The article approaches "European Identity" by analysing identity discourses. The perspective changes from empirical investigation into the individuals' "feeling of europeaness" to a content analysis of collectively constructed paradigms on the group-level. Thus, the question of "Europeanisation" can be addressed in a different way.
Referring to Graf Kielmansegg (1996), I differentiate between communities of communication, of experience and of memory. Using the framework of "Europeanisation", I ask if the evolution can lead from nationally separated to European wide compatible identity constructions, integrating a "European dimension"?
In particular, I compare discourses of 1994 in two French and two German newspapers. Two debates are more closely analysed, with one debate focussing on the "community of communication" and the other on the "community of memory". The results show the difficulties to communicate over two different communities of memory, as well as some more promising beginnings in the establishment of a community of communication.
