This article examines the impact of new forms of citizenship and European construction on the university. If one conceives new forms of citizenship as identity-driven, rather than based on territory, and European construction as the intertwining of four metaphors (the flag, association, the network and the bazaar), what are the implications for a university that traditionally has produced, preserved and diffused national culture? Can the university contribute to making Europe both more competitive and more social while at the same time it contributes to assuring that both European construction and new forms of citizenship be more reflexive?