Symbols and Myths in European Integration

A Collaborative Research Project Grant funded by the Danish Council for Independent Research | Social Sciences.
This collective research project examines the importance of symbols and myths of European integration. The azure European Flag with 12 golden stars is a well-known symbol for 'European unity', as many will recognize myths and stories about how the European Union (EU) is a guarantor of peace and prosperity in Europe. The research project focuses on a number of often more unsuccessful, but significant symbols and myths about the EU. It is the first international and systematic study of symbols and myths about 'green Europe', 'social Europe', 'economic Europe’ and ‘fortress Europe'. The research project asks the questions: how well disseminated and understood are symbols and myths about the EU? how does the European Commission, the European Parliament and the Council of Ministers promote and perceive EU symbols and myths? How do governmental and non-governmental organisations use symbols and myths about the EU? How do politicians and officials see symbols and myths about the EU? And finally, how is European integration influenced by the spread and use of symbols and myths about the EU? These questions are explored, and the results are compared within the four areas: 'green Europe', 'social Europe', 'economic Europe’, and ‘fortress Europe'.