwide, it is not a European “value” only, so we can resolve those matters only together as your British corporations are involved as well!
To live in Europe and to share values of culture
We are Europe.
Europe for me is about jobs for war criminals aka Tony Blair, this is how corrupt the EU is……
What we think it means to be a European is just the marketing scam of EU which is truly the conglomerate of European monopolies and capitals that commands our lives.
All toghether for our happines!
Are you kidding!?
Europe is the destroyer of our Keynesian economy and constitution, the destroyer of our values for profit of few people.
I am and will only feel portuguese. The EU is nice as a group of countries that work to attain the same goals but I will never be “European”. Anyone that travels can see there is cultural difference between countries, even if the metropolitan culture looks the same at surface level. Just because european countries share some values it doesn’t mean it is a european identity.
i need a DNA EXAM to know where i’m FROM cause IDK!! Help me :b
To be European for me means first to live in peace with the rest of European nations and so to avoid the war that was habitual in the past. Second for me is a first big step towards a word without boundaries where everyone is citizen of the word and third is to be able to survive to the economic globalization and to the impact in the global market of the increasing power nations like China, India and Brasil. Looking at the present we need more political unity and the power of the financial institustions must decrease otherwise shitty nationalisms will increase.
Europe should not be made the scapegoat for all the problems of Southern Countries.
Just a name on a map.
Europe will face a lot of global challenges. If each European country rather decides to be on its own and in competition with China/Asia or the Americas – well good luck. Europe has to proof that it is more than just a club for debates. Fighting corruption, establishing a European army/police, a common financial government (at least in the eurozone) and much more solidarity with the crisis countries in the south with regards to refugees and social projects/investments – this should be Europe.
No thanks we will keep our own money,sovereignty,Armed Forces,we already fight corruption in our own country sort your own out,forget the crisis countries and immigrants not our problem,close our borders and close channel tunnel,This is Britain or at least soon will be.
Identities are bullshit and don’t exist
European identity is about shared values and a shared way of life, cooperation,communion and creating positive social examples for the non European nations. It is not about empires and conflicts anymore, but humanitarian actions, tolerance and mutual help -this is the Europe I believe in, because together we are stronger and Better!
ahhh words from someone from a very poor country,well this is my thought each European country sort out there own affairs ,humanitarian policies will ruin you in the end, harsh but thats the facts leave them to there own devices.Separate our country is way stronger and better out of the EU.
the idea of all of us being european, is not in the mind of the persons, first they think in their one country after comes the idea of european
“Self-indulgent politicians ignoring arithmetic and the lessons of history trying to run Europe on the basis of fantasy economics. As a result people are unhappy, divided, pooerer. A nightmare that doesn´t care about people but only about euros. A continent where things like transparency between UE instituitions and citizens, democratic cooperation, more union in the world stage or even safety have no more meaning.
It is the mirror of my complexity
Ivan Burrows
You can’t just leave us like that, you were one of the founders country of the E.U
and you’re part of the good and wrong leading of the institutions as well as finance and banking..
So, we would miss you but U.K. won’t leave, it would rather contribute to a better organized leadership, less burocratic management and more of a nations approach in E.U. You should rather take the initiative now…
Ferenc
We will leave the British have had enough of the EU and all its policies.We benefit in NO way shape or form from being in this farce of a club.We were not one of the founders we joined later in the 70s but god i wish we had not.
Britain will leave but im sure that you all will survive and possible leave yourselves.
It is paradoxical to say Europe is just a name of a continent, because if it was just about finding a geographical term for naming a continent , than it would have been called Eurasia, as it is attached to Asia, and not a divided continent. Traditionally speaking, Europe is not just a geographical term on a map.
European identity which is trampling today is about FIRST being able to obtain values, THEN sharing it ! haha
Diversity, culture, art, architecture, way of living and enjoying live
Depinde din ce tara provii. Pentru unii, este o forma de sclavie moderna… sclavia economica!
Achieve the United States of Europe, only one mean to avoid nothingless in global stage.
It’s the greatest country in the world.
Britain is not part of your country of Europe you speak off and never will be
It meant some shared values and culture. Now it means just corruption and the destruction of democratical values and cultures by the tirany of German banks and neocon leaders.
First and foremost I am a human being. Anything that seeks to unify us and bind us together is something to savour, nurture and to be proud of.
All of you, the european parliament, are in a nonsense of the develope of the EU project! You must make One internal LAW, One ARMY, One internal law for salary, One internal law for Medical Right….. SHAME OF YOU!
taxes and travels without visa
Only White, blue eyes, christian and heterosesuell :)
When I hear the word European for me it means culture, humanity, adventurous spirit, respect of nationalities and great history; an identity not larger than our national one, but of a different concept all together.
As Europeans we had to live two world wars in a continent where democracy, dialogue and humanistic ideas first show up. Hopefully, through the E.U. we will become a great example for all nations who know how to respect nationalities and nations work as an allegiance.
As a Hellene I feel it is my duty to work the best towards ariston= my very best, as my ancestors have been doing. As a European I feel it is my privilege and my duty to share our values and keep up to our standards.
Name on a map
National and individual identities are as important as our common European identity, and each European country’s past history.
Personally, I’ve always felt like an European-Portuguese – and proud of it!!!
Nowadays, the EU is mostly a bunch of politicians and bureaucrats serving their own political interests and international agendas, not the best interests of European countries and their people.
I dont feel European never have im British not European,and i believe vast majority of Brits feel the same,as we will prove when we leave the EU.
Enjoying austerity medicine in the name of ‘business’.
Values and way of life :)
In the name of the profit, destryoing every welfare state, democracy and popular sovereignty, and in the end a lot of decent jobs…
Thanks for poverty and unemployment.
The latter, obviously
https://vimeo.com/123182159
It means being a part of something that some decades ago started with the purpose of achieving peace, respect and economic and social growth for all countries inside, but that throughout the years have become nothing more than a imposed dictatorship achieved by a few, creating unemployment, debt and hunger for many countries such as Greece, Portugal and Ireland…
…For me, being an European SHOULD be an honor of a union in which it’s founding were of right and equality, and it CAN be, but for that, some people have to stop destroying it from the inside with so much corruption, inhuman cuts, and a totally fair market inside the EU zone.
It means to be degraded as a US colony, where politicians & bureaucrats have sold their soul to parasitic financial institutions & the military-industrial complex. National governments – out of fear or corruption – bow to the US even when it harms Europe (see: sanctions on Russia). As a citizen I have no power and I am not protected in any way. I am forced to emigrate in order to find a job, or face a future of poverty and civil war. The EU is a construct conceived and brought about by the US (see: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/1356047/Euro-federalists-financed-by-US-spy-chiefs.html). It has been achieved because European journalists and financial institutions were complicit and did not alert the citizens of a very known fact: that the common currency would be a total DISASTER, as Prof Richard Werner relates: https://professorwerner.wordpress.com/
When we say “I am a European” of course we have to mean: 1)ancient Greek civilization 2)graeco-roman civilization 3)enlightenment . In other words, the European culture for which we are proud. Also when I say, I am a European, I don’t mean the E.U., because I am ashamed for this failed, non-democracy and bureaucracy, organization, that control the European peoples.
Europe is my ‘homeland’. It is the part of the world where I feel at home. We share history, culture, values and hopefully (at least I feel that way) identity. The country of Europe where I live, the Netherlands, is a part of my ‘homeland’ with ‘own’ twits on these shared values etc. but that counts for my hometown, Deventer, too when I compare it to the Netherlands…
To be european means sharing the values of european civilization and all the heritage of its History. It means to be born and raised in one of the many, many, many political or social entities that existed in – and defined – Europe over time and space. Well, I guess in a third place, being of native european descent is also of some importance in being…european.
Being human is more important.
Ser Europea y pertenecer a la UE significa tener las mismas oportunidades. En este momento no es así. La crisis ha afectado con mucha intensidad a los países del sur de Europa y nuestros jóvenes necesitan mucha ayuda y solidaridad del resto de la UE. El riesgo es tener una generación perdida.
Means all,de cradle of democracy and freedom.
To be European means to have a nondemocratically chosen entity make legislation for all countries while simply ignoring inherent social and cultural differences between countries. And let’s not forget that wonderful TTIP treaty that was simply pushed through and will allow companies to sue countries. As a European you can also benefit from useful legislation on how bent cucumbers and bananas are maximally allowed to be and the introduction of low power vaccuum cleaners. As a cherry on the cake you get “leaders” like Guy Verhofstadt who with the assistance of his trusty round-bellied friend Hans van Baalen basically declared war on Russia with their little “we have won” speech in the Ukraine. And of course we get all of this wonderful stuff at a very reasonable price. No useless spending of money or tax free salaries will ever be found in Brussels. Oh wait…
But it’s like Jean-Claude Juncker, president of the European Commission, already pointed out: “Most Europeans don’t understand what’s being decided anyways.” So in other words, shut up, we know what’s best for you (meaning us) and pay your taxes.
Europe it’s about all of us, with all that means from our life stile to our goals!
Je comprends rien, c’est marqué en Américain
ahah +1 Sylvain !
“European feeling” or “the art to play with your emotions with beautiful words to make you to accept worst things” such as the current giant hold-up from banksters undercovered by national debts. Everyone should look at the process of money creation (money = debt), also look for TTIP/TAFTA and how Europe is going to be privatized by multinational companies !
Let Greeks talk about what means to be “European” !
Europe means war, oppression and a big slap in citizen face.
Debt, poors, unemployment, war, division, hatred, slaves.
The Paradise: the place where policemen are English, the cooks are French, the mechanics are German, the lovers are Italian, and where everything is planned by the Swiss.
The Hell: the place where policemen are German, the cooks are English, the mechanics are french, the lovers are Swiss, and where everything is planned by the Italians.
If you can understand that joke, maybe it means that there’s no European identity.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1635770689969144/
Some day Europe will be the united federation of Europe with individual countries as member states as what they are today but each governing themselves using their cultural values and teaditions. The world is shrinking.
I’ve read most of your messages since the beginning of August and the funny thing is… I agree with most of you, even when you have apparently opposed opinions…
Europe is our PAST.
Socrates, Aristotle, Plato, Shakespeare, Cervantes, Dante, Dostoyevsky, Chekhov, Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, Verdi, Michelangelo, Rafaele, Picasso, Goya, Turner, Voltaire, Hugo, Goethe, Lorca, Joyce, Kant, Kirkegaard, Spinoza, Bergman, Fellini, Almodóvar, the Beatles, the Rolling Stones… and so many others made us what we are today…
But Europe is also our FUTURE.
In a globalized world, how can we resist the competition of the new giants – the so-called BRICS – like China, or India ? Britain, France, Spain, Italy, and even Germany are no longer what they used to be: there is no British Empire left, no French colonies, Deutsches Reich or Siglo de Oro any more.
We have no other ALTERNATIVE: either we UNITE or we DIE OUT.
The big question is: What Europe do we want ? That of Brussel burocrats imposing the dictatorship of banks, finance and multinationals, or the Europe of Citizens based on democracy and solidarity, ecology, full employment and social welfare. We, citizens of Europe can decide; Yes We Can !
After 2002, to pay for political mistakes in countries other then my own.
For me, the European Union is a step towards a greater future. It’s unity, and that is the best hope humanity has. We are a small species living on a tiny, isolated world orbiting a single spark of light in the midst of a vast, endless ocean of night.
We have spent our entire evolutionary history fighting, squabbling, trying to mark out ‘our’ space and defend it from ‘them’. We have killed each other in the billions in the name of fear, of greed, of jealousy, or simple spite. We continue to point weapons at each other even now – some of those weapons potentially capable of extinguishing our tiny light from the universe forever.
Am I being over-dramatic? Perhaps – but it doesn’t take much but to look at photos of the Earth from a great distance. The Pale Blue Dot image is a good one, along with Carl Sagan’s quote that goes along with it. He highlights how tiny everything we’ve ever fought over has really been, and how fragile we are. Earth from a distance – and then understand that that great distance is, cosmically speaking, no distance at all.
For me, the European Union – just as with other similar endeavours at all sorts of scales – is about unifying humanity; about bringing us together as neighbours, as brothers and sisters who, while we might have different languages and cultures, all share the same basic common hopes and desires. We want safety, security, freedom, dignity, friendship, love, and to have faith in a better future. The Union is about creating a unified continent that recognises people’s differences and works with those differences to create harmony.
It won’t happen quickly. The EU isn’t perfect. It’s not even close to perfect. It’s mired in bureaucracy and subject to too many vested interests – but it’s better than the alternative. I was British. Now I’m European. And even if Britain takes the decision (as I very sadly believe it will) to leave the EU after our referendum, I will always consider myself European, if not simply ‘human’, no matter what my passport might say. I will not go backwards. I don’t believe humanity can afford to keep going backwards.
And one day, I’d like to think there’ll be a website asking me what it means to me to be a Citizen of Earth.
LANGUAGE
Javier is right: one othe the major problems in Europe is language.
In the USA, every newcomer, whatever his original nationality, language and culture, is melted into the melting pot and becomes American, using one language: English (although the use of Spanish is spreading).
In the EU there are 24 official languages and we don’t want a European melting pot: we are attached to our languages and cultures.
But the drawback is Europeans don’t communicate with each other. I’m just back from Greece where I met a lot of people, Greeks and tourists. But the exchanges between all of them is strictly limited to the most basic needs: sleeeping, eating, drinking and visiting the sites.
They never have real conversations.
When you learn a foreign language, you start understanding the people who speak the language as native speakers, you become a native speaker a little … but of course every European cannot learn 20 foreign languages or so, and thus, even if we don’t make war against each other any more, all our prejudices remain and we don’t understand each other any better.
What we need is a COMMON language for Europe, not a SINGLE language, a language that is ADDED to European languages, and doesn’t REPLACE them. We want to preserve our diversity and at the same time acquire a certain unity.
Adopting the American model of life, adapting to the labour market – low wages and no security. Welcome illegal migration, caused by the constant foreign meddling in the Middle East by America. Constant surveillance by all types of media.
Of course the whole idea of “Europe” is some form of shared identity, but it should never be forced, and people should always be able to fully express themselves in their national, regional and individual identities if they wish to do so.
A pope
I am grappling with the following question: If we all agree that solidarity, equality, and inclusivity are core values of being European (which I agree they are/or ought to be) then should the EU membership of an already existing EU country that acts against those core values be capable of being legally challenged? For example, if a country, in this case Poland for example, decided to be against those core values, why should they (or would they want to for that matter) remain in the EU?
This white race goes on diminishing as they have not faith in family bondage and more in materialistic than spiritual since this race have no faith of the desert religion which had ecploited to a maximum levek by takibg them into revolution like french russia and two world war by germans made them to suffer to a maximum extent added to this thd refugees from arab world put them in dark .this leads to discomfert and disturbance among themselves and also disunity among the white .may god with whome they worship has to save this race .
The common for the nations, bloody, cruel, inhuman, dull story. 100 million victims of wars for the last 200 years. Is not that enough?
Being a member of the mob controlled by Freemasons
I feel very better me of certain people that come only here to criticize. I feel me part of something greater. With some potentialities not yet express. But I hope in the future.
to be sekular
It mostly mean to be privileged, and that means that we enjoy this privileges over other people, for example people from the “third world”. So that is not a good thing, I mean at least if we are not selfish. That is something that we need to fight against, in order to live in a world with more equality and respect between nations.
However, some European people are more privileged than others, think for example about German-Greek people. :/
To be european means to respect and not discriminate all other nationalities.
I do not feel so much proud of Europe these days.
Europe was powerful, secure and cared in the first place for it’s own citizens.
Now crime, insecurity, terrorism, unemployment, demographical problems are increasing, because Europe is showing us that she cares more about the new economical leeches, who do not care about our culture, traditions and being an European but only about the easy money and social policy, while there are hundreds of homeless, poor and insecure Europeans across Europe…
We are leaving in a huge Illusion, dwelling in a sweetened Dream, powered by our incompetent Leaders…
Sven Biwald
Javier Martínez Mendoza
For me to be european is just to be bulgarian first.
Europe is just a name in the map. The EU is a fake build up as a manger for second class -and retired- politicians. The EU and the € has brought misery to every individual country.
European Identity is a complex and shrouded concept. It has to do with what the Union wants for itself. If it wants to become a political supranational state then the EU identity needs common education and a shared Community, which does not exist at the moment. If however the EU wishes to stay as it is now and only deepen its economic aspect indefinitely, the Eurozone, then European Identity is doomed to remain an elaborate front for simplifying the reasons multinational actors like companies wish to overpower member-state goverments.
There has been Europe long before EU, and will be long after.
Means nothing really!!!! Europe is more concern in “helping” people who are not from Europe so…
Europe is a name on the map and nothing more…….no such thing as a european identity and Eurpean is just my ethnic grouping and has No other meaning for me.
Identité européenne sur des valeurs communes et un mode de vie partagés.
Well, I am European because I had the chance to be born in a country on the continent of Europe. I felt European far before my country was included in the EU without the consent of its people.
I’m Dutch
I have dual nationality; born and bred in London, married to a Finn and living in Finland. On retiring, we spent winters in Spain for over 10 years and have travelled widely throughout Europe. We have two family members settled abroad, one in Scotland and the other in France which keep us well aware of events that happen outside our borders. Personally, I feel very European and am a little suspicious of nationalistic sentiments as arousing negative prejudices without proper cause.
We were just today talking with 6 different nationalities in the coffee table, and we agreed on boys being more, and longer dependent on their parents, which might be a European trait. Dependent means choosing clothes, and other organisation of every day life. Girls are naturally more independent.
It’s clear that in Europe the general values are more social based. There is a common way of life that evolves depending on the country. But there is not such thing as European identity and it will never exist until 100% of the people speak a common language and exchange experiences between countries. Also, nobody will like Europe if we keep being governed undemocratically by Merkel and Hollande.
It is definitely not like in the US, an American identity is very strong even there are 50 states. In Europe different languages and nationalities are so solid it will take at least half a century to create a European profile.
Absolutely NOTHING!
Europe is a continent and a Jupiter satellite.
Nothing more.
What do you mean? Europe is a continent. There’s nothing else behind it.
The question must be, what does it mean to you to be a minority in European country ?
To me european is to stay wiht U.E.!
Same Identity and shared values ! Try to maintain it!
nothing to do with a fascist EU and nazist eurozone
Well said.
European means european pagan tradition and democracy not asian theocracy and totalitarism.
Passport free trips
Nothing. Europe is a place on the map. World has many places…
Considering half of Europe’s response to the migrant crisis coupled with the whole of Europe’s reaction to Russia, I would say that “European” values are in decline and we are seeing a resurrection of nationalism.
Used to mean being free to explore a part of the world without unnecessary obligations, knowing that you’re free to live wherever you want. Used to mean being in a family and having guarantee that you have the same chances to achieve your dreams no matter if you’re Balkan or French or German….. Now since I m greek, it means being budgered by Germans I occasionally meet who think that I am broke, not trustworthy, lazy etc. Feels like being inferior to the “elite ” countries of eu. Guess what? I don’t believe in eu solidarity, or in eu at all for that matter.
Regrets for EURO …. rich are getting richer… and poor……….
European is my way of life, my state of mind, and United Europe is my dream.
Indeed the Eurpean idea has only reached the rich students at good universities, who will lead the EU soon and poor migrants sending home the money they earn abroad and the German mncs it looks like! Rest is happy with no borders and no hassel with currency.
países diferentes,línguas diferentes e culturas diferentes ….
e se não entenderem o tuga azar o vosso…
https://www.facebook.com/jobsallovereurope
You are heading g full speed ahead for the Nobel of mazochism. …
to live in a peaceful area and to defend human values despite of all…
to live in a peaceful area and to defend human values despite of all…
Less rethoric please!
More rights and more democracy!
Why all the documents about TTIP are not yet public?!
thankfully i am Greek not european
Being European for me primarily means being part of the European Union. I regard this a big priviledge and a strengthening of supranationality in the EU as the best and only way for our future development. However, I also see and understand that many EU citizens don’t directly feel how they’re profiting from being part of the EU and concentrate on the national focus, especially at times of different European crises. As I am able to feel and appreciate this priviledge by travelling, using Erasmus+ and so many other factors in my everyday life and thus can easily feel “European” and take the European perspective I regard it as my responsibility to stand up for the European idea despite all critical topical political questions and try to bring it closer to European citizens who don’t feel this priviledge in their everyday life.
I am not European I am British nothing more nothing less.
As for the EU sooner were out the better and we will leave.we are fed up of been financially fleeced and out voted for no benefit for us.
How is that for feeling European.
To me, being Portuguese and being European are two indissociable facts =) I never did have the chance to feel the slightest conflict within me about my it, though… I was born European, with full European ancesty, into a Christian family and raised on European values… Not to say, of course, that all these requirements ought to be fulfilled in order for one to be able to consider himself or herself European. I’m just saying that I, myself, never questioned my own European identity…
I will never agree with people who say “Europe is just a name on the map”; you cannot simply blot out 2500 years of European civilisation! I would advise these people to open a history book.
…
I agree with Athena and Angie Par that solidary, equality, social welfare and human rights are core European values and that they should be followed and put into practice in all circumstances: there are no “super-Europeans” and “under-Europeans”, (Übermenschen und Untermenschen).
…
I do sympathize with the Greek people (I speak modern Greek and often visit the country). I think the way Greece was treated recently is just intolerable. We are simply manipulated by unscrupulous politicians who turn us against each other and incite people to think that Southerners are lazy people who don’t want to work, whereas the OECD has shown that Greeks, for ex. work much more than French people and Germans.
…
But may be things are changing… at least, let’s hope so !
En tout cas, c’est un thème qui fait parler
In any case, Europe is a theme that animates
En cualquier caso, Europa es un tema que anima
Em qualquer caso, a Europa é um tema que anima
In ogni caso, l’Europa è un tema che anima
In jedem Fall ist Europa ein Thema, das animiert
In ieder geval, Europa is een thema dat bezielt
Under alle omstændigheder, Europa er et tema, der animerer
I vilket fall som helst, är Europa ett tema som besjälar
Joka tapauksessa Eurooppa on teema, joka elävöittää
Igal juhul, Euroopas on teema, mis elustab
Jebkurā gadījumā, Eiropa ir tēma, kas atdzīvina
Bet kuriuo atveju, Europoje yra tema, kad gaivina
W każdym przypadku, w Europie to temat, który ożywia
V každém případě, Evropa je téma, které oživuje
V každom prípade, Európa je téma, ktoré oživuje
V vsakem primeru, Evropa je tema, ki animira
U svakom slučaju, Europa je tema koja nadahnjuje
În orice caz, Europa este o temă care animă
Mindenesetre, Európa egy témát, amely éltet
Във всеки случай, Европа е тема, която съживява
Σε κάθε περίπτωση, η Ευρώπη είναι ένα θέμα που ζωντανεύει
Fi kwalunkwe każ, l-Ewropa hija tema li animates
In aon chás, tá an Eoraip téama go animates
… En qualsevol cas, Europa és un tema que anima
… Edonola ere, Europak animatzen gai bat da
When you think you have to learn all this each time you want to communicate with Europeans !
But I do like it: it shows our diversity… it’s much more difficult to find our “Unity”
Everything. Very proud to be european. I have born in one of the most great place on earth… but still imperfect. I still hope in the future to find our Unity, still distant but possible once clear us of the destabilizing elements.
To me being European is part of my identity, brotherhood, common history, sharing good and bad moments, co operating and sovereinety. On the other hand it means being rejected as the most hated country member in this company. I feel as I need more struggle to cope with the others. It is really sad to be at the bottom of the group
I have to make two important distinctions here. What does it mean for me to be European and what does it mean for others.
I see myself as belonging to a small national community and through it to a larger one which is, in this case, Europe. Europe is a family of nations that share a common history, culture and above all else, common values. The importance we place on peace,democracy, freedom of speech and human dignity is what brought us togheter and we should pursue these ideals togheter. Especially in a globalized world where European states in particular have no chance against larger ones such as USA, Russia or China.
However, I doubt even if myself and other people have this sense of a European identity I actually doubt that most European citizens share it. Many of the problems we are facing today (like Brexit, or Poland’s and Hungary’s extreme-right) are due to the lack of a European identity for most people. They feel more connected to their own national identity rather than what they perceive as an abstract European construction. We haven’t done enough in this regard. We haven’t done enough to build a common European identity at the social level.
