Europe? What's it to you?!

What Europe means for ordinary people...

Marion says: What does the European Union mean to me? It gives me a sense of security as it protects me and all European citizens from an eventual war that could happen if the Union did not exist. To me it is a way for countries to unite in order to be stronger and more efficient. The European Union also provides many advantages such as social rights, wherever I decide to live in the Union.

Léo says: For me, the European Union is 27 countries which try to work together. Each country has to give its contribution to make the Union bigger and stronger. The initial idea was to avoid wars in Europe. It is still the case but now the economic aspect has become more and more important. One of the main aims is to have more influence in the world's economy. Sometimes it is also about helping each other. At the moment it is the case for countries like Greece and Spain, and I think that there will be more countries with difficulties. In most of the countries of the European Union we use the same money, the Euro. In my everyday life, I do not "see" the European Union at work, but I am sure that it has an impact on our lives, for example the Schengen Area where passports controls have been abolished. I suppose also that the EU gives subsidies to increase every country's economic potential.

Sarah says: The fact is that, even though I have two different nationalities and I feel both French and Spanish, I do not feel European. It is not because you live somewhere that you have to feel that you are part of it... In fact, Europe is rather an abstract idea for me even if I live within its territory. It is true that we all share some values and, deep down, we want the same things, but I think that calling someone European is generalizing too much as if this "European" person was the same as all the other people who live in Europe, which is just not true. So, if I think of myself as French or as Spanish it is because my parents are French and Spanish and I have been living with these two cultures since I was born. They are both part of my identity and personality.

Arthur says: If someone were to ask me where I was from, I would certainly answer France and not Europe. It is clear that I have stronger patriotic feelings towards my home country than towards the European Union. This feeling is due to the fact that I have know my country, its culture, its language and its inhabitants since childhood. But a feeling of membership to this Union had grown in me over the last few years; indeed, even though I have never lived in a foreign country, the different cultures that I discovered in countries outside of the European continent have made me feel more ‘at home’ while visiting the countries which are members of the Union. Of course, it was fascinating to visit countries such as Marocco or Turkey, but the cultural differences between other countries and those of the European Union clearly creates strong links between the countries of the European Union.

Blandine says: I've never really thought about being European... I actually feel much more French than European. Unlike people living in the United States, who all say proudly they are American, I never had the idea to say that I'm European rather than French. It will perhaps change with time... However, I did experience some of the advantages of being a citizen of the European Union. I lived for five years in Hungary, when some of the countries around it weren't yet part of the European Union, and when we no longer had to spend one or two hours having to cross the boarder lines and move freely it was a great improvement.

Marine says: In my case, I wasn’t born in Europe but I do have a European nationality. My mother is from Holland and my dad is from Belgium; I have the Belgian nationality but I haven’t even lived in that country. I have only lived in foreign countries to which I don’t have family ties but I have been living in Europe for eleven years. I don’t really feel like I have a nationality at all since it’s all mixed up and so I don’t feel European. Whenever someone asks me where I’m from, it is hard for me to reply. I am glad though to be living in Europe since it’s a continent with many advantages such as freedom to travel to the different countries of the European Union. I believe that this Union is what ties us together and helps keep the peace. It is a vital union and I think that each country that is in the European Union should make an effort to try to keep that connection.

Viktoria says: All Europeans live on the same continent and share the same values. I think that it is important to be more open minded. Thanks to trips abroad, we are able to share our languages, cultures and even values. Thus some Europeans speak several languages and even feel attached to different cultures. We could say that some feel more European than others, as the sharing of our identities is vital to the expansion of the European culture. Moreover this sharing of values is the basis of European culture. Personally, I am German but I live in France, so I have the chance to live with two different European cultures and speak both languages. I think that it is a real plus in life, because speaking two different languages is a plus in today’s society as it enables one to discuss with more people, not only in Europe but also around the world. Even though Germany and France are two countries that are neighbors and are economic partners, I do see some differences in terms of culture, in the ways of life and especially school. School in Germany is until 2pm, not 5pm like in France, and the pressure is far less than in France. I went to a Canadian school too; I felt “European” for the first time in my life because I could see and even feel the differences between Canadians and myself. I do feel European more than anything else; however this identity is not the one I would mention when someone asks me about my nationality. Naturally I would answer German.

Pierre says: I'm not used to considering myself as European; I feel more French than European. The only European country I've lived in is France. I do not know any other European country so I do not know if I share the values and practices of the people in them. I've lived in the United States, and, seen from over there, Europe appears to be insignificant. You just never hear about it...

