an Interdisciplinary Perspective and Practice
II. Conceptual Guidelines for Strengthening, Deepening and Widening European Studiesand Widening European Studies
European studies should be based on a certain idea of Europe that is beyond mere information. Europe is a faceted and multi-dimensional space exhibiting multiple characteristics. They have to be understood and translated within the globalisation context that often produces changing and paradoxical realities. These realities have an impact on current European identity, citizenship and solidarity building, the relations between Eastern, Central and Western European countries as well as on the widening gap between North and South. Therefore it is important for the future of European studies to clearly affirm the value premises of Europe as a community in dealing with the welfare and wellbeing (current and future) of its citizens.
1) Europe as a Community of Destiny: The process of European civilisation has led to an increasing interdependence between and complexity of the interactions and relations that shape our common destiny in a globalising world. The maintenance of peace, the conservation of the environment, and the means of enabling people to live their lives with dignity all demand common policies. Unifying Europe in diversity is the response to past sufferings and the challenges faced by history. All Europeans are called upon to work responsibly together to build a peaceful European order. The concrete realities of every day life however, illustrate a growing tension and differentiation amongst member and non-member states as to the role, responsibility and finality of Europe within the global context.
2) Europe as a Community of Values: The aim of European integration and inclusion is to carry out, test, develop and safeguard the community of shared values. These are rooted in common legal principles, acknowledging the freedom of individuals and social responsibility. Fundamental European values are based on human dignity, tolerance, humanity and fraternity. Building on its historical roots in classical antiquity and Christianity, Europe further developed these values during the course of history, which finally led to the development of democracy, the recognition of fundamental and human rights and the rule of law, which is now enshrined in binding legal frameworks. The great currents of culture and art, scientific discoveries and their application for the common good, as well as the critical analysis of accepted views and perceptions created an area of freedom, justice and democracy.
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These principles for international relations have opened the way to a free and peaceful future. However, Europe has repeatedly called these values into question, causing conflicts and wars. Therefore, in the name of preserving collective memory, intellectual, cultural and artistic built and non-built heritages need to be cherished and protected in treaties, programmes and projects. Potential conflicts can then be overcome through the European dialogues framework, peace-building and non-conflict initiatives, reciprocal understanding and mutual learning processes, thereby stimulating a sense of common purpose and an awareness of a shared European identity. European identity requires the free exchange of persons and ideas, and finds its expression in the common protection of our values. The 1950 Convention for Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, the EC Charter of Fundamental Social Rights of 1989, the creation of European Union citizenship by the Treaty of Maastricht and the European Charter of Human Rights, constitute important steps towards consolidating a European community of shared values. The promotion of European citizenship, however, should be conceived as part of global citizenship. A truly good European citizen, assimilating multiple identities, is therefore a good global citizen within cosmopolitan thought.
3) Europe as a Community of Life: In order for the European Union to become a citizens’ Europe it must develop into a tangible, living community. To that end, citizens must be given the opportunity to participate more fully in the process of European integration. A unified Europe implies further developing European citizenship to the point at which all citizens in all member states have the same rights and duties.
The democratic and federal structures must therefore be strengthened and individual decision-making procedures and policies made more transparent. All citizens must be informed of important proposals for reforms at an early stage, and be involved in the public debate.
Therefore, a cultural and education policy-fostering European identity is necessary for the Union and its member states. While drawing attention to common roots and values, as well as to Europe’s diversity, the aims must be to develop a spirit of tolerance, dialogue and mutual learning towards other people and cultures, to convince all citizens of the European idea, and to enable them to play their part in the process of European integration. This should be favoured at formal, informal and non-formal levels of learning,
4) Europe as an Economic and Social Community: The first steps towards this were taken when six countries founded the European Coal and Steel Community, in which basic industries important for the conduct of war were placed under a common authority. This neo-functional approach resulted in the European Economic Community,
and eventually the European Union, in a process that led to peace between the member states and a higher standard of living.
The driving force behind European integration was economic, though it has become clear that achievement in this field alone is insufficient for the development of a European identity. It implies that the social objectives of the economy must be identifiable. Therefore, a social community is an essential aspect of European identity and would lead – for reasons of internal and external solidarity – to sustainably cohesive societies. European governance on economic, fiscal, and environmental issues has become central to Europe’s responsibilities in the present confusing times.
5) Europe as a Community of Purpose and Responsibility: In today’s globalising and individualising world, the European Union carries a particular responsibility. The European continent has close economic, political and cultural ties with many regions of the world, set in various cooperation agreements. Conflicts and crises, whether within or beyond our continent, threaten all European states and citizens alike. Only through cooperation, solidarity and unity can Europe effectively help to solve world problems. Discord in European policies would be irresponsible and can only lead to chaos.
Global responsibility has various dimensions. It means responsible cooperation in conflict prevention and mediation within the scope of the common foreign and security policy, neighbourhood and development policy. However, it also includes conducting trade and ecological negotiations with other regions of the world in a fair and helpful manner. In accordance with its values and its policy of peaceful integration, the European Union should set an example, in particular in relation to upholding human rights and the protection of minorities. By this means, Europe can remain true to its own heritage.
6) Europe as a Community and Meeting Place of Multiple Identities:
Freedom, peace, human dignity, equality and social justice are Europe’s greatest common goods. To protect and further develop these aims, Europe needs a morally acceptable political structure and policies which strengthen the sense of common purpose while establishing the credibility of the European Union and making its citizens proud to be Europeans through the building of meeting places and the recognition of the wealth of its multiple identities. When that point has been reached, then a stronger, added European identity will also exist. In this perspective, the city dimension becomes more and more a space of recognition and true citizenship building. Reality shows how individuals are bound to territorial places to define and contextualise their identity, within the combined global-local aspects of globalisation. Cities have
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become laboratories of conviviality and living together with all the problems and opportunities multicultural societies offer.
7) Europe as a Community of Multicultural Learning: In order to build up a common European identity as an added value, a common background and future is needed, which takes into account the specific multilayered and diversified institutional and cultural European context.
This however implies enough sharing to create a multicultural learning space that supports integration and human integral development.
Although a legal framework exists in which education/learning is set in the European context, there is still the problem of a lack of information about the principles and practices of Europe, as well as there being only limited, basic knowledge of the European space and environment. These problems seem paradoxical when the living reality of daily experience refers to an unaware Europeanness, which could increase awareness of a European citizenship and the multi-faceted identity of Europe.