The common European identity was destroyed by the EU-ECB-IMF gang May, 2010 in Greece. Since then, the respect of the common values you referred to, has been replaced with the persue of the international markets interest to the expense of the peoples of Europe. No hope of going back on track for Europe, except if the EU bureaucracy be demolished along with the ECB (usurers institution).-
Together, prospérité, joie, libération, justice, vertu, je suis citoyen européen et les douze étoiles sont la clé pour comprendre la plénitude de mon temps, j’ai confiance en une interprétation uniforme, raisonnement et la sensibilisation sont la force de l’Europe.
Free traveler , without borders.
To be from “the old continent”; to have centuries of culture and history. A shared identity, unified in our differences. Working together to bring ourselves up to the same high standards.
It means nothing, because I’m not and have never been “european”. I love Britain, Norway, Switzerland or Greece, I like Germany and France a little bit less, I admire Turkey and Hungary and keep my fingers cross for positive political transformation in Romania. We’re all different one another, with different origins, roots, histories, languages etc. No one’s asking asian or africans “what does it mean to You to be Asian/African” because it only mean “this is part of the World where I happen to live on”. We are very lucky, Europe is the most interesting part of the world (historically and politically) , relatively rich and peaceful, so I’m glad that I’m living here, but please EU, stop imposing, that we are all the same country.
J’imagine que l’Europe prend en charge les citoyens de bonne volonté.
It means I was born in the European Continent.
Europe a democracy of people , not Europe ‘democracy’ of markets
It means being over run by Germanistans incompetence.
Place where human rights established and shared to their people but imprisoned all rights to its borders. Where is not equal to “others”
I like to be and feel european “the old way” but I don’t feel anything for THIS Europe, nor for its flag.
+ TAX!
TAX FOR THE BANKS
Democracy , human rights, justice , peace and equality . Everything what religion fight against :
STOP FINANCING RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS AND CANCEL YOUR CHURCH MEMBERSHIP, THEY DON’T HELP , THEY JUST
CREATE DAMAGE AND STOP HUMAN DEVELOPMENT , YOU JUST MAKE THEM RICH .
A Real Solution For World Hunger
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3etBe5ej_Is
How rich is The Vatican? – Truthloader https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NzOWEC7_COk
German church is “Cash Mount Holly” http://youtu.be/ZZ7xVqYQ_VQ?t=3m10s
Stop supporting usurers’ institutions that attack human rights, namely the ECB, the IMF and the EU bureaucracy.
the most old civilation of letters science colleges theology but now is a big super Market of unuseless things without any God.. medenistes and any culture except Euro taxes and loans.Human happiness art defence from Asians and new scientests are all in America who is our.. children
Europe its not going to be united after some time…
Europe is a continent, a landmass made up of different countries. Nothing more.
I am not European and never will be. I am English first and British second. I prefer to be a subject and not a citizen. I don’t want to be part of this doomed project. I am hopping this is the year the the uk leaves the eu. Even if doesn’t I will continue to do my bit to get the uk to leave at some point in the future and offer no support in any to any part of the so called “eu project”.
I couldn’t care less if this upsets or offends anyone
European union now means plutocracy – government for the wealthy by the wealthy. We were tricked into this with temporary teasers of a “social Europe” which all vanished as soon as we sold our souls
To be Neanderthal.
proud 👍🏻
For me being a European means to be part of a big family of nations that may have differences but knowing how to overcome them!!🇪🇺
It means Nothing at all to me.
It means among many things, we can date people freely from all of Europe and try many cultural and sexual flavors that go beyond mere trivialities such as food :) happy new year!
It means not being a german ratzilla. :)
Very proud to be European! European race moved the world forward!!!🇪🇺🇪🇺🇪🇺
Do not think it too munch. In one world. The EU s a C L U B. Nothing else, nothing more. Lookat the definitions>
If we love democracy and principle of self-determination of peoples, we shall come back to a collaborative European Community between sovereign Countries and destroy European Union, Brussel technocrats, ECB and Euro, that serve the interests of lobby groups and financial powers. In Star Wars terminology, we have to choose between Resistance and Galactic Empire. :)
1/ a group of persons organized for a social, literary, athletic, political, or other purpose an organization that offers its subscribers certain benefits, as discounts, bonuses, or interest, in return . Yes. The EU is a club, and thye ones called Europeans, are simply the members of that club. No mistery, no family, no other ties except the things you agreed upon. Is not DNA, is not the same political or social view, mot the same language or religion. The terms agreed are mobility, same money, and other minor things. Making it huge or really binding is too much to ask. I see great things that cme from the Union, but asking too much is fiction. CLUB EUROPE.
Can you tell me what makes me European? I am from former Yugoslavia(Europe). My country collapsed because of dreams of united Europe. I can’t make steps towards improvements in my country because it looks pointless and we stuck in deep mug and i need to accept reality which is impossible to accept. On the other hand i can not make steps towards go to EU because of your visas and fascism and you keeping us out this fucking club. So what is my point, there is lot of Europs. I am Europe, you are Europe. There is another Europs also. Only thing is that you (EU) are the worst part of it.
.
There are + 50 countries in ‘Europe’ & only 28 (soon to be 27) in the EU but the arrogant pro EU fanatics claim the name ‘European’ for themselves, making the label meaningless.
If anything you are EU’ers, not ‘Europeans’
А EU flag on the cheek?! Seriously?! :D
You may as well ask what does it feel like to be African. Whether it feels good or bad depends which country in that continent you live in and who is in charge of it. For the poor, the sick and the disabled in the UK it is not a good time to be British with the Conservatives in charge.
Alexandru S.
” I see myself as belonging to a small national community and through it to a larger one which is, in this case, Europe. Europe is a family of nations that share a common history, culture and above all else, common values. The importance we place on peace,democracy, freedom of speech and human dignity is what brought us togheter and we should pursue these ideals togheter. Especially in a globalized world where European states in particular have no chance against larger ones such as USA, Russia or China.”
HEAR! HEAR! HEAR!
” Many of the problems we are facing today (like Brexit, or Poland’s and Hungary’s extreme-right) are due to the lack of a European identity for most people. They feel more connected to their own national identity rather than what they perceive as an abstract European construction. We haven’t done enough in this regard. We haven’t done enough to build a common European identity at the social level.”
I think you are right Alexandru, we haven’t done enough, not to build a European identity, but to discover a European identity that already exists: you only have to live in Asia or Africa for a while, to discover not only that we ARE European, but that Asians and Africans consider US as Europeans.
Marcel Lesik
” No one’s asking asian or africans “what does it mean to You to be Asian/African” because it only mean “this is part of the World where I happen to live on”
You’re wrong: many Africans are concerned abour African Unity: they have understood that this would be the only way not to become the preys of the new colonists: China, the US and the old ones: Europe.
To be a white Chrisyian living in a European nation state.
I don’t know what it means to be European? I am not European. I am British. At least that’s what it says on my passport and the box I tick in all official documents I’m asked to sign.
We might share some values but that isn’t European identity.
Europe is a place on a map – a continent made up of different countries. If your born within this continent in a particular country I think this is what gives you your identity. You might if born on the continent consider yourself to be European ( I don’t know) but I do not. I was born on an island called the British Isles or United Kingdom so I suppose I consider my self to me British and part of a United Kingdom. I don’t consider myself to be European.
I’m not sure about the result of your info graphic I think that’s a percentage of people who are confused and are sitting on the fence. They want to be both or are afraid of saying one or other.
Just my opinion. I’m entitled to it. Please don’t send me replies commenting on how stupid or ignorant I am. By all means though I am happy to hear your opinions on the question asked not your opinion on what I think.
Sorry Sonia (this is also my daughter’s name, by the way), but I find this very hypocritical: “I don’t know what it means to be European? I am not European. I am British”.
As far as you can go back in time (1066 and even before) Britain has ALWAYS meddled with European affairs… The Hundred Years’war,and so on… and thank God you did in the last World War, otherwise we might still be under the Nazi rule: Thank you very much Sir Winston! (who was a great European, by the way).
What do you expect ? A little referendum to cancel hundreds of years of history? Are you planning to put up a fence around your dear little island ?
What made Britain Great Britain in the past was the British Empire. Now Britain is isolated; how could it compete with the new giants: China, India, Brazil… ? It would be the same for France, Italy and even Germany if we stood alone: we are too small in a global world. This is why we have no other option than to unite in order to be able to face the challenges of a global world.
This will take time, because changing people’s mentalities is much slower than issuing directives from Brussels. On the other hand, I think the EU should change too. It should be based on democracy and solidarity and not on finance alone. But this change can only be brought about from within.
“the EU should change too. It should be based on democracy and solidarity and not on finance alone. But this change can only be brought about from within.”
Obviously, you are German or live in Germany. Since May, 2010, Brussels obey to Mr Schauble’s orders, squeezing the “bad-lazy-tricky-corrupt(!)” PIIGS. The EU has been over when puppet Oli Rehn stated to battered Greeks “Game over”. Slavery is the only condition at least Greeks can not afford. Bye-bye German-centric “EU”.
Please do not confuse/mess-up the “EU” with EUROPE. The EU ended up as a bunch of greedy USURERS to the benefit of the German economic-political elite. EUROPE has nothing to do with this usurers’ gang.
Δυστυχώς, Γιώργος, δεν καταλαβαίνεις ο τι εννοώ.
I’m French and I support the Greek people (I even wrote a tale about what happened last summer). If you’re interested, here’s the link:
http://uropi.canalblog.com/archives/2015/08/02/32435468.html
http://uropi.canalblog.com/archives/2015/10/12/32765038.html
http://uropi.canalblog.com/archives/2015/10/22/32811012.html
(in fact there are 3 articles).
…
The problem is not Germans versus Greeks, Spaniards, Britons or Italians. The problem is financial ultra-liberalism that turns people into slaves everywhere in the world. These people, the Troika and their friends are NOT Europe: they have seized power in Brussels because people don’t bother to vote in the European elections.
WE are EUROPE ! WE the citizens of Europe.
Je comprends tres bien me mon message est clair: L’union europeen est en train de se desagreger. Pour la Grece, sa pose une question des nouveux allies (la Russie?) pour survivre. Pour les Francais se trop tard d’ equilibrer la force financiere Allemande. Les Anglais ont une strategie d’exodus. Pas seulement une question d’ultra-neo-liberalismus mais une question d’existence pour tous les pays membres de l’UE
Yannis Varoufakis has launched a pan-European movement, because any country in Europe (including Germany) is too small to face global challenges and compete with giants like China, India, the USA… etc.
Too small to resist the power of gigantic mutinationals and banks. US banks engineered the present financial crisis, giant laboratories are poisoning our food everywhere, and it doesn’t really matter whether they are German, American or Swiss: the results are the same.
If we, the people of Europe cannot unite to fight together and build a new Europe, not based on finance, but on solidarity, I’m afraid there is no hope for the future.
Solidarite? Anecdote pour la Grece!
Too late, too little. For Greece, it is a question of survival to abide by the old geostrategic rule: never clash with the naval superpower; keep doors open to Russia; be afraid when France loses power vs Germany in the center of the Continent.
Austrian aggressive act against last firday’s EU decision regarding the handling of refugees (to call a summit with non-EU countries of W.Balkans to fence off Greece!) is the latest proof that there can be no unity and solidarity in a “Union” where Germany dictates the rules of the game.
PS I have great esteem for Mr Varoufakis’ effort to alleviate the burden of an unpayable Greek debt last year. However, his pro-European, pro-eurozone effort, stroke on deaf ears. That was the last chance of a really “United Europe”. Game over. Ο ΣΩΖΩΝ ΕΑΥΤΟΝ ΣΩΘΗΤΩ!
You are talking about governments, I’m talking about peoples (not about people, but peoples with an -S: οι λαοί). In a democracy (you know that old thing that was invented in Athens 5 centuries BC) normally the power belongs to the people. We have to demand the power back. There are demonstrations almost every week in Athens: it won’t change anything, I’m sorry to say. Now if there were demonstrations of the same size and much bigger in Paris, Madrid, Rome… at the same time, Brussels would undoubtedly hear it.
This is what Yannis Varoufakis has understood: alone you can do nothing; united we can win.
Just imagine, if in last spring’s negotiations France, Italy, Spain… had stood together in solidarity with Greece… the result would have been completely different.
Whar solution do you suggest ? Grexit ? Brexit ? Frexit ? Spexit ? Italexit ?
There is no sand left in the hourglass (ΚΛΕΨΥΔΡΑ) for pan-european democratic movements. The SECURITY situation is deteriorating day-by-day and Greece faces (as a people and a state) existential threats due to the tripolar equilibrium that has been imbalanced since the collapse of the Berlin Wall. Peace and Security are prerequisites for Democracy. And the “EU” has already proven impotent in safegurading PEACE and SECURITY for Greece and the Greek people. In the contrary: the EU directly undermines our defense and security potential via Memoranda I-III.
What does it mean to be European? What does it mean to be British?
British ? tea and scones, eggs and bacon for breakfast and a pint of bitter at the local pub. French ? Camembert and vin rouge… etc. Spanish ? Paella, calamares en su tinta…
European ? To be able to benefit from all this.
…
Γιώργος, αν σε καταλαβαίνω καλά, η μόνη λύση είναι η Χρυσή Αυγή, και όλα τα φασιστικά κινήματα που εμφανίζονται παντού στην Ευρώπη;
Δεν με καταλάβατε. Η Ελλάδα υπάρχει ως κράτος σ’αυτή την γωνιά του κόσμου ως σημείο εξισορρόπησης αντίρροπων δυνάμεων που συγκλίνουν εκεί:
1. Ρωσία (ΒΑ με στρατηγικό στόχο την πρόσβαση στην Μεσόγειο)
2. Θαλασσοκράτειρ (εως το 1947 το Η.Β. έπειτα, ΗΠΑ)
3. Γαλλία (κύρια δύναμη ελέγχουσα την ηπειρωτική Ευρώπη με διπλή πρόσβαση σε Μεσόγειο & Ατλαντικό-Β.Θάλασσα).
Οποτε, ιστορικά, η Ρωσία υποχωρούσε και δεν ήλεγχε την βόρεια ακτή της Μαύρης Θάλασσας, η Γαλλία ΔΕΝ ήταν κυρίαρχη στην ηπειρωτική Ευρώπη και το Η.Β./ΗΠΑ στη Μεσόγειο, η Ελλάδα αντιμετώπιζε υπαρξιακό κίνδυνο. Δείτε το 1915, το 1940 και σήμερα. Οι κινήσεις στην σκακιέρα επιβάλλουν ΕΘΝΙΚΗ Πολιτική με αναζήτηση νέων συμμαχιών τόσο σε οικονομικό όσο και στρατιωτικό επίπεδο. Αυτή την στιγμή, η μόνη αντίρροπη δύναμη στην γερμανοκρατούμενη “ΕΕ” είναι η Ρωσία (υπό προϋποθέσεις) και οι ΗΠΑ (υπό τον όρο σύγκλισης με την Ρωσία και σύγκρουσης με την γερμανοκεντρική ΕΕ). Real politik αγαπητέ.
Σημείωση: Η Γερμανία και η διεφθαρμένη “ΕΕ” γραφειοκρατεία στήριξαν και εξακολουθούν να στηρίζουν λυσσαλέα την διεφθαρμένη (αγορασμένη από την Siemens κ.α. πολυεθνικές γερμανικών κυρίως συμφερόντων) πολιτική & οικονομική elite της χώρας. Η “λύση” στην οποία αναφέρεσθε, ΔΕΝ είναι λύση. Λύση δεν μπορεί να δώσει ο υπόκοσμος της νύχτας που απλώς αυτονομήθηκε προ 4ετίας από τον υπόκοσμο της ημέρας του οποίου τις βρώμικες δουλειές διεκπεραίωνε εως τότε.
Absolutely nothing. I don’t consider myself European, I never have done and I never will do. The fact that Britain is in Europe is an accident of geography.
For me to be European means open minded, solid, tolerant, cultural, something that those islamic does not have
Tolerance towards absolutely everyone, Respect, Accepting each others culture but not trying to change or invade it!
Europe is freedom, culture, richness, democracy, civilization, power, gold, fashion, food, modernism, taste, the good part of the human beeing. IM PROUD TO BE EUROPEAN. Beeing European means beeing citizen not slave. <3
well I am human, I really don’t care about being Austrian or European. Happened luckily by chance! I care about individual freedom, equal opportunities and human rights. and we are loosing all that for the wealth of some greedy bastards.
born and grown in Europe by european family.
Just read this. The author argues that the UE is destroying Europe and I almost agree with him.
http://thesaker.is/saker-rant-about-a-stolen-europe/
The EU is trying to create an EU identity before the people feel they have an EU identity. This is why it is not working. Euro-scepticism exists because the EU has not put people first within the EU [austerity, bail-ins, pro-corporations profits first], nor outside the EU [Worker exploitation, abuse, drip-fed genocide, poverty, starvation]. People do not identify with these acts or silence on these acts. To inspire a natural felt EU identity the EU must be the pioneers of the world of putting people first within the EU by abolishing poverty, reigning-in corporations, taxing the rich and externally by refusing to trade or profit from countries who exploit or abuse their people, terrorize or murder others. There are some people who call themselves pro-European Euroskeptics because they are hoping you see sense soon and create and abide by a moral and social code of ethics and responsibility.
Those are the reasons we joined and accepted the EU : peace;
security;
sustainable development of the Earth;
solidarity and mutual respect among peoples;
free and fair trade;
eradication of poverty;
protection of human rights (in particular the rights of the child);
development of international law (respect for the principles of the United Nations Charter). http://europa.eu/scadplus/constitution/objectives_en.htm
All of these European virtues people are listing as if Europe has always been that way, it’s only been like that since the fall of the Berlin Wall, too much and too little of something destroys you, that’s blindingly obvious with the current slow disintegration of the European project
It`s just a ethnic group .
In the broadest sense possible, it means being a citizen belonging to one of the various administrative divisions (countries) that are geographically ascribed to the European continent. In a narrow sense, it means being a citizen of the European Union.
Being blessed with a life on it, something many people don’t have, so it’s our job, it always was a Europe job, to make a world better place, instead of bringing those poor Muslim refugees here, let’s bring Europe law order and life standards to them
.
It is a very insulting label that implies stupidity.
http://www.breitbart.com/london/2014/12/24/british-public-declare-we-are-not-europeans/
European we are but just don’t like to admit it. Romans shaped then Saxons and Normans built. Vikings traded. Celts moved. Kings and queens married. To be British is to be European.
Freedom !
GREECE IS EUROPE
EU should be between China, India, U.S. and Russia ZERO point. But without God it is impossible.
Am I clear?
democratic, christian, law and tradition abiding, and european language speaking nations union.
comin from a part of the world where social justice, humanity and freedom are supposed to be the main target – reality, though, looks different right now
It means a lot.!
European means to pay yourself the debts that other people and istitutions have created like the banks meanwhile the banks have already steal everything and without having any kind of protection by the laws which have the bankers paid to be done..
Europe is culture, but in multiple context. We share mediterranean, atlantic cultures. We have diferent shapes and sizes on ethnic matters but we understand each other as an advantage on knowledge of history and ancient culture. The geographic issue is the less important, but we have a hard work to do with this criteria. The recent discussion about Turkey be or not be Europe was disgusting and shamefull for Europe. Turkey, Ukraine, Finland and UK are almost on border line of Europe, but still are Europe. If religion is not a issue for Europe, we have a way to achieve our goal. If human rights, respect of minorities, right of self-determination of countries are european issues, then Europe must advise, Spain, UK, Belgium, Greece, France, Italy in order to update their agenda in domestic conflicts. Not just with Turkey.
I’m Greek and i’m European.Why does it have to mean something. In Greek mythology the name Europe is mainly known daughter of Phoenix and telephassa. By some considered the daughter of Agenor (Phoenix was the son of Agenor). Zeus kidnapped Europe and together have acquired at least three children: King Minos, Radamanthys and Sarpedon..Ok.Dias loved women…………..
Renacimiento, ilustración y humanismo.
Today, shame
Είμαι υπερήφανη που είμαι Ελληνίδα! Η ζωή και ο άνθρωπος έχουν μεγαλύτερη αξία στην Ευρώπη!
Understanding that I am part of a large family, with my local (country/village) connections as well – all being important. Being able to stand united in all aspects of life, friendships, work, trade, well-being, fun, culture, equality and rule of law. A lot to expect – and it is possible.
Reading people’s interventions of April 3rd and 4th I was struck by one thing.
Most of us agree on:
Freedom, democracy, human rights, tolerance, respect, solidarity, peace, sustainable development, eradication of poverty…
in a word “making the world a better place”
All these values make the European identity; we don’t need to invent it: it has always (or nearly always) existed.
“European we are but just don’t like to admit it.” because we lived quarelling with each other (when not slaughtering each other) for centuries… and the hardest thing on earth is to change people’s mentalities and habits.
GREECE IS EUROPE
It’s so evident ! Greece invented Europe and not only the word… our whole civilisation was born in Greece…What Rome did was simply imitating the Greeks except for two things: Law and imperialism (but we could do without the latter).
I think today’s Europe is plagued by two serious diseases: one is (in French) “fricolâtrie”, or in Greek χρηματολατρεία (which could be translated by money-worship).
The second is “mediacracy” the omnipotence or all-powerfulness of the media which manipulate people’s opinion.
European leaders are just the slaves of finance, lobbies, big business.
Greece is not Europe just like bulgaria or turkey aren´t, They are just a no-mans-land between a socialist hell (Europe) and a religious hell (the middle east). I actually LOLed when I heard that Greece had it´s own white supremacist group. To be clear, I hate racism but it was funny to think of them all studying their own family trees only to discover that, logically, they should: hate themselves.
https://www.debatingeurope.eu/2014/10/31/what-does-being-european-mean-to-you/#comment-289650 Greece and Italy are the roots of EUROPE. Of course, Europe many times derailed towards totalitarian regimes. The last of them is the ECB/EU/IMF usurers’ gang.
Proud to be part of the civilisation that has brought us, science, democracy and human rights.
Best of the best
What does it mean to be european?…mmmm.. well, currently, it means to be trapped in a deepening socialist hell for a start off. Where the word “rights” has been twisted from things like; I have the the right to freedom of speech — to — you have the “right” to not be offended by other people speaking therefore all others should silence themselves about anything that differs from the mainstream dogma. I feel emasculated by an over bearing socialist state that stole our guns and told us that it was “for our own good”. To me,looking at the more long term picture I know that it also means that a cowardly, secretive, cockroach-like elite have ruled us for hundreds of years constantly metamorphosizing into whatever is necessary next in order to maintain the illusion and maintain power. We live with a silent knowledge but ever-present knowledge that we will never really beat them and dream of the day we might pluck up the courage to actually leave and experience real freedom.
Living in a country called Europe…..
When I lived outside Europe I used to be proud to be European, When I came back around 1978 I used to be proud to be European. When I worked and Lived In Greece untill the early 90ties I used to be proud to be European, I have 2 (NL + GR) European nationalities and I used to be proud off them! But the last years I feel ashame to be Western European, because the so called values are nowhere to be found anymore! I’m ashamed to be NL European, living in Belgium both countries and some more, who have forgotten that to be European, means to be together with all EU countries. I’m proud to be GR European, people who do not look away from helping refugees, who do whatever they can even though they have so many proplems, still open their houses and give and share. While I’m ashemed to be northern EU who close their borders and ingnore all the human rights treaties now that it is coming to our own back yard, while we where always pointing our finger to the countries who where not following those treaties. So what does it mean to me to be European? I hope we will find a way soon to be proud again, otherwise I rather would like to think before the EU, maybe each country would be fighting again to become united.
Thanks to politicians, it’s nothing to be proud of
I was proud before the corrupt/idiot politicians organized that unethical and inmoral group called EU. Now I’m ashamed to be euro-european.
It means to me to decolonise my mind and be open-minded as much as I can, in order to accept and respect other cultures, always considered as “other”, overcoming all prejudices.
Fact is there is not one european feeling. There is the northwest-european one, the southern-mediterreanian, the central and eastern european feeling. Without forgetting the scandinavian part. All have their habits and traditions. The only thing that could be something lile a european identity is something like shared humanist values, thats all. Since the idea of the nationstate and even before that there hasnt been a european feeling. The only thing that connected countries in the past were christianity…
I fell in the European potion as a kid. The son of one of the first Eurocrats I am definitely a Eurobrat. But I have gone out of Brussels’ bubble and know that less than 5 % of Europeans have either worked or studied in an EU country different than the one they were born in. And if you add working for a “foreign” company, you do not top 10% of all Europeans.
