CULTURAL MEMORY AS THE FOUNDATION OF EUROPEAN IDENTITY

Cultural memory plays a crucial role in the formation and consolidation of European identity. Europe’s common cultural heritage, influenced by classical antiquity, Christianity, the Renaissance, and the Enlightenment, also encompasses the ethical lessons of the two world wars and the totalitarian regimes of the 20th century. This study explores how shared values and traditions contribute to the sense of European belonging and cohesion. Cultural policies and contemporary initiatives that support the intercultural dialogue and strengthen the common cultural memory highlight the importance in the context of a diverse but united Europe. Addressing cultural memory based on European values such as humanism, tolerance, and democracy in the Republic of Moldova is both a challenge and an essential goal in the process of consolidating European cultural identity.