What does the European Union mean to us? And especially to young people? How and why has it taken on its shape as we know it today? And by looking at its history, what could or should, the European Union look like in the future? Why should we reflect on these questions in the first place?
To many of us, it may seem that the European Union has been there forever. We are used to travelling without border controls, to study in another EU country, to its currency, etc. but in fact, the European Union is quite a young and exceptional collaboration between countries. Its development is an ongoing process, also depending on the political will of its member states. What is the European Union all about? Some would say it is about peace and prosperity, and others would say it is about economic benefits. It may seem a simple question: What is the European Project About?
But as soon as we dive a little deeper into it, one will notice that it is more complicated and a matter of perspective as well. There might even be multiple answers.
This Toolkit invites young people to dive into this question and co-design their own local history projects. It also offers a step-by-step Guide on how to set up a project like this about the European Union, includes historical content about the history of the EU, a timeline, a list of resources for further reading as well as a list of places that you can visit.
The Toolkit is inspired by the previous work of students, teachers, project advisors and co-authors in Who Were the Victims of the National Socialists?
