It is difficult to sustain any democratic system, whether on a national or European scale, without a sense of solidarity. It helps if this is based on something deeper than shared interests: a language, a sense of common history, pride in cultural achievements.
例如，为何繁荣的德国人继续用自己的税金来援助希腊人或者葡萄牙人呢？没有了团结之感，就难以维系民主体制，这对各国和欧洲整体而言都是如此。如果建立在比共同利益更为深厚的东西之上，那就有所帮助。这些东西包括语言、共同的历史感以及为文化成就而自豪。欧洲身份认同还远远不是坚固的。