Young Europeans prioritize the cost of living and climate change as their top concerns for International Youth Day.
Young Europeans have shared their top priorities and concerns in the recently conducted European Parliament's Youth Survey 2024, shedding light on the issues that matter most to them [1][3][5]. The survey reveals that young people are primarily concerned about affordable housing, access to quality education, decent employment opportunities, mental and physical health, and maintaining peace, while protecting human rights and democracy remains a shared value [1][3][5].
The survey also highlights notable differences among countries in terms of youth priorities and political leanings. For instance, in France and Romania, youth voting patterns show a polarization with significant support for both far-left and far-right political parties, reflecting political dissatisfaction and distinct ideological divides among young voters [2].
In Eastern European countries such as Poland, youth showed strong voting preferences for far-right candidates in the 2024 presidential elections, indicating a trend toward conservative nationalism among young voters in some regions [2]. On the other hand, youth in countries like Romania, Moldova, Georgia, and Slovakia expressed strong interest in EU youth initiatives like Erasmus+, emphasizing concerns around mobility and educational opportunities, although awareness and access vary [5].
The survey findings also suggest that youth engagement is closely linked to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with participation varying depending on national contexts and democratic openness. Young people's participation is particularly strong in areas such as decent work and economic growth (SDG 8), quality education (SDG 4), good health and wellbeing (SDG 3), gender equality (SDG 5), and strong democratic institutions (SDG 16) [3].
Housing affordability and insecure rental conditions are pressing issues in several European countries, making affordable housing a top social priority [1]. Furthermore, the survey data indicates that affordability measures will remain politically decisive across most of the EU bloc.
Interestingly, the survey found that 31% of young people are in favor of the EU and its current functioning, while more young people in some Member States favor change to the EU's current functioning [1]. The top reasons for not voting in the June 2024 elections were other commitments and lack of sufficient information [1].
Lastly, the survey revealed that a large majority of young Europeans (76%) report encountering disinformation on social media in the week before the survey, while 70% of young Europeans feel confident they can spot disinformation on social media [1]. This underscores the importance of education and awareness campaigns to combat the spread of misinformation online.
References:
[1] European Parliament's Youth Survey 2024 [2] European Youth Think Tank (2024) [3] United Nations Development Programme (2024) [4] European Commission (2024) [5] Erasmus+ (2024)
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