The European Union is grappling with its deepest crisis in 60 years, a malaise that goes beyond the euro debacle and the enormous tide of debt swamping the continent. The union seems exhausted. Expansion has ground to a halt. Sluggish EU economies are being eclipsed by rivals in Asia and Latin America. "Brussels" has become a dirty word, no longer only in Britain. Euroscepticism is on the rise across the continent. The taboo has been lifted on national stereotyping and scapegoating – lazy Greeks, bossy Germans, chauvinistic French, haughty Brits.

At this critical juncture, six leading newspapers from the largest EU countries have come together in a joint project to build up a more nuanced picture of the EU, and explore what Europe does well and what not so well.

We begin by investigating the benefits the EU has brought to 500 million people; later we examine the national leaders labouring to steer it out of its difficulties. On Thursday we look at Euroscepticism and national stereotyping. And at the end of the week, you can take our "How European are you?" test and see how you and other European readers rank.

Six newspapers, six countries, millions of readers, one Europe.