EUROPEAN CULTURAL IDENTITY

b.	European Cultural Identity Robert Schuman used to say that the idea of Europe is above institutions and is also a response to the deep aspiration of its peoples.

The European Union is more than the creation of a common economic area. Europe aims at a political union, capable of fostering a feeling of belonging and identity. The reality of a political community depends, not only on the existence of a project that is structured around legal and constitutional elements, separation of powers, control of the institutions by citizens, participation in the decision-taking process, and judicial guarantees, but it also depends on the strength of the link constituted by that community.

Many voices have been demanding since many years ago, that the European Union should not be limited to economics, but culture must also be included. Recently, significant steps have been taken in the political union, and new concepts have been developed, like