NATIONAL CULTURAL IDENTITY IN THE CONTEXT OF EUROPEAN MULTICULTURALISM

Abstract

European Union's motto - "Unity in Diversity", involves, necessarily, Providing an overview of national identities, but do not attempt to transfer an identity from one nation to another. The objectives of cultural policy of the European Union were reduced to coordination actions and support the cultural policies of the Member States without offering solutions to any "clashes intercultural" that may be due to free movement of persons in the European Union in open space without borders. The European Union is facing a massive immigration, which implies an increased interest for development of generally acceptable policies aimed at both the interests of ethnic and national interests. Culture is a core element of national identity. Cultural interests of a nation are closely linked to its political interests. The existence of different cultures in a national space led to the necessity of defining and analyzing the concepts of "multiculturalism" and "interculturalism".