1 Open Democracy & CCIG collaboration – contribution to Europe from the ground up dialogue. Who are the new Euro-believers? Kesi Mahendran, Eleni Andreouli, Ima Jackson, Nicola Magnusson, Anubhuti Kapoor, Caroline Howarth & Sarah Scuzzarello. Published 22 May 2014 on Open Democracy: http://www.opendemocracy.net/can-europe-make-it/kesi-mahendran-eleni-andreouli- ima-jackson-nicola-magnusson-anubhuti-kapoor-carol The European Elections are immanent and people across Europe will be asking key questions about their belief in the future of the European project. In this article we examine the parameters and possibilities to enact European Citizenship asking who are the new Euro-believers. This question, we suggest, is neither a matter of Europhile and Eurosceptic nor a question of voter-ignorance or voter-apathy. Drawing on new empirical studies of peopleǯs accounts of their European citizenship - we propose that the European project - if it is to grow Ǯfrom the bottom upǯ and be taken into the hands of its citizens – needs to understand the diversity of citizen relationships which constitute the European project. This coming European community is characterised by hierarchies of European-ness, relating to mobility and both post-national and nested citizenships. If the election this time is to be dominated by questions of austerity, immigration and the limits of mobility - we ask what space is there for new narratives and positions on European Citizenship – whether enacted through mobility or rooted in the freedom to be and become settled. ___________________________________________________________________________ NP: We tell ourselves all the time we are a Nordic country and not part of Eastern Europe. I feel more North European than Eastern European. KM: What about a citizen of this thing called the European Union? NP: (17seconds) I feel I'm quite happy- when the nation-states can keep going as well. I think the collaboration between different countries that's very good. Well part of it comes because my own country is that small that we have always felt that we should keep it going and not be dissolved ǁithiŶ soŵe ďig uŶioŶ oƌ soŵethiŶg to just to keep ouƌ oǁŶ iŶtegƌitLJ. ;…Ϳ I like the other countries so I think the culture of certain nations I think it's the best we can build on that. KM: So it's between nation states? But you ǁouldŶt ďe so interested in something that existed above that? NP I think the whole common value should be the same e.g. basic rights and things - but they should keep also their own cultural identity. Stockholm. NP Dec 2007. NP (anonymised initials throughout) is an Estonian living and working in Stockholm. NP takes 17 seconds before she can articulate her response on European Citizenship earlier she had said LJes to the ƋuestioŶ aƌe LJou a EuƌopeaŶ ĐitizeŶ, she lived on the territory after all, but the question on the EU itself requires a more qualified response. NPs position on the EU with its contingencies and parameters will resonate with many people across Europe. She starts from the position of national-citizen taking up the voice of the EstoŶiaŶ ǁe tell ouƌselǀes ǁe aƌe NoƌdiĐ aŶd theŶ ŵoǀes to aŶ aƌtiĐulatioŶ of EU CitizeŶship ĐollaďoƌatioŶ