EUROPEAN IDENTITY VS. NATIONAL IDENTITY? THE CRISIS OF IDENTIFICATION IN THE EUROPEAN UNION

What do we know about the relationship between national and European identity? While national identity is a versatile formation, European identity is connected to the growth of the European Union. This article attempts to analyse some of the qualities of the European identity in Central and Eastern Europe prior to the EU accession and afterwards. The phenomenon of identification with Europe before and after the EU accession provides medium for understanding the identity mechanisms that surround the perception of European identity. Furthermore, the article will study the way in which political contexts shape Euroskepticism. We will discuss how emergent uncertainties about the status of the European Union influence European integration and individual perceptions among national publics. The method of case study will help us identify examples of integration and conflict between national and European identity. Greece and Germany will provide two diverse examples for this purpose. The empirical information from these countries is aided by Eurobarometer data, which enabled a comparative approach within the timeframe of the union. With this article we hope to contribute to the debate by designing a framework to measure national and European identities.