Charles says: I've never really thought deeply about the term "European" and haven't considered myself as such when in fact I am. It's difficult believing that you are European just like people living, for example, in the UK simply because they seem so far away. I believe it comes from the fact that I lived in America, and so haven't always lived with the idea of France being united with other countries of Europe. When I came back to live in France I considered myself as French and haven't linked France with Germany or the UK, etc. I feel like the other countries of Europe are countries far away from France just like the United States.

Alexane says: I do feel European for many reasons. I can move in any country of the Union without feeling that borders exist. I have the feeling that we have the same way of thinking, the same habits, the same values, as if we all came from the same place. The main difference that I feel is that we don’t speak the same language. I feel European because the members of my family do not all come from France. Some of my grandparents are French but the others are German. Still, they live under the same conditions and have the same values. I don’t see differences in their habits coming from their country. So I have some French origins but also some German ones. I feel European because when I read what's happening in the news, I feel that the European countries are linked together. We share more than the same money and economy; we share ideas and thoughts. We try together to get out of our common problems, to help each other, and to advance together. Still, I must admit that I feel more French than European. Though we talk about Europe, we usually talk more about each individual country. Plus, France has a national anthem, a national holiday… These elements are well-known in the country because I think we really want to show our loyalty to our country. I also think Europe will progress. The Union is new and will advance. It will take time for people to accept this concept and to feel European. In a few years, I think people will consider themselves European more than they do today.

Marie says: The European Union is a gathering of European countries. One person does not govern the Union, but an assembly constituted of elected representatives of the 27 countries in the EU. That's why the EU is a democracy. The EU is also a space of "free-exchange": goods can travel easily from one country to another because there are no economic borders within the EU, and because almost every country shares the same currency, the Euro. The European Union was created in the 1950s by six countries: France, Italy, Germany, Luxemburg, Belgium and Holland. Over the years, the number of countries in the EU has increased; nowadays 27 countries form the European Union. I feel European, but a bit more French, maybe because I have never lived anywhere else. However I feel European because of all my trips to EU countries (Germany, Spain, Holland, Italy), and because my parents brought me up with the idea of being French within the European Union. My trips abroad have also helped me be open to other cultures, and this has been enforced by the OIB which has enabled me to understand other cultures and foreign people thanks to the universal language that is English. Feeling European gives me expectations for the future, because of the possibility to work and live abroad, that is why I give particular importance to the learning of languages and to the discovery and understanding of European cultures, to be able later to travel from one European country to another for work or leisure.

Pamela says: I was born in Canada and lived there for four years, then we moved to Singapore where we stayed for five years, and we have lived in France for the last six years. Last year, I became a French national. Whenever someone asks me where I am from, it is difficult for me to say to them that I am from a specific country or continent. My parents were both born in different parts of Egypt and have Armenian and Lebanese origins. However, I also have a little bit of French blood. I am happy to now be part of the EU because it offers us the possibility to travel and work anywhere we want in the European Union. The EU also exists to keep the peace. I think this is very intelligent and that we should keep this Union for as long as possible!

Laura says: In my opinion, being European means having a particular lifestyle and way of thinking. It is about being part of a community and exchanging ideas and things with each other. Our generation is more likely to think and act as Europeans because we were born in the middle of the expansion of Europe. I’ve got some family on the other side of the English Channel and I have even stronger connections with them than with my French family which lives in the neighbourhood. Two years ago, through an exchange with a school in Serbia, we met some wonderful people in the city of Pirot who seemed really glad to welcome us. During our week over there we made friends with the people there and we all had the impression of being part of the same community, and we still keep in touch with each other. This shows that there are no borders through Europe when it’s about relations between people. Moreover I think that there aren’t many differences between their way of living and ours. I notice that nowadays it is as easy to travel in Europe as to travel in France; all we need is an identity card, some money and a toothbrush. I believe in Europe as it encourages the mixing of different traditions and cultures between Europeans countries. I find it very amusing to think that each French person can enjoy a fresh German beer and eat some tapas from Spain while remaining in France... However during my stay in England last year I took a few exams and realized that there is no real equivalent between the diplomas that you take in high schools in Europe. This shows us that even with progress and the development of similar education throughout Europe there is still room for improvement and for new projects. Though the European economy is going through a recession, I think that Europe really has a future and we will be able to overcome our cultural and historical differences.

