European Identity in International Society — A Constructivist Analysis of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights

Abstract

In public discourse, the drawing up of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights was frequently linked to the hope that this project contributes to forging a European identity. This paper's argument starts form the tension inherent in this idea: On the one hand, identity-building implies the visualisation of what is specific for the European Community and its members. On the other hand, human rights are anchored in supposedly universal rules and global regimes, constituting the "international society" belonging to which is a crucial feature of the Union's identity as an actor. paper develops two-dimensional model European and differentiates two types human rights discourse capture this tension. It then provides detailed empirical analysis debate in around Convention drew up EU Charter. demonstrates that while dimension was not at centre Charter project beginning, globally-oriented discourse, stresses Europe commitments responsibilities, gained prominence during significantly shaped discursive space for defining fundamental polity.constitution building; European identity; fundamental/human rights; international agreements; asylum policy; social policy