However, benefiting from having worked or studied in 5 EU countries and having an “enlarged” family with grand parents on both sides of the former Iron Wall, I see Europeans as descending from 4 common trees.
1. The palm tree of the Christian religion, whereby God shows the way, but leaves mankind free to follow it, or not.
2. The olive tree of Democracy, whereby each citizen has a vote to decide who will rule the society, or not.
3. The mediterranean pine tree of Roman law, whereby each citizen or king must obey the same, written rules.
4. The Oak Tree common of Northern Europe, where both economic liberalism and social democracy were born spurring each other to deliver more effective and fulfilling societies.
It is underneath these 4 Trees that Europe must develop.
Obviously, three out of four trees are Mediterranean:
1) the ancient Greek olive-tree of ΠΟΛΙΣ (Polis-City) and ΔΗΜΟΚΡΑΤΙΑ (Democracy), based on and nurished by the concept of ΕΛΕΥΘΕΡΙΑ (Liberty-freedom) of ΠΟΛΙΤΕΣ (Citizens)
2) the Roman pine-tree of Law (having roots in ancient Greek concept of ΔΙΚΑΙΟ (just-right-legitimate) and
3) the Middle Eastern palm-tree of Christianity (a backward trend that burried the Greco-Roman civilization, dumping the Medditeranean belt into a medieval dark era)
I fully agree with you that the olive, pine and oak trees shall be developed further in the European Continent. However, there is a great obstacle at least regarding democracy and liberty: the ECB/EU/IMF usurers’ gang that follows the totalitarian tradition of central-eastern Europe, imposing its “free will” on peoples whom they either have been deprived of their right to decide on their fate or their democratic decision was thrown to the garbage.
Waiting years and years the word “Europe” end to be a word and became a nation.
Proud to be a citizen of the greatest country in the world!
It means to be born and / or grow up in Europe .
A pan-European revolution and a good performance beheading some EU politicians and bureaucrats would definitely strengthen the European identity, and give us the chance to make Europe the greatest power on Earth.
:D
A pan-European revolution and a good performance beheading some EU politicians and bureaucrats would definitely strengthen the European identity, and give us the chance to make Europe the greatest power on Earth.
:D
Don’t the values that we live by define us more, both as individuals and as a society, than the language that we speak and the food we eat?
If there is something I learnt studying European literature, it is that the values at the core of our nations and constitutions and the ones we try to live by every day, are European values. They stem from centuries of cultural, philosophical, literary and artistic exchange between Europeans and they are at the ground of our society.
This is why we are European, before being Italian, French, German, British or anything else.
It means to be part of the greatest place in the world, the place which has 70% of the entire history, the zone when you can (should) be free to be who you desire, the area in which are spoken 24 and more languages, the area where more than 28 peoples can and should live together in peace…
The native place of the Big people, like Martin Luther King, Emmeline Pankhurst, Karl Marx, Franz Kafka, Dante Alighieri, Cervantes, Carlo Magno, Alessandro Magno, Jeanne D’Arc, Elizabeth I for example..
It means (at least it should mean) Freedom, Social, Culture, History, Languages, Respect, Unity, Diversity, Rights, Laws, Democracy…
Europe should be only one Federal State in my opinion…
Remember, “United in Diversity” <3
It should mean (more or less) the same showed in the following video, but watched in an European Key:
https://youtu.be/HMQkV5cTuoY
this is no Europe, everybody in Europe is just a fucking nationalist, there is no common which bind each other. And the EU is a bunch of criminals no more
Everything
To be born and raised in one part of Europe,to be free to raise my own child in another…
to be born where my ancestors were born and to be aware how special we are – the best culture ever
Now shamed to be European , to make bankers , and ignorant politicians rich , with our hard work and taxes!!
I am British/English and a proud European!
It’s the place in the world where enlightenment has most advanced, what took so much pain. Where still so much is to be done that ‘sapere aude’ would mark the place, really.
p.s. http://ukkoelhob.blogspot.be/2012/04/emancipation-from-europes-arabo-judeo.html
Es un lujo ser europeo, me gusta ser europeista, a pesar de todos sus defectos
Imperio
Europe means family
To live my life with Respect and Forgivness, because all my possible enemies will remain here, close to me, in the next 3 generations as well – as they were in the last 3 ones. If I decide to move, even only 200 km-s, that will be a completely different culture. You can not change everything too often. :) So you have to solve the porblems with your neighbours peacefully.
More union, less subvention, more freedom, more responsability individual. This is in my opinion, the only way.
It means feeling painfully divided
Culture, open-mindedness, beauty in all its aspects and forms. Respect for the human race. Liberté égalité et fraternité. Life, love. Art. Food. Fashion. Respect for the environment. Proud of being a European! United in diversity. Have a fairer system. Accept and help others. Live in peace.
I know this may offend the pro European’s.. but as an Englishman I feel no connection to the term European citizen. but I have noticed the European’s talk a lot about solidarity in Europe. well in the UK solidarity has very little meaning and is a term very seldom used. its almost as if solidarity is an alien concept within the UK.
Well Elvin, I for one, thank the Brits who, according to you, do not know the meaning of the word solidarity, proved that they could be solidar with the rest of Europe. At least once during WWII.
A dhimmi is the old European
No hay ninguna Europa,solo unión monetaria ya medias
Living in a continent called Europe..the “european” values doesn’t exist in reality
To be European it’s not about being proud. It’s about being valuable. That’s all about. The European values are the highest level of actual civilization on Planet Earth. Freedom and justice is the key for human beings and these base values are actually in a best level in Europe compared to the rest of the world.
This does not mean that is perfect, still can be better.
So, a United Europe means United Values and a model to follow.
H ELP! AUXILO! , SOLICITO AYUDA ANTE ESTE ORGANISMO INSTITUCIONAL DE LA EU, PARA ERRADICAR EL ESPIONAJE QUE LOS PERDIDA TIENEN A TRAVÉS DE EL TELEVISOR. ESTOY EN MI CASA Y ELLOS SON CAPACES DE VER A TRAVÉS DE LA TV ,QUE HAGO , QUE HABLO, HASTA EL PUNTO ABOMINABLE DE HACER COMENTARIOS DE UNA CONVERSACION RECIEN DESDE MI CASA .
ESTO ES LEGAL EN LA UNION EUROPEA LA PERDIDA DE LOS CIUDADANOS QUE HABITAS EN EUROPA Y EL MUNDO A NUESTRA INTIMIDAD DENTRO DEL ÁMBITO DEL HOGAR?
POR QUE HE ESPECIFICADO EL MUNDO ? PORQUE LOS INSCONSCIENTES PERIODISTAS A TRAVÉS DE SUS COMENTARIOS DESDE SU PLATO HAN DICHO QUE DONDE QUIERA QUE YO VAYA CON SOLO EL NÚMERO DE TELÉFONO TIENEN POTESTAD DE ENTRAR EN TODA MI VIDA POR LA RED.
ESTO ES TERRIBLE PIDO AYUDA! !!!!!!!!
I do not know if it’s the best.. but definitely one of the best parts to the civilized world.
Being united, and cradle of civilization
The following bright spirits among so many others found their exceptional inspiration, moving through the following places throughout their lives :
– COPERNICUS : Torun, Cracow, Bologna, Rome, Padua, Ferrara, Allenstein, Nuremberg.
– ERASMUS : Rotterdam, Cambrai, Paris, London, Oxford, Torino, Basel, Leuven, Anderlecht, Freiburg.
– DESCARTES : La Flèche, Poitiers, Breda, Frankfurt, Ulm, Pragha, Budapest, The Hague, Florence, Rome, Venice, Innsbruck, Paris, Deventer, Stockholm.
– EINSTEIN : Ulm, Aarau, Zürich, Bern, Pragha, Berlin, Stockholm, London, Bruxelles, USA.
– Marie CURIE : Warsaw, Paris, Sevres, Stockholm, Bruxelles, US, Geneva, Madrid, Sallanches.
– FREUD : Freiberg, Leipzig, Vienna, Manchester, Paris, Berlin, Nancy, Trasimene, Athens, Salzburg, US, The Hague.
– HEISENBERG : Würzburg, Munich, Göttingen, Copenhagen, Leipzig, Como, Bruxelles, US, Berlin, Godmanchester, St.Andrews.
– And so on …
This is it : Europe for me (with somewhat less success than had resulted for these illustrious predecessors) is just that : inspiration. Where we expect inspiration, there is our desire, there is our hope.
I recently posted a blog entry on the subject of identity and how we create it through are actions. It is not important if a common identity exists but if we are in the process of creating one. Please see more at http://lodzwonderer2.blogspot.com/2016/03/european-identity-from-construct-to.html?m=1
Thks Jeremy, loved the end “Europeans are forced to face the world together, then they probably won’t. That said, it is just a matter of time before this identity is forced upon us and we have to ‘make of what others make of us”.
Realising that the affirmation of national identities resulted in two European Civil Wars which destroyed much of the wealth they had created over the last 5 centuries and gave USA the world’s leadership, European leaders fostered the creation of the Union. They did it: if it had been put to referendum, most Europeans would have voted against it. Lucky Europeans trusted them then.
Europe is a first, trying to have some democracy in diplomacy with rules and votes all should respect, even if they dislike the result. Most Europeans agree because they have seen that their identities and values can become abusive and lead to total military and moral defeat. Having not lost a war for the last 3 centuries the Brits (and the Swedes), do not have this common sense. That’s why I think England should leave the EU for a while. Maybe to show us that we Eurocrats and brats are wrong and that the worlds is now sufficiently multilateral that England can stand its ground alone. Or to realise what it is has lost and feel the cold of facing the US, Putin, India and China on its own.
Thank you Henny Moonen for your testimony; I feel exactly the same.
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We, as Europeans, have long since shared the same values, respect for life and human rights, solidarity, humanism, freedom and justice, as Graziano said “Liberté, Egalité, Fraternité” … since Socrates and Plato, the Athenian democracy, art and beauty, the Italian Renaissance, the Enlightenment, Kant, Voltaire, Rousseau… we share the same civilisation.
As Federico said…”the values at the core of our nations and constitutions and the ones we try to live by every day, are European values. They stem from centuries of cultural, philosophical, literary and artistic exchange between Europeans…”
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Europe, a socialist hell ???? You must be joking ! No other region on earth is as capitalistic as the EU, not even the USA. British humour, I presume.
And this is why so many people are disappointed by the EU today: the EU is more concerned with serving the interests of lobbies, of banks and mutinationals, of those huge chemical concerns that are poisoning our food, our water and air with pesticides, than with the welfare and prosperity of European citizens. EU leaders have betrayed the European ideals.
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I quite like the 4 trees metaphor, but please, PLEASE, don’t bring religion into it. In a European democracy each citizen should be able to choose the religion he likes, he could be a Jew, a Christian, a Muslim, a Buddhist … or an atheist… if he wants to.
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Europeans tend to forget about their own history, but let us remember that before nationalism was invented after the French revolution, religion was the main cause of bloody conflicts: in the Middle Ages, the so-called “heretics” were burnt alive (cf Joan of Ark), let us remember the Spanish Inquisition, Giordano Bruno and Galileo, the Hussite wars in Bohemia, the French wars of religion with the infamous St. Bartholomew’s Day massacre, the Thirty Years war in Germany… etc. (not to mention the Shoah and Auschwitz).
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We Europeans, don’t really have different cultures, we have more or less the same culture. Was Béla Bartók specifically Hungarian, or Mozart specifically Austrian, or Verdi specifically Italian, or Picasso specifically French (he was Spanish), or Shakespeare specifically English (his Hamlet is located in Denmark, Othello in Venice, Romeo and Juliet in Verona… etc.) ? No, they all contributed to our common European culture.
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What we have is different languages, but our languages are like the different instruments playing the same symphony. They are all indispensable for the symphony and if it was played on a single instrument, it would be very poor indeed.
Thks Ukreator for your several contributions to the debate. On religion I rather agree with you that, most of the time, religion (coming for most from the latin religare, to bind) was rather a force for hate and separation. Lately it has not been that helpful in building Europe. I even told so to the Pope… (not this one), but the Christian religion is a founding element of Europe and of the European Union. All the founding fathers had this in common, which helped them bridge the hatred still active 5 years after the end of WWII (just see how far former Yugoslavs, Sri-Lankans or Iraqi are 5 years after the end of their own civil wars…). As a committed Ecumenist I am for all religions to prosper, so Europe has been founded by Christians, but should not be for them only. However, non-Christians coming or living in Europe have to accept its principles of individual freedom (from God’s wrath), loving thy neighbour and separation of Church and State.
Eurobrat
I’m tempted to say I totally agree with you, since I do not underestimate the role played by Christianity in Europe especially in the Middle Ages. However, I wouldn’t say that Christians were the founders of Europe, because this would be ignoring the part played by Greece and Rome in creating the European idea.
I would prefer to say that Europe rests on two pillars: The Greco-Roman pillar and the Judeo-Christian pillar.
Thank you for your ecumenist views: all religions should be welcome, provided they accept and respect the others: the key-word is tolerance. Above all, we shouldn’t fall into the trap set by the terrorists that would take us back to the time of the Crusades.
As for the Yugoslav wars, they would deserve a much longer development.
I am reading the above. Flowery words but meaningless to the man and the woman on the street and they are the people you need to convince if you want a “European” identity.
Europe’s unemployed youth aren’t interested in the Renaissance. Couldn’t care less about Shakespeare, Plato and all the rest. The EU is letting its citizens down. The EU is alienating its people.
Mine and my partners family’s are immigrants from Europe. Neither of us identify with Europe or European values. We don’t identify with our parents or grandparents countries in any way.We are both English with an English outlook. We see Europe and the counties that make up that continent for what they are. A bunch of countries that happen to be next to each other.
Europe will always just be a continent and I will never be a European.
Well Matt, I taught at Fordham University (that’s in New York) and I can tell you Ukreator’s words were of interest to them. Especially to Europeans. Many, like Ukreator, objected to the “religion tree”, but the objective is to have a debate on that, building bridges, not walls.
The man and the woman in English street should know that UK was a declining nation when it joined the Common Market, and that it now leads the Western World in terms of GDP growth (well, after Ireland, though) and assertiveness. The EU must have done something good after all.
As for the unemployed English, they, for one, should care about the Renaissance. Without the Renaissance, most of us would still be ploughing fields. It’s in the Renaissance that the notion of “progress” was born. Before, sons had to do their father’s job, go to war or become a priest. Girls had even less choice. Most historians see the industrial revolution and Europe’s hegemony – and thus eventually today’s jobs – result from the Renaissance.
Plato? He brought thought to government. Shakespeare? He made the masses laugh at the powerful, reminding them in an elegant way, that they owed their power to the people. He wouldn’t live long in today’s Russia, China or even US under Donald Drumpf.
It is strange that as immigrants you only feel English. My experience is that you would rather feel English when being abroad, but would always be somewhat foreign to true Brits. All that of course depends on when your ancestors crossed the Channel, but I bet that, if you cross the Atlantic or the Urals and go the US or China, you will feel very European.
Matt, on the one hand I agree with you, the EU has betrayed its promises: we were promised full employment when we voted for (or against) the Maastricht Treaty in 1992.
But the EU is not directly responsible for unemployment; globalisation is. How can a British or French worker compete with a Chinese or Indian worker unless he accepts to be paid € 400 or even less?
The EU which used to be dead against M. Thatcher at the time of J. Delors has now adopted Thatcherian policies; all the economists know it: we are heading straight for disaster.
What we need is a New Deal for Europe, carrying out Keynesian policies, for example a large-scale sustainable development project which would create thousands of jobs, develop our industries instead of closing down plants, grow our own (healthy) food instead of buying tomatoes from South Africa or junk products from China. This is what the EU should be supporting instead of backing banks and multinationals.
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On the other hand, I totally disagree with you, because, whether we like it or not, we are the products of our own history.
We are not a “bunch of countries that happen to be next to each other” and though I’m far too young to have known this period I cannot thank Britain and Sir Winston enough to have continued the fight to save us from the Nazis.
You cannot simply live contemplating your own navel; you cannot live on coke and hamburgers and video games alone, even when you can afford them. “Culture” in the broadest meaning of the word is as necessary to human beings as bread… we don’t want to live an animal’s life: eating, drinking and f…, do we ?
Of course we can blame the eu for unemployment! Globalisation is the future. Like it or not and the eu has not seen the future and reacted to it.
Its not workers from China and South Africa that a lot of UK worker are worried about. Its the workers from eastern Europe who are competing directly for the jobs in the UK. Some of these jobs are only advertised in counties like Poland or Romania. How is being part of the eu or being “european” working for these people.
So where do you think the money comes from to run your country and the eu. The BANKs. With out the banks we would all be in the crap. Where would the money come from for your large scale sustainable(what ever that word is suppose to mean) project? Don’t ask me to pay any more tax so the eu can build a few more roads in Spain. So its back to the BANKs.
My grand parents never talked of freeing any one from the Nazis. They were only interested in saving their families and their country. To do this they had to liberate Europe and it was the Politician’s who talked of freeing people. Liberating Europe happened to be the best way to save ourselves.
Coke, hamburger’s and video games are what people want. People want to eat drink and F”£k. Look around you. Watch TV. That’s what people want. That’s culture in the real work.
Europe is a landmass. Fact. This landmass now happens to be made up of various different countries. I do not identify with the concept of “European”. It is meaningless
HI Matt, my latin ancestors spoke of “Panem and Circenses” , which I would freely translate in “Bread and Gladiators”. Them and I agree with you there.
I also agree with your definition of Europe as a landmass at the end of the Eurasian continent. It has been almost conquered twice during history, by the Arabs and the Huns, but they were both stopped before they could grasp it all.
Lately Europeans have rather been the conquerors and you drink Coke because Mr. Pemberton, born in Rome, adapted the italian Vin Mariani receipt. As for Hamburgers, the name says it all, and I hope you live in Europe and not in the US, because, in Europe, thanks to EU law, they are hormone free, whilst the one eaten by our fellow americans stastistically shorten their lives by 5 to 7 years.
If the Brits had not stood for Europe, you might not be drinking Coke and might have to eat more Hamburgers than you would like.
And eventually, if Europe doesn’t unite and stand for its values and is, for example, conquered by China, even the F”£king might not be as free as it is now.
HI Matt, my latin ancestors spoke of “Panem and Circenses” , which I would freely translate in “Bread and Gladiators”. Them and I agree with you there.
I also agree with your definition of Europe as a landmass at the end of the Eurasian continent. It has been almost conquered twice during history, by the Arabs and the Huns, but they were both stopped before they could grasp it all.
Lately Europeans have rather been the conquerors and you drink Coke because Mr. Pemberton, born in Rome, adapted the italian Vin Mariani receipt. As for Hamburgers, the name says it all, and I hope you live in Europe and not in the US, because, in Europe, thanks to EU law, they are hormone free, whilst the one eaten by our fellow americans stastistically shorten their lives by 5 to 7 years.
If the Brits had not stood for Europe, you might not be drinking Coke and might have to eat more Hamburgers than you would like.
And eventually, if Europe doesn’t unite and stand for its values and is, for example, conquered by China, even the F”£king might not be as free as it is now.
Sorry Matt; this time I can’t agree with you on any point.
– I don’t know what your grand parents did, but the British government might very well have signed a peace treaty with Hitler. Winston Churchill didn’t do it, not to protect your fish and chips from German sauerkraut, but to preserve freedom and democracy – and we will always be thankful to him for it. Otherwise we might all have been a big happy Nazi family.
– Millions of Britons spend their holidays in Spain (1M 600 000 each year in Benidorm alone)? I bet they’re quite happy to benefit from decent roads susidized by the EU.
– Ask the Greeks who ARE in the CRAP what they think about what BANKS did to them: τοκογλύφοι they call them; that is usurers, people who make fat profits on other people’s misery.
– “to eat drink and F”£k” is necessary to live, but it’s not enough to live as a human being, as a free citizen; it’s not what people want: (of course this is what the TV wants to make us believe… but WHO OWNS the channels ?). You should read what George Orwell (a Briton) says about the “proles” in his book “1984”, pp 59-61 of my Penguin edition… among other things… “As the Party slogan puts it: ‘Proles and animals are free’.
– Now you may well wish to get fat and die young of a heart attack or cancer because of all the junk food full of pesticides, and claim… “this is what people want !”… You may well want to ignore history and the rest of the world and be happy with your close friends and family… you are free to do so.
But you have to accept the fact that other people are also free to have a broader vision of what might be a less pessimistic future.
What does it mean to you to be European?
Names I identify with Europe and European culture are, Dumas, Zola, Voltaire, Goethe, Schiller, Cervantes, Dante, Aesop, The Brothers Grimm, Hans Christian Anderson, Homer, Bach, Beethoven, Mozart, Vivaldi, Strauss (Johann and Richard), Monteverdi, Hippocrates, Democritus, Epicurus, Copernicus, Kepler, Einstein, Marie and Pierre Currie, Pythagoras, Saint Augustine of Hippo, Luther, Calvin, Thomas Aquinas, Pascal, Plato, Aristotle, JP Sartre, Simone de Bouvoir, Kant, Hegel, Nietzsche, Kierkegaard, Wittgenstein, Descartes, Spinoza, Erasmus, Machiavelli, Rousseau, Marx, Da Vinci, Michelangelo, Caravaggio, Rembrandt, Picasso, Dali, Monet, Velasquez, Goya, Van Gogh, Titian, Munch, Magritte, Cicero, Alexander the Great, Charlemagne, Julius Caesar, Demosthenes, Napoleon, Garibaldi, Mazzini, Metternich, Robespierre, Danton, Louis XIV, the Bourbons and Hapsburgs, Ignatius Loyola, Savonarola, Richelieu, Otto von Bismarck, Tacitus, Plutarch, Gordano Bruno, Giovanni Battista Vico, Michelet, Renan, Taine. Shakespeare, Wordsworth, Coleridge, Shelley, Keats, Tennyson, Dickens, Marx, Engels, Wilde, Byron, Milton, Blake, Orwell, Tolkien, Conan Doyle, Mary Shelley, Bram Stoker, Tallis, Purcell, Elgar, Vaughn Williams, Britten, Lennon and McCartney, Newton, Harvey, Boyle, Hooke, Bacon, Fleming, Jenner, Occam, Wycliffe, Hobbes, Locke, JS mill, Hume, Russell, Tyndale, Burke, Paine, Wollstonecraft, Turner, Constable, Duke of wellington, Winston Churchill, Disraeli, William Pitt, Robert Walpole.
Also Europe has created ideas about politics, government and religion that we have exported all over the world, such as Democracy, Rule of law, Freedom of thought/speech/expression, Tolerance, Liberalism, Socialism, Conservatism, Marxism, Social democracy, Republicanism, Christianity (Both catholic and protestant varieties), Oligarchy, Aristocracy Tyranny, Monarchy, Plutocracy, Anarchy, and we still view the world through the prism of these ideas.
Also I identify Europe through the historical movements or periods which include the Roman Empire Holy Roman Empire, Middle ages, Renaissance, Spanish inquisition, Enlightenment, The Wars of religion, Industrial revolution, French revolution, Napoleonic wars, 19th century nationalism, Crimean war, Franco Prussian war, Entente cordiale/ triple entente, Russian revolution, 2 world wars , Spanish civil war, and the Cold war.
Europe represents 2500 years of accumulated culture, knowledge and history. This history is our birthright as Europeans and part of our collective identity which should be treasured and protected for future generations. The people who have settled in Britain over the past 2000 years include the Angles, Saxons, Romans, Vikings, Normans, and Huguenots. We are part of Europe and Europe is part of us for good or ill. These British figures that I quoted above should not be seen as being separate from European culture and history but an integral part of the European cultural tapestry. Outside the EU the Europe would be diminished and we would be diminished. The point of the EC/EU was to promote peace and security and it has been successful.
1. There has been 21 years between First and Second World Wars.
2. 43 years between The First World War and the Franco Prussian war
3. 15 years between the Franco-Prussian war and Crimean war.
4. The last war within the area now covered by the EU was 70 years ago (not counting Croatia which was not in EU in its war against Serbia during the 1990s.)
I suppose because I have had access to this culture since childhood, I have taken if for granted because I never had to think about it before. European values and history are incredibly important and therefore have to be defended. Maybe the EU should adopt the motto of the United States – E Pluribus Unum – out of many, one; united through our values and beliefs. One of the reasons why no Pan European civil society has developed is because of the language differences, which has prevented the emotional connection and feeling of ‘Europeanness’ between the peoples of Europe.
