The ‘EU Comes to Your School’ project: ambassadors and diplomats give lectures at 18 schools in the Greater Tokyo Area

This year marked the 18th edition of the project that was launched in 2007. To date, over 500,000 high school students have participated in this project, establishing it as a key initiative that fosters understanding of the EU amongst young people in Japan.

Saitama Prefectural Sugito High School

Ambassadors and diplomats from various countries served as lecturers, providing simple explanations about the EU's origin, institutions, role in the international community, relations with Japan and the cultures of their respective countries, along with some quizzes. Feedback received from participating students included: ‘I was surprised to learn how the EU's initiatives relate to our daily lives in unexpected ways’ and ‘it made me consider studying in Europe.’

In some schools, the lectures were followed by small-group discussions, providing an opportunity for students to engage directly with diplomats. Following the lecture at Tokyo Metropolitan Toyama High School, EU Ambassador Paquet explained the EU's energy policy to a group of students who were interested in energy issues.

This project aims to bring the EU and its Member States closer to younger generations and will continue to make a significant contribution to promote exchanges between the EU and Japan.

Otsuma Nakano Junior & Senior High School