What are the roots of European identity? What does European identity mean today and how is it related to European integration? How can the Council of Europe help foster positive European identities?
 

The Debates on European Identity were an initiative of Thorbjørn Jagland, Secretary General of the Council of Europe, in response to the difficult and challenging times facing European societies today. Building on the format of the previous Democracy debates, and enlarging the thematic scope, they contributed to discussing the current state of thinking and dynamics behind the concept of European Identity. They were intended to serve as a catalyst of ideas and concepts for the future of Europe, thereby contributing to building constructive European identities.

Co-organised by the Council of Europe and the Ecole Nationale d'Administration (ENA), the debates on European identity featured eminent personalities from politics, civil society and academic world. Each time, speakers addressed a different way the complexity of issues related to European identity.

All European Identity Debates

Back Robert SALAIS, French economist, on 'European identity: The past waiting for a future'

Seventh debate
A democratic European federalism would be one possible institutional solution leading to a revival of democratic practice and the emergence of a common identity shared by all Europeans
Robert Salais, French economist, Council of Europe Debate on European Identity, January 2014

Robert Salais, French economist, Council of Europe Debate on European Identity, January 2014

What is preventing Europe from becoming a more human and political community?
How can we make Europe more open and democratic at all levels?

In his introduction speech, Robert Salais referred to two opposing visions for Europe, one, strategic, based on finding common interests between European states and the second, universalist approach, arguing for a European identity which respects the socio-historical diversity of the region and which can serve as a model for other continents.

Robert Salais argues that the current dominant strategic orientation is neoliberalism and this is leading to an identity impasse, creating risks for the future of the European project. He observes that the current dominant strategic orientation is neoliberalism and this is leading to an identity impasse, creating risks for the future of the European project. He suggests that to overturn this tendency Europe needs to return to its original vision, to its universalist approach. For this to work, he outlines some conditions for Europe: the primacy of politics over economics; federalism and democratic deliberation at all levels; priority to fundamental human rights over economic freedoms; reaffirmation of the role of the state in the implementation of collective goals, etc.

Text of presentation

 Biography of Robert Salais

Video of the Conference (French language):

 

Strasbourg 23 January 2014
  • Diminuer la taille du texte
  • Augmenter la taille du texte
  • Imprimer la page
Resources

 Concept paper

 Publication "We need to talk about Europe"

  All debates on European identity