People have a tendency to confuse Europe with the EU. Migration and terrorism has had contradictory effects such as the way Europe pulled together after the attacks in Paris and Brussels and how the migration and refugee crisis from Syria put EU cohesion under strain because of the Schengen Agreement.
Any attempt to impose uniformity or federalism would lead to the EU ripping itself apart. Given the diversity of countries, languages, cultures etc in the EU it must remain a confederation. Also, if countries are unwilling to live by the same rules as everyone else they should be expelled, Hungary leaps to mind. Also there should be a limit to the number of countries within the EU. The fact is that there are some countries who should not have been allowed to join in the first place (Greece, Bulgaria) there are also some countries should not be allowed to join such as Turkey and Serbia. Serbia because of its links with Russia and Turkey because of its proximity to Syria, Iraq etc, its overwhelmingly Muslim population and its issues with human rights and the fact it is not, and will never be, truly European.
Euro sceptics argue that the EU did not prevent war in the former Yugoslavia, however neither did NATO. They also argue that NATO has preserved peace in Europe. Although the former Yugoslavia was not in the EU at the time. A strong EU is necessary to counter Russian imperialism. Putin’s Russia at best wants the EU weak and at worst wants it destroyed, because it believes it is encroaching into its sphere of influence e.g. in the Baltic states of Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia as well as the former Warsaw Pact countries such as Poland, Hungary, Bulgaria, Romania, Czech republic, Slovakia etc. What Russia want’s is its own version of the America’s Monroe Doctrine which will prevent western countries interfering in central and Eastern Europe but allowing it to do so? Eurosceptics could argue that NATO membership alone could protect countries but without the political and economic stability provided by the EU and constant interference by Russia this protection would be unsustainable and expensive.
1. Idelalism is a nice way to dream about; however, reality is hard to ignore without risking to pay a very high price at the end
2. Greece was admitted as the 10th EEC member-state (1981) for mere political reasons. Holding the key to the Balkans, it fit well in western cold-war strategy to incorporate Greece into the EEC, depriving the then eastern bloc from a quite important trade partner.
3. The EU (primarily Germany) not only did not prevent war in f.Yugoslavia: they made things worse by recognizing in particular the seccession of Bosnia-Herzegovina. The irrationality of that policy (to expect Serbs and Croats to live at a single state the same moment their federation – old Yugoslavia – had fallen apart) led to worse fighting, destruction and bloodshed
4. The incorporation of ex-Warsaw Pact countries (2004), as well as the Baltic states was to the benefit of Germany since they constitute vital economic space for it. The EU lost balance to the expense of the old members after their mass admittance in 2004 and 2007.
5. The core-EU member-states’ support in subversive activities against UN member-states (Iraq, esp. 2003; Afganistan 2003; Serbia 1999; Libya 2011; Syria 2011; Ukraine 2014 et.al.) put a real burden in EU periphery, esp. in Greece who lost its main trade-path to the EU center since 1991. That trade-path has now become the main refugee path (called “the Balkan route”). Besides, Greece lost all non-EU trade partners (mainly in the Middle East, the Balkans and the Black Sea areas). Such a development led to bankruptcy 20 years later (2010).
6. Considering that all problems started with the re-unification of Germany and its attempt to redraw the balance of power within the EU and beyond, one can easily understand the root question of the EU crisis: the ressurection of a 4th Reich in the core of Europe undercover of the “European unification project”, having as main promoting vehicle the germany monetary projection over the rest eurozone members: the euromark that fits only to German monetary, fiscal, financial and development needs.
END OF EUROPE
Be free, protected and equal :)
Europe is a joke
being European is letting human rights not enter from Syria Ethiopia Afganistan and let all the corporate industries smash the workers and slave them with debts
European mean leaving with social and emotional dignity in Europe enjoying a good meanigfull life.There are all the means but not the powers to create it.
I loved you once.
How can Europe be a joke? It’s the home of 500 million people. It’s also the economic powerhouse of the world, producing nearly 20% of the world’s wealth with just 8% of the population.
Europe is dynamic, diverse and fascinating. So happy to be a part of it.
Why was the project “Do You Speak European? ” canceled?
I don’t know I’m British! Have been for over 50 years. One doesn’t change who they are because Governments say.
It used to mean so much… and I expected much more… as for the present it means disappointment for the quality and determination of our leaders to solve problems without being taken for cowards and fools. .
It means to be white and christian….to support democracy to believe in solidarity,freedom,private enterprise to be aware of our history ,culture and tradition and to protect our heritage from all outside agression including uncontrolled migrations ,low cost products,unfair competition,terrorism,agression of our abroad interests…
Happy birthday EU!
In my opinion the the European values are bought cultural and economical like the idea of the large middle class which is a cultural and economical standard as well. Also, the rule of law is hugely important.
Here’s what transnational Europeanness means to an association of active citizens http://ow.ly/2COH3001YT8
It means to be able to live together without stupid wars on the same continent..it means to have a culture of freedom and respect and democracy,it means to have solidarity and compassion for the citizens, it means to be treated by other european nations on the same level and with fairness.
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We are not, have never been & never will be ‘European’.
it is an over used & meaningless term used to fool the simple minded into believing we are all one people, clearly we are not..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tk8n4o8OF9M
Truly ‘Pragmatic and United Europe’ is the key to the future coexistence and respect of european citizens.
To be being European means being a citizen of a country in the best continent in the world. A continent of culturally diverse nations. Sadly, the EU project whose goal is to homogenize the individual nations and cultures of Europe and merge them with Asian countries like Turkey is destroying this diversity and the continent I Iove.
it means to belong to a modern slavery in disguise. where we are not put in chains, but are subjected to harmful laws, created by corrupt politicians and CEOs.
It means to live in a comunity where there are rich and priviledged countries, like germany and other northern countries, where people get paid well and have (for example) lower costs with internet, eater, electricity… hence allowing them to live comfortably, and then there are poor exploited countries, like portugal, where our politicians sell their own countries, in brussels, to the interests of the richer countries. where people with te same job as germans or danish, earn 1/4 of what they do, but pay higher internet, electricity costs.
The EU must start to be a real union and unify what is unifyable: some jobs are the same, they should pay the same, same kind of taxes too.
and there should be a universal legal system. a specific court where EU politicians should be tried, and not in their country where they are always getting off the hook.
many european countries are the “maids” of some rich and priviledged countries, and we were sold by our politicians who get the envelopes under the table to sell out their own people.
This is Europe!
It means I happen to be born in the European continent. Most people that happen to born here by pure chance share a few set of similar values, mostly human values. Also we share our common history, our language roots, etc. Some people keep saying Democracy, I don’t know where it is in Europe, I don’t see it, so I’m leaving this one out.
What these people want us to answer is how connected we supposedly are, as different people from different countries, we were indoctrinated into being part of this fascist political and economic union that is plundering the rest of the planet resources, waging wars to satisfy our masters (the elite bankers, the big corporations and the political agents) while exploiting its own people, leading 500 million citizens of the European continent into poverty and dependence. They are not doing a bad job at all. The EU is a failed project, let’s use a bit of common sense and let it go before the wars turn inwards.
Culture and freedom.
It is sad that the first time we had a Portuguese citizen leading Europe it was the hardest times for Portuguese People.
We love Europe but we don’t trust in our representatives in Europe anymore: They lie about Portuguese People to protect financial and banking system holes and this is not acceptable.
Solidarity is the base to achieve Peace and Progress…
Have a Happy European Day with hope of happy moments in this journey. Thank you for all, sorry for something, we are all Europeans belonging to the same star flag…
…means to be in the lead of history that grows every day for the human specie. If we lost that advantage to be in we should consider to be off the books and hopes. To be an european is to stand for rights and values that some just can dream.
EU is the best we had in the European history . Democracy , human rights , equality , peace , justice , economical development , security , sustainable development of the Earth .
The birthplace of modern civilization.
ΔΗΜΟΚΡΑΤΙΑ, common roots,common history, common market, culture,religion,willing to live happy with prosperity,be competitive as a hole market to all other big markets of th world,common borders,being proud for Europe, being optimistic and being determined especially today, to resolve all problems and walk the road of a mutual society with same laws, defence,institutions etc and not only being a common market.
It means problem. 20 countries, 100 languages, 50 constitutions… What does it means for you!?
Flags, symbols and national posturing are all nothing but a lot of hot air and should be a thing of the past Democracy, truth, free speech, human rights, tolerance and equal opportunities are the qualities that matter and are to be found, albeit in varying degrees, in the EU.
Today is victory day over fascism
It means I’m from the European Continent, but since you mean “European” as in “EU”, than i have to say I do not feel “European” at all. I’m not “European” and I will never be.
It used to mean pride and dignity, hope in the future. Now? Support for mass illegal immigration. Forcing hundreds of thousands of people on Europeans despite the opposition of the vast majority . Discrimination between EU citizen and EU citizen. Blackmail. And oppressors like mama Merkel and Mr. JUNKer who only care about their utopistic visions and not even a tiny bit about what the average EU citizen wants. Britain, please vote OUT and start dismantling this monster of Brussels. Time to go back to economic co-operation!
Já me senti Europeu, não hoje… amanhã depende da comissão e do parlamento europeu se voltarei a sentir-me europeu.
Proud to be European!Great family,beautiful land,wonderful people!!
It means nothing, I’m french! I don’t see what my country shares with 27 others… Money, maybe? My taxes, yes!
What “Europe” meant for millions of people 50 years ago is no more. The ideology behind the word “Europe” represented “human rights, high quality of life, democracy, stability” in contrast to intolerance, inequality, racism and instability.
What we have today is a corrupt system which calls itself “Europe” but is controlled exclusively by bankers and funds.
Europe as a geographical term yes…as anything else sadly no.
Europe is too soft and too liberal, for example when a criminal is convicted of a crime and sent to prison, the press are not allowed to print their name or show a photograph. I say we name them and shame them. Where does it leave the rest of us law abiding citizens, if we are unaware that our neighbour or child minder was once convicted of a relative offence. In the U.S.A. there is not this problem. You can find even on the Internet mug shots of famous stars who were once arrested. Protect the innocent Europe and get real and tough on crime.
Live in a continent called Europe, but not European’s citizen can write some laws but today Europe smell so bad, like a trash.
1. Euro € is a fraud.
2. Spain don’t care about refugees, BIG HYPOCRISY… in 136 finish own civil war whit thousands people go away.
In 2016 still had about 150.000 people underground. Killed for Franco Government 70 ago.
Popular party don’t care because PP are sons of this regiment fascists.
Poor workers.
5.740.000 unemployed only in papper the rest, unknown.
In Melilla and Ceuta borders have jailhouses for immigrant people.
Now UE do the same in Greece.
Grecce first the banks stolen this country and now ask for the money. 3rd rescue… And try to help a thousand refugees because Bruselas is blind.
Etc etc…
Happy birthday fucking Europe
#15Mglobaldebout
Yanis Sfytides, l know what Portugal lost: We had a growing rate of 4 to 7%, now we have 1.3%. Our industry participated in 60% on our GDP. Now it is only 13%. Our unenployment rate was 4-5%. Now it is 13%. Officially! Our big companies paid taxes in Portugal. Now they pay taxes in Holland and Luxemburg. There are no successful countries without industry. Do you think Germany or Holland are interested in our countries develope industry? I rather have an association deal, as Switzerland, than to have a full membership
For me, being a southwestern European, specifically of the North of Portugal, is to ascend of the greatest Celtiberian Tribe, the Lusitanians… is to live in a nation with 837 years of existence. I know that my people conquered the world between the sixteenth and nineteenth centuries. But nowadays we live well, but in a country that was once rich and is now poorer.
Europe became a nightmare, once we’ve realised that it’s only the reckless fulfilling of the kalergi-Plan.
OCCUPIED LANDS OF ATILLA & SULEYMAN
Happy Victory over fascism Day ! Let’s try to remember the past, so that we collectively don’t fall into that trap again.
It means becoming a German slave.
Belonging together as Europeans :)
I am for Europe leaded by Germans. Only they are able to take the European destiny in their hands
According to ancient Greek mythology, Minos was considered the son of Zeus. Zeus fell in love with the daughter of Phoenician king Agenor, Europe. To approach her he transformed into a white bull and the charm mesmerized Europe who sat on it. Then Zeus kidnapped her and transported her across Europe today and then took her to Crete where he married beneath a tree in Gortyn. From this marriage were born Minos, Rhadamanthus and Sarpedon. The story depicted in the currency of 2 Euros.When you sit on someone think.Think before …………………..
Jeremy Rifkin described properly what is to be European: to think I am great when also my community is great with me
Marta Rodrigues
Gillian is that you?
questa canzone rappresenta come ci hanno “venduto” il sogno europeo. Fin da bambini siamo stati bombardati da simili spot e canzoni. ” Europa unita, la voce della fraternità, un unica nazione , solidarietà ” Eh è stato cosi ??? Noi italiani ce l’abbiamo messa tutta ma ci siamo ritrovati in un incubo che non vediamo l’ora di svegliarci da questa bruttissima esperienza della UE ( che non è l’Europa ) https://youtu.be/tN_87H2LbA0
Ελευθερία,σεβασμός,πολιτισμός !!!
Nothing. Got my tax files today.
From me it’s should have been a red day today and no work allowed. It’s my only and most important day to remember the unity of Europe and not to forget what happens if one does not change and are intolerant against others. Also a reminder to the many heroes of today that smuggling refugee during WWII
Je suis Européen
Je suis Le Monde
Something like this:
https://www.ted.com/talks/pico_iyer_where_is_home
Europe is my home, so I am European.
White & Christian!
A better social security system than the USA. Better language skills than Americans. And unfortunately, lots of Nazis who think Europe is white and christian.
Freedom, Equality, Christianity, Humanism, Roman and Greek civilisations
Ashamed.
Our great western civilisation – birthplace of Einstein, Newton, Descartes, Da Vinci, Shakespeare, Rembrandt, Aristotle, Dali, Planck, Bohr, Darwin, Arrhenius to name but a few Europeans – is being invaded by an idea of religious fundamentalism that in our weakness we have no defence against. Our meek tolerance of the intolerable will not deliver the peaceful United States of Europe that the fantasists dream of but a divided Eurabia that will be constantly at war with itself.
Simple! To me means that Germany must pay my full retirement!
Nothing.
I am proud to be European and Yorkshire
For being a real European, it’s enough to be a REAL asshole :D
being Greek and European for me is having a great cultural heritage but almost no future…
A BCE slave. (not my case fortunately).
I do not feel European at all…. Thanks EU for destroying for destroying Europe
Proud to be a European!!
Nothing it’s only a sham
Europe is a continent and nothing more.
Europe day? Sounds ironic. What does it mean to be “European”?
EU is not equal to Europe.
Being officialy European was a long-dremt, long anticipated wish come true for my fellow Bulgarians and me. Despite of living more than a half of my life in Germany meanqhile, I rarely felt the wish to acquire a German passport and never did so. Being European means to me to overlook and forget the borders (especially in my mind), celebrate the diversity and the sameness and to be compassionate and human.
Being European… is above all a question of freedom…
It means I can go where I want and when I want, that I can work and live where I feel like working… not just being stuck in one stupid fucking country like an illiterate peasant with clones of myself. It means I don’t lose money on the exchange rates when I travel and that I feel at home wherever I go… because all our MS are relatively safe
Mind you I made sure that I could find a job anywhere in the world in the first place so I’m not particularly affected by any of the national legislation most people complain about whilst happily, ignorantly blaming it on the EU generally because they never made the effort to understand or get out of the vassal condition imposed by their locals…
I don’t feel French or British… they are just passport nationalities.. a remnant from my grand fathers past… they make me think of silly movies like Indiana Jones with that Rolls Royce phantom II… or when people were stupid enough to fight for their countries in the name of belligerent ideals or in favour of one politician or the next… often less fortunate than me… and those are both things which today no longer have a place in the face of globalisation unless you’re a terrorist…. or a submissive idiot.
By being European, I can further take control of my life, escape from the promised misery of XXth Century life transposed into the XXIst…. the sleep, sub and work ritual… I can eventually take a direct part in the decisions made for me through the public consultations rather than rely on the national elect few and the self interested ideas they try and convey…..Escape from the sadness of only knowing so much when I could continuously learn and discover by creating new bonds and alliances….
It means that I have no limits and that the world is mine…
I’m not stuck in a village and I don’t have to rely on others if I don’t want to…
I am me and my only ruler… if i lose one job it’ll take a bout a minute to find another or create a new one…
I don’t owe that to being French or British…which use every trick to use and abuse me…. in favour of God knows which donkey… I owe that to this European freedom… and my balls…
Congrats to Juncker, Merkel etc.
Your brainwash experiments have had succes! At least one person repeats the EU propaganda as it were his own thoughts.
Happily to be Dutch AND thinking with my own brains.
The EU only excists in the mind of bankers and politicians!
Easy travels around the continent, nothing more
Europe means freedom, civilization, multiculturalism. On the other side, it means inequality, injustice, restrictions, powerful countries swallowing and enslaving the small ones. Egalite, fraternite, liberte – Utopia land.
I did not create the Europe I live It my political ideal is democracy three democratic principles that always suggested me I- presents you as a finite II always says what he has to say III always use commom sense Maype you can help restore some democratic principles
It means that you are free to move to exchange with other!
Also means that you have more strength as a big “country” against USA and China !
Not a thing.
Free traveler
Currency slavery.
Quella bandiera nella guancia non significa niente perchè essere europei significa far parte dello stesso continente e portare RISPETTO ad ogni popolo., alla sua lingua, cultura , origini, usanze ..Anche la Svizzera è europea
Not to be stupid. In varietate concordia!!!
Germanic sovereignty
Means working “together” to face common challenges. Resist to selfish behaviour and work for the common good. This is, to me, what being CIVILIZED or EUROPEAN means.
First of all, ensuring peace across the European territory, then, free excange of ideas and common values like the protection of vulnerable populations, and finally facilitating excange and transport of products, and also people………..
the quotation marks (“) say it all…
nothing as europe means germany 4th raich, so i am Greek Orthodox that means everything
It does not mean being in the EU, but being a citizen in a European Country.
Means respect for common space but without lost sovereignty and political decisions. Means that in my country we decide if we fish in our own waters means that we produce our own products without restrictions meaning I don’t have to buy milk from France when I have enough means respect and that’s not what’s happening. In this moment is an oligarchy. In my country along with others the constitution already protects human rights. Nobody in bruxelles is going to teach us that
Nothing anymore, bye everyone! 🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧
Lots of daily mail readers here.
.
Nothing, it just means you come from one of the 52 Nation in ‘Europe’.
Freedom, respect, multiculturalism, friends, Erasmus, Opportunity, Peace, Young generation, common values and the list goes on!
It means that I can move without boundaries, this is the most important thing that I have till now. On the other hand modern slavery….
Human Rights
Brothers, Sharing dreams, love, Village, fredoom, living, languages, european culture, one flag, one athem: Simply Europe. Big Family
To share Christian values to be citizen of one member state to be democrat and accept democratic values to défend european culture to pay tax in Europe and take davantage of social and médical assistance to protect european borders
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bureaucracy
To me being European is more than being British. Its a shared value of peace, exploring different culture and wonderful ways of life. Its about the freedom of movement, expression and freedom of choice.
Living on my home continent among ppl with whom we share common cultural roots.
hummm means been fooled by politics all the time;pay everything double price than he actually cost;and vote on some referundum where you’re response doesnt matter because at the end ”they” already figure out for you!
It means il have to leave my life that i have built up over 5 years of Living and being educated in the UK to another place where as a Romanian im already looked with reticence anyway thank you England and Wales , great job there :D set the place on fire why don’t you .
Decadent and useless
Easier to travel, to meet and to know people from other countries.
Actually,I think I’m Anatolian from east black sea cost,therefore ancient European and It means that I belong the land where modern civilized human originated.Also probably I have little bit a barbarian-pagan origin and it makes me fun.
pride
SLAVERY
Being European means to me being part of the greatest civilatory achievement in history. So sad that 17.4 out of 65 million Brits – in their majority rather uneducated, elderly and rural people – dragged the whole UK out.
Peter I’m glad I voted out. 17.4 million was still the majority. The rest should have tried harder. As for being elderly, uneducated (you arrogant twat) and rural well so what. The people that I campaigned with were not old, uneducated and none of us live in a rural part for the country. So what if we did. You expect me worry about the young metropolitan middle class. No one dragged the uk out. You lost. It’s called democracy. Deal with it
Germany
nothing.
Ελπιζω να μου μαθετε εσεις…
Nothing at all. I am BRITISH and proud to be ..
..
Εννοειται μεταφορικα χρησιμοποιησα την εννοια αγαπητε χρηστο και αυτο εχει να κανει με το τι σημαινει η Ευρωπαικη Ενωση του 2016 για μενα, . Αν εσεις νιωθετε οτι ειναι κατι διαφορετικο , ειναι δικο σας αναφαιρετο δικαιωμα να το πιστευετε, οπως και το να διαφωνειτε μαζι μου, οπως και εγω μαζι σας…
To be one citizen a mong 500 million others. To see a Brite future for us if we can get together and stand strong for our values and to be giving for less fortunate
Αλλα το να προσπαθειτε να προσβαλετε καποιον επειδη εχει ριζικα αντιθετη αποψη με εσας , δεν ειναι πρεπον νομιζω.. Για αυτο θα σας καλουσα να πειτε εσεις τι σημαινει η ΕΕ για εσας οπως ρωτα το post και η αποψη σας θα ειναι σεβαστη. Καλη συνεχεια!
I’m Polish. There is no country called Europe.
I’m Polish. There is no country called Europe.
That im native to the European Peninsula in the Eurasian continent.
That im native to the European Peninsula in the Eurasian continent.
European I am. There is a difference between being European and being a member of the EE.You are totally uneducated.
European I am. There is a difference between being European and being a member of the EE.You are totally uneducated.
Peace, prosperity, safety, stability, civilization, christianity, human rights.
To be European means to recognise we are more than the sum of our parts, that diversity is our strength, and cooperation is better than competition. The EU itself though seems to be losing sight of that.
To be at peace. Not to have nationalistic sentiment plunge us into another world war.
STOP THE GREEK GENOCIDE NOW. STOP KILLING GREEK PEOPLE EVERYDAY WITH YOUR ECONOMICAL WAR – MEMORANDUM. OUR SLOGAN IN GREECE IS “DESTROY EUROPE BEFORE EUROPE DESTROY YOUR COUNTRY” AND THE U.K. START IT ALREADY. CONGRATULATION TO THE U.K. PEOPLE FOR VOTING !!! IT’S TIME FOR ALL THE EUROPEAN COUNTRIES TO LEAVE FROM THE EUROPEAN UNION BEFORE IT’S TOO LATE FOR THEIR PEOPLE !!! EUROPE IS BANKER’S LOBBY AND THE POLITICIANS ARE THEIR PUPPETS !!! THEY DRIVE EUROPEAN COUNTRIES TO AN ECONOMICAL POVERTY !!! THE SOLUTION IS TO LEAVE FROM EUROPE NOW !!!
Being part of biggest and greatest family in the world, European family!
It means to me being part of a unique construction, which was originally meant to prevent a whole continent from being at war again, and succeeded so far. Europe may have many defaults, but it’s not even 50 years old, and has achieved so much yet. It may not be an eldorado, but think of what it may have been if bold and committed people wouldn’t have fought for it. It may disappoint you, but remember that it’s nothing but what you make of it. To me, Europe is my responsibility, and I want to take it.
You should try harder to bring back the people’s trust in you, Brussels. Cheap essays won’t save you.
Being part of a great family of different cultures and people, but deeplly with the same values. I would prefer to have an European Federation instead of European Union, with a federal governament elected by the people.
I was very happy, till I saw transfer of wealth to the “elite” once again and them telling us we will prosper and not to worry when people are suffering.
Thanks God, I,m not one :D But being European to Europeans means, to be governed under diverse idiocratic systems common and shared across European countries 8-)
…essere schiavo dei tedesci ???
Pride
To be critical, with power, with religion, with everything, love the detail, hate de generalizations, have civic courage, and feel all the culltural heritage and European history as their own, without partisanship feeling for his own etnic or nation or religion. Love and respect every european languaje. And to be a good reader of George Steiner.
To be critical, with power, with religion, with everything, love the detail, hate de generalizations, have civic courage, and feel all the culltural heritage and European history as their own, without partisanship feeling for his own etnic or nation or religion. Love and respect every european languaje. And to be a good reader of George Steiner.
I am SZÉKELY, as a Nation “european” does not exists. Europe is just the continent, where my home country, region, county and town are.
