The creation of European unity was one of the main goals in the history of establishing the European Union. The European unity and the cooperation and cohabitation of the nations of Europe is one of the principles of the European Union. In order to stay in a significant economical and politically powerful position after the World Wars, this was a question of interest among most scholars in the early 19th century. After the bipolar world order reached its end, this question became much more urgent among European leading countries. Besides the USA and the Soviet Union, Europe needed to strengthen its position in the newly formed world order. Before this period, in between the World Wars there were also theories on the role of Europe in the World. Most of the noted European scholars had a pessimistic view about the future of Europe, because various affairs within European countries were constantly that of conflicting nature. Different nations living in a small territory tight abreast with different historical background and affected by variant ideologies had shown little effort to form a greater comprehensive cooperation. During this period only a few countries saw the solution in cooperation ,however, even under these circumstances a theory of creating European unity was born, what is more this was a theory which effects were determinant in the following decades. This is Richard Coudenhove-Kalergi’s Pan-European definition, later known as the Pan-European movement. Then again, this theory did not aim at a complete European oneness, as it left out Great Britain because of its colonial activities. Nonetheless, it described such unifying opportunities for the continental Europe, which foresighted a strong cooperation among the people of Europe. In Kalergi’s view one of the cornerstones of cooperation was a mutual, bonding trait of all European nations, namely Christianity. According to this theory, the Christian tradition would serve as a common ground that could lead Europe from its past’s conflicts to future cooperations.
In relation to European unity we have to admit that due to the actual influential ideologies and theories, economic interests are determining cooperation among the members, its very establishment and also its afterlife as well. Most of the European cooperations are established for economic interests (prior to the European Union, economic, commercial integration among nations preceded its existence). With strengthened commercial and economic unity, the aspect of European unity and the cooperation between nations could get a relevant role. Deepening and expanding integration has brought in the forefront the importance of cooperation among all nations of Europe. Historical contrasts between European nations often leave their mark on a relation, impeding and sometimes even making it impossible. This also shows us the necessity that the formation of various programmes and projects based on economic ground has to be shifted on a more stabile ground depending on cohabitation and cooperation. Economic interests and the opportunity of obtaining supports usually achieve their goal, namely that the concerned parties sign contracts originating cooperation. Nonetheless, the only thing lacking is a proper, conflict-free relation between the parties needed for progress, therefore quite frequently the utmost goal does not come into existence. This model is less typical in the more developed West European countries, but unfortunately in East European countries this is quite characteristic. In order to change this we have to realize that the way to development leads through complete and stead fast cooperation. In East Middle Europe countries sacrifice their relationships with other nations on the communion table of internal political affairs by determining false ideologies and political trends, diverting non-governmental organizations (NGO) from political activity or even encouraging hostilities with other nations.
Speaking of cross border cooperations it is important to clarify the concept of border, and furthermore, its role in a cooperation. This question, as many other similar ones, gets important because it points at the differences between Western Europe and Eastern Middle Europe, but hereby pointing out the opportunities, the viable way of cooperation. This essential difference is in the concept of borders. In Western Europe we can speak of borders that make a connection between countries, while in Eastern Middle Europe the borders have a separating role. In my opinion, this points out where to look for the foundation of the European unity in the act of reconciliation in Europe.
There are similarities and differences among nations and we can handle all these like a key to unity. The institution of the European Union created several cooperative formations to support the union, for instance the cross-border cooperation is one of the priorities of European Union’s regional policy. As in other sections of the European Union’s policy, in the section of cooperation the principle of subsidiarity is the determining principle. The principle of subsidiarity means that decisions are to be made on the lower levels of governance. The operation of this principle reached its goals in the EU’s more developed countries and brought the expected results. These results were deepening cooperation as well as strengthening social development and social labour. The key to success in relation to these processes was the generally developed and unified administration system of member states. However, it has to be noted that this is present only in the Western European countries, but is missing from most of the Central Eastern European countries. The formation and operation of a cooperation can run into difficulties, if the administration systems of the parties are different, because the different systems and their dependence from the state complicates the measures. On lower administration levels regional problems cannot be solved, or contracts, which make the basis of a cooperation, cannot be made. In my view, this is one of the greatest obstacles in the establishment and operating of such cooperations. Cooperations could reach their real targets and make a unified European cooperation, if there were numerous civil activities, because civil participation gives the real substance to cooperations. There are three types of cross-border cooperations in the European Union. These are:

1.Labour Communities

2.Euroregions

3.EGTC ( European Grouping of Territorial Cooperation )

From these cooperation types nowadays (in the 2007-2013 program period) the EGTC is the most supported one.

