THE LANGUAGE AS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT ELEMENTS OF THE EUROPEAN IDENTITY

Language is a basic feature of every nation. It represents an essential element of every national identity. European Union, in the times of increasing globalization in all areas of social life and with the continually growing usage of the only world language, tries to preserve language diversity in the still continuing process of European integration according to its motto : "Unity in diversity". The statement deals with the importance of language in the enlargement of European Union, analyzes the main features and aims of the language policy of European Union as well as the means to reach them.