Understanding the Reportâs Origin
The policy report âWhat a feeling?! How to promote âEuropean Identityââ is a publication of EconPol Europe, a research network of the ifo Institute in Munich. The authors â Sarah Cialgia, Clemens Fuest and Friedrich Heinemann â are senior economists associated with the ifo Institute, a leading German economic thinkâtank. The study was published in October 2018 and presents an extensive review of literature, empirical analysis, and policy proposals aimed at strengthening European identity across the EU.
Key Objectives of the Study
The report investigates why European identity matters for the EUâs political stability and economic prosperity. It distinguishes between âidentification as Europeanâ (a cognitive selfâassessment) and âidentification with Europeâ (behavioural commitment). The authors argue that a robust European identity is a precondition for trustful cooperation among member states, especially after crises such as Brexit, the sovereignâdebt turmoil and the refugee emergency.
Empirical Findings on Determinants
Using the Eurobarometer âMorenoâ question (2017) the authors find that 60 % of respondents see themselves at least partly as European. Determinants that increase this share include: higher education, frequent discussion of EU politics, intraâEU migration (which raises the likelihood by 0.64), travel and exchange experiences, and a positive perception of personal and national economic situations. Conversely, strong national identity, regional attachment, and perceiving the EU as a cultural threat reduce the probability of a European selfâidentification. Age shows a negative effect, with retirees less likely to feel European, while students are markedly more Europeanâoriented.
Policy Proposals for Civic Identity
The report outlines several civicâfocused measures to boost European identity:
- Transnational party lists for European Parliament elections to create a truly EUâwide constituency.
- European Citizensâ Assembly to involve a representative sample of citizens in deliberations on EUâwide issues.
- EU consular offices offering joint consular services across member states.
- Constitutional reforms such as extending the right of initiative to the European Parliament and enhancing transparency of the Commissionâs activity reports.
CulturalâIdentity Initiatives
To foster the cultural component, the authors propose:
- European Waltz programme â a workâexchange scheme for employed adults to experience other EU labour markets.
- Pensionersâ Erasmus â a travel and learning scheme for retirees, addressing the identified gap in this demographic.
- Vocational Erasmus and European publicâservice broadcaster to provide multilingual, EUâfocused news and cultural content.
- Schoolâtwinning and language curricula to ensure young Europeans acquire at least two foreign languages and experience crossâborder education.
Relevance to Sustainable Housing
While the primary focus is identity, the reportâs emphasis on transnational mobility, shared cultural values and civic participation aligns with broader sustainability goals. Crossâborder collaboration can facilitate the diffusion of greenâbuilding practices, energyâefficiency standards and innovative housing policies across member states. The proposed EUâwide publicâservice broadcaster could disseminate bestâpractice case studies on sustainable housing, while the European Waltz and Erasmus programmes may enable professionals in construction, architecture and urban planning to exchange knowledge on ecoâfriendly design.
Key Statistics at a Glance
- Survey sample: 28 007 respondents (Eurobarometer, Spring 2017).
- European identity (inclusive of all Europeanârelated answers): ~60 %.
- IntraâEU migrants: 2.4 % of respondents, yet their odds of European identity increase by 0.64.
- Students: 5.98 % of sample, with a 0.226 probability boost in European identification.
- Retirees: 32.22 % of sample, showing a 0.038 reduction in European identity.
- Positive personal economic perception raises European identity probability by 0.325.
Conclusion for a PanâEuropean Audience
The report provides a dataâdriven roadmap for strengthening both civic and cultural dimensions of European identity. Its policy recommendationsâranging from electoral reforms to mobility schemesâoffer mechanisms that can also support the diffusion of sustainable housing innovations across the Union. By enhancing shared European consciousness, the EU can create a more conducive environment for collaborative climateâfriendly housing initiatives that benefit citizens in all member states.

