European Values
Unity in Diversity: European Values
Unity in Diversity is the official motto of European Union. Is there a unity in diversity? Even there are many different cultures in Europe are there common European values?
In order to define “European Values” first we should answer an important question. What is Europe? In basic sense it is a continent. But actually it is more than just a continent.
Olli Rehn who is the vice president of the European Commission says “I am often asked where Europe's ultimate borders lie. My answer is that the map of Europe is defined in the minds of Europeans. Geography sets the frame, but fundamentally it is values that make the borders of Europe. Enlargement is a matter of extending the zone of European values, the most fundamental of which are liberty and solidarity, tolerance and human rights, democracy and the rule of law.”
In his words Olli Rehn defines Europe and European values very well. We can’t find the real map of Europe in books. The real map is inside the minds of Europeans. So, what Europeans think about it? What is the most important thing for them? What comes first? Being a European or being a citizen of their own country? Do they see themselves as “European”?
According to a survey of Eurobarometer that took place on 2004 %48 of European Union (EU) citizens defines themselves as both European and a citizen of their country, %41 of them says they are only their country’s citizen.Besides %86 of them are proud of their nationality but only %68 of them are proud of being a European. Generally, Europeans importance order is like the chart below.
The Importance order of Europeans | Their Country | %92 | Their Region | %88 | Their City | %87 | Europe | %67 |
As we can see from the survey the most important thing for everyone is their own country. So, is it possible to have common European values when people care about their own heritage most? Is it possible to find unity in diversity? According to European
Unity in Diversity is the official motto of European Union. Is there a unity in diversity? Even there are many different cultures in Europe are there common European values?
In order to define “European Values” first we should answer an important question. What is Europe? In basic sense it is a continent. But actually it is more than just a continent.
Olli Rehn who is the vice president of the European Commission says “I am often asked where Europe's ultimate borders lie. My answer is that the map of Europe is defined in the minds of Europeans. Geography sets the frame, but fundamentally it is values that make the borders of Europe. Enlargement is a matter of extending the zone of European values, the most fundamental of which are liberty and solidarity, tolerance and human rights, democracy and the rule of law.”
In his words Olli Rehn defines Europe and European values very well. We can’t find the real map of Europe in books. The real map is inside the minds of Europeans. So, what Europeans think about it? What is the most important thing for them? What comes first? Being a European or being a citizen of their own country? Do they see themselves as “European”?
According to a survey of Eurobarometer that took place on 2004 %48 of European Union (EU) citizens defines themselves as both European and a citizen of their country, %41 of them says they are only their country’s citizen.Besides %86 of them are proud of their nationality but only %68 of them are proud of being a European. Generally, Europeans importance order is like the chart below.
The Importance order of Europeans | Their Country | %92 | Their Region | %88 | Their City | %87 | Europe | %67 |
As we can see from the survey the most important thing for everyone is their own country. So, is it possible to have common European values when people care about their own heritage most? Is it possible to find unity in diversity? According to European