On 1 January 2002, it seemed that the European project was complete. The euro had entered into circulation. The TV news showed the Minister of Finance withdrawing a few crisp new euro notes from a cash point, and that was that.

Few bothered to explain how and why there was a new currency. This was evidently unnecessary, because what Europe did, Europe did well; a superficial attitude on the part of the bureaucrats, politicians and intellectuals.

Around the turn of the century, though, the fact of Europe was still so self-evident that hardly anyone was talking about it. It was a background detail, part of the scenery. So self-evident and so out of sight that only specialists were truly interested in it.

But that time is certainly over. Europe has become controversial, and thus it is essential to talk and think about Europe once more. Countries, cultures, cities and political projects cannot advance unless the ideas that underlie them are developed, discussed, criticized, shared and supported.

Despite the urgent need, it has by no means become easier to talk about Europe. Much of the debate has degenerated into three topics that can be summarized as for or against migrants, for or against the euro and for or against centralized bureaucracy; but this is a dangerous oversimplification.

Europe is the continent that, like no other, has been able to translate the dreams and nightmares of humanity into reality.

Cities and landscapes, works of art, music and painting, the welfare state, the constitutional state and democracy: Europe has been able to polish each to perfection. But the downside of European history – genocide, war, exploitation and persecution – gives rise to constant tension when contemplating the present and the future. History offers many reasons to distrust Europeans at a fundamental level: ourselves, our motives and our political projects.

At the same time, our multi-coloured Europe has lived through a high summer of peace and prosperity for decades. Admittedly, there was a crisis in 2008, one that is still being felt. If we compare the standard of living among Europeans today with any other period in our thousands of years of history, though, we are enjoying an unprecedented degree of prosperity and freedom.