Panel title: ‘Symbols and Myths in European Integration’ Panel organiser: Prof. Ian Manners, University of Copenhagen Chair: Alison Woodward, Vrije Universiteit Brussel Panel discussant: Assist. Prof. Anamaria Dutceac Segesten, Lund University Panel abstract: “The study of symbols and myths in European integration is crucial to our understanding of both how the European Union (EU) becomes constituted as a political reality and how the integration process itself occurs. By drawing on the study of symbols and myths from political science, humanities and cultural studies to the analysis of European integration, the panel aims to provide a better understanding of how symbolic and substantial processes interact in European society. The panel asks what roles do symbols and myths play in the processes of European integration? European integration research has traditionally been dominated by the study of how rational political-economic choices of national and supranational political elites feed into EU institution building. While by no means disregarding this research, the panel aims to advance European integration research by investigating how both symbolic and mythical constructions in European societies feed into European integration. This is a badly neglected area of research. Yet, almost certainly, collective European symbols and myths are fundamental to our understanding of issues such as European social solidarity, citizens felling of belonging to the EU, political advocacy for and resistance to European integration, and concrete political actions.”