The impact of EU Cohesion Policy on European identity: A comparative analysis of EU regions

Abstract

This article investigates the role of European Union Cohesion Policy in the development of European identity, drawing on an original and representative survey in 17 regions across 12 member states. We advance a theoretical model which distinguishes cognitive, instrumental and communicative drivers of identity formation. Contrary to existing scholarship, we find that EU Cohesion Policy does contribute to European identity. Citizens that perceive benefits for themselves and for their region's development from EU Cohesion Policy are more likely to develop a European identity. We also find that awareness of the EU Cohesion Fund and exposure to publicity on EU funded projects is positively correlated with European identity. However, while Cohesion Policy contributes to citizens’ self-categorization as European, it does not associate with their emotional attachment to Europe. The study has important implications for understanding European identity formation and communicating the benefits and role of the EU in regional policy.

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“…3 EU identity formation may be influenced by several different factors including cognitive mobilization, instrumental rationality and transnational experiences (see e.g. Borz et al, 2022). Studies suggesting that cognitive mobilization matters for identity formation often emphasise the importance of political skills and ability to process abstract information about distant political entities, such as the EU.…”

“…Audikana et al, 2023;Schraff and Sczepanski, 2022). Instead, studies seeking to understand the individual-level determinants of European identity formation tend to investigate differences in socioeconomic status or attitudes and values, including education, income, ideology, levels of national identification, knowledge about the EU or political interest (Bergbauer, 2018;Borz et al, 2022;Inglehart, 1970). In other words, different segments of the population are seen to respond to various elite attempts to promote a European identity differently, with implications for citizens' responses to the challenges raised by, e.g.…”

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