From policy to identity: regions at the heart of the European project

The thesis presents a comparative analysis of the scope and objectives of four EU regions’ European policies and programmes. It evaluates the extent to which regions’ European engagement is targeted to achieving regional economic development on the one hand and European social integration and identity construction on the other hand. The analysis starts with a comparative evaluation of the four case study regions’ European policies and is substantiated by the findings of over 60 interviews with regional political elites and civil servants in the four case study regions: Germany’s Brandenburg; Belgium’s Wallonia; France’s Nord – Pas de Calais; and the South West of England. This thesis advances a more comprehensive understanding of regional governments as European actors, whether political elites and civil servants aim to promote European identity-building through their policies, as well as which regional characteristics further impact the scope and objectives of their European policies. This thesis provides evidence-based answers to the research question posed: What are the scope and objectives of regions’ European policies and what role does European identity play in them? The thesis research has grown out of the context of regions’ EU integration; the multi-level governance approach; the increase of regions’ political authority vis-à-vis European politics; and the uncertainty on whether regional political actors (political elites and civil servants) aim to foster a European identity. Research has not yet observed, compared and analysed the objectives of regions’ European policies in terms of European identity-building. This thesis research has taken an important step in pioneering this area of research by undertaking case studies in four EU regions.