Common Ground 2026 Launched at Europe Day

Our annual magazine, Common Ground, is back with its sixth edition!

After being presented at Athenaeum Nieuwscentrum on Europe Day, Common Ground is now available to download for free, for everyone interested in stepping back from the usual discourse around Europe, and turning to the emblematic stories and ideas of the people living it.

In this year’s edition, expect a plainspoken analysis of Europe’s place in our current geopolitical landscape by Dutch journalist and author Caroline de Gruyter. You will also find a set of lessons Europe should cherish, drawn from Nicu Popescu’s firsthand experience as former Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs and European Integration of Moldova. Popescu guided the country through a referendum while its population was heavily targeted by pro-Russia and anti-European propaganda – a story as timely as it is instructive.

This edition is also filled with reflections on community, what it means to be European, the role of arts and culture within our society, as well as an exploration of democracy in all its nuances and frailties. A focused look at Hungary contextualises the results of the recent elections, while photo essays shine a light on places the headlines rarely reach: Transnistria and Belarus.

Additionally, expect pieces on how ECF is contributing to building a joint and inclusive Europe, with a focus on the Culture of Solidarity programme, The Europe Challenge, and the reasons behind our demand for a Cultural Deal for Europe. In a historic excursus made possible by the opening of ECF’s archives in the Historical Archives of the European Union in Florence, we travel back to the very beginning of the organisation’s life and reflect on what we’ve achieved together (did you know ECF helped create the Erasmus programme?!).

Alongside these stories, writers from across the continent reflect on transformation in their own contexts, showing how change is experienced through language, memory and imagination. Together, these perspectives show how Europe is continuously shaped through the relationships and cultural practices that bring people into connection with one another.

As always, Common Ground aims to present Europe in all its complexity, in an attempt to understand it a little better and to act as a united society. We hope you enjoy the read!