When the draft EU Constitution failed, Europe's leaders decided they must "pause for reflection." The aim of the Allianz Lectures is to fill this interlude with critical analyses, discussing various scenarios and visions for a forward-looking Europe, said Michael Thoss, Allianz Cultural Foundation's Managing Director, in his welcoming speech.

It seems that many west Europeans feel overwhelmed by the process of European integration, particularly by recent eastern enlargement. Has fear of "involuntary neighborship" caused those who live in the EU to close the borders of Europe, not physically, but in their minds. Can it be that Europe's citizens would rather hold on to their national self-image rather than accepting the cosmopolitan reality?

Integrating minorities or migrants in Europe involves more than simply granting them citizenship. The real key to integration is for the existing citizens to accept their new neighbors and be willing to appreciate the cultural contribution they make. In reality, Europe has been a cosmopolitan society for some time. Together with moderator Andreas Zielcke from the Süddeutsche Zeitung, the speakers discussed the importance of migrants and the opportunities afforded them.

The mass media have practically done away with the borders between societies. According to Ulrich Beck, however, universal neighborship is also inevitable or involuntary. He pointed out that this co- and inter-existence of peoples is no longer voluntary and can also be frustrating, and asserted that France's "No" to the European Constitution was also a "No" to globalization and expressed its "yearning for less involuntary neighborship."

Beck asserted that in reality, Europe has long been a cosmopolitan society. However, he described Europe as an "entity that excludes migrants." From a cultural point of view, he said, immigrants, even naturalized ones, are rarely able to integrate in their new homes. The "misconceived self-image" of the citizens there prevents them from recognizing migrants as Europeans, because they judge them more according to their skin color is than to who they actually are. Beck compared the situation of migrants to that of "spurned lovers of Europe."

Beck suggested that Europe's citizens should look upon a cosmopolitan Europe as something that promotes security rather than clinging to nation-state thinking for fear of losing their identities. In Europe, he continued, people can "find their roots, but also spread their wings."

He sees Europe as a place that embraces all cultures, but where no one loses their roots or becomes culturally estranged. Recognizing and accepting the differences between cultures should enable Europe to spread its wings, that is enable it to progress, not hold it back.

According to Navid Kermani, author and publicist, Europe is a victim of its own success. The people who live there have begun to take Europe for granted to such an extent that nowadays those outside its borders are more enthusiastic about it than those within.

The enthusiasm of non-Europeans and their desire to be part of and contribute to Europe is perceived as "presumptuous." And the pragmatism of European policymakers serves only to reinforce the skepticism of its citizens. Rather than reconsidering the European ideal, they simply cite organizational and administrative reasons for not expanding the union.

Daniel Cohn-Bendit, Green Member of the European Parliament, noted that it was no longer possible to discuss particular topics without sparking a "European identity crisis." He said that the French "No" vote in the referendum on the European Constitution clearly demonstrated its citizens' existential fears.

They are afraid that Europe is a "vehicle of globalization," he said, but had not realized that actually; the task of Europe is to "ensure that the process of globalization is fair."

According to Cohn-Bendit, Europe must abandon the fears it has about playing an important role in creating our new world and embrace this role instead. After all, he pointed out; Europe has a great track record on issues such as human rights, democracy and the rule of law.