1.

Please tell me a little bit about yourself (job, hobbies, interests and preoccupations,
etc.)

I am a 24 years old woman, currently working in an orphanage since january 2021.

My role is to help educate children that have no family or have been abandoned. As
hobbies, I like to read, hang out with friends, listen to music and dance. Sometimes I
also watch movies and series. My latesc preoccupation is reading self development
books and analyzing the information.

2. Are you familiar with the EU topics? What are the topics that constitute an interest for
you?

Yes, I am familiar with some of the topics like culture and media, aducation and
training, environment, justice and fundamendat rights and research and innovation.

3. What are your main information sources (media, interpersonal conversations, etc)?

Some of the information comes from the media, for example the articles, clips or
news, or from the people that I interract with, like friends, family, work colleagues,
NGO´s or from school or university.

4. What do you know about the EU powers/institutions?

I don´t know much about the powers and institutions of the EU, just some pieces of
information I heard while discussing with people about different subjects or those that
are in partnership with some of the NGO´s I am interested in.

5. Have you ever heard of the concept of European identity? What does it mean for you?

I heard about the EU identity a few times. I don´t really know what it means, but for
me is like romanian identity and is about culture and a system of laws and values that
are important for all of us.

RQ1

1. How attached do you feel to Europe? Can you elaborate on this a little bit?

There is a form of attachment that I feel and it consists mostly in the historical events
that we, as cuntries, shared and in the unity that comes from all the trauma and the
motivation to have a better world and to respect the rights that people have. I really
 respect and appreciate the information exchange between the countries and
institutions.

2. How would you describe the EU membership? Do you think it is important for you
and for your close ones to have this membership? Why (not)?

The EU membership is important for every country because of more than one reason. I
think is really important to be a part of the EU because we have acces to many things,
like resources, information, projects, research and so on, and it is very important to
work together in some matters, take for example Ukraine´s current situation and the
way that organisations and institutions from other countries have intervened.

3. Some people think that the EU membership is actually helping to create a sense of EU
identity. What do you think about this? How do you believe that EU can increase
people´s Eureopeanness?

I agree with this statement and I believe that the way every country created their own
identity through time, it is possible to create a new identity on a larger scale. I also
believe that this would be beneficial for the European citizens, to identify as European,
not just as their own country´s identity because we are in a constant evolution and the
solidarity should be between more than just our next door neighbours.

4. We started discussing earlier about your sense of European identity. Can you tell me
how strongly do you identify as European and what are the main aspects that gives
you the sense of European identity? What creates a sense of community among
Europeans in your view?

In my oppinion, the sense of community is created by the solidarity an unity among

people. I can´t say that in this moment I identify as European more than the fact that I
live in a country that is a member of the EU.

RQ2

1. Let´s talk about the national identity. How important is your national identity to you?

It is important because without it I could not have acces to some services and aslo
because we, as a country, have some unique traditions and values.

2. What are the aspects that, on a daily basis, remind you that you are a Romanian
citizen?
 The most important is the language.

3. In your view, and in your case, how do national and European identity work in relation
to each other? Can you elaborate on this a little bit?

I don´t really know so I can´t elaborate on this subject.

RQ3

1. How did the period of COVID – 19 pandemic affect you, in general?

Mostly affected my social life and the access to service providers.

2. How did the pandemic influence your sense of EU identity? How about your national
attachment? Please support your answers with particular examples!

It did not influence my sense of EU identity, nor the national attachment.

3. Let´s talk about the period after the COVID – 19. Who do you believe will be
Romania´s greatest ally after the pandemic and why do you think this?

I never thought about this before and I have no respons for this. I can´t think of an ally.
But to speak in a general matter, maybe the same allies we had before.

4. What do you think that will change in Europe? According to you, what EU must do
further in order to have a better/quicker reaction in times of crisis?

Maybe people will be more cautious and share some affection and solidarity after the
bad times that we all have been through. I don´ t think that we can actually be
prepared, the only thing I can think about is to learn from our past mistakes and try to
avoid to make them again, but no matter how much we prepare, we will never know
the impact and our actions will influence what happens next.

5. During the interview, we talked a lot about the national attachment and European
identity. In the context of the recent crises, how do you believe the future looks like
from an identity perspective?

I prefer not tu discuss about this and to say that I don´t have an oppinion.