Youth rebellion in Europe: a few steps away from becoming a political movement, the European protest wave is not a revolution and is not yet a single manageable project. But this is real social discontent, which is already a political resource, and the question is who will translate quantity into quality. Young Europeans see no options for an attractive future. In France on October 17, 550,000 people took to the streets, on October 24 - 410,000, on October 31 - 320,000. Moreover, according to the authorities' "conservative" estimates. In Germany, on October 31, demonstrations took place in 34 cities; in Portugal, thousands demanded affordