The European identity: social models and immigration

“The European identity: social models and immigration”, another of the Aspen Seminars for Leaders, reiterated the concept that “Europe” has always been an evolving reality. Every time there is a change in its institutions or governmental structure, the identity of Europe’s citizens – and their sense of belonging – becomes uncertain. Common interests and spaces coexist with national loyalties and regional and local roots. In this framework, immigration – a wide-scale, enduring phenomenon – heavily influences the EU’s evolution. The meaning of its geographic borders, the composition of its population, the debate over enlargement and security, as well as the possible choices to be made in the area of economic reforms were all under consideration. Can we really speak of a single European identity? Is there still a need to do so? There were a variety of answers to these questions, and some wondered whether the “multicultural” model hasn’t actually failed on the field and whether other approaches are practicable. During the discussion on immigration policy – aside from the problem of controlling borders – participants focused on the need to protect major regional differences. The seminar ended with a discussion of the key role recently played by religion in global polices, the strategies that Europe must apply to religious factors and the new social models that should develop in the future.