Transnational participation and citizenship: Immigrants in the European Union

Definitions of the European Union in terms of « shared destiny » or as an expression of the « will to live together » recall the inspirations that led to the formation of nation-states in eighteenth century Europe. Can one think of the European Union in the same terms as nationstates? Can nation-state building be a « model » for the construction of a political Europe? Can the fact that European institutions are concerned to harmonize political, legal and cultural differences impelling the states to attempt to set a common « political agenda » be enough to conceive of the Union as a political community? (...)