Findings from the "Culture, Language, and Identity in European Integration" conference

The annual conference “Beyond Borders: Culture, Language, and Identity in European Integration” convened on 21 and 22 October 2025 at the Faculty of Arts of the University of Girona in Spain. Organised by the Transfrontier Euro-Institut Network (TEIN), together with support from the project Borders in Globalization‑21st Century, the event offered a timely and comprehensive forum to reflect on how cultural, linguistic and identity dynamics can shape and strengthen cross-border cooperation and European integration.

The conference was motivated by growing awareness of the difficulties posed by cultural, linguistic and administrative divides across border regions. According to data from Eurobarometer 422, more than half of Europeans view linguistic differences as a problem for cross-border cooperation, while a third consider cultural differences problematic. About half also regard social, economic, legal or administrative differences as significant obstacles.

Against this backdrop, the participants, which included academics, policymakers, community stakeholders and civil society actors, gathered to explore a broad set of themes. These ranged from concrete case studies of successful (and unsuccessful) cultural cooperation projects, to legal and institutional barriers, to the role of education, multilingualism, and cross-border cultural heritage in building a shared sense of identity.

You can read more on the conference, panels, speakers and presentations here.