Some fear that the EU threatens (national) cultures and identities, or that these will be replaced by a European identity. How do Europeans perceive the European integration process? The Treaty of Maastricht recognized for the first time the cultural dimension of European integration in 1992. The two goals of the EU are to preserve and support the cultural diversity and to help make it accessible to others. Examples include recognizing the diversity of languages within the EU, fostering cultural exchange supporting film co-productions, etc.

The discussions on banning Headscarf and other religious symbols highlight contentious notions of culture, religion, and politics, various forms of Islam, and the role of religious diversity within EU member states. Find here more links on the headscarf discussions in the member states.

Learning Objectives

  1. Gain an understanding about the cultural diversity within the EU including the importance of languages and cultural heritage.
  2. Compare the construction of different identities as they demonstrate ‘imagined’ relationships between the local, regional, national, and supra-national
  3. Discuss what people in member states perceive the European integration process and their attitudes towards the EU.
  4. Understand the role of religion in challenging and creating identities.

Study Guide

  1. Print pdf version of study guide.
  2. Gain an understanding about the cultural diversity within the EU including the importance of languages and cultural heritage. Find the EU’s cultural policies and policy on languages.
  3. Discuss how people in the member states perceive the European integration process and what their attitudes towards the EU are.