From 4 to 7 May 2026, the Jean Monnet House of the European Parliament, together with the European Observatory on Memories (EUROM), the Istituto di Studi Federalisti Altiero Spinelli, and the Young European Federalists (JEF Europe), is organising the fourth edition of the European School on Memories.

The seminar will take place at the Jean Monnet House in Bazoches-sur-Guyonne (France), located 45 kilometres west of Paris. The venue is the farmhouse where Jean Monnet lived and developed his vision of European unity.

The programme will begin with a meeting in Paris at the Maison de l’Europe, followed by a transfer to the Jean Monnet House where the main activities will take place.

ABOUT THE EVENT

The theme of this year’s edition is:

“Rewriting History: Who owns the Past?”

The School on European Memories aims to explore the memory of the processes, debates and solidarities that contributed to the creation of today’s Europe.

This year’s edition focuses on one of the most pressing challenges facing European democracies: the growing influence of pseudo-historical revisionism and the instrumentalisation of the past for political purposes.

Through lectures, workshops and interactive sessions, participants will explore how history is written, transmitted, appropriated and sometimes distorted in contemporary public discourse.

The programme will in particular address:
• the mechanisms and actors behind revisionist and manipulative uses of history
• the impact of social media ecosystems on the transmission of historical knowledge
• the uses and abuses of the recent past by far-right and illiberal movements
• strategies of resistance grounded in academic research, critical pedagogy and responsible public communication
• the role of active citizenship in responding to memory manipulation

Participants will also contribute to the production of new episodes of Talking Memories, the School’s podcast. Working in small teams during guided editorial and production workshops, they will transform the debates and insights emerging during the School into accessible and high-quality public content.

The detailed programme will be communicated to the participants in due course.

Conditions for participation

The organisers will provide Accommodation, Meals and  Travel costs will be reimbursed up to a limit of 150 euros.

Participants should arrive in Paris on the afternoon of Monday 4 May 2026 (meeting point: Maison de l’Europe), where a bus will bring participants to the Jean Monnet House.

The seminar will conclude on Thursday 7 May in Paris, with a historical visit in the city.
Accommodation will be covered until the morning following the end of the programme.

Participants aged 18–35 are invited to apply.

How to apply

To apply to join the seminar, please fill in the application form by 20 March 2026 at 23:59 CEST.

For further questions, please contact:

Debora Striani
Young European Federalists (JEF Europe)
debora.striani@jef.eu