ABSTRACT
Within the academic mainstream and in political debate the inhabitants of Northern Europe, as well as the British, are usually described as the most reluctant Europeans. In this grading system the Norwegians get the worst grades and play the role of the ‘nasty boys’, who do not want to accept the ‘external realities’ of European integration.1 Certainly, a closer look also reveals that European integration is not very popular in other parts of Europe. This can be seen in the French referendum on the Treaty of Maastricht in 1992 as well as in the debates on integration in Austria, Switzerland and even in the economically weak aspirants to EU membership.2 Poor public support is one of the most central problems in legitimizing the political system of the EU. Therefore we find a widespread debate about the construction of a European identity which can supplement or substitute national or regional (e.g. northern) identities.3
