Recent years have been a rollercoaster for Europe. Not since the democratic revolutions of 1989 has the continent undergone such profound transformation or experienced so many resounding shocks.



The eurozone crisis, the refugee crisis, the rise of populism, the conflict in Ukraine, Brexit, separatism, globalisation, the impact of new technologies, the effect of the Middle East chaos and the election of Donald Trump in the US have all created complex new realities. What was once deemed secure in Europe is now being questioned.

Debate has been reawakened on themes such as identity, democracy, minority rights, gender equality, diversity and values. People across Europe are taking part in vivid and fascinating discussions that could shape the future. The Guardian wants to explore and host some of this conversation, which is why we have are launched a new fortnightly series, Europe now.

The idea is to offer readers a better understanding of what binds Europeans in all their diversity – but also of what divides them. It will showcase a wide variety of voices in all kinds of fields, from culture to economics through politics and the environment, with a keen focus on grassroots movements and the young people involved in them. Activists, thinkers, artists and members of civil society will all weigh in. We will also be reaching out to cartoonists from across the continent.



By Europe, we mean the countries of the European Union, but not exclusively. The series will feature voices from across the Balkans, Norway, Iceland, Greenland, Switzerland, plus Russia and its European neighbours.



We’ve opened the series with a piece by Lucas Chancel, the Paris-based French economist who worked with Thomas Piketty on the World Inequality Report 2018. He writes that Europe is where social disparities are the lowest in the world and reflects on whether that can be sustained. From Madrid, we’ve asked Lucila Rodriguez-Alarcón, who runs a small foundation, PorCausa, active on migration issues, to describe how Spain has been dealing with refugee arrivals now that the country has again become a gateway to Europe. Also, in a cartoon, Andrzej Krauze, who was born in Poland, gives us his take on the new government policies aimed at restricting Polish women’s abortion rights.

Jean Monnet, one of the founders of the European project, once said: “We are not uniting states, we are uniting people.” The Guardian hopes to create a platform for citizens across Europe, one that can help deepen a vivid discussion across borders and cultures, on issues that matter to people’s lives, especially to the younger generation.



Europe Now wants to be a space for thought provoking, stimulating views. We want to show Europe’s complexities – its hopeful and less hopeful developments alike, and how people react to and engage with them. We want to inspire curiosity about a region that, in its wider dimension, spans more than 40 countries and includes more than 700 million people – 508 million of them living in the EU.



We want to be as close as possible to our readers in Europe, their concerns and their hopes. We believe the debate about Europe should not only revolve around institutions, treaties or government negotiations, however important they may be. We think the conversation can richly benefit from looking into transformations at a grassroots level, and citizens’ initiatives. In these challenging times, values and principles such as tolerance, social justice and openness need defending in new ways. We want to tap into that energy and the search for positive solutions.



Andrzej Krauze’s cartoon on the ruling Justice and Law party’s plans to further restrict abortion rights in Poland. Illustration: Andrzej Krauze

We’ve already received strong, engaged reactions from readers. Here’s a sample: “Delighted you will have more on Europe”; “Excellent approach. What we have in common. What we have built and can build together”; “It is about time that one of the major British papers starts being more European in its outlook”; “I do hope you illustrate the discontent of citizens across the EU, and not just marvel and provide insight into what you believe to be its greatness”; “If Europe Now presents a high quality debate and analysis with innovative journalism, then great”; “Great idea. How about one step further for a Europe Edition for the Guardian, alongside your UK, US, International and Australian Editions?”; “A wonderful and complex continent. I look forward to reading this series”; “A timely and much needed comprehensive approach”.



As Britain prepares to leave the EU, we will seek to build bridges and engage more closely with readers throughout Europe and those in the wider world who want to keep in touch with European concerns. We know people across Europe are eager to share insights about a region whose destiny is being redefined. We want to offer them the space and opportunity to do that.



Join us as we explore Europe’s many debates.

If you have ideas for stories we should cover in the Europe Now series, or suggestions of interesting people to write for us, please email europenow@theguardian.com