The EU's Image In The Process Of European Integration Based On Soft Power

European Union's image consists mainly of its internal image and international image separately constructed by EU member states and other actors outside EU. EU's image affect by many factors during the process of European integration. Therefore, there are gaps between the image in ideal and reality.EU's image is a key of the factors of EU soft power and influenced by other factors. The point of this paper is to analysis how EU reduces the gap by other factors of EU soft power.EU has done a lot to reduce the gaps on the knowledge of the EU by its values, culture idea, institution network, domestic policies and other soft power factors for an .ideal EU image. The influences on international level of EU soft power reflect on the areas of culture, policy and institution. The co-operations and communications of culture on non-government level, national level and supranational level. Development Cooperation, Common Foreign Security Policy, Climate Change Policy and other institutions of EU are the main sources of the knowledge about EU for other actors outside EU. This is a way to reduce the gaps between ideal image and the image in reality.Moreover, chances and challenges in the process of European integration are also affecting the growth of EU's image. EU soft power needs to strength because of its democratic deficit, the conflicts and contradictions between EU member states, changes in the international situation and other factors. However, the developments of European integration indicate the trend of the growth of EU soft power. Meanwhile, EU's image will be more positive in the future.