Many governments claim that the expansion of the EU has become a threat to national identity. Using evidence to support your answer, critically assess the extent to which this claim can be sustained.

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Many governments claim that the expansion of the EU has become a threat to national identity.  Using evidence to support your answer, critically assess the extent to which this claim can be sustained.

Katie Clarke

In May 2004, 10 new countries will join the European Union. These new countries will be Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia. Many European citizens already believe that their national identity is being lost within the European Union, and this enlargement puts it at risk once again. The European Union has already had many successful enlargements such as the United Kingdom in 1973 and also Greece in 1981 and most recently Sweden in 1995. So therefore there should not be any problems with expansion again. However the expansion under consideration today is different then before. It is unique because the area would increase by 34% and also the population would increase by 105 million that will also involve the membership of different cultures and histories. Eastern Europe and the Balkans would benefit significantly by the enlargement because of the single set of trade rules, a single tariff, and a single set of administrative procedures. The European union’s website advertises that, “Enlargement of the European Union will be a historic achievement, ending centuries of division. Europe reunited means a stronger, democratic and more stable continent able to gain full advantage from an Internal Market of 500 million people.” (europa.eu.int/pol/enlarg/overview_en.htm accessed 17/12/03)

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History shows a different picture. Nationalism becomes more and more outdated. People have more contacts than ever with others of foreign regions either by modern means of communication or physically by the liberal legislation concerning the movement between states. Europe is in a process of growing together, the European Union is striving to bring a united Europe and many representatives of the EU believe that people will learn to be European’s.

Those who fear the loss of national identitiy are able to see the power that the EU holds over it’s nation states. Foucalt believes that, “Where there ...

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