That is why the more integrated with Europe we become, the louder is the reaction to the alleged crisis of national identity and national sovereignty being in danger. This is not difficult to understand. Europe is a continent with a long history of rivalry among nation states, culture was always part of this process. In some countries, for decades or even centuries, national culture was needed to substitute for a non-existing state. This is not the challenge of today.
Artists cruise throughout Europe.
They are contributing to European culture. Only through direct participation in creating European culture, those who fear to lose national identity can be calmed down. In this context one should emphasize the importance of having European public opinion, European awareness, European media. Europe seems to continue not having that yet, in spite of having Arte. There have been over the last years moments in the European reality when Europe tried to defend common values against xenophobia and populism.