Lessons for Students of Kharkiv Schools on the Topic “Historical Policy of the European Union”

On May 13, 2026, on the occasion of Europe Day, a thematic class was held for students of Kharkiv schools participating in the “History of International Relations” club of the Municipal Institution “Kharkiv Regional Small Academy of Sciences.” The event was dedicated to current issues of shaping historical memory and the role of the European Union in developing a shared European humanitarian space.

The class on the topic “Historical Policy of the European Union” was conducted by a professor of Kharkiv National University named after Karazin, Coordinator of the “East Ukrainian Center for European Studies” (EAUCES — ERASMUS-JMO-2024-COE 101176972) Dmytro Mykolenko.

During the class, students were introduced to key concepts of modern humanitarian policy, including definitions such as “historical policy,” “memory policy,” and “commemoration.” Special attention was paid to analyzing the approaches of the European Union to interpreting complex pages of the past, as well as the role of historical memory in shaping democratic values and European identity.

The participants discussed the content of European Union resolutions on historical memory and the condemnation of totalitarian regimes, and analyzed which values—democracy, human rights, freedom, solidarity, and respect for human dignity—are promoted through modern commemorative practices in Brussels.

The event contributed to deepening students’ knowledge of European integration processes, developing critical thinking, and raising awareness of the importance of historical memory in the context of contemporary social and political challenges.

The video recording of the event can be viewed here.