| This study claims that the identity of the European Union is an institutional version of the European identity. The European Union's institutional identity is produced by the discourse on the European idea and reproduces in turn, a new version of it. In addition, the European Union's institutional identity is shaped by elements of organizational culture, including organizational symbols, values and themes. Unity is central to the definition of the European Union's institutional identity. However, though unity is important among the European Union's values, the European identity is fragmented. The European Union's search for unity is historically legitimate, as projects for a unified Europe are not peculiar to the development of the European idea. Nonetheless, unity is just the main European Union's ideal, not a European reality. The European identity bears the insignia of diversity. |