Do not mix European countries, nations with the artificial construct, deadbirth eu with its eurocrats trying to inhale that creature some life.
AGAIN…??? Just like I thought, you people DO NOT LISTEN… I’m starting to repeat myself, but here it goes: it’s all about shared values, shared history, cultural values and cultural identity throughout history… and partnership… (it’s not some countries taking advantage of others, or leeching resources from the neighbour next door)… I am European because I’m from Europe… you know, that place in the map (and history!), with several different countries… :-)
One word : everything !!!
One step beyond nationality, one step under citizen of the world…in other words, human.
Graziella :)
Everything I am!
Europe to me means friendship and solidarity.
I have friends who grew up on the other side of the iron curtain.
I have friends who suffered under communist and military dictatorships.
I have friends whose families have been hit extremely hard by the financial crisis.
They wouldn’t be my friends if it weren’t for the EU.
I never felt European until the anti-EU campaign emerged in the UK. Now I really feel like I belong to the EU and when I am asked where I am from I usually say from the EU. Very new feeling, but feels OK. Something good for the EU out of Brexit I suppose:)
open minded, friendly, peace, respect for minorities, freedom! Love Europe. I have many friends in Ireland, Austria, Germany, France and Spain. That’s Europe and the EU to me <3
Huh, this shows it all. If you are a Western European, you’re fine, if you however are from Central or Eastern Europe you,re scum to both Western and fellow Central/Eastern Europeans from other countries.
Lončarek Martina
At one point I would have said, being lucky enough to be born to the most civilized continent on Earth, but now I fear many Europeans no longer care about preserving their rich heritage or even learning about it in the first place.
let me first of all say: I’m a boomer and I’m a European, and we boomer Europeans are many. Let’s not take the fact that so many of my generation in the UK voted for ‘Leave’ as that the older generation is anti-Europe. Being European means for me to not get the ‘other’ in the way, but exhibiting an open-minded and welcoming attitude towards anyone and everyone. We are after all one family of humans on in this continent which we call Europe. It would be sad day for Europe if we began to close our hearts and minds to others because they are … not like us.
Freedom. Security. Love.
It s just a crisi, guys, we ll get over it. Last debacle German hegemony vs British pride with the world watching
That’s the question. Reclaming our identity of Europeans means to be part of definig Europe and acting on it.
I love being European because in today’s planet Europe as a Union gives me real hope and makes me excited as some of the most progressive political agendas around this planet are being implemented here in a continent totally diverse fm each other yet, we all know it, somehow connected. I love being European regardless, in spite of, and in full awareness of the disfunction. Disfunction can be fixed. A vision cannot be remade if it gets completely broken and there is something cool about the vision. I think. Or at least we need to all talk about it. Not our politicians, business people, banks or mainstream media. We as a people. How many of us voted in the past 3 Europarliamentar-ian elections? Can we all decide on a common vision of a political union that respects the color of our diversity as countries as well as everyones’ human, environmental, and social rights? Even if we don’t agree, what do we have to loose by seriously, intelligently, thoughtfully all talk about it?
I’m extremely sad because of Brexit. But reading your messages did me good.
I actually wrote an article on Brexit on my blog, explaining why I feel European. I added, with his permission, a message by an Italian baby-boomer like Dagmar who also explains the importance of Europe for him.
…
It would be too long to publish the article here, but if you are interested, here is the address:
http://uropi.canalblog.com/archives/2016/06/27/34012078.html
It means NOT being nationalistic. So careful with that EU flag waving, that’s a slippery slope.
I think we all feel european. But it means certain values and certain guarantees, which the commission is now failing on drastically, if it wasn’t, Greece in its current state would not exist, and brexit in its current state of chaos, fragmentation, xenophobia and economic free fall would not be happening. I think those of us from the ‘limbs’ of europe have more of a sense of needing proper boundaries, peninsulae and island nations, or those with only one eu land border may have more of a sense of the ‘nation state’ i don’t know. but I think it is different sense of how one thinks of one’s country in relation to europe than maybe the franco germano benelux do, their borders with each other have always been nebulous and shifting. But when most of your border is the sea and one other eu state you feel a little more precious about it.
Peace.
To respect all nations and be respected in return.
Always obey Merkel!!! … or else….
I love to be european…but not the EU that has destroyed the european contries to major glory of Germany = III reich.
I’m Greek !
Being European to me is, striving to make the world a better place, trying to have a society that is fair for everyone not matter where they are from or who they are as a person. I think we as European strive to be accepting of others.
I am a white Orthodox Bulgarian male, i.e. I am a European.
.
.
It’s a meaningless label.
vive la liberté !
up to now, means nothing… thanks to bankers and other financial crappers…
Europe and its EU should be the people and for the people…
up to now, means nothing… thanks to bankers and other financial crappers…
Europe and its EU should be the people and for the people…
I am proud to be an European. I can travel free around Europe and meet other people with different opinions, but the same values. I can buy product from Italy, France, Belgium, … without paying extra taxes. My parents are from Belgium, I live in The Netherlands and I became Dutch. So that is a prove of a United Europe. We have so much human values in common. Lets unite in diversity and our life become so much rich. Peace, solidarity and prosperity thanks to the European Union.
I am proud to be an European. I can travel free around Europe and meet other people with different opinions, but the same values. I can buy product from Italy, France, Belgium, … without paying extra taxes. My parents are from Belgium, I live in The Netherlands and I became Dutch. So that is a prove of a United Europe. We have so much human values in common. Lets unite in diversity and our life become so much rich. Peace, solidarity and prosperity thanks to the European Union.
Europe used to be a girl that was outwit by Jeus, like is happening today from EU leaders. The same old story
Europe used to be a girl that was outwit by Jeus, like is happening today from EU leaders. The same old story
I wrote this text some years ago that sums it up:
http://julienfrisch.blogspot.com/2010/01/european-mind.html
people don’t see the benefits of the EU because primarily it is responsible for trade and corporations. It is not a social EU. There needs to be social policies EU-wide following one set of regulations. E.g. There is a conditional Guaranteed minimum income in Cyprus. An application can take a year to be processed. If you are an EU citizen who worked in another EU country it takes more than a year to be processed, rejected, disputed, processed, amended. This would not happen if the GMI was under the EU strict guidelines and regulations. All this time there is no financial help for these people in the year long [or more] application process-disgusting and inhumane. Then people wonder what is the point of the EU if it is not helping the people directly, in their daily lives or experiences or time of need.
It means sharing common roots and a sharing a high degree of sensibility for art, history, food and culture.
https://www.facebook.com/videokarikatura/videos/785259574910481/
It should be case for pride, hope one will be.
For me to be or not to be european is: http://www.euromeblog.wordpress.com
nothing at all iam Greek not european
Ιβελινα
EU idea fits to all Earth. When time comes to be united and start to colonize space, people are still like stupid monkeys “fighting for place in sandbox”.
Values
I stand for a United Europe!
No EU😠😠😠😠
Being European does not mean much to the rich who are leaving Europe , especially France in ever growing numbers , and heading for countries where there will be no problems with migrants and Muslims .
For me, means; It’s 100 times better than be American.
It means “I don’t break your ballz” and “don’t break my ballz”…
What really means to me? Nothing. It means conservatism, stress, struggle, disappointment. We will never be like all other Europeans, we will never be accepted as equal.
Nothing much… From Soviet Union to European Union… First Moscow dictated us how to live, now Brussels.
Now waiting for Union Army at our lands to ensure no “rebels” would appear speaking about independence and leaving union.
It means that if you’re not french german or british than your country is nothing and will do what this powers will say to.
it means I am a victim of neoliberal policies and it means I am ashamed of European governments in Britain, France and Germany, among others, which export death around the world in the form of weapons sales
.
It simply means I am a citizen of one of the 51 European Nations, nothing more.
Debating Europe is the voice of Georges Soros through OpenSociety fundation.
https://www.debatingeurope.eu/partners/
Meaningless, unless European politicians doesn’t completely understand what does total people’s of 27 EU country thinks for their needs!!!
For me to be a European means to share and represent worldwide a set of common values such as the non violent solutions to wars, the refuse to death penalty, the respect of the environment. All of which derives from the European history that encompasses various centuries of divisions, wars and dictatorship among the European people. To correct these mistakes EU is born. Se should never forget why the EU project is born.
la bellezza di essere europei è nella diversità culturale di ciascun Paese e va preservata non distrutta . Eravamo europei prima della UE e lo saremo anche dopo la UE .C’è chi vorrebbe amalgamare i popoli come fossero MASSA , numeri ed è un errore. La vera integrazione si ha con il RISPETTO delle identità
the beauty of being European is the cultural diversity of each country must be preserved and not destroyed. We were the first Europeans in the EU and we will be even after the EU .There who would mix the peoples as if they were MASS, numbers and it is a mistake. True integration you with RESPECT identity
Tolerance, open mindedness, freedom, equality, unity, democracy, culture, progress, stability, innovation, humanity…. Well at least all those that I would like Europe to stand for, not that it does, sadly…
Personal freedom, civil and social rights and a Roman-Greek and Christian cultural background.
It doesn’t really mean anything to me, unfortunately… I think they failed to grow an European feeling… Europe could have been something great but now it’s crashing down because every country is taking his own path and everyone is minding his own business…
Having family and friends. Speaking as many european languages as I can. ☺ To be or not to be european, that’s the question: http://www.euromeblog.wordpress.com
Laicism and freedom of speech
Well i think Russians and ukraine are europeans too :D ,Georgians etc.. and the EU is considering Russia an Ennemy so make it clear what u mean by european ;) some Europeans want to make Turkey European even if its geographically not
The problem is not geography. Turkey might as well become a european member if it shared any of the so-called “values”. Instead Turkey occupies for decades half of Cyprus, having killed and displaced thousands and constantly threatening to invade Cyprus and Greece (and its other neighbours) and Europe has done nothing to protect the common borders, instead we are casually discussing when will Turkey join , as if nothing has happened. If anything Europe at its most difficult issues (Cyprus,Ukraine,Financial crisis) has shown how divided,weak and fragmented it is . The solidarity is only to protect the central elite banks and major corporations all the rest has gone through the drain.
Its an actual place, with indigenous people and culture. No different from other indiginious groups
For the term “European” to actually mean something to the citizens of Europe, a common ground in the mentality, calture and tradition, political and economical principles of people is required. What is the common ground between a Greek or an Italian with a German? Let me tell you, there is no common ground. As long as EU, treats people as numbers, there will never be a common ground for anything
Democracy and sciences books new ideas.Not islamization of ancient europeans nations.When they stop killing christians for…blasphemy in their theocraties countries,we can accept them.We build mosques everywhere and they destroy churches.Patriarchs lives under threats and fear.Since then must Stop killing eatcother… siites against sounites and blaiming always West. Yes to refugees who are in danger from islamists.No to migrands who think like islamists.No schools no music no beautiful clothes no books no universities except koran….and
No Women. This is racism
High education,friendly to environment ,good jobs and high level health treatment.
Inittially I ‘d like to put on the state name for a while next to my own nation one and get used to that I am the same with someone else.
<3 Europe
Being indigenous to Europe, living in a European culture according to European norms.
Europa é um continente onde alguns povos sempre lutaram pelo poder. Para não desaparecerem, perante boas doses de carnificina alguns sonharam meios para a fraternidade e solidariedade que , em tempos de dificuldades económicas, logo se afundaram e trouxeram à superfície os preconceitos e ódios . Europe , is a big bag plenty of wild cats.
As a Brit..it means very little. I feel ive more in common with America, Australia, Canada and many Commonwealth countries than the majority of European Countries.
It means: peace
Difficult question. Europe is a very big umbrella that encompasses different approaches. For me the European ideal is summed up in Enlightenment values, liberalism, freedom, science. The values that ended the obscurantism of the Mediaeval age. It should also mean peace and tranquility, safety, low crime – which are really bound up with freedom – egalitarianism of rights and opportunities.
I wouldn’t say there is a unified consensus across Europe on what Europe means. I like open, international, multi-ethnic society – not thereby renouncing, however, any of the aforesaid values. I don’t believe in conflict with more insular European countries to force them to open, however. That is not the way forward.
That I was born in the European Peninsula, in the Eurasian Continent.
Being a proud member my nation (about its achievements, culture and traditions), in a loose community other nations and nationalities all over the continent Europe.
Means that as every passing day I loose more freedoms and wealth due to politicians I didn’t get an option to vote for. It means my country, which is forced into poverty by forced budget cuts by the same ppoliticians I had no option of voting for, is last in line before receiving aid while foreign nations get billions of our taxed Euros. It means that as a once self employed tax payer, when I closed my business I had no right to unemployment or any type of aid, while migrants and “refugees” receive government aid in the thousands monthly. It means my daughter goes to school in what looks like a 3rd world school because there are no funds due to forced budget cuts to repair the school. So this means they use schools were it rains in them, theres mold, paint is falling off walls. Yet EU sends billions outside of EU to school children. It means we have over 50% young unemployment rate which means my daughter most likely once out of school won’t find a job.
Nothing ,I’m British and British only.
Cultural Diversity. Example of a fair Civilization. Order snd Stability. Progress. Democracy.
By the way what else needs to be? Transparent. Social Responsible. Sustainable. Strong Defense. Downsize and regionalize the Power.
As a Greek Cypriot born in England, and now living in Cyprus I never felt British, nor Cypriot. I am neither and both at the same time. I feel more European now, especially since I have seen DNA test done on TV and online, that shows we are not just one ethnicity. We are global really. Humanity is one family and we should make sure none of us suffer and we all have a good quality of life. And the EU I think can help bring this about-if they want to. With trade laws preventing worker exploitation in non-EU countries. And a guaranteed minimum income for all citizens, or 4-day work hours for job-sharing, or better workers rights and transparency that stop worker exploitation by business within the EU. Plus tax the mega-rich and mega-corporations.
I think a major priority for EU ought to be the solidarity to your homecountry Cyprus. During these last few years EU has only tried to contain the financial crisis but has offered nothing at all to protect Cyprus from its invaders and protect the European borders.If Ukraine teaches as something , when/if one of the peripheral European countries gets invaded, the core and the north and Brussels will at most inflict sanctions. Most likely will willingly tradeoff some more european ground or islands so as to avoid conflict or to avoid spending to bolster our borders. The most important Europe should provide which is protection of its people lacks completely especially for the non central countries who are like a buffer to the central european and financial elite.
For me it means a natural evolution from identifying as Irish to Irish-European. I incorporate the wider European cultural identity into my natural born island identity.
I like feeling part of something bigger. It gives me a sense of security, pride and community.
White and Christian!
Common past, social democracy, respect to the minorities and democracy. These should be the principles of the EU. But unfortunately…
I am first and foremost a human. Everything else is secondary.
A geographical determination directly connected with cultural advancement and financial strength of locals.
There is no such thing as a European. Yet! It is an ideal. Anyone who stands against racism, xenophobia and nationalism is a true European!
For me it is an open horizon within and outside myself, It’ s being universal with deep roots.
Antoine, An’So, Manon
Ipokrezija!!
Celtic, Greek, latin inheritage, democracy by Republic, ready to fight for my right, Rousseau, Voltaire, aso, but it’s maybe more about being french than being european.
Its choosing the best, beeing and dooing the best and want the best life for EU citizens.
Means “Peace” to me.
great people except 48%brits
Being part of a higher goal than just pure capitalism
Europe should be the union of the people not of the banks.
I do not know since the financial crisis started. I am trying to figure out what I want to be as a European or how it should feel
Europe doesn’t exist as a “country” or a kind of as the “Wild kats” have been trying to make us bellieve. An economic commun espace whithout a commun economic planification doesn’t work. The order is to competitivity. In a “kind of country” union??? What union? When they thought in an economic union they should have think a unic economic program. A unic finance program. And also in other strategic things that are necessary to go on as a “kind of country”. Meanwhile We are Just toys in does hands. That is what i think.
Soy citizen bizantino, negocios, buenas amistades. Tengo amigos y familiares lejanos en europa.
White, Christian, living on the continent. Opposing Islam for 14 centuries.
fight corrupted politician, and plitics, injustice
Nothing, I’m Greek
I agree with Jo Leinen’s definition of what a European is. I would add that Muslim immigration combined with their proportionally much higher birth rate is a threat to this European identity because Islam’s values are totally opposite to European values of equality of sexes (surah 4), freedom of religion (surah 4.89, illegality of apostacy etc), pacifism (eg. surah 5.33).
It meant something… today means depression, corporatism, conservatism, fear, nationalism, authoritarianism, centralization and less democracy. What a pity… :-(
Go to Congo or South Sudan, try to meet the locals and you will find out more about what being European means..
Now means nothing…no roots, no morals, no etics.
Europe = freedom “seghen”
It means nothing to me.
In my honest opinion to be “European” means being part of a community that has understood after centuries of war that we can live in peace, respecting each other, allowing the other to be different as long as their diversity does not harm.
In my honest opinion to be “European” means being part of a community that has understood after centuries of war that we can live in peace, respecting each other, allowing the other to be different as long as their diversity does not harm.
If you are a banker it means a lot, if not, it means trouble!
Then you should go to Africa or Asia to feel better
If here is trouble
This lady appears to be working for the banks. :P
Yea she does work for the bank
To be .. means actually ….to be … who we are! I’am a Pole and I’am an European. Nothing can change that, so I’am who I’am as we all are.
A lot of nerves for decision made by people not elected by me.
And basically as eastern european a lot of disappointments.
You did not vote?
Jean-Pierre Rosa as if you don’t already know that the EU commission is not elected…
Jean-Pierre Rosa Nobody vote for Juncker, right? He is the choice of about 3-400 ox in the Parliament :)
EU is gonne fail because corupt politicians.
.
It means I am a citizen of one of the 51 Nation States that makes up the geographical area known as ‘Europe’, nothing more.
actually, nothing… I feel Italian then maybe I could call myself an European just because i live in the continent.
im Greek not European
Considering we are paying for your corruption, you should just be thankful.
Jean-Pierra Rosa, you clearly don’t know much about how the EU works and what caused the Mediterranean countries to get into the state they are…
Jean-Pierre Rosa we are also paying for your corruption, unless of course you are naive enough to believe an uncorrupted state really exists.
Perhaps you could take 50 to 60000 refugees. Then you will not need to give us a … loan with interest.
Born on the european continent.
It means a loot.It means everything!
Democracy, solidarity and equality, which is lacking nowadays in Europe. Unfortunately. We must recuperate our values.
Lol…em que planeta vive?
José Bessa da Silva what are you laughing about? Diga lá o que quer dizer e deixe-se de facebullying.
Maria Rodrigues ignora os filhos da puta do PNR.
Facebullying? Que sensível é sua excelência. Bem, trocando para menos abonados (e isto sim é bullying), quero dizer que a Europa nunca se regeu por esses valores e a União Europeia muito menos. Só alguém sem qualquer noção histórica ou da realidade poderia colocar um comentário tão infantil. Ou então alguém de má indole cujo único objectivo é vender a banha da cobra que é a UE.
Ok. PNR? Ouvi falar vagamente. Uns tipos muito estranhos que volta e meia são presos por arruaças e crimes vários? Que defendem uma porrada de idiotices? Meia dúzia de fulanos que bebem ovos e dão coices no arado? Conheço vagamente.
José Bessa da Silva e não se mate a tentar entrar no meu PC. A máquina que me serve é uma torre. Desista.
Bem, vossa excelência é louca.
Obrigada pelo elogio.
Absolutely nothing.
This is Qestion for the Europeans….:)
Defender of the Faith and West Civilisation
What faith? We are mostly secular.
Secular doesn’t mean being against a faith and if you open and read a history book you’ll discover that we have been Christian for almost 2000 years and this is one of the few things we really have in common.
Christian faith – even ateist must have moral – and thats mean christian Etik and christian Values
So…Russia is west?
Rosia is the the sinner son of ower civilisation – or if you wish – bad Student -who was desapointed and turn in to hooligan ….
George Dimopoulos Eleni Panagakou
It means people don’t know Europe does not have it’s own landmass and therefore it is an invention…
tu deves ter vindo da Lourinha ;-)
Com muito gosto. Viva a vila Loba, a jóia da Região Centro ;)
To UNITE those once deeply divided.
yeah… it’s working like a charm…..
Dream on… Wee arreeee noott theee sammeeee. Capish.
Being part of something GREAT. Europe is the light!
The lamp must be broken then. It needs to be replaced by some other lightning system that actually makes sense..
The lamp need to be put in a hight place
Is that a lamp or is it the eye of Sauron?
Light is dead in europe, sorry to dissapoint you..
We’ve been Europeans from 1300 years.
I am European. That is it, that is all. why make such a fuzz about that. same counts for natonality!
kill yourself
Θοδωρής Καραμουράτ just because you whom I don’t know want me too? serious? be careful with your wishes, might hit back on you, trollie!
Hypocrisy
no solidarity at all just a common currency………….
If it goes on like this Europe will soon become Africa
The presen EU is not my european dreaming. Too differences from different peoples and coltures and no correct idea about free market and free rotation for EU peoples. There is not an european people but only an european market and world finance capitalism reducing the working dirict and the their well-being. I do not like this EU.
Me too. I love the idea of a EU, but what we have at the moment is arrogant people backed by corporations, taking us to an abyss.
Dictatorship en corrupcie is what EU is right now.
EU is our family!And is great to have a big family in these days!I can’t think my self outside of EU.
EU is NOT your family. Where did you get this stupid idea from??
Jorge wrote “If you are a banker it means a lot, if not, it means trouble!”
…
Absolutely not ! Banks are global not European. Take Goldmann Sachs for example: it wields more power in Europe than any European bank.
I agree with what most people are saying here, Europe is our civilisation; our languages and cultures may be (seem ?) different but they have so much in common.
As one of you said: you only have to live in Africa for a while to understand what Europe means.
One thing I disagree with: Europe is not christianity: Europe means to be free to choose our religion (or no religion at all if we like), Europe is freedom of thought. We do not want to go back to the Middle Ages and the Crusades (this is what ISIS wants us to do: let’s not fall into their trap).
…
The election of Trump has at least one advantage for Europeans: Let us awake from the American dream; let us make the European dream come true!
Europe today, with all its shortcomings may not correspond to what we really want; let us build the Europe of tomorrow, a Europe of Democracy, Solidary, Equality and Freedom as Maria said.
The future is in our hands !
The future is in the hands of IMF/ECB gang (at least regarding the PIIGS)
Let us take it into our hands !
Being part of a multicultural, multilingual, forward-thinking and critical-thinking, open-minded continent, which values the differences existing within European countries and furthers the freedoms, rights and values that the European ideal is based upon. Being European extends far beyond a common market or currency, it’s about culture and identity, about rejecting small-minded nationalism and embracing democracy and its values.
Reject nationalism? Never!
If you know that nationalism means that one’s nation-state is perceived as being superior to other countries for whichever reason and that that supposed superiority warrants aggression towards said other countries, I’d like to know what you’re doing on a page such as Debating Europe. If, however, you are confusing nationalism with patriotism, perhaps you have a semblance of a point.
Rosie, a share your ideals, but reality is far from them.
There is no democratie in EU, only capitalisme !
Rosie Dandoulaki this is chauvinism, not nationalism.
Nice ideology, but EU is everything BUT not wat you describe.
Blagovest Nikolov what is chauvinism if not an extreme expression of nationalism? That being said, certainly nationalism is a widely debated term with both positive and negative connotations.
Zille Vuk that’s your view. I respectfully disagree.
Because yoy are young and you belive what you see on TV, and belive me it a lie!
Zille Vuk I don’t watch TV, ever. And being young doesn’t automatically make me stupid, vacuous or ill informed. Nice try being condescending though.
Nationalism is as European as Leonardo Da Vinci and Beethoven. It was literally invented by us. It’s in our blood. You may desire a ‘multicultural’ society but there is certainly nothing European about.
Watching diferent sorces of news makes you smarter and larn you to think deaper then your own idea in head. Let me ask you a question and give me the honest answer,ok?.. Ok here it comes” are the refugees inrichment of western culture oor not?.
Dumb question, most important being EUROPEAN doesnt depend on being called so by a bunch of unelected nobodies in Brussels, whose loyalty isnt even to Europe or the Europeans they claim to be leading.
Before 7-10years we had a dream, an united Europe, no borders and prosperity for all Europeans… Now Europe is a nightmare a place where you have to forget your original traditions because international gangsters like soros and rotscilds have decided to transform Europe in a kind of afroasiatic union mixed with a little bit of European lefty coulture
Being the best part of the planet
I am from the continent of Europe full of many beautiful and diverse Countries (y)
Than you are a stupid blond, pardon my honesty..