Julien says: I do feel European but I feel like I'm more French than European because when I was in the US for a year and people would ask me where I was from, I would answer that I was French. I didn't doubt about whether I was French or European, because when I mentioned that I was French I of course also meant that I was European. Abroad, I was proud of my country. I was so glad to leave it, but you quickly realize how great your home country is. I was also able to know what Americans think about France, and I realized the differences between these two countries. I learnt a lot of things about the United States, as I did also about France in fact! Leaving your home country for a while makes you realize so many things, like what culture is, the importance of language and of the people, and so on. Indeed, it's by living in an other country that you finally get another view of the world, and thanks to this experience, I now know that I'm French more than anything else, and I wouldn't see myself having another nationality.

Jonathan says: For me, the European Union is an organization of 27 European countries. Most of them use the same currency: the Euro. It makes it easier to trade or sell within the EU. If you have the nationality of an EU country, you can live anywhere within the EU. It is border free. People can move freely. The countries are united and maintain peace. Countries want to join the Union. There are conditions to be part of it. Every member country participates in the EU's defence. When countries experience difficult situations like an economic crisis, the others try to help out. How European do I feel? To be honest, I don’t really feel European. Being French and American (with Italian origins) is how I think of myself. I haven’t been raised to think of myself as European. This concept is not present enough in our lives. For most Europeans, the EU is just an “idea”. Living in France, I am surrounded by French culture. At home, my American culture is more present. When people in France ask me where I’m from, I usually answer that I’m from the United States. I usually don’t specify that I’m from New York. If an American asks me where I’m from, I’ll say that I’m from from France. I usually don’t say I’m from Europe. I don’t feel European enough, although I am half European. I know that in the United States, Europe is not really mentioned and is not a big part of Americans’ lives. Anything outside the United States doesn’t really affect or concern Americans. I have been raised differently. I live in the European Union and have always lived here. To compare the EU and the United States, we can see that the Europeans share a lot. The EU groups many countries together. Even though they are all united, Europeans don’t actually feel European. It is the same with the US, except it gathers many States. Americans feel American, but don’t share as many values as Europeans. They have different laws in each state. Usually, Europeans will have a tendency to rank their country higher than the EU. Americans will rank their country higher than their State. To conclude, I think the European Union is very important. The gathering of so many countries of different cultures is incredible. Being Europeans, we can travel around Europe and live anywhere in the European Union. The gathering of these countries makes the EU a superpower, just like the US. All of these countries try to work together and share many values. I think we should all make efforts to feel concerned by the EU, and try to see how valuable it is.

Alice says: Europe is a good thing for the 27 members of the Union. But, as a teenager I do not see the difference as regards being in Europe or just in France. The EU maintains peace, freedom to go everywhere, encourages trade and unity. However, even if I am aware that all these notions of unity and equality are very important after two world wars, I do not for al that feel European. I feel a lot more French. It’s my country, it is where I grew up and where all my family is. When I was younger nobody told me I was European. The first time someone asked me if I felt European was my English teacher in 9th grade. She was very surprised that we did not feel European for students who were in the Euro option class. I’ve always known my country as one of the members of the EU but I have never thought of myself as a European. I discussed this topic with my mother and I was quite surprised when she told me that she does not feel European either. I thought that, as she knows the difference between France before and after the creation of the EU that she could maybe feel more European than I do, but she doesn’t. She agrees with Europe benefits but it never changed the way she lives her life. The creation of the EU has had no impact on her life she feels. I think it is for this reason that so many people do not feel European. We all know how good it is to have the EU, but in our daily lives it does not change anything.

Gabriel says: I feel proud being European just as I feel proud being French, but it is like comparing a person's home town with the same person's native country and then asking them which they hold dearest. Even though a rare few might rate their home town above or below their country, most would react the same way as I do stating that one is not the same as the other. Amongst other cities of France, I would defend my own first and foremost. With someone from another Member State of the EU I would patriotically defend France and with other states not belonging to the EU I would boast my country first and then the benefits of the Union. This is why I accept with open arms the European identity. However, it is clear that for the time being, there is still progress to be made before Europeans adopt the US way of thinking which is "I'm American" first and "I'm from Oklahoma" (or any of the other 49 States) second. Various programmes such as the Erasmus programme work actively towards forging a real European identity but it may nonetheless take many more generations for multiculturalism to be dominant in Europe through marriages (to mix up the origins) and through learning about the different cultures and ways of life.

