Review of the 45th International Conference of the Institute of European Studies "Antonio Rosmini" «Europe: definitions and boundaries / Europe: Definitionen und Grenzen» (Bolzano, 11st, 12nd, 13rd October 2006). By developing an analogy between language and territory having regard to the legal system, the border becomes a symbol not only of the conventional separation between States, but also of the artificiality of its power over his subjects. Considering the current European institutional framework, this metaphor can isolate different issues: (1) the relationship between the philosophical and political tradition of Europe and the European Union, institution "artificial” in all respects; (2 ) the relationship between the community institution and the Catholic Church, representing the ancient "Christian roots" with which this institution seems introducing a conflict; (3) the turbulences in the East and in the Balkans, which are examples of the difficulties arising from nonunderstanding of the definition, (4) the idea of Europe and its myth in comparison with the European Union, forced to create different and weaker forms of identification.