Well i am blonde but my lines of communication are definitely not primitive.. no need to pardon me for anything 😘
Wel sad but far from truth. Europe is a big failure and wet dream of corporations selling us there rubbish”expencive” in form of plastic boxes..
I believe i wrote that Europe was a continent. Not a union. Being European to me is that i come from the beautiful Country of my birth, that is geographically on the Continent of Europe.
Nothing more to read into that.
To be part of a great community of nations of shared blood and civilization!
Romania – nothing !! although are part of the EU, nothing changed for better … only that a lot of people went to work in other countries !! and we were invaded by the big corporations. other than that there was no significant change
Nothing? Let’s not not confuse the effects of the extreme incompetence and corruption of the romanian politicians in Romania with EU membership!
so, denial is your strongest argument ?? f politics !! what did the EU do for us ?? wtf are you talking about ?? besides the corporations, they came with there EU regulation !! that fucked everything up !! there is no legislative, social or economic cohesion with the EU !! and the EU is not doing anything about it !! above all, they are not permiting Romania to enter the Schengen Agreement!! wtf … they took our banks, ensurance, resurces … even the best people , and they didn”t give anything back !! only the finger …
Buj Alex before schengen and any more privilige, please give the right and equal treatment to your minorities, especially Humgarians. Even better, let Transylvania become autonom!
Gabriella Anderson autonom ?? lol!!! you have an imperialist mentality, but on that ideea we should`ve kept Hungary under our rule when we had the chance!! you`re a vicious nation and you don`t have any right on our lands !! and F YOU … it shouldn`t be up to you !!! Schengen should be a comon right for EU members … Transylvania will never be autonom, because there aren`t enough minorities … you can`t claim rights over a land with a 5-10% population !! that is stupid, nobody will even think about debating that !! but do you know what we can do, we can take our lands back even more, from you!! and make the border Tisa, as it once was !! even saying that, shows how vicious you can be !! what does it have to do, with question put under debate …
We should concider ourselves not only European, but we must concider ourselves as part of the worlds humanity. Instead of being competitive with the rest of the continants, is it not wiser for all humanity to live as one, in a peaceful, harmonious and abundant World, where everyone is treated with dignity and repect ? Let us unite with the rest of our the planet and end the hardships many are facing in their precious and priceless lives <3
What?
Was amazing a decade ago but today is so divided and away of its principals.
Anthropogeography & civilization. Language, culture, history, value system, habits, perception, forms – norms, economy – politics – social structure etc.
Brainwashed people acting like zombies….before we all had a COUNTRY but now Europe is the “Madamme” of a huge brothel.
Nothing.
The most antient people of Europe are Albanians, Macedoninas and Greeks. Albanians and Macedonians were Eurpope when you were called Barbarians. When we fell under the Turkish invadion and we fought to protect Europian values, you Europians of today didn’t help but went overseas to colonize, to steal other countries. Now after 500 years of Turkish invasion we are poor and you dont acept us in BE. Or worse you want to call Turkey Europe before us. But we dont care we have been Europe when you were called Barbarians , and we still are the true Europe.
Double standards and corruption. https://www.occrp.org/en/daily/5176-bulgaria-official-sacked-over-lavish-lifestyle-exposes-tip-of-iceberg
Europeans is a concept a idea … its certaintly is not reality especially with the unfairness corruption … jsut full of crap
lots of dreams about international freedom, and little reality of it lol
For me it is the natural evolution from small nation states to a larger nation state.
It is inevitable so why fight it? Why are people so attached to their nation state?
Pride, comfort, duty, patriotism.
Its possible to remain loyal to your nation state and embrace the new reality. I look upon Europe as an extension of my Irishness.
I can do this because I choose to.
It means opresed by liang media, means that EU has no democratie and is pure capitalisme, means replacing good life standard with poor one,means that corporations can buy they way of interes by buying the politician on the power, means that future off EU is in hand of people nobody woted fore, means mass imigrations and rape of europe rights by imigrants themself, means destroying each countrys pride by destroying there culture in name of profit organizations, means war soon between religions orginize by rich wich would be loong on safe places untill is done,menas end of life as we know it !
What a load of badly written rubbish.
Sadly it is the truth. You will realize it but im afraid when is too late whats REALY going on.
Europeans STOP the Greek Genocide NOW !!!
Greek genocide?? Really?! Do you know what genocide is? Read about Cam region in 1913 where 200,000 Albanian men women and children got murdered on their doorstep by Greek terrorist army!
And today survivors are not allowed to even visit their ruined homes!!!
We know very well what genocide means. You must say a big Thank you today, to the Greek people and to Greece because for over 20 years you live with money from Greece. So next time before you decide to write somnething think it better. You are talking about the war of 1013, today in Greece we have an ecomomical war from European Troika and IMF. You know nothing about the Greek genocide today, that’s why you are talking like this. When europe start destroing the economy in your country, come to talk again about the “Good” europe.
http://kommaneon.blogspot.gr/2015/06/blog-post_89.html
Let me all ask you a question, if EU is democratic then why nobody ask people to vote if they want the part of EU?!
Having the same currency and traveling without passport :)
and there it ends
Europe have gone threw many … wars, religion transforming, revolutions, many nations… this continent gave birth to what we call western civilization. made evolution from middle age mind to human rights ideals. and this big unseen work made so many threw past 50 years… it was great ideas of great people- continent with human dignity and peace. this is what is Europe actually made of now. and i proud to live here. but… i am afraid, there are some changes in structures- change of people there. it’s not these great people who created basement for things we can be proud and safe people… how many of people just doing business and job , instead of having this great visions left in institutions?… so… we face the collapse of all was achieved by now… is money so worthy?… many gave life just to make it… and now… some pure pure persons just making small deals and business on it… ma… we are so unconscious for to keep it and understand… ” but freedom, freedom.. is never greater, than it’s owner…” that’s how it is… we want these values- we have to became it… or we still wait for master like a slaves?… let’s think
A more social EU, EU-wide. Same minimum wages, same benefits, same high taxes (for the rich), free education, no privatising of healthcare-ever.
get out the hands of criminal financiers and we the people, will be happy again
To tolerate lowest category of “refugees” and same lowest category of politicians…
Hate EU and Love Europe. if you love europe you canot like EU.
The EU because it brought peace and unity within Europe? Is that what you hate?
thomas you not even european to talk. you hate european ur not welcome in europe.
in europe we dont want scum that hate us. go away to arabie saudit.
USA army get out of europe now. Not welcome. Never was welcome. never. Go Away and take usa army out of here.
Being European means to reject the EU and to be of native indigenous European bloodline. Moving or being born in Europe does not make you European unless you have European blood
interesting… I have never heard of that. What does make blood European? Any particular biochemical component?
To be european=live in as continent where there is no place for savage islam/sharia
Please, add Alfred Nobel to thoose who contributed to a european identy!
I don’t want or need this Europe of Multinationals. I want a Europe of Nations.
.
Nothing, my Nation first, second & last………..
Vive la liberté !
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lbfcRu4UPbg
“What does it mean to YOU to be “European”?”
Simply a slave of a technocratic machine.
to be resident of divided continent. To live under “divide and rule”
Brother of all EU countries but dominated by corporations
To be strong and safe if we are united, together.
we are not together. Do you know where is geographic center of Europe? Well it is in Ukraine. The country that lives “divide and rule” at its best.
Goran Batovanja we need to be together. Let’s make it happen. I am in Portugal far away from Ukraine and i feel european.
I feel European too 😊
“together” is just a dream. In the reality, it means nothing but propaganda.
UE = competition between people. That’s the reallity.
Germany industry is in competition with French Industry. Look at the cars factory for exemple.
It’s not beeing “strong”, it’s beeing weak.
“Safe?” Why are there no terrorism in Switzerland? Because Switzerland is not in NATO and NATO = UE.
Go to Lybia and Syria and say to them UE is peace. I’m not sure you’ll be back.
I think Europe can change so we can be together. Move to a federation. Move to a real union.
Rien du tout, je suis Français!
Europe was created for one reason, to avoid the horrors of a ww a third time. It doesn’t matter what it makes me feel as a European, it doesn’t matter that the rest of the dump mob thinks about. As long as there is no ww3 and steps to prevent it are taken, Europe works. Simple as that.
Absolutely agree – we should never forget the main reason this union was created. There is a Yiddish proverb – “The worse peace is better than the best war”
.
NATO has kept the peace in ‘Europe’, the EU had nothing to do with it.
http://www.thecommentator.com/article/1804/the_nobel_prize_should_have_gone_to_nato
Ivan, you are so simplistic there are only a few possibilities 1, you are trolling 2, you are part of the mob described in my comment above 3,you were never educated. Choose one or more. I feel it’s 2/3
“EU is peace” is propaganda of EU. It’s you the troll of EU, you just repeat the propaganda without even thinking a little by yourself. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Balance_of_terror
Propaganda? Is there a ww3 right now? No, is there a prospect of ww3 in any time soon? Not likely! You think peace is kept just by force and nukes? No! Peace is primarily kept by TRADE and globalization. Everybody owns money to everybody and has trade with everybody.
The war is not avoided mainly by trade but by the balance of terror, by the fact that the most power countries own the atomic bomba. Moreover, the most powerful countries are indirectly at war in the Middle East or in the China Sea, but they also run an economic and cyber war.
Because of the atomic bomb, war is done by proxy or in a hybrid way. It’s certainly not the EU that prevents war, EU even adds oil to the fire.
A correlation is not a cause, it’s not because EU exists that there is no war.
You should look up what a world war is.
“The argument that globalization does not necessarily lead to peace is a pretty easy one to make, the usual example being that German-British trade was going brilliantly right up to World War I.”
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/scott-malcomson/globalization-cause-war_b_6548864.html
Γιωργος Πατερας .
Thank you for showing your hatred of freedom of speech and your ‘ignorance/denial of European history.
The fact is the last European world war was started by a bunch of Europeans with a flag and a plan to unite Europe and it was Nationalism and peoples love of their Nation that stopped them.
NATO was formed to stop the lunatics from doing it again, unfortunately that is exactly what you pro EU fanatics are doing.
Nazism, Fascism, Communism and now Europeanism, only the colour of your flag as changed.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tN9EC3Gy6Nk
you should think by yourself ;) you have unfortunately no ground to stand on, that’s the reality.
https://youtu.be/m41Tdl5mvdg
I have the ground that there is no WW3. You are arguing against that somehow Guillaume. On the other hand we have an fanatic, Ivan. A nationalist British redneck practically, who is present in the majority of European forums. Illogical since England sadly left. They practically did what they said scottland shouldn’t do. Again illogical, that’s why it’s hard to argue against people who do not understand reason, they do not see all facts (Just those who are beneficial to their points of view, the rest are disregarded as hatred of freedom of speech [another illogicality, since you are denying my freedom of speech], hatred and ignorance.
Stop posting wiki links, that my self go edit right now, and see the actual facts. Is there a WW3? Yes or No? End of story. That’s my argument. If you have another issue with the EU move on to the next forum.
the fact is there is no WW3 for the moment, it’s true but the cause of this fact is not the existence of the EU , that’s a correlation, it’s a fact too. End of story. And by the way, a correlation is not a cause, so that’s not an argument, that’s just a correlation. Try again.
https://el.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cum_hoc_ergo_propter_hoc
And your “argument” to answer to ivan is that he would be a troll. That’s a sophism, an ad hominem attack and not an argument too.
C’est l’inverse mon petit bouchon. L’U.E a été voulue par les U.S.A pour que les Européens se foutent sur la gueule avec leur ennemi Russe. De cette façon, les Américains ne se salissent pas, et bénéficient de l’affaiblissement de leurs rivaux économiques.
L’U.E est un projet totalitaire contre l’auto-détermination des peuples, complètement piloté par les Américains, et soutenu par les fachos.
0 facts given= worthless
Ivan Burrows Yeah, except Nationalism is what started WWII and it was soviet internationalist Communism that stopped WWII.
Proud of it
de qui?
Nothing, I’m Greek
Nothing.
.
Being ‘European’ just mean being a citizen of one of the 51 Nations of Europe, it as nothing to do with being in the EU, we will still be European when we leave the decaying European Experiment.
To be reassured I am more than the 3 or 4 nationalistic jokes
ah….but you are sooooo much Less.
:) Quem deus vult perdere, prius dementat ;)
There are so many ways different Europeans then other Continent
Né et résident sur le continent européen.
Je suis français.
Européen est comme être africain ou asiatique, c’est une référence seulement géographique.
We share our culture together. Study history
I share wine with my neighbour but it is just m’y neigbour, not my family.
Graziano Paul Mare
You share a history with Turkey, Kazakhstan & Azerbaijan ?, I think you need to pick up a geography book.
Your EU is NOT Europe.
https://www.countries-ofthe-world.com/countries-of-europe.html
Ivan Burrows Don’t miss Lituania, Slovenia (I don’t even know where it is) and Poland… :-)
And as a French, I think I’ve more history to share with Russia than with these unknown countries. But strangly, it is not in UE, and média ask me to hate it. Strange?
UE = propaganda
UE = idiots factory
Ivan Burrows I think Europeans – white caucasians do share or shared history in the past with Turkey, Kazakhstan & Azerbaijan. Turkey was a part of the Roman empire before the turks and moors took over, Kazakhstan & Azerbaijan were caucasians that slowly have been invaded by coloured people from the south, exactly that is happening today in the rest of Europe… Just reading history is not enough, you also have to understand and see the continuity of what happened during the centuries…
Democracy, Justice, Respect, Dignity, Cooperation and Prosperity for EACH AND EVERY EUROPEAN CITIZEN… this is what should have meant… But it isnt working towards these values… Thats why so many Europeans start questioning the very existasnce of EU, if it doesnt meet the purpose it was created for.
.
Pleas do not call us ‘EUROPEAN CITIZENS’, it is a meaningless label we have not been asked if we want & it is very offensive.
Thank you.
https://www.countries-ofthe-world.com/countries-of-europe.html
I am sorry. I had no intention to offend you. But since our countries signed to be a part (and not yet out) of European Union we are members of the union. The point i would like to stress though was that the union should try to ensure that some values and principles would prevail against each states interest, for the good of all the people. If this can’t be done, then its not serving the purpose was made (irrelevant, if we were asked or not,to join in, that time..)
It means finding solutions to problems together. It means helping each other, growing together. It means exporting our model of dialogue, cooperation, solidarity and peace to other parts of the world. The reconciliation between Germany and France is the most amazing and important success story in global history. That is sadly unimaginable between China and Japan: only think how different it would be if they had their own Asian union.
it means if u got money all is nice , i u dont…two dimes and a bucket , motherfuck it…(heard that in a clint eastwood film)!
Nothing
It means being part of a society where freedom and democracy prevail. Though I cannot exactly enjoy the latter, being a pro-independence Catalan in a country that trials those politicians who set ballot boxes for referendums.
Being richer sharing our diversity, having common values and History. Europe is for me the most progressive and valuable concept in the early XXI century.
Europe was created by usa to face the soviet union!!!!!Once the soviet union collapsed! There was not any “barbarians” at the gates and the the process of disintegration started !!!!!!Eu is now desperately seeking for an enemy!!!!??”Russia””‘!!!!!?!insteand of preventing a war!!!Europe is creating one!!!!!
Yor rhetoric exercise is useless. The war has begun already and it’s a non-traditional conflict. Unfortunately I have to disagree with you: the enemy IS Russia. Or, better said: Russia’s enemy is US and EU. My opinion…
My opinion in “To be or not to be European”: http://www.euromeblog.wordpress.com
To be European is the contrary of unilateral and hidden position taken by private and biased dangerous interests. This is the wrong agenda,not an agenda of change and Peace, which is officially our first priority, but an agenda of destruction. Please stop to play with that, manipulate the peoples opinions to increase the miltaro industrial business and stop to deny these facts and speak about them loudly. https://planetes360.fr/forces-de-lotan-menacent-russie/
I believe that Europe has in the end, despite its diversity, a strong common cultural roots that has permeated and permeates its history and that of the world that Europe for many centuries of history dominated and created: the Greek-Roman Culture ;also, Christianity arrived and spread to Europe in the time of Roman Empire,..Europe (Including Russia) is much more than the individual Member, is a tree with many branches but with strong common roots whose seeds have come across the Planet that is, for a large part, the son of the European explorations and conquests..But is certainly the Roman Empire the great father and mother of the European Culture and history In the history and geology (see the movement and the disintegration of the landmass with now movements for reaggregation) there are moments of separation and re-aggregation, and this may be the time to regroup, (this time by consensus, without wars of conquest that have exterminated the European population) a Europe that is certainly until now still a best and greataest beacon of civilizations in the World…
I believe that Europe has in the end, despite its diversity, a strong common cultural roots that has permeated and permeates its history and the history of the world that Europe for many centuries of history dominated and created: the Greek-Roman Culture,Also The Christianity arrived and spread to Europe in the time of Roman Empire ..’Europe (Including Russia) is much more than the individual Members, is a tree with many branches but with strong common roots whose seeds have come across the Planet that is, for a large part, the son of the European explorations and conquests .But is certainly the Roman Empire the great father and mother of the european Culture and history .In the history and geology (see the movement and the disintegration of the landmass with movements riagregazione) there are moments of separation and re-aggregation, and this may be the time to regroup, (at this time by consensus, without wars of conquest that have exterminated the European population) a Europe that is certainly still a biggest light of civilizations in the World.
George Dimopoulos Eleni Panagakou Anastasia Qka malista
Se l’Europa avesse una squadra di calcio propria, triplicherebbe i suoi supporters!
I am proudly European!
It’s about loving different cultures, languages and much more. Even if we are in a difficult period I strongly want to think that my future will be European.
Il est vraiment temps de sortir de l’UE
The financiral rape of my country, the Trojan Horse invasion of Islamist fighters, the freezing of bank acfcounts, and defamation of our history and culture. It is not working, shut it down and send everyone HOME.
You have no clue, you are not even living in Europe, Troll!
Wrong. I live in Greece, and as if this morning unfortunately we are still in EE. Europe has made God’s creation a hell hole, and it is all because of Merkel and the EE decisions being made by people that nobody voted for. The Brits are leaving, it is time the rest of us leave too, and Merkel can stay behind and hold the bag.
What I would like it to mean is a good basic standard of living for all. Free education, same benefits, same minimum wage, free healthcare EU-wide. A more social Europe that puts people first within the EU and outside the EU with obligatory fair-trade product standards for countries that trade with the EU, or corporations that use labour from non-EU countries
it means I was born on planet earth (the most important part) in the geographical/cultural location of europe
To me it means Taking the good out of diversities – more #connection than the contrary of division. I want more (then being European) but I’m relatively happy with one step at the time (for now).
https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Feuobserver.com%2Fpolitical%2F136435&h=5AQED9pWm&s=1
Heritage.
Awesome in so many levels!!!
It means Juncker and his bunch of crooks can steal my money through tax escape everyday and then order that I pay more taxes to balance their thievery.
to be european is more than awsome ….. to be in german union is the problem
Kevin Ó Siondaile
To me it means peace on this continent and embracing our common heritage, yet recognizing separate cultures. In Varietate Concordia.
that my country is going bankrupt, both on a human level, aswell as a economic level, when politicians, that noone in my country voted for, is trying to “harmonize” sociaty into the lowest common nominator, in the EC.
basically EC could go burn tomorrow, and ill ask what sandwich you want to eat, while we watch it smolders.
We are European as this is the continent we were born on and where our ancestors were born on , where our home is. It has nothing to do with being a part of the Most corrupt organization EU
In a nutshell: Greek philosophy, Roman law, Christian culture, European and national identities.
It means nothing to me. I’m Irish, not European. The EU is not a state, its a political agreement between member states, nothing more.
Being exploited by bankers and corrupt politicians.
ROexit
Freedom of movement, the idea of a social capitalist society which embraces private enterprise while caring for a harmonious society, individual rights of privacy, freedom from police brutality and a shared interconnected cultural heritage which is the foundation of an enlightened world.
I feel united in diversity is also a big part of the European cultural heritage but it is certainly hard for Europeans who don’t interact much outside of their local communities to grasp the significance of it.
Thanks to EU bureaucracy, there are NO Europeans! There are just “progressive” groups and NGOs, the people are not important!
Herr Philipp Griebler, the floor is yours
Drinking in czech republic with nice people from all over the world😉
I am European
Being European means subscribing to certain values inspired by Christianity and the Philosophies of Greece and Rome. It means every one of the continent having innate rights and duties and a belief that our countries are not lines on a map but a collective enterprise to improve the lot of those who live within the nation states and the EU
Ít means tó be Free!
European means to embrace the European values. European values are fedined in Article 2 TEU as: “The Union is founded on the values of respect for human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law and respect for human rights, including the rights of persons belonging to minorities. These values are common to the Member States in a society in which pluralism, non-discrimination, tolerance, justice, solidarity and equality between women and men prevail.”
It means to be a member of one of the European nations and be white and of Christian descent.
With the election of Donald Trump, it is perfectly clear: the American Dream is dead. But what about the European Dream ? Is it also dead ? Is it stillborn ? Or not born yet ?
Europe lacks a vision. A vision that could mobilize all of us together and make us dream and hope for a better future. Let us remember Martin Luther King: “I have a dream… I have a dream, today!” *
Europe does not need more money, more bankers and financiers, more speculators and tax-evaders; Europe needs more dreams. Because only dreams can make people stand up and unite.
Our children must be able to think that their lives will be better and not worse than those of their parents.
This is why we should forget our little “selves” for a while, and should all work together to make life better, to make the world a better place, and build a better Europe.
Sorry for my english, but I try to lay some english words into this discussion. I live in Berlin. I and I think the most of the younger, and of cause, educated older germans haven’t lived without the European Union in real and in our heads and feel more like a european than a german, because only together we can reach the maximum of our power and unfolding, of cause every individual person has better conditions when he lives in a anxiety-free society. And today, there is only one way to create this atmosphere of anxiety-free society of peace and unfolding, the European Union and, my personal, but after the Brexit, more unrealistic dream, the United States Of Europe, like the americans have it, only better, peacefuller, because, and thats the answer of this question on this page, because of the one thing, in wich we europeans are unbeatable: The most of us know, what it is, to be a human…
I hope you’ve unterstood, what I mean, it came from my european heart! Our countries historys, melted together, to go foreward
Fiscal compact
Makes me proud! Means I share the same identity with millions of other people from such diverse backgrounds yet at the same time we are connected
I am not european. Europe was known as the land of free people; now the European Union has become a land of poverty, of oppression from a lord far away from us.
A land for the banks, for the financial markets. The people of europe are not allowed to speak freely; to have their own voice heard.
I dream of a free union of free people. The people’s land not the bankers’ land..
Is not this europe.
And i don’t think this europe is redemable. There is no will to change. The EU is not a democracy and never will be.
I suggest that all the nation oppressed by the EU should secede from it to rebuild a new federation of free people.
Well said, Andrea
Agreed with Andrea!
It means to be free to smoke on the beach if I want so, among other things.
Being European means to me living in prosperity and peace, with liberal, but human values, free of fundamentalism or extremism, free from slavery and cheap labour, where every individual can live as he/she will, where people can live a full and creative life. Unfortunately this is only an Utopia, a dream, an idealistic fantasy!
Today – nothing – the politicians ruined the Union.
Tomorrow – even less – the politicians don’t care about the people and continue ruin it.
Freedom,justice ,human rights,civilization.Nothing in todays EUs policies
Citizen of cosmos ..!
to not be stuck in narrow tribal thinking, but find pleasure in discovering other cultures, languages, traditions and perceptions and make them my own
to make neighbor countries jokes and been understood as friend talking about the past already :)
Sinking with the ship
It’s another identity of mine , means being part of the coolest , most varied continent on the planet
mean justice most put in jail al corrupted politician
That we are from the European Peninsula of the Eurasian continent. Not much therefore.
Unity in diversity
It means speaking English with a phoney accent.
to be a anarchyst…
It means not only thinking in own national interests. It means supporting my Europeans brothers and sisters also in hard times.
