NATIONAL AND/OR EUROPEAN IDENTITY

Since 1945, the European Union has represented a step towards peace and modernism, towards a more cooperative world and towards a multicultural global society. But is this truly possible? Can the integration process be fulfilled, without affecting the individuality of a particular State? And if not, what is more important? It is obvious that not being a part of this union might be a disadvantage, but national individuality must have some relevance in the memory of that specific State. However, the two objectives should be achieved and they should influence each other positively. The European Union, with its legislation brings many evolution opportunities, but these appear only when the integration process is accomplished. The present paper aims at identifying the way in which a national identity becomes a European identity, and also if this is the right move for the future of a State. There are many obstacles in the way of this particular process, for example religion, values, social differences, which can seriously jeopardize the well-being of a 'newborn' European State. It is without question that in our age, it is not sufficient to be situated in the European continent to be called a European country, but only after a certain set of values is induced in a community, a State becomes part of this territorial and political area.