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Pan-European identity refers to the sense of personal identification with Europe. The most concrete example of pan-Europeanism is the European Union (EU). 'Europe' is widely used as a synonym for the EU, as 500 million Europeans (70%) are EU citizens; however, many nations that are not part of the EU may have large portions of their populations who identify themselves as European as well as their country nationality. Those countries are usually part of the older Council of Europe and have aspirations of EU membership. The prefix ''pan'' implies that the identity applies throughout Europe, and especially in an EU context, 'pan-European' is often contrasted with national. The related term Europeanism refers to the assertion that the people of Europe have a distinctive set of political, economic and social norms and values that are slowly diminishing and replacing existing national or state-based norms and values.〔John McCormick, Europeanism (Oxford University Press, 2010)〕 Historically, European culture has not led to a geopolitical unit. As with the constructed nation, it might well be the case that a political or state entity will have to prefigure the creation of a broad, collective identity.〔Ernest Gellner, ''Nations and Nationalism'', 1983〕 At present, European integration co-exists with national loyalties and national patriotism.〔"The supranational prospect held out by the EU appears to be threatened.... by a deficiency of European identity, in striking contrast to the continuing vigour of national identities, ...." Anne-Marie Thiesse. ''Inventing national identity.'' ()〕 A development of European identity is regarded by supporters of European integration as part of the pursuit of a politically, economically and militarily influential united Europe.〔European identity: construct, fact and fiction Dirk Jacobs and Robert Maier Utrecht University ()〕 Such proponents argue it supports the foundations of common European values, such as of fundamental human rights and spread of welfare.,〔 and strengthens the supra-national democratic and social institutions of the European Union. The concept of common European identity is viewed as rather a by-product than the main goal of the European integration process, and is actively promoted..〔 Eurosceptics tend to oppose such a concept, preferring national identities of the various nation states of the European continent. ==History== A sense of European identity traditionally derives from the idea of a common European historical narrative. In turn, that is assumed to be the source of the most fundamental European values. Typically the 'common history' includes a combination of Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome, the feudalism of the Middle Ages, the Hanseatic League, the Renaissance, the Age of Enlightenment, 19th century liberalism, Christianity, secularism, colonialism and the World Wars. Nowadays, European identity is promoted by, among others, the European Commission, and especially their Directorate-General for Education and Culture. They promote this identity and ideology through funding of educational exchange programmes, the renovation of key historical sites, the promulgation of a progressive linear history of Europe terminating in European integration, and through the promotion and encouragement of political integration. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Pan-European identity」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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