Going back to the original topic. Working in Sweden with the bairns growing up in another country I think the European ideal is great if you can make use of it. Learn another language, travel, widen your world a bit. Going on holiday is not the same as you don’t reap the benefits like being able to claim Child benefit and have access to healthcare or having a real experience of the country. I also feel that we all have about the same principles as Europeans and we believe in similar things like Freedom of the press and a government that should help balance society and help the underdog.
The children do see themselves as British but are Europeans as well I want them to have as big world as possible that they see themselves a part of.
There are of course interesting differences as the British, (Not English in particular) are rubbish at planning anything for the future, more selfish, but are more go getting and independent thinking. I think some of this comes from the influence of the USA (The idea of small government being good for the common people, no its not its good for corporations to rip off the common people!), lack of space in the UK, and the tolerance we have had to have living in a country consisting of 4 countries and traditionally many descenting religions.