ABSTRACT
This chapter examines the depth and the breadth of relationships between European emigrants and the European Union itself to measure the potential for the emergence of a European diaspora. It looks at the relationship between emigrants and Europe generally, and emigrants and their country of origin, specifically. The chapter outlines four groups of immigrants to Canada that were included in the study: British, French, Polish, and Portuguese. Poland has been one of the most important source countries for emigration from Europe. A multicultural flow of people has continued throughout its history and from its ever-changing territory. The Polish diaspora is seen as a part of the extraterritorial polity and legal framework facilitating the extension of rights and obligations beyond state territory. Identification with Europe was measured by examining three areas: friendships and interaction in public spaces; a sense of community; and personal identification. Fundamentally, the maintenance of European citizenship outside Europe depends on individual practice and individual beliefs.