A disaster! And a very big one, too!
essere europei per me è amore , significa essere accettati ed accettare per quello che si è. L’Unione europea però non è l’Europa, non mi fa sentire a casa , non mi dà sicurezza, non mi ascolta, fa cose insensate contro il popolo , lo ammazza ! . L’Unione europea per me è la maledizione dell’Europa che mette il mercato al di sopra di tutto , ha rovinato la vita delle persone be European for me is love, is to be accepted and accept it for what it is. The European Union, however, is not Europe, it makes me feel at home, does not give me security, he does not listen, do foolish things against the people, kill it! . The European Union is for me the curse of Europe which puts the market above all else, he has ruined the lives of people
Ma falla finita, cretina!
grazie del complimento. La bandiera che sventola nel tuo profilo ti ha insegnato la buona educazione ? Il tuo non è dialogo è offendere , gli fai “onore” alla bandiera che hai messo. La UE è esattamente come te da cui prendo le distanze
essere europei per te significa avere rispetto e avere buona educazione !? Si vede , apposta prendo le distanze da quelli come te
Per te invece cosa significa? Andare su facebook raccontando idiozie per sentirsi meno falliti? Dove sono le tue argomentazioni? Dove sono i tuoi dati? Te lo.dico io…non esistono. Sono solo puttanate basate sul nulla, la UE è l’economia più grande a livello globale, il luogo in cui i diritti individuali e dei lavoratori extra frontalieri sono tutelati in maniera maggiore. L’UE ha permesso ai nostri paesi di vivere in pace per il periodo più lungo della storia. Questi sono fatti, facilmente verificabili, quello che dici tu invece? Dovresti vergognarti!
dovresti vergognarti tu non io. Io sono fallita ??? Grazie a quelli come te che hanno fatto fallire i valori nobili che potevano essere inseriti in Europa. Se è fallito è colpa vostra . Vergognatevi !
Ti rammento che l’Italia non ha ricevuto nessun beneficio dalla UE. Ha solo pagato, pagato, pagato e pagato per far star bene quelli come te che dopo aver usufruito del sacrificio nostro ci chiama anche falliti. Che gentaccia !!!
Ancora nessuna argomentazione, neppure un cenno. Lo vedi che essere educati non ha senso con “persone come te” ?
Ti aiuto: 1) l’Unione Europea “fa cose” insensate contro il popolo
2) lo ammazza
3) Mette il mercato sopra di tutto
4) Ha rovinato la vita delle persone.
Dai provaci, su…
Ho scusa non avevo visto l’ultima cazzata.
1) l’Italia ha sempre beneficiato dal progetto europeo, come tutti gli altri stato del resto. Il miracolo economico italiano è iniziato quando eravamo giá parte della comunità.
2) io nella mia vita mi sono dato da fare, ho studiato e usato le possibilità che l’Europa minha dato. Tu non puoi lamentarti se l’unica tua occupazione è stare su facebook ha scrivere cazzate. Se sei una fallita è colpa tua, non dell’Europa.
3) Io chiamo fallita te, nessun altro.
hei ho 49 anni di età ed ho 35 anni di contributi lavorati fino all’ultimo giorno. Quando avrai maturato il lavoro come me allora stizzi. Sai benissimo che l’Unione europea non era nel progetto europeo. Le svolte sono state nel 1981/ 1992/ 1997/2001.
L’unione Europea è sempre stata parte del.progetto e io mi auguro fortemente che si arrivi ad una federazione unica il prima possibile. Non hai cmq risposto alle mie domande, hai fatto delle accuse e supposizioni ben precise senza argomentare. Quali sarebbero le colpe, in pratica dell’Europa non l’hai spiegato mentre io ti ho elencato dei meriti indiscutibili. Io sono britannico, italiano ed europeo e sono assolutamente fiero di esserlo.
io le ho argomentate, sei tu che non vuoi capire quel che ti dico. Guarda , noi stiamo talmente bene nella UE che non vediamo l’ora di uscire e non per un fatto di popoli ma per un fatto di non rispetto dei nostri principi costituzionali. Le uniche regole della UE che riconosco sono quelle in sintonia con la mia Costituzione. Detto questo ho detto tutto
Si, non hai detto nulla.
Chi vuol capire capisce e chi non ha voglia di capire fa finta di non capire . Io non ho voglia di giocare, vai vai. Ciao
Ancora non hai detto nulla.
European to me means being constantly in an inner fight between the need to unite with other Europeans and also the desire to institute a harsh dictatorship for “the nation’s purity and progress”
Thats what europe has been all these decades
Being From Europe.
Living on the european continent.
90% of Europe doesnt even know where the name comes from….
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Greek, but get over it.
Get over it= ξεκόλλα
Thats not what i meant bro….get over it
Get over it=google it…retard
Greek civilitation. Daughter of Dias
Mother of king Minos and the Minotaur
Lots of things we should appreciate. We don’t, though, ’cause we take them for granted. Most people of these generations, haven’t seen war, dictatorship and brutality. And they just moan
Living in freedom and peace.
For me it means Freedom.
George DimopoulosEleni PanagakouAnastasia Qka
nothing! i am european – so what?
A loot!
Being ruled by socipaths and unelected bureaucrats.
Being able to live (at least) anywhere and everywhwre in Europe. In the most basic sense, the world was meant for us t on be travelled and a human being should be able to enjoy the world and not feel limited by imaginary lines that we cannot cross called borders.
Hardly an identity!! You may ahs well call yourself human…..as for identity…I am an Englishman….over the moon at leaving the leviathan that is the EU.
You a just a citizen of little England. I’m European and British, thanks God.
Renato Tuveri-Ellis anyone can get a British passport nowadays. It’s meaning has been somewhat diminished. You should probably note that your life is governed by English Law and enforced by English courts. Whether you like it or not…this is England. As for being little…:-) yes we are…but big on stature, human and civil rights(thanks to English Law), world changing inventions (including the one you are sat typing at right now) and a host of other amazing English…..things…..:-) ….I wish you happiness in your identity….please do not begrudge me mine in my own country…..which is called England……sits here and wonders if the Scots should be allowed to call themselves Scottish without fear of being belittled…or the French…and any other European country…..I wonder why some feel the need to diminish England to a non identity…almost as if they wish to steal the very country itself….and re-identify it….think they may view the kindness of us little Englanders as a weakness. ;-)
Being unable to get simple job because employer prefers woman.
.
It means I am a citizen of one of the 51 Nations States of ‘Europe’, nothing else.
There is no such thing as a european nationality. if we are european, then we are so because it describes where we are from purely in a geographical sense. The EU is not a nation, although it thinks it should be. But Europe is not like the USA. We are not all one country. The EU is a re-run of the Austro-Hungarian Empire – too many different peoples and languages trying to fit into a single state. It can’t work in the long run.
Not much anymore…
Being European (“Europe is not a globalized, borderless space. Europe is not African or Muslim territory.”)
As Spengler described it,the Faustian white soul,but the EUSSR is a foreign construction meant to go against the will of native Europeans ,see the Coulden Hove Kalgeri plan :(
Well, the EU is in a very tricky situation because its first aims was to constitute an economic union. Now, it’s both an economic and political union, which means more problems to face.
Putting aside the economic and monetary aspect, the shared values are very noble, but perhaps beyond them there is not so much that we have in common between the different nations.
I am not saying that having differences is not a good thing, but probably there has not been so much effort to make EU citizens feel part of the EU. Cultural difference should be used as an advantage in order to create a strong concept of the EU institution. Indeed this aspect is not exploited entirely, so EU people do not have a total awareness of what it means to be a EU citizen.
it means to me: …….. Absolutly nothing, they promised more work, more security, AND whe had no vote yes or no , so absolutly without a doubt non democratic elected that european “coalition”. internationale clicke ….. i was sceptic when it came in from the start, i see the night from the francs to euro all prices wend up, and they never wend down again, only up….. and the wages are basicly the same or even lower in some cases. what does europa mean for me? conroled bye a few elite who think they are allowed to have the balls to talk for us all, wich they DONT ! and u know what? im belgian….. EU is in brussels, i should say, hmmm i gives jobs to belgians and bla bla bla….. FUCK THAT. European union is corrupted to the bone. created to de-evolve us, not make it better……. it sucks the money away from he people, and francly ? on the streets? its so quiet now for over 2 years……. the people feel betrayed, are affraid , one giant depression. cafes not running as it should, nothing really , anymore…. to be honnest.
and dont get me wrong i feel nothing bu love for the lands arround me, and beyond, but it has no benefit claiming we are one, wich we are not; we can get allong without this leftist nazi filantropic plan that we name the EU. people ofthen make the msitake to asume AH. was right winged, he actually was more left than he was right winged….. but for that u need to study the subject and it helps to understand german… AND…;its not easy to look to this subject with neutral eyes for a lot of people.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9I-XKmMfHPg welcome to the 4th reich, start practicing your sieg heils again…. (fuck no)
An old continent that is aging fast, lost its soul, mission & vision, letting its old aged bureaucrats ruin the future of millions of youth & poor. The old guard want to keep being the captains of the ship, even when it’s proven that their thoughts, leadership, and policies can lead to its sinking! The problem of many of the EU leaders is that many of them can’t think or act noble because their BREAD is at stake! EU leaders want change everywhere in the world except within their continent! They are dissatisfied with everyone one, & can’t see that everyone is sick of them!
Why coming here though, not to Arabic countries, Russia, China or America ;)
Mirela Moldovan what kind of question is this? Care to elaborate? I would like to hear what you imply.
Amen! Your answer sums it up pretty nicely.
I’m afraid I agree, although that’s not the full description: it’s a continent of culture, science, beautiful nature, etc. Not the only one, of course, but we also have that ;)
Just wanted to say that if you don’t like EU food and traditions you might consider other options instead of coming here wanting to change “for better”.
Mirela Moldovan Babe in the age of open world you deny me being around on the open internet, shame on you!
I don’t deny anything Samia, just noticed that normally you don’t come to stay in EU if you don’t agree with its rules. As obsolete it might look, these have insured a climate of stability.
One can’t deny that the EU needs to take an inside look, reform itself before there is no time for sorrow, & put it’s own house in order(Poverty & Unemployment is just too shocking). & what about we want a better Middle East when selling arms like crazy for everyone?! What was done to the ‘Quota System’ for refugees, or any other proposals to help them! There is a lot of potential & possibility in the people there, but it’s all messed up’Politicians Fault!’ Peace & love friend , & my discussion was with good intentions & meant to be constructive.
Living in the european continent. Nothing more ;)
Why do you even ask this question? EU leadership don’t want Europeans they are doing everything to disassemble the concept. The corporations just want a single consumer and endless cheap labour. The liberal elite only want people like them , talk like them, think like them. The UN actively promote migration to Europe to swamp its Europeness. Most Europeans want to have a stable relationship, a home, a couple of kids in a community they grew up in. Most Government policies actively make this harder while diverting resources elsewhere.
Every European knows in their heart they are European, they have no doubts and do not need it defined, it’s something you feel. If you have to ask, your not.
I agree in most of the things, but… UN, swamp Europeness??
One market, kind of supporting each other and sharing knowledge..
market? What about democracy? Justice?
If people only think in markets, then the Union ends working for finance greedy people who only want their money in Singapore…
Democracy of course, just take a look of what happens around EU? As far as I know a small county in the Nederlands almost blocked an important trade agreement.. And yes again market, without a decent level of wealth you cannot talk about arts or health care funding.
Putting up with austerity, lack of vision, plutocracy bellicosity, right wing nationalism, fear mongering with regard to refugees and yes the Euro, how could I forget the Euro and of course the three freedoms, how could I forget our precious freedoms.
EU is based on each member’s own interests. In practise there is no solidarity between the member states and the EU citizens are not equal between each other.
As an example, EU has taken actions against Russia for Crimea but has never taken any actions against Turkey that occupies a part of EU, that does not recognise an EU member state, that does not allow EU citizens to enjoy they human rights.
EU in practise offers nothing.
Therefore EU means nothing. We were much better before EU.
.
In the EU are people of Asian & African decent considered to be ‘European’ ?
Europe is full of people living in countries they have no allegiance to and do not care about.
My identity
I was proud being an european but now, thanks to YOU, politicians, I’m ashamed….and YOU should be ashamed too.
Nothing. I´m a citizen of the world…And it was Europe that was (and is) killing other people from other countries all the time long…YES, we (europeans) were always the murderers and STILL are! Who killed the native americans (from US to Brasil)? Who killed the africans and made them slaves? What about the aborigenes and maori in Oceania? Shall I talk about Asia? Come on…! Let´s be serious, hã!? I´m ashamed of being not only european, but HUMAN as well…! And they don´t get enough: WWIII is around the corner…What kind of world are we leaving for our grand-children to grow? This´s INSANE!!!
Bravo.exactly
NOTHING JUST PAY PAY PAY TAXES
Nothing. Am British have never felt European!! Much more in common with other countries in the rest of the world.
Goodness, is no one happy to be born European? I, for one, am… Happy and proud =)
They let people take over for them when they shouldn’t have.. Dumb mistake, now it’s time to fix it
First, a geographical sense. From Portugal to Russia, from Norway to Greece.
very nice answer
I vote for European Union in the United States
a partilha de valores com outros povos da Europa!
It means that a few years from now you will have to convert to Islam !
Means nothing.
NOTHING sorry eu
Things will change dramatically as climate change kicks in and there are problems of food and water in Western countries , and major problems for developed countries to buy food from elsewhere as they are too populated to be sustainable.
In the future countries could refuse to sell food , and many countries which had water could have none
Used to mean pride. Nowadays means dissapontment.
Debating Europe
Could you please explain how this could be possibly be consided as ‘spam’ ? or is it the case that when you get an answer to your question that does not fit with your pre-defined set of answers you remove it ?, so much for the debate part of your page tile.
—
To me it just means I live on the Europe peninsula of the Eurasian continent, but it seems to most pro EU’ers it means a belief in the idea of:
* One people = European
* One Nation = European Union (or United states of Europe)
* One Leader = President of the European Commission
——
I look forward to your reply.
Ian your an American wannabe, so we know where you stand
It’s not spam, it is just innaccurate. We are, or at least we were, one people. We all descend from the same people (indo-europeans) who spoke the same language. You cannot be British without being European. And by the way, “British” itself is a generalization. British people are of both of Celtic and Anglo-Saxon descent (both Europeans). Liking the EU or not does not change thousands of years or genetics.
Alessandro Pieroni .
When you say ‘we are one people’ do you include Russians, Turks, the peoples of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, etc ? after all there are 51 ‘European’ Nations and not just the 27 trapped in the pointless EU,
As Brits we are perfectly aware of who and what we are thanks, which is why we reject your fake interpretation of what it means to be ‘European’.
I think I already answered your question below, and this is not an interpratation, but the true meaning of the adjective “European” in the English language: belonging to or related to Europe and its people.
Alessandro Pieroni .
Correct, ‘Europe’ of 51 Nations. Which part of this basic fact do you not understand ?
Answering over and over again the same questions and polls in Debating Europe….
Answering over and over again the same questions and polls in Debating Europe….
Answering over and over again the same questions and polls in Debating Europe….
Answering over and over again the same questions and polls in Debating Europe….
Answering over and over again the same questions and polls in Debating Europe….
Answering over and over again the same questions and polls in Debating Europe….
Answering over and over again the same questions and polls in Debating Europe….
European means to be native to the European Peninsula of the Eurasian continent. It’s like being northern african, south american, etc..
A member of European civilisation and culture.
European culture..civilisation…history..
.
Does that include the history of Turkey, Russia, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan and the other 20 ‘European’ Nations not in the EU ? :)
Not Turkey. They are Mongolians and Muslim. Europe means Christian nations.
The history shared by Portugal, Lithuania, Bulgaria, Ireland :-D
It does include part of Russia of course. It does not include Turkey because the Turks are not a people from Europe, even if the currently occupy European territory.
Ivan Burrows Include Russia. Turkey, Kazahstan and Azerbaijan no, because are not “European nations” like you say.
Mediocrity.
Talking about yourself I figure?
I’m not European, never will be, I’m British, and always will be.
We know Andy, we got the memo :)
PS: Isn’t Alderson a Saxon name? :p
No it`s Norse.
Are you African, Andy?
What a stupid question, no, I’m English, always will be, so are my offspring, never will they be anything other.
Andy Alderson https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fw7FhU-G1_Q remember the guy who hates Germany? Has partly German blood in his veins…
You are soaked with Saxon, Norman and Latin blood, not to mention probably distant Jewish roots but, yes, you’re English.
For me it just means that we hopefully will not go to military war with eachother as frequently and violently as in times past.
Unfortunately all other kinds of waring (economic, ideologic, cultural) appear to make up for the lack of military conflicts.
https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSyJA77CjSZ1Tx6WUHXacyNrgswcj7NslkgWKbHX5RdHrjjJcLm
Being dead or enslaved soon.
Being Polish, since it is an integrated part of European civilisation based on Greek, Roman, Judeo-Christian and Scientific traditions.
It means whatever Soros wants it to mean. It certainly doesn’t mean native to the European continent now as that would be “racist”.
Freedom
. Of speech
. To walk across all EU countries
. To grow any business in 20+ countries without severe limitations
It also means a Constant battle for identity as a whole, which is ultimately the last barrier to a happy EU.
Living in Greece, I see that it’s also easy to walk across Albania, Turkey, ex-Yugoslavia, despite they’re (still) not EU countries and people from those countries can also walk in Greece and grow businesses.
Panagiotis Dimisianos https://sputniknews.com/middleeast/201610021045926479-turkey-greece-maritime-border/ you mean this?
A world without salad cream and brown sauce
Generate opportunities, share and boost knowledge and respect different identities, we are not in this world to continue with divisions and incomprehension. Trust, work and opportunity are the words that I want to represent Europe, but there is still a way to go and many things in Europe today to improve, European civil society will continue working.
To BE European means, that we must fight with all our strenght, to Live in a Free Society. That means we dont need muslims here. We are Christians.
You can not speak for me .As far as I am concerned , Muslins should be welcomed anywhere in Europe .Also ,I am not a Christian either . Most ,if not all countries in Europe are secular countries .
free society yet you are not allowed to be Muslim? Let me guess, you also have to be Catholic and not Protestant? Do you know how many almost purely ‘Islamic’ countries there are in Europe where the majority of the people believes in Allah instead of God?? Macedonia, Bosnia-Hercegovina, Albania and Kosovo are for me just as European as Portugal is…
We don’t stop being European because we don’t want to be part of a federal Europe and have our own boarders
Zero
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1747751455252387&id=174118102615738
White Christian, preferably protestant!
Keeping our country values and sharing them with other Europeans and vice versa. Staying away from the North American values and influence.
Neither do I like the “American values”. We don’t need them. We’re European.
It means I am more authentic than ever before in terms of feelings of ‘national’ identity.
I’m much wider and in the end of the day stronger!
it means obaying to rules of a small group of powerfull countries
Its mean be ruled by a coutry that have lost the war
it means bombing people in Syria, actually helping ISIS,bying petrol from him, and then not selling lifeboats to countries for people leaving the bombings
it means I was born in a country that happens to be in the European continent.
Free, human, civilized, educated!
In the past to be European was something to be proud of….now, to be part of the EU is shameful.
Tristement… sí
Defend values of freedom and progress while respecting the diversity of our cultures and traditions. And to send back Perfide Albion where it belongs…
Nothing and EVERYTHING
Nothing and EVERYTHING
Nothing and EVERYTHING
Nothing and EVERYTHING
Nothing and EVERYTHING
Nothing and EVERYTHING
Nothing and EVERYTHING
To be European is about bringing together eastern and western European countries in a federal state with a liberal constitution and fine ,competent government composed of 12 ministers elected by the EU citizens.
It’s a net of behaviur and constitusions that value life,fredom and dignity of anyone belongs to the comon heritage of the Union.
So being European means being a liberal. I must be Chinese then.
Europa como está só serve porque evita mais guerras, de resto as desigualdades continuam, o tráfico de pessoas, drogas e armas nunca foi tão fácil como já apareceu em vários documentários…
certainly not being ruled by the autocratic govt in Brussels
But Bucarest needs the money!!
If you ask a guy from Nigeria what it means to be an African, he will probably say that it means being black. Why should it be more complicated than that.
If you consider the fact that Europeans originate from India the race/colour factor doesn’t count – especially if you check out all the races involved in all the invasions that took place here…it’s our civilization which must be allowed to continue to be perfectioned and defended – thats our job as Europe!
Our civilization is the product of a unique people (just as any other civilization). It is impossible to separate it from who we are. We created our civilization, we are the only ones who can allow it to survive. The place where we decide to move doesn’t change this primordial truth: Europe lives within our DNA, we would still be Europeans even on Mars.
Because ancient old Europe find science letters academies new ideas not black and whites only
In the corse of time we’ve gathered the best of human civilization and the worst’with the Union we’ve avoided those worsts for 70years-not bad for a continent that for centuries used to send their youth to peril.There’s a long way ahead but we’re trying,we’re in the same boat after all
To me it means everything! cant find the words without writing a book
You cant choose color’mentality you can.The first doent mean much any more,the second can be everything-that doesn’t mean we should give iur vital breathing space to anyone desides to come over,but those who’ve grone up peacfuly and legaly in our countries there’s no point to rool them out of society if the want to ofer,just because they look difrently’
To me, it means paying huge taxes, getting a lousy salary and financing German banks.
nothing particular
EVERY THING.
😂
obligated to immigrate to have job
I don’t think that has anything to do with the EU, Italians have always emigrated en masse..,
Good point.
To pay more taxes to have two sites of European parliament in Brussels and Stasburg, is it waste?
To be European for me means to be one with all the other 27 european countries and the possibility of speaking to all of them at the same price is a tangible feeling of being European….thankyou!
Europe is more than the EU, do you know?
Mino Álvarez of course there are many immigrants in Europe but all these people have left their countries for various reasons, to adopt the European way of life and thus become European – Years ago Europeans left Europe and went to USA, Australia, S. America, Africa….In your simplicity you have said just that my dear Mino!
Being able to read and understand brilliant literature in Latin – the roots of our European heritage!
It’s not the United Europe l visualised.
MEANS TO BE CITIZEN OF THE WORLD
A feeling
socialism, the losers team,.. DEUTSCHLAND
At the current state absolutely nothing. Your questions should be how it was supposed to be and how it turned out to be.
There is a European identity. We share a common past and the future too. From my point of view is clear. However, please, let me suggest, to shed light on this matter, reading ‘Robert Schuman, père de l’Europe’ by Réne Lejeune.
It’s a civilisational identity.
Yet “Europe” is busy breaking down its own civilisational identity.
How is it possible?
Europe loses its cultural identity in an unwanted and uncontrolled way.
a total loss :-(
At the moment not much. Really.
Ylism without civilitation. Banks money investment but not really new experience to sciences. Usa took these progressive institutions. we live to consume the moneys of some rich who are leaders of the banks. What is happiness?
Being born on the European continent, heir of Greek and Judeo-Christian civilizations, while welcoming other traditions.
Or being a Socialist.
No..don’t shoot, just kidding!!
To be united infront of our problems and the global progress
Common values and future ,closer relations and understanding with a group of some the coolest countries around
Common values and future ,closer relations and understanding with a group of some the coolest countries around
Common values and future ,closer relations and understanding with a group of some the coolest countries around
Common values and future ,closer relations and understanding with a group of some the coolest countries around
Common values and future ,closer relations and understanding with a group of some the coolest countries around
Common values and future ,closer relations and understanding with a group of some the coolest countries around
Common values and future ,closer relations and understanding with a group of some the coolest countries around
We are over run by Non European.
Its a style to be more free…..of speech and life
To be European is not as exciting as it was 30 years ago. It has lost many of its lusters. It is more divisive than ever and less promising.
No no you are not alright to ask them that question in that way…An individual born there is not enough but has to appreciate that highly costs paid by the previous generations untill reached that stage…..The nature of a human being not reached that age and never been abroad is not serving the purposes of understanding his national identity, their national intrests and being a lucky human…. I would like to congratulate them and able to say that ” being a European citizen means that you born and the luck was there waiting for you”…whoever does not like his European identity, I give him my Iraqi citizenship with all that years unpaid my own shares of the exported oil and the money taken out to your banks awfully…… As Being Iraqi or Kurdish of Iraq means that you have to watch them how they are robbing you and your country…
;) O points
used to be….
Austerity?
SLAVERY to COMPANIES and loss of all creativity, soverignty, and dumbing down of schools, and bastarizing the peoples with influx of ISLAM, which brought the dark ages for 1400 years in Europe in the past. People just do not learn.
Liberal democracy brings unpredictable consequences in the future as well as all the left political options. It leads to Faction and Conflicts,
It means your not
American
Asian
Or African
I think that European Identity is going parallel with EU integration. European citizenship is complementary to national citizenship. And Europeans are identifying themselves with a dual identity, as Europeans and on national bases.
