The European Parliament’s youth policy, 1952-1979: An attempt to create a collective memory of an integrated Europe

From the European Parliament’s (EP) beginnings in the early 1950s, its members (MEPs) pursued the creation of a Community youth policy. Through a variety of measures directed at young persons, MEPs hoped to forge pro-European generations willing to become actively involved in the project of closer integration. A major part of this endeavour was MEPs’ pursuit of creating a collective memory of an integrated Europe, entailing a shared image of the Community as guarantor of peace and prosperity, and as a space of shared cultural heritage. The article analyses this youth-related EP activism in the period 1952-1979.