In the wake of divisive parliamentary elections, the European Union is crying out for a sense of unity and common purpose. The rise of nationalism and euroscepticism poses a challenge to Brussels. As new MEPs prepare to shape future policies, they will have to contend with this. In particular, the EU needs to reach out to young people and give them a reason to buy into their European identity.

Simple, effective policies designed to unite rather than divide are more necessary than ever. A key example of developing cultural ties between young people in Europe through mobility can be found in the existing educational program Erasmus, which, in addition to academic education, also focuses on non-formal education. An effective strategy for the future would be to establish a sister program, or reform the existing one, to include high school students.

In an increasingly multipolar world, the need for a cohesive European identity has never been more urgent. Without unity, smaller countries and political outliers risk falling under foreign influence, which also applies for the countries which are yet to be integrated into the EU such as those from the Western Balkans and the Eastern Partnership.

Without that common identity, Europe cannot be secure and united, undermining its ability to assert its geopolitical influence on the global stage, which matters more than ever as Russia, China, Iran, and new emerging geopolitical actors gear up for fights on various fronts.

EU member states enjoy common cultural, historical, and political ties which bind them more closely to one another than to other geopolitical powers. Failing to maintain this bond leaves a vacuum.

Europe must focus on the future—specifically, new generations of Europeans who will decide the continent’s direction. A focus on a stronger sense of unity and belonging among citizens is needed for young people to feel 'more European'. This is lacking in Europe. National identities are usually strong, but the European identity is rarely spoken of and almost never given the key billing it deserves.

That’s not to say national identities should be eroded. In fact, quite the opposite. A common continental identity will work best when intertwined with, rather than set against, a belief in the importance of Europe. But to achieve that delicate balance, the new cohort of MEPs must act quickly to implement initiatives which promote a sense of unity and belonging among citizens, particularly through education, cultural exchange programs, and media campaigns.

A new Erasmus programme focussed on high-schoolers could include long-term placement in another European country, where students would study a new ‘European curriculum’ to bring them up to speed on the culture and history they share with their continental neighbours. That European curriculum would present a golden opportunity to educate tomorrow’s leaders on European history and the roots of its identity, key values, and the workings of the European Union.

Schools adopting this practice could receive financial incentives at a relatively low cost to Brussels, compared to other mammoth policy initiatives it is currently undertaking. By combining the success of the existing Erasmus programme with a strategic curriculum along these lines and targeting it at students of a younger age, the EU can facilitate high schoolers starting to network with their European peers, building lifelong bonds.

This will help facilitate and encourage freedom of movement in the union while also developing a sense of belonging from a young age. Students could live with host families, accelerating their connection-building with their new culture and allowing them more opportunities to share their own. The exchange would typify the EU’s motto, 'united in diversity'.

The successful implementation of such an initiative would undoubtedly lead to increased enrolment of students in a university in other EU countries in the future, resulting in even more movement around the continent. We want our young people to have itchy feet, exploring Europe and making it their home.

The concept of the European identity needs work. We don’t quite need to ‘invent’ it from scratch, but we do need to polish, present, and promote it to a new generation which is unfamiliar with it. The EU should closely monitor new programmes using specific metrics to assess their success in strengthening that identity without undermining national identities, which remain imperative for Europe’s success.

Only through this approach will it be possible to cultivate a collective European consciousness which complements national identities rather than running parallel to them, or even diametrically opposed to them. Without a renewed focus on long-termism and strengthening its identity, the EU risks becoming a lost and confused union without a sustainable future.

This article was written by Bojan Lazarevski. Bojan is a political scientist in international and intercultural studies. Bojan is also a writing fellow with Young Voices Europe and an activist and researcher.