EU referendum: Grappling with our identity crisis over Europe

How do you describe yourself? English? Scottish? British? How about European?

If shadow chancellor John McDonnell's personal experience on the doorstep is to be believed, then increasing numbers of young people are indeed identifying themselves as 'European'. "They increasingly want to study abroad and want to travel freely across Europe," he said while on a visit to Wolverhampton.

"They feel European," he added. With the EU referendum just over a week away, the question of European identity has been thrown into the spotlight.

But is there such a thing as being or feeling 'European' and if there is would it disappear from these shores if Britain was to leave the EU institution? Humans as a rule are tribal. Whether it is supporting your home town football club, celebrating the Queen's jubilees or cheering on Great British athletes at the Olympics, nationalism in the non-political sense is clearly alive and well. But this is not just a British phenomenon. Patriotism can be experienced in every country on the planet whether it be on Bastille Day, Independence Day or The Day of German Unity.

But what is it to be European? Well, we now have burgundy EU passports. We queue in 'EU citizen' sections at airports.

There is also an anthem and we compete in the UEFA European Championships.

And every two years we all cheer on Europe as they take on the USA in the Ryder Cup. It is also true to say there are hundreds of students from the UK who each year go and study at universities all over Europe. The EU's Erasmus programme saw more than 1,600 British students apply to study through the scheme in 2015, with 846 of those being successful. But to put that in context, there were 1,311,410 full-time British university students studying their first degree in 2014/15.

So are we feeling more European? The answer is yes and no. According to a new study, European identity is on the rise – but not in Britain. The Population and Development Review found 61 per cent of citizens within the 15 central countries of the EU see themselves as European, either in addition to or in lieu of their national identity in 2013. This compared to 58 per cent on average from 1996 to 2004.

The largest increases were seen in Germany, Austria, Sweden, and Finland, and surprisingly also in Greece. In contrast Britain and France saw a decline in European identity, with the UK coming at the very bottom of the list falling from 40 per cent to 38 per cent. The proportion of people seeing themselves as European has increased by 14 per cent in Germany, 13 per cent in Austria, 12 per cent in Sweden and 10 per cent in Greece. World Population Program Director Wolfgang Lutz found evidence that younger people were more likely to have multiple identities, seeing themselves as both European as well as their national identity.

And its a trend that is predicted to rise.

"It probably comes as a surprise to many that even with the problems the EU is facing, a higher proportion of citizens see themselves as European as compared to 10 or 20 years ago," said researcher Erich Striessnig, who led the study.

The studies relied on data from the Eurobarometer survey, specifically responses to the question of whether people see themselves as nationals of their respective country only, or also as Europeans. The survey, which asks European national populations about their support for and perceived benefits from the EU, has asked the same question since 1996. The study also showed European identity continued to increase among the population above age 35, which constitutes a large majority of the electorate within the EU and contributes disproportionate influence as decision makers and politicians. The researchers say identification with a political entity such as the EU is necessary for the system's stability and legitimacy. "A continued increase in the proportion of Europe's adult population that has a European identity suggests a likely further increase in European integration but not necessarily in its current form," said Mr Lutz. But with the Euro-zone crisis, the migration crisis and countries such as Britain questioning its role with in the EU, that identification is being challenged.

Mr Striessnig adds: "When so many commentators say that the EU is doomed, eventually people, especially young people, may start to believe it and the expectation becomes self-fulfilling.

"I think it is important to turn this around and make the argument that there is still hope for the European Union." The researchers take the approach a European identity goes hand-in-hand with the EU institution.

But his is not a belief shared by leave campaigners. UKIP leader Nigel Farage said: "I am not anti-European but I'm anti what is being done in the name of Europe.

The days of big, artificial blocs are gone."