This study analyses how young adults develop orientations towards the EU in the course of mediated experiences. On the methodological level it follows an approach in the tradition of qualitative social science. On the level of concrete methods it combines qualitative interviews with a quantitative online-survey. In doing so it is able to offer comprehensive insights in how young adults think and feel about the EU and how mediated experiences contribute to this in comparison to educational experiences, personal discussions and direct contacts with the EU. As different patterns of orientations as well as typical repertoires of EU-related experiences are identified the study allows a differentiated view on various groups. In a last step the results are integrated into an evidence-based theoretical model that explains the development of orientations towards the EU in the course of daily experiences.