European Values and National Interests

Abstract

From the end of the Cold War, European construction has been in a state of permanent uncertainty, due not only to the structural changes of the international system, but also to a ‘re-culturalization’ of the behaviour of the European countries.¹ Along these lines, Soledad García (1993: 11) states that ‘within the European Community, the debates on the Maastricht Treaty uncovered a concern for national identity in the face of the push for “more Europe”. Thus, identity became an issue.’ This is particularly acute when the subject of the debate concerns the high politics of the state. Indeed, diplomacy and defence have for a long time been taboo issues in the process of European integration.