For my generation, that of the baby boom, the arrival of the Europe of 12 was a breath of fresh air. Europe now numbers 2 . Travelling, working or studying abroad is no longer an ideal, it’s an everyday thing for many young Europeans. Europe, its founding principle, even its existence – these cannot be placed in question. We can simply
ask, “Yes, but which Europe?” This was the question which drove me during my stay in Dublin. The Republic of Ireland has left behind endemic misery. As a “Celtic Tiger” the country is no longer looked upon with pity. Yet the Irish sometimes find themselves regretting that their famous pubs have become “cafés”, and that the Guinness
brewery has been reduced to the role of tourist attraction. Like other cities, Dublin is looking for a balance. This will be the real challenge for tomorrow’s Europe: to bring us together while respecting those things that make us different.