Jacobo says: I don't feel European at all, even though I'm a Spanish person who has lived in France almost all his life. I think I should, though, because it would be necessary... From my time spent in various Asian countries I realized that being part of a continent and an geo-political organization like the EU is important as it facilitates communications and economic exchange between European countries. One of the problems nowadays is that European countries have developed the economic aspect of their union but less the political dimension. Stronger political institutions would be there to regulate economic and social affairs. For instance, European countries should be able to make a real decision regarding the buying of Chinese products. Asian products are much cheaper because there are no rules on the workers' labor conditions and wages. We have to react, not only for European companies but also for Chinese employees' suffering from terrible living and working conditions. If Europe is to make any decision, we must all become true Europeans and make a common choice by creating a real political union similar to a government.

Noémie says: The European Union is a great improvement for Europeans. This Union, which keeps going growing, gives an important economic place to Europe in the world, keeps peace within Europe and opens the Europeans to other cultures, languages and ways of thinking. For me, being European means sharing values (freedom, democracy, peace…). I think that the EU's slogan “United in diversity” is very true. I think this diversity of languages, habits, etc. stops me from considering myself first as European. We do share something but it’s not enough to make me consider myself as part of a “European group”. However, the European Union is very young… Things might change, for example our great-grand parents thought of themselves as Auvergnat or Breton and not really French… Nowadays, there is no real regional identity because most of the people have lived in several regions of France, which makes them feel French, when you ask any French person about his nationality he will first say that he is simply French! The European policy about free boarders surely will help us to feel more European soon? You can go, live and work anywhere in the EU with just an identity card. When you travel in Europe you realize that there is no real difference between places. I have been to Italy, Greece and Germany. I was very exciting and thought that I would directly know when I will was in the “foreign country” yet when I passed the boarder nothing really changed! We have the same money, the same kind of religion. Only the languages and some foreign habits make you realize that you are not in France. So I think of myself as French and I know too that I have the immense advantage of being part of the European Union. To be European means we can learn other languages, to be more open-minded by discovering a new culture, people, countries. Maybe, after living in another European country, I will say that I’m truly European!

Valentine says: The European Union is an alliance of 27 countries from Europe united under various treaties. This Union presents many advantages, for example it prevents war, and the countries support each other economically and socially. In my opinion, these alliances are superficial on a world wide scale, even if each country is watching out for the others, they will always go for what is to their personal advantage... Over 500 million people are by definition European, which means that they have a nationality from one of the 27 Member States. They benefit from the advantages of membership of the European Union (for example: the right to vote in any country that is part of the European Union). But, do all these people really feel European? You don’t need to be European in order to feel like you are. Some factor that could make you feel European are the pride you feel for a European country that may be your own, or even The European Union itself. You might have kept a good memory or feeling while maybe only visiting one of the 27 countries. Maybe you even speak a language from the European Union. In addition to all of this, you might also take an active part in the everyday life of the Union. I speak four of the EU's languages more or less well and I lived for about six years within the European Union; and, even if I do not benefit from any of the personal advantages, I partly feel linked to the Union and feel European.

Evan says: As an American coming to France through AFS, the question of how European I am isn’t very relevant! But one of the many goals of a student on exchange is to merge into the culture, not simply learn the language and try the food. Of the many buzzwords they kept throwing around at the Parisian orientations, “assimilate” was the one that stuck out the most. The idea of AFS is to grab hold of another culture... However, I’ve only been here for a month. I don’t feel European or French, not yet anyway! If nationality is solely defined by the place you were born, then I’m American. However, nationality is normally defined as more than that. If nationality is culture, tradition, and values, then I have very little idea who I am. People in general are pretty much the same as they are in the US. People think the same and value the same things. Although our country’s political figures seem to disagree, most Americans dislike war, support education, and want the best for others. We share much of the same political and cultural values as Europeans in fact. The most bizarre thing I’ve noticed coming here is everyone seems to believe American culture is invading their own. But the US is a country founded by the British, French, Spanish, and Dutch with significant immigration too from, among others, Ireland, Germany, China, Italy, Poland, Russia, Japan, Korea, and Mexico... The idea that American culture is basically BBQs is absurd. Even the things America is famous for come from somewhere else, for example hamburgers are German, and blue jeans are French! My expectation that France wasn’t going to be that different from my own country has come true. I do not feel European, French, or in fact even that American... I just feel like a person! My home is where I am.