L’Europe, c’est plus qu’une simple zone de libre-échange ou qu’un simple traité parmi tant d’autres. L’objet de Europe, c’est de faire la paix et de construire un avenir sûr avec ses anciens ennemis et avec des peuples culturellement différents ; c’est de dépasser ses frontières et ses intérêts de court-terme.

What does it mean to be European today? Mary Lean reports from Caux.

As Turkey, straddling Europe and Asia, seeks to join the European Union, Cigdem Leblebici reflects on the momentum for change in her country.

Few countries have worked so hard to come to terms with their past, to repair, to restore as Germany has.

Europe will not find the way forward by avoiding conflict, but by transforming it, maintains Brian Walker.

If America is to advance the cause of democracy world-wide, she will have to work harder at applying democratic values universally, argues Richard Ruffin.

On 1 May, the European Union will have 75 million new inhabitants—and ten new member nations, bringing its total to 25. The ‘rich man’s club’ is opening its doors to its less wealthy neighbours—amid muttering from many of those already ensconced in its comfortable armchairs. It may seem strange—even presumptuous—for a publication based in the UK to welcome the new arrivals. To the rest of Europe, Britain has sometimes seemed an awkward member of the club, carping about the rules, resisting change and casting aspersions on everyone else. Although our government championed the enlargement, the prospect has sparked a xenophobia in some quarters which is matched only by attitudes to asylum seekers and refugees.

Poland’s decision to join the European Union has been a subject of hot debate in schools and universities,writes Joanna Margueritte.