European identity has been discussed again and again since the first days of my curiosity for the European Union, dating to my teenager times, before actually entering the EU in 2004. The simple term of “European identity“ has to be deeply understood in order to become a real fan of the idea.

Daniel Barenboim, Austrian Pianist and Conductor:
“It is impossible to play in an orchestra and to concentrate either exclusively on playing or listening. If you concentrate only on what you are doing, you may play very well but you might also play at such a high volume so loud that you’re drowning the others out or alternatively at such a low volume that your own voice is drowned. And of course you cannot limit yourself to listening – the art of playing music is the art of simultaneous playing and listening: one enhances the other.”

This is exactly what happens with Europeans, they can be compared to one numerous orchestra, looking for the same notes, speed and rhythm. Violinists can be French, trumpet Czechs, all different, all the same, on one stage.

To listen to the performance of a good pianist is certainly beautiful, but to hear the whole orchestra, that is a true cultural experience. Applying the principle “the whole is more than the sum of its parts”; European identity is a great idea with incredible power, not a myth.



There have been numerous critics going on during the last years, mostly based on political and economical conflicts. The European orchestra should base its success on cultural heritage we all share and not on political and economical views, because those are what make Europe struggle, culture is the tool of unifying people regardless of their differing political views. On this the true friendship can be built and with this friendship must come a respect for differences.

The respect and tolerance towards the others should be always present. However, the reality indicates otherwise. For this reason, I strongly suggest finding common cultural interests, such as music, theater, arts, literature, cinema, architecture, fashion, among others. For once, let us choose the positive approach, which we will not forget while reading about another conflict in the daily press.

Personally I don’t see any universal solution, I can only repeat what already has been said: education, exchanges, getting to know each other is the right mix to make one feel European – and cultural projects is the best tool to find a sound of Europe. Culture has been always recognized as a major factor in the development of understanding, tolerance, as well as a direct medium in building a knowledge based society.
Silvia, 22 years old: “Erasmus has been the time of my life. I went to Spain, I met many Spanish people, but also other students from all over Europe, we went together to all the great museums in Barcelona, traveled around the country, visited Flamenco concerts in the south, done Pilgrimage of Santiago in the north. My new friends came to visit me and see my home town, we keep in touch and plan to go to Oktoberfest all together. I did not collect so many credits as I planned to, but I gained something much more important, a new feeling of belonging to a group called Europe”.

Silvia has understood the beauty of European Identity and she is spreading the idea, even without exactly intending to. Erasmus is obviously not the only way, any other cultural projects tend to have similar effect. Culture is definitely to tool, which should be used among younger and older, women and men, rich and poor, Eastern and Western Europeans, conservative or liberals.

European identity after the years of discussion seems like a cliché, however the idea is so beautiful and correct in its roots that we simply cannot give up on it and categorize it as a myth.