Europe’s crisis of confidence

Op-eds eu Europe’s crisis of confidence French Commissioner Thierry Breton Resigns, Cites Dispute With Von Der Leyen Relevant News Europe’s crisis of confidence 22 June 2026 AI reshapes global labour market into two distinct paths, rewarding human skills: PwC 2026 AI Jobs Barometer 22 June 2026 The future won’t be defined by who tried AI first 22 June 2026 newsroom 22 June 2026 FacebookXWhatsAppEmailPrintViber By Petros Papadopoulos* For decades, European leaders have spoken the language of economics. Growth rates, productivity figures, inflation targets, and fiscal rules have dominated political debate. These matters are important, but they are not enough to explain why nations succeed or fail. The most successful societies are not merely markets. They are civilizations. Europe’s greatest challenge today is not economic stagnation, demographic decline, or geopolitical competition – serious as these issues may be. The deeper challenge is a growing uncertainty about what Europe is and why it matters. For centuries, Europeans understood themselves as heirs to a remarkable civilization. Greek philosophy taught the value of reason. Roman law established the foundations of legal order. Christianity shaped concepts of human dignity, moral responsibility, and social solidarity. The Renaissance, the Reformation, and the Enlightenment produced institutions and ideas that transformed the world. Modern Europe was built upon this civilizational confidence. Europeans did not believe their culture was perfect, but they believed it was worth preserving and improving. Today, that confidence has weakened. Many public institutions have become uncomfortable discussing Europe’s cultural foundations. Schools increasingly teach students about the failures of European history while devoting less attention to its achievements. Political leaders often speak of Europe as a geographic space or an economic arrangement rather than a distinct civilization with a unique heritage. This shift has consequences. A society that loses confidence in its history struggles to define its future. A continent uncertain of its identity finds it difficult to integrate newcomers, defend its interests, or inspire younger generations. Economic policies can create prosperity, but they cannot create meaning. Regulations can govern behaviour, but they cannot generate social cohesion. The debate over immigration illustrates this dilemma. Successful integration requires more than administrative procedures. It requires a clear understanding of the values, traditions, and norms into which newcomers are expected to integrate. If a society cannot articulate its own identity, integration becomes increasingly difficult. The same principle applies to European foreign policy. In an era of renewed great-power competition, Europe faces challenges from an assertive Russia, an ambitious China, and an increasingly unstable neighbourhood. Military spending and diplomatic initiatives are necessary, but strategic strength ultimately depends upon civilizational confidence. Nations defend what they value. Civilizations endure when they believe in themselves. This does not mean embracing nationalism in its most narrow or exclusionary forms. It does not mean claiming delusive superiority to other civilizations. Nor does it require denying the darker and shameful facets of European history. Mature civilizations acknowledge their mistakes while remaining proud of their achievements. Europe has much to be proud of. The rule of law, parliamentary government, scientific inquiry, freedom of conscience, and the concept of universal human rights emerged largely from the European experience. These ideas have influenced societies across the globe and remain among humanity’s most valuable achievements. Yet these accomplishments cannot be sustained automatically. Every generation must choose whether to preserve them. Societies are not merely collections of individuals, but communities connected across time. Institutions, traditions, and freedoms are passed down and evolve from generation to generation maintaining the fabric of society. This perspective offers an important corrective to both utopian progressivism and cynical populism. It reminds us that healthy societies require continuity as well as change, responsibility as well as rights, and gratitude as well as ambition. Europe’s future will not be secured by economic policy alone. It will depend upon whether Europeans recover a sense of civilizational purpose. The continent does not need nostalgia for a vanished past. It needs confidence in the enduring principles that made Europe one of history’s most influential civilizations. The real question facing Europe is therefore not simply how to become richer, stronger, or more competitive. It is whether Europe still believes in itself. The answer to that question may determine the continent’s future far more than any budget negotiation or regulatory reform. *Petros Papadopoulos is an advocate Subscribe to our Newsletter Latest News AI reshapes global labour market into two distinct paths, rewarding human skills: PwC 2026 AI Jobs Barometer The future won’t be defined by who tried AI first EXPLAINER: Why are Poland and Ukraine at odds about their history? EXPLAINER: UK PM Starmer says he will resign, but how is his successor chosen? 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