“In the end for many, the EU itself is a kind of myth.”

From fantasy to a more accurate reality, myths about Europe and the EU are a wide-ranging subject. Some, as the myth of Europa, are based on mythology. Other, as the ‘bicycle myth’, come into sight as metaphors. However, popular myths about the EU also find their origin in reality and can even sound quite absurd. 

‘Curved cucumber’, ‘banana ban’, ‘bureaucratic moloch’: where are these myths coming from? Lobbying? Powerful countries? Power of history? How do they influence people’s perception of the European Union? More than that, how do they impact European integration or even separation?

In these two next episodes of CEE, Sebastian Schäffer (managing director of IDM, Vienna), is discussing these topics with Thomas Diez (Professor of Political Science and International Relations at the University of Tübingen). 

This first episode is exposing several popular myths about the EU, their impacts, and power. Can we deconstruct them? Should we expect new myths to arise in the future? 

CEE - Central Europe Explained, an IDM podcast series powered by Erste Group.

With Thomas Diez and Sebastian Schäffer.

Production: Emma Hontebeyrie

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