On 14 May 2013, the Danish Cultural Institute, in collaboration with the Embassy of Denmark and the European Movement International, organised a conference on the theme “European Identity – In the eyes of Kierkegaard”. Søren Kierkegaard, Danish Philosopher and the father of Existentialism, would have turned 200 on 5 May 2013. His constant preoccupation about the human condition and the question of “Who am I” makes an interesting contribution to the current – and crisis-oriented – debate on Europe and European identity.

Jo Leinen, EMI President, gave the opening speech and insisted on the interesting approach Kierkegaard’s work offers in view of the current crisis. He referred to Kierkegaard as an author for times of crisis given the important role played by fear and uncertainty in his work. Jo Leinen addressed the idiosyncratic situation of Europe, where old structures that used to provide security are losing their influence, while new ones like the European institutions have still to be developed. This phenomenon leads to a multiplication of identities, both concurring and complementing each other. In many cases, regional identities are gaining power while national ones tend to vanish. For Jo Leinen, a true European identity still has to find its place in this context, by offering a widely felt sense of ownership and unity. If Europe wants to keep its influence and protect its values, it will be through solidarity and integration. For Søren Kierkegaard, “there is very little about human nature and the identities of people that is not malleable”. 200 years later, Kierkegaard’s legacy seems more up to date than ever. “Europe is a continent of fear, but also of freedom” said the EMI president, who concluded by stating that “Europeans have to think of the past and to look to the future”.