The 39% of the EU citizens who identify themselves only on national bases do so simply because for the moment they choose so. I believe that most of them have a dual identity: as Europeans and on national bases.
To me to be European means to be European, which implies holding an EU citizenship.
I have published a book titled “European Identity: The European Demos?” and can continue longer on this topic but I think this is enough…
Europe:
-respecting Christian values (doesnt have to be faith, but can be).
-respecting tradition
-being “white” with some origins from Europe.
-accepting that every nation from Portugal to Russia, from Ireland to Italy
has good and bad people.
If You`ve asked me that question 35 years ago, I would `ve answered I feel proud towards the EC !
Today I don`t feel connected anymore to the common project.
I `am proud to be Dutch, Ashamed of what MP Rutte did and does.
And Europe? As truckdriver I drive through it and realise the economical damage the EU did with the beautiful continent Europe.
Having european root’s and ancestors… for example my Forebears lived in europe for over 1000 years. Well but in modern times people from other countrys can become european too… if they leave their cultures at home and integrated in our beloved traditions and values.
The european success is because leave behind of theocratic ideologys… now we get this extremist ideologys (with even political agenda) islam in our beloved continent. The EU should be more restrict to religions and religious expressions… it shouldn’t be allowed to express this medieval ideologys in the public. Religions should be only allowed in private space. 20 years ago I saw religious expression as human right… but now I am wiser and see that religions was honly peoples brains and are a danger for all societys.
It means going forward
I always thought that the term European meant, the group of people (Christopher Columbus) who migrated from Spain to discover America. Although Columbus was Italian, the history books seem to somewhat suggest that he and his group of emigrants intent was not only to discover a new continent, but to take total ownership and control of this new world. For example, initially, the group of emigrants made fair trade for the land that was owned by the Indians. They later resorted to inhumane tactics. Overtime they gained control and ownership of majority of the new continent. And as the years passed by, the group of new emigrants set sail for a continent that was willing to trade men and women for goods. These group of men and women were called Slaves.Which the emigrants owned.( Free labor.) The point I’m trying to make is, at that time, that being European was to be in total control and ownership of the new world, which seemed to me to be Arrogant and Entitled. But thankfully today things are much better, yet we still have a ways to go in this racially inclusive and politically correct New World.
Thank you a lot for sharing this with all people you actually recognize what you’re speaking approximately! Bookmarked. Kindly also visit my web site =). We may have a hyperlink trade arrangement between us!
http://goldenlarynx.com
It means everything to me,I feel as if my heart is being torn out
it is well Jocelyn…
Glad to see this discussion. But it is not very widespread, not in the media, not in the big political debates. EUROPE is not promoted as it should be.What is happening to make this a real big debate and an issue for the next EU-elections? Or has “the identity discussion (identitarian movement)” become taboe or politically incorrect? One’s identity is always multi-layered: you belong to your family, village, sports club, region, country etc. There is nothing wrong to cherish and to be proud of that. It gives a good feeling. Unfortunately EUROPE ‘s common heritage is often based on conflict. The Romans invaded Britain (+the rest) and left us a whole heritage…, the Irish monks kept the faith and Christianized the continent, there was once the “lingua franca” of the European merchants, there was Latin and now there is English. The religious wars brought the Spaniards to the low-countries. Charlemagne invented school for everybody, the Austrian empire reached far out, up till today pilgrims from everywhere in Europe go to Santiago De Compostella, after the French revolution Napoleon tried to united a big European Empire, twice, the whole of Europe had to fight back the Germans…. and finally from all these “cultural exchanges”, from a common Judeo-Christian heritage came a COMMON PROJECT which unites us. Too often the focus has been on mere economic advantages. A project from the Europeans for the Europeans, a project with freedom of thought, freedom of speech, separation of church and state and with respect and encouragement for the EUROPEAN diversity and the self determination of all EUROPEAN people.
Gute Arbeit. Danke.
Schlupfjacken
1. Respect or the democratic principles on which modern Europe is founded.
2. Feeling European
3. Living in Europe
It means having a cultural, ethnic and social background linked to Europe, common ou very smiliar values regarding politics and life in society – there are often exclusive or stronger of and in Europe –
We can argue anything we want about this but the question (and answer) would be the same if it was “what it means to African, Asian” or any other natural background, not counting the New World because they are artificial Societies…
Being a citizen of and being indigenous to a country in Europe
living in a country that is part of the land mass called Europe
It is in my heart and soul
It means less now because the financial system is taking decisions at high level. EP and EC are just puppets gatherings. EU bureaucracy is inefficient and useless. There is no strategy.
Supporting all the bureaucratic plankton in Brussels
Just to be born and live in Europe. If you mean the EU, I feel ashamed.
Native European blood, Christianity, and culture.
No jews. Got it. You sure about that?
Nothing
Being descended from people who have lived in Europe for millennia.
Living in a completely free country but part of the continent of Europe. No political or economic ties but free trade with each other. I love travelling to other European countries and seeing their own unique Cultures but don’t wish to become a United States of Europe at any point ever. I am concerned the traditions of Europe are being eroded by immigration
You guys scared away all the pro EU people
João not scared me
Nothing. Europe is a subcontinent. The Union was and should be a way of fostering trade between nations that have an intertwined history. Not only, these nations have been in contact and exchanging goods and people for centuries.
Being European has no significance since the Union does not promote a cultural identity. All that being European seems to mean is that you need to accept whatever is decided in Brussels without dissenting. What are the European values that the Union gave us?
Got it. No cultural identity to promote racism, and nationalism, and you want values……..America is in the state it’s in, beginning with people who talked like you. Oh, I see you are in america, Carlsbad? Plenty of repubs in San Diego.
Racism where did you get that from? What “state” is America in? What is bad about Nationalism?
Well said my friend.
The future!
Being a Celt, a Nord, a Latin, a Greek, aso, belonging to your territory as well as it belongs to you, having real practical ties with a land for generations is the only way you can take care of it, humans are not meant to behave like a bunch of crickets, no more are they standard replaceable utilities, it takes plenty of time for operative coevolution to occur. The denial of this fact is what’s actually killing the biosphere and has always triggered human civilizations decay.
Accepting everyone
How about no?
To be a descendant of peoples, civilization, and spirit of Europe.
Nothing I’m British
Chris unless you’re British and your family have served our Queen and country you wouldn’t understand
British are Europeans as UK is part of Europe.
part of the continent of Europe yes, but I don’t acknowledge European as an identity. I am English then British. European is a fabricated identity to try and dupe people into accepting the forth reich of the EU
It means being given the label of “European ” due to randomly being born in this geographic space at this moment in time, through no merit of my own
No merit of your own? Same goes to whatever possession are given to you as gift or by inheritance. You despise those stuff too? You can give em all to me anytime. ;)
To be constantly disheartened by a Union that lets bullies like Turkey threaten it and everything it stands for.
Global minority. :D
I bet you didn’t think of that.
Living in Europe.
Born in the European continent, where countries have a shared history and some common values.
It means that you live under the dictatorship of the EU and that your free opinion is censured.
Being European means to belong to a group of countries making an effort to unite despite their differences, giving another step forward to the ultimate goal that should be all countries United.
The same thing like, a Asian or African or Australian……just name of continent right
Every thing
Such glaring handwriting on the wall casts light on a rapidly approaching fork in a road set before leaders in particular quarters of Europe, requires each and every to, after all hamstring traditional problems. That primordial barriers to energy, to happiness, and to fortitude—hanging in the balance—an epic fight of the ensuing crisis still exists.
Therefore, inviting greater, if certain, doom and gloom—swelling the guest size at the banqueting hall—as it were—else we witness a remarkably familiar path embarked upon, a high wall assembled once more, “an offense not only against history but an offense against humanity.” Whichever pass we choose short of the disposal of our common problems, the abyss in which parts of Europe finds itself may, indeed, proliferate amassing others, as quarreling excessively with fate is sure to see Europe chasing resources before coffee or tea is served.
To be part of a family group of people (nations) who are quite smart and thus able to achieve a lot of positive goals as well as to defend them from onslauht of destructive ideologies like socialism of all colors (brown, red, blue, and green). This defense is lacking in EU and therefore Europe is turning uglier and uglier.
Free person
I live in a continent called Europe that’s it, I am British first
Now? Like a genius in the bottle.
EU talks about the Mediterranean countries came with the invitation of Turkey (A NON EUROPEAN COUNTRY) and excluted Greece, a member of the European Union. I would say betrayed at least.
I don’t share much “core values” with Jo Leinen but we share same ethics. Instead of solidarity I favor charity, instead of equality I choose equity and justice, and instead of inclusivity (in the Borg collective maybe?) I choose individualism and creativity. We don’t have to think alike, we only have to share the same, basic morality, like respect for the freedom and dignity of every person. Solutions should be open for debate and arguing, but morality should be absolute. So, Europeans don’t have core ideological values, but common ethical and moral values.
I am actively following the presidential election and the overall situation in USA and everyday I am more and more happy to be European. Universal health coverage, low tuition fees, non student loan, unions and stabile work contract. I lot of stuff must be improved as well, like unemployment and salaries but I don’t think Europeans know how similar we are in our values. Is sometime you realise only when compare to very different societies.
I’m a Celt, born on the lands of my ancestors, I’m an European.
the Celts were also migrants !
It means that I live in a continent caled EUROP. Nothing more, because this is a failed project, in the hands of the bureucrats. Following Soros agenda.
To be European means to be haunted by the spectre of communism! 💖
live within the geographic area
It means I was born and raised in an European country.
It means straightening any curvy banana I come across. 😜
Free safe open mind, but Europe dont help greece with turkey so better grexit so the oil and gas go to some where Else, hungary didnt help in immigration problem where is solidarity 🙄🙄🙄
It means my heart and soul,they are breaking now
It means to work for the European elite and banksters…of course we have values and democracy but lately those are walking out the back door l live in Greece l have no dreams.
Not happy to be a slave?
that’s a silly question …would you be??
A geographical accident…..a shared, albeit combative, history, a still privileged status.
It means that the blood of my ancestors which has watered the soil of my land in defense of our people and our faith also runs through my veins and that blood is more precious to me than anything else in this world for there would be no me without it.
To be able to say saktabaš at public places
it has to mean nothing…
I am European.
fight politician corruption, for social rights
It doesn’t mean anythting.It will if we turn this neomarxist Union into libertarian one.
It means trouble, poverty, taxes, bureaucracy, submission to undemocratic rulers, lobbyists, greedy recycled politicians, unemployment, loss of sovereignty…..and hypocritically” helping “a country by destroying its economy in order to control it even more.
That if they told me to go and kill other Europeans, I would say no.
But you could kill anyone else if you were told to ?
Just nothing ! You are only born in this continent, there’s not a common European identity and never will in the short term..if you want to destroy Europe do the EU’s work: trying to repress countries identity
Coming from the european continent, I’m French before all!
Free safe open mind, but Europe dont help greece with turkey so better grexit so the oil and gas go to some where Else, hungary didnt help in immigration problem where is solidarity
Europe means ‘Home’ to me. This is where I belong. Of course I am from Deventer, so I am from the Netherlands too and I love it, but Europe is my country. And I think it is beautiful to live in a country where we have so many different cultures, languages and customs we can embrace. Europe doesn’t mean one culture or language, it means shared values and solidarity and above all… peace! That is the aim Europe as a project started with. There is one problem with the project Europe. It is not democratic. We tell each other that we share democratic values, but Europa as a project lacks democratic control. That’s why I think Churchill was right when he stated that we should move towards a federal Europe. So not just an economic project, but a true political, one man, one vote structure with a chose parliament and a democratically controlled government.
In my opinion it means, not only financial interests, but also, Social justice and Peace.
Stronger together. Still needs a bit of reform to balance the unequal mess though.
I would like to think has a nationality…
To me it meant supporting each other, respecting each others culture, however it seems that for many decades it has meant to consider the Europeans like low lifes even trying to turn us submissive to others.
To be born in a country located in the European continent.
Nothing, I’m British
To be in the European Union means to share the same idea that some things can be sone better toghether (market, climate, resezrah) than by your own. And with it you can help interconnect poorer areas (structural and régional funds) and régulate when there is too much (farming). It also includes the recognition of the of diversity and solidarity and a social state.
Being geographically European is broader and should include Russia and Ukraine and other countries and thus the common denominator is lower but still parts of the includes the previous list. Interesting data can be found on the Eurobarometer statistical queries.
To have ancestors who lived in Europe over centuries.
PEACE!!!!!!!!!!
Hopefully it doesn’t mean “to feel ashamed and guilty for the European cultural heritage” for too many people. We’ve all seen that sort of people.
I feel it before when I am a student. I was for a federal union. Now it means nothing EU betrayed Europe
Am English, never classed myself as European!! English, British then a citizen of the globe.
This is why you are out of EU.
Your history makes impossible you British to feel part of a union where the countries are equal. You are use to dominate and exploit countries not be in a group with equals.
Whilst I completely agree with you about the 2000+ year history of Britain and not feeling or wanting to be part of a union, you really cant not be serious when you say ‘where the countries are equaly’.
If only the 27 countries where treated as equal you would not be having ever increasing calls for independence from the EU in several of the 27 countries. During the Brexit campaign it highlighted how the EU neglects many issues in countries, this neglect was just one of the reasons why so many British voted for independence.
To be in the European Union means to share the same idea that some things can be sone better toghether (market, climate, resezrah) than by your own. And with it you can help interconnect poorer areas (structural and régional funds) and régulate when there is too much (farming). It also includes the recognition of the of diversity and solidarity and a social state.
Being geographically European is broader and should include Russia and Ukraine and other countries and thus the common denominator is lower but still parts of the includes the previous list. Interesting data can be found on the Eurobarometer statistical queries.
totally agree, it’s a. Fictitious entity created by tthise who want to centralise power for their own gain
@Tatjana or we are sick as tax payers, paying for polish and Lithuanian roads while ours crumble, maybe we are tired of not being able to vote for the commission, maybe we are tired of bailing out a failing block. Nah its just the empire obsession of course
Wow…but it hasnt or doesnt provide this so called ‘Equality’ that you’ve summarised. There is a vast difference in many ways between the northern countries of Europe vs the southern and eastern. Why, if the union is aiming for an equal status quo??
The union of any N countries will obviously always have richer and poorer and those that contribute more and less. In the distribution of Regional and Structural funds (a big chunk of the EU Budget) the idea is to help the poorer ones by funding infrastructure that is useful to boost the market and thus its economy (e.g. roads, rail,.subsidy to airports). So its targeted.
The Union objectives are not a status quo of its Member states which have the 99% of their budget (1% is for the EU – see current negotiations at the Paliament for the Multiannual Financial Framework) to use internally using the EU supported infrared to help.
Having lived and worked in Spain, with family living in Italy, Spain and France I like many Brits are fedup with seeing OUR taxes being poorly used by the EU, with regulations being ignored by many countries, with democratically elected parliaments being dictated to by an organisation which cleary the British do not want to be part of.
@Tatjana This all comes from a son of an immigrant from a former part of the British Empire. Proud to have been borne on this GREAT Island, Proud to be British and Proud to be leaving The EU mafia.
scots dont agree with you, mate. Nor Ireland, do they? LOL and which dictator did you crush? Funny though, most ex british colonies, see britain as dictators. Even though I dont believe in EU, your british snob its ridiculous. Dont forget 50% of brits wanted to stay in the EU
Spot on Chris!! My wife is from South America and their history is full of Spanish atrocities. Everyone criticises the British empire but without it the world would look very different, especially after 2 World Wars. You just have to look at the ever increasing popularity with the Commonwealth, these countries really value the union.
You are on drugs or something?? You are one of the most hated nation in the world and you are proud of colonisation??? That’s ridiculous..
seriously? And who was dominating with us? I seem to remember a short French fellow, not the current one, trying to invade the whole of Europe, a strange German fella with weird facial hair also trying to dominate most of the world, oh and the whole purpose of the EU is to dominate Europe and bring it under centralised control. I’m not sure if you were being tongue in cheek or just have selective historical recall.
well said
Are you stupid or just ignorant, we are part of a union, the greatest Union ever created. Great Britain, A Union of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. A union that for the past 200 years as stood up to every European dictator, and crushed them. So when a Union ( the greatest Union in the world) tell a fledgling Union that they need to reform as it dose not work, you should probably listen to us. Or don’t, and this is why we are walking.
European ignorance towards Britain has always lead to your demise. Napoleon after Britain declares war ” HA they are but a Nation of shop keepers” Then Looses to Britain in the Napoleonic war. Kaiser Wilhelm the second after Britain declares war on Germany “Ha we will just send out the police to arrest them” 1st battle of Ypres shows Germany what a small but professional army can do, also looses WW1 to Britain.
I would also like to point out that we colonized during a time that everyone was doing it, it was how things are done back then, what pisses the world off is that we are a small insignificant island that did it better then anyone else. Also when other empires reseeded they striped their colonized country, where Britain left Infrastructure, education, law, democracy and a standing army for them to defend themselves. Look what France did, look what Spain did look what Germany did and look what the Netherlands did.
yeah and there wouldn’t be 48%now Chris. Way lower especially after the disasterous reaction to corona and the was they have tried to steal our resources, less public sympathy unless they are hardcore remainiacs
To be born and to be raised in the European values.
which are? Rob as much money off nation states who have it and let unelected meddlers live lavish lifestyles? Ignore other countries struggling with covid 19? Bankrupt weaker countries with a one size fits all currency so Germany can get richer? Cause wars every 50-100 years? Continuously antagonise Russia by creeping ever closer to its borders?
ha, certainly not a communist or rabid socialist. Socialism destroys lives, capitalism lifts peoplecto better lives. Enjoy your eu before it implodes
What??,You talk about EU… Isabelle said about European Values.
Europe is just a continent, there are no European values
Oh you are Boris Johnson supporter…. I will not use my brain cells to argue with you.
oh just so you know Boris has 55%aporoval rating, any of your European leaders boast that?
Let’s see, Scandinavian Countries have a lot in common. Mediterranean countries have a lot in common. Greece and Italy they have a phrase which literally means same face, same race… I can continue but an ignorant colonialist will not understand.
eah and Europe is so pulling together at the moment eh? Not to mention the bankrupting of your own country. Never mind colonialist, a bit of a brain dead attempt, what do you call those who conspire with outside agencies against their own country. Here we call that a traitor
It means sharing culture, values, and history. Living and standing together
Shared culture and values inside specific borders which have historically been associated with being the homeland of these values and traditions
1. Nation state of European countries
2. Liberal democracy in European countries
3. Secular character of European countries.
4. Social character of European countries
5. Human rights in European countries.
These 5 things + the geographical region make me feel a European.
simply PRIDE
Descent from people who have lived in Europe for centuries and millennia.
Europe means culture, ethics and a way of thinking. It means more than just geography or institutions. And it’s more than empty phrases about living together. We have a heritage and a rich history not to be cast aside.
I agree .
I´m “European ” with or without EU , I feel Home in every country since I lived for short short time in several europeans countries and now I live in one of them, european culture is linked to each other and I don´t criticize the local values and naturally I will never forget the country I was born in.
It means to be open minded and not merely a nationalist
My culture is everything my history is my past I am Patriot and European. This is European European Union – EU for me. What we do not need is a fasle national what we need is solidarity for all Europeans and only Europeans rest of wolrd we Don’t Care. I am sad that there aren’t Patriots in poletician in EU Look what is happening with the east Mediterranean a European sea is threat constantly by a non member State of European Union what we do the half European Union says come become a member that is not solidarity by any means.
To be citizen of one of Europe’s countries.
For me, being “European” means being hungry for decades: the dirty national political games are now played at the European level. It remains “the European dream” because you have to be dormant to still believe in it.
Everything
It has been stolen from me and I will never get over it
I’m not sure what you mean by that, how has being European been stole from you?
I cant live,work,travel freely and retire there
But you are still European the EU is just a modern construct and has absolutely nothing to do with you being European.
I think you are purposely missing the point
I’m not it just baffles me how people think Europe is the EU. Europe existed a long time before the EU did.
that is not the point
Of course I was born in Europe
But my citizenship ,that I valued so much has been stolen
Delete, hide or report this
…Europe mean civilisation and democracy…comme europeean je respecte l etat de droit et la societe civile…
For the new generations, it means nothing
the dream never came true
“European” means to be a proud of your own nation, honor your ancestors traditions and culture, which are from Europe.
How Europe equals nation when it’s made of many ones?
Europe is not “one nation” :)
We (European nations) are all different, and we like and respect each other’s differences.
We don’t need to be all the same (as sheep), do we? ;)
No, we don’t, but we don’t all need to be put into these nations that aren’t more than one more idea in the spectrum like sheep either, right?
Nothing more than geography
Strength in unity for the people, for trade and for defence and security.
Not this again, Europe is a continent and doesn’t make me feel anything. I am proud of my nation, its history and culture. Trying to create a false country and sneak in a united States of Europe without consent or interest is the biggest nail in the EU’s coffin
Yeah, yeah, have a nice day in your little corner.
I will thanks, underestimate Great Britain at your peril. Just pick up a history book
why would a Briton feel that answering this is relevant though ….. the UK has already Brexited
and with the eu kissing the turks backside get ready to give up Cyprus shortly
don’t worry, it’s not your problem anymore because you are not part of it now. I don’t know why you even bother following this site on Facebook anymore.
you can’t physically exit Europe anyway.
But this is an EU site.
because its called debating Europe and unless the UK suddenly moved its still in Europe just not the eu mafia
called debating Europe?
the internal machinations are still no longer your concern.
don’t be spiteful now. I wasn’t.
I admit that I was expecting a lot more from on the Turkish issue. I would have thought the Hitler experience would have taught govts sth, that appeasement doesn’t work and that Hitlers must be stopped. Sadly there is room for improvement in a Union where some members are a lot more important than others.
they are until we stop paying the bills on the 1st of Jan. Until then we are one of the largest contributors
To be ruropean means to me to adopt the judeo Christian values… And our greco roman heritage…. Which is not compatible with Islam…
To be European means to accept democracy as our political system and capitalism as our economic system
For me, it is having the heritage of Greek philosophy, Roman law, Christian faith. Today’s libtard Europe is nothing but ruins of a once-great civilization, which is getting even more ruined by European libtards today.
The protection of abuse by one’s own government
Yvonne..From Ireland and the EU…it means that altho i live on a small island that im part of a Larger group of like minded countries..all looking out for eachother…we can work study and shop and visit each others countries with minimal or no currency changes or need for visas..thats just so good..:D
It means sharing Culture, Ethics and History. Also I used to think in meant standing together to solve continental issues, sadly at the moment it seems like Europe has become each country looking out for itself.
Diversity, openness, tolerance, freedom of movement and residence, solidarity, organised, fairness, efficiency, education, science, peace and diplomacy .. Europe is many good things and I can only think of my home country, Canada, as a potential contender for quality of life. (Ps I have both citizenships)
I don’t know… I would like to be proud but i can’t be… Not when there are people that run other countries and call the people from the south a bunch of drunk and party people…
no thanks. Why don’t you give that to the minister of netherlands that allows portuguese companies to pay taxes there (similar to an offshore) and avoid taxes in portugal so the same minister that allows this makes statements like he does. Ue market regulation is a great idea, but needs tax regulations as well… That is the only way to have a fair judgement about who is drunk and who is a party boy…
To be European for me is to belong to a large family with a diversity of cultures and peoples that should be friends forever, maintaining their cultures and developments so that we can circulate amicably throughout the European continent.
you mentioned only the romantic side of the story. But with that surname you are justified.
I am not asking for anything I am ashamed that this beautiful country of mine has so many corrupt people and has to live off handouts from the EU and it is to no fault of the normal Tom and Harry.
Equall !!!!
Free movement and common currency almost everywhere within Europe. But that funding of projects….in order to increase development of weak countries…that’s source of money laundering and waste of money. It also makes other countries lazy as they expect funding from the EU instead of solving problems or creating smth useful to get funds themselves Ask those who fund the most, others just take it If someone renovated the house of many offices or school in Post-Soviet country, partially with EU funds, you’ll need to renovate again as money were washed for bad materials and etc
For me any of the above. Shared geography, history, affiliation, loyalty, culture, values, blood… #IamEuropean
Exactly the same question we are trying to answer on our podcast called Common Europeans. Check it out on Spotify platform. Feedback is more than welcomed.(https://open.spotify.com/show/4kJS2Yj7wpS1gvvJpqO2WP). Its very tough one but at the same time also very important one!