A Vision about the European Union: ‘Being one without difference’

50the anniversary. But even if the European Union wishes to be a strong unity, the question how to conceive this shared community without denying diversity is as relevant as ever today. Although there are some symbols that represent a shared European identity- such as the European passport (in use since 1985), the European anthem (Beethoven’s ‘Ode to Joy’) and the European flag (a circle of 12 gold stars on a blue background), the EU driving licences that have been issued in all EU countries since 1996, the EU motto ‘United in diversity’, and last but not least, 9 May as ‘Europe Day ’- we can’t ignore that the process of European integration without smothering the different ways of life, traditions and cultures of its peoples is still an uphill battle. Raising public awareness about the EU and involving citizens in its activities is still one of the greatest challenges that the EU institutions have to face today. Especially the notion ‘European citizen ’ gets an enormous attention today. Referring to Jean Monnet expression back in 1952- ‘We are not bringing together states, we are uniting people’- notions as European citizenship or identity appears nowadays as a new instruments to unite people without replacing their national citizenship nor culture and religion. Questioning what a European identity and citizenship contains and how individuals can acquire it through education puts Europe as its biggest challenge for the year 2007