This paper presents the starting point, the methodology and the findings of a research project carried out by the authors at the European School in Luxemburg and focused on the relationship between the European and the national orientations of the students. A questionnaire in the three main languages English, German and French and in two versions for the younger (class 2–4) and for the older pupils (class 5–7) was filled out by 1.670 secondary school pupils from all the European member states as well as from many other countries. The questionnaire contained questions about the relative strength of their national vs. European identities, about their knowledge of foreign languages, the nationalities of their close friends, book reading in foreign languages and other related subjects. Among the main findings was that the strength of European identity differed significantly between pupils from different member states. Similarly, concerning the choice of friends, marked differences were found in the choice of friends from their own or from other nationalities among pupils from different countries. In addition, it was found that linguistic and cultural affinities between countries affect strongly the choice of friends from these countries.