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In troubled times, Europe asks: What does being 'European' really mean?

From islanders on the front lines of the refugee crisis, to those living in Europe’s biggest metropolises, to those tucked into rural communities far removed from the politics of their capitals, many feel that the European Union is at a crossroads.

Veronika Bonebakker, works in horse management in Banksá Bystrica, Slovakia

Asel Llana/The Christian Science Monitor
Veronika Bonebakker, works in horse management in Banksá Bystrica, Slovakia.

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The governor of her region hails from the extreme right, and his party made it into the parliament for the first time after national elections this March. Her country’s prime minister is one of Europe's leading voices against continental burden-sharing of refugees.

"I have no identity. I was born here. … Some people have this feeling, ‘oh, I’m Slovak.’ I have it just partly. You know if you say you are proud of your country, it is something you have nothing to do with. You were just born here. … So identity for me is a very difficult question. … I feel European, but actually I don’t know how to define it. What does it mean, European?

"I am worried because we are supposed to have some ethics or some empathy and what I see, mostly what I see in the virtual world because people are scared to say things that they write, but there is a lot of hate. But I think this hate is just from fear. This is such an animal way of reacting to things. And it is not very conscious or it is the simplest way of how to solve things. With war and hate and not trying to understand the other side ... people are not open for discussion or understanding.

"[With the refugee debate] I see two extremes. The other extreme says ‘yeah love it all and be happy,’ but it is also not the way because you have to put up boundaries ... and they have to try to live as we do and not try to change us but change themselves, because they came to another country."

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Mark Sappenfield
Editor

Dear Reader,

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