The study identifies the perceptions, knowledge and expectations of school pupils between 14 and 18 years of age concerning the European Union, as well as their openness to European diversity, in France, Germany, Italy, Romania and Sweden and the European Schools in Brussels. Desk research and a survey across approximately 30 schools, 6 EU countries reaching almost 2000 pupils have informed the study. Results in national schools are compared using statistical analysis with those of the European Schools in Brussels to investigate if the latter perform better in fostering an open view towards the EU and its diversity. Youngsters have a mixed level of knowledge about the functioning of the EU while they wish to learn more at school. Pupils appreciate the importance of learning more about the EU and how its institutions function and they consider this a necessary first step to becoming better involved in its processes. Pupils are very open to the importance of learning other languages and about other cultures in Europe and to having friends of other EU nationalities. EU Institutions including the EESC could provide better support to schools in this regard and help to promote alternative forms of getting to know the EU. [The study was prepared for the European Economic and Social Committee (Belgium). Additional corporate authors include the Lifelong Learning Platform -- European Civil Society for Education (Belgium) and the Young European Federalists (JEF) (Belgium).]