Their successful and largely incident-free performance as hosts has soundly disproved any lingering notions that they are pariahs of traditional Europe.

Specifically, Poles and Ukrainians have
shown that their cultures fit into a greater European identity.
Though this identity remains a vague concept, the Euro has helped to
explain some of the things it consists of: a popular unifying sport,
an eyebrow-raising love of beer, as well as various social problems
that need addressing.

Regarding the latter, the most glaring
matter has been racism. Thus far, there have been reports of
Croatian, Polish, Spanish and Russian fans jeering players. In
addition, there was a racially-charged cartoon in an
Italian newspaper aimed at one of its own players

and racial attacks on twitter
stemming from London against English footballers
.

In a similar vein, though it was the
BBC’s program Panorama that warned of backwardness among the
Polish and Ukrainians, it’s worth noting that, at times, it has
been the coarse
behavior of the guests
shocking the locals.
Taken together, this demonstrates that problems generally need
addressing throughout all of Europe as few issues are isolated to
Central or Eastern Europe.

Yet, just as common social problems can
help Poland and Ukraine identify more with Europe, so too should
positive aspects. After all, most interaction between foreigners and
locals will yield great rewards in the gradual defeat of prejudices
towards other cultures. As Karl Deutsch, a European founder of
integration theory, would argue, the Euro is only a stage that brings
people together in increasing their sense of a common community.

In other words, ignore the spirited
competition and fans singing insulting songs at one another. After
all, no matter what the Swedes sang, no Ukrainian feared Viking war
ships being built in the Swedish camp on Trukhaniv Island in Kyiv.

The increased identification as part of
the European community has great consequences for both countries. For
the Poles, it is first a commendation on their achievements since
1989. It is also a justification that today they belong at the heart
of the European Union. However, the success and acknowledgment of
Ukrainians as Europeans can mean even more for the future of their
country.

This is partially because before the
Euro, people questioned if Ukraine should, or even could, stage such
an important event. The string of negative publicity suggesting why
the country should not have been well-chronicled: nontransparent and
mismanaged projects, political protestations over increased
authoritarian governance that unrepentantly jailed opposition
candidates, disreputable hoteliers controlling and charging
exorbitant prices and the aforementioned fears of racism.

Admittedly, the politics and corrupt
business practices preventing necessary structural reforms will
remain the same in the short-term. President Viktor Yanukovych shows
no sign of softening
his animosity for
opposition leader Yulia Tymoshenko. Political boycotts are unlikely
to change the current government from continuing to selectively
applying justice and granting favors. However, citizens’ actions
during the Euro provide insight into their own vision for Ukraine.

For example, common Ukrainians
responded to being lambasted in Western media outlets by opening
their homes to more than 1,000 foreigners
free of charge
. Despite an
influx of visitors
into the country, there has
been a general lack of crime, strong hospitality and widespread
positive media reports covering visitors’ impressions. This is more
than Ukrainian generosity: it is a conscious effort by common
Ukrainians to destroy the maligned image of their country.

Just as most people mind what their
neighbors think of them, Ukrainian citizens wholeheartedly care what
fellow Europeans think of them.

As an American living in Kyiv during
the Euro tournament, I have been fortunate to have had an impartial
and front-row seat to all of this. With the tournament now
ending, my hope is these same citizens will not simply believe they
are no longer outcasts, but also work to redefine Europe’s
borderland.

To do that, and to further integrate
with the rest of Europe, change and reform are needed. That will be a
long, arduous process which requires Ukrainians not relapsing into
political
apathy
and internal division, whatever setbacks
may occur.

The first step on that process? To
acknowledge that July 1st is not the end of Europe in
Ukraine-it is only the beginning.

Ian Hansen is currently an intern at
the International Centre for Policy Studies in Kyiv.

He is pursuing his Master’s in
International Affairs at the George H.W. Bush School of Government
and Public Service at Texas A&M University.