The European Grouping of Territorial Cooperation’s benefit, as opposed to other types, is that the EGTC functions as a legal entity ,which expands the opportunities for its activities(can sign contracts, can have properties, etc.).
For the European unity’s completeness the most urgent question is to soothe the conflicts and disagreement between the nations of Europe. The roots of most of these are to be found in past decades and centuries and only by leaving them behind can bring us reconciliation. It may seem ironic, but the majority of cooperations, and connections which made them possible, are also from the past. Awakening economic and social relations which were lost in the troubleous times of the 20th century, could give a strong basis for building the European unity. The malicious destruction (either industrial, or agricultural) in wars of the 20th century destroyed such economic and social relations that represented a bridge among people in a time when the level of integration and cooperation was not even close to the strength of today’s cooperations and connections. If we reanimated these relations and implemented them on the level of integration we have nowadays, then we would obtain tools and assistance that would strengthen them enough so that they have a considerable impact on society and social progress.
As I have already mentioned, as far as I am concerned the key of cooperation, which may be the key to prosperous future as well, is the active participation of the public. In the following lines I will be dealing with a somewhat obsolete system and that is the system of connections among twin towns. Like many other attributes this is a system characteristic of Central Eastern European countries, which is a heritage of a long-forgotten structure. Nonetheless, it still carries such features that may become exemplary for today’s cooperative formations, even though these features might not have been declared as being part of their aim, but developed in the meantime. This attribute is nothing but the form of civil activities, which help the strengthening of relations and coexistence in a way that cannot be achieved by the methods characteristic of nowadays cooperative models. These sorts of twin town connections have developed such mutual activities that may seem insignificant, yet denote the very basis of cooperation. Those being part of this may remember football games for seniors as well as younger generations. Projects of joint holiday resorts or mutual holidays can be familiar phenomena and I have not even mentioned courses on getting familiar with the culture and history of the other party. Moreover, visiting temples and museums has also been an important part of these kinds of relations. All these examples give an opportunity to learn about each other’s lifestyle and culture, plus provide a chance to develop personal relationships among individuals, families, teams or groups. The fact that makes these relations even more unique is that they are superior to nations or nationalities. Therefore, these relationships can bring up such people who have never ever had any connection in the past.
I can also rely on my personal experience about the thing that almost all free time activities can make people forget disagreements, what is more as in most sports hostility is replaced by the spirit of competition. Similarly, these situations can inspire cooperation and also motivate people. As in sports in the case of teams, in other small or medium sized groups like scout teams or religious communities or among close friends differences are resolved and a unified but also varied community comes into being. The key in all cases is that people turn to a common interest or a common goal and by that they find themselves a common ground and thus become a community. If these communities become open, or supposing the society became more open to these communities, then reconciliation could easily become a reality. As these communities shape themselves according to some specific aim, the European Union’s „Unity in Diversity” slogan comes into existence naturally, by a self-organizing process. Furthermore, these self-organizing communities are the most stable, because they are built on real content, on real interests. After a while this leads to a state when common interest changes and the community becomes the interest itself. This is real unity.
In these processes civic movements and non-governmental organizations play a huge role and provide opportunities in accordance with the demands and interests of the people to ensure the support to and realization of their goals. Unfortunately, civil activities and expressing the interest of such non-governmental organizations is something that manifests itself rarely and unstably. This is a specific feature of the former so-called Eastern Bloc countries. In these regions regaining peoples confidence in politics has not been successful yet, people are still turned away from politics and public life. If we could change these conditions, then that would mean we are on the right way to achieve full European reconciliation.
The opportunities I have mentioned up to now could concern the most nations of Europe without of reference to the level of development or historical conflicts but mostly these to components are the barriers of peaceful cohabitation. In my home country I see the way of reconciliation the way that I have already mentioned. Finding connection between people, finding the common ground, the ground where people can live together is the key. My personal experience of founding this connection is attached to sport. When I played basketball for years I became a part of a team and a member of a community. This community existed as strong ouside of trainings as strong it had to be during the trainings or the matches. This period of my life started in the year when the Serbian national basketball team won the World cup. This success of the team brought popularity to the sport which meant that our young team had more than forty members and that forty youngsters always found the way to be together to play together and to help each other. I hope that soon when this generation grows up they could continue this cohesion in other parts of their lives.
I hope in the now upgrowing generation. Some of them saw the mistakes of the older generations. They saw, heard or learned the senseless conflicts of the past centuries and maybe they learned from unnecessary losses. Maybe they will notice that reconciliation could establish the ground of development. Maybe they will know that they have to remember but look forward.

2012.04.14.
Szeged