Europe’s Infrastructural Opportunity: Transnational Systems of Public Appearance

In the wake of economic crisis and subsequent political quarrels, European political identity is need of redefinition and revitalization. To this end, large-scale infrastructural projects can create a symbolic and operative European commons by connecting local and national actors in such a way as to generate a transnational public sphere in which shared-challenges can be addressed. Cities play a crucial role in the realization of such projects by providing local strategic points and resources for projects that span national boundaries. Looking specifically at the issue of environmental sustainability, this paper will compare two projects devoted to maintaining water quality in Europe’s shared riparian corridors. The first project is one in Amsterdam that uses smart-decks to measure water quality and facilitate recreational use of the urban water system. The second is the European Salmon 2000 project that aims to improve water quality throughout the Rhine-Meuse water-basin through the joint effort of participating urban entities. Both projects consist of relatively small infrastructural interventions that impact much larger territories. Through remote sensing technology, social media and the creation of waterfront places for social gathering, diverse urban actors are brought together to protect shared natural resources. The paper will speculate on the potential value of such collaborative projects to the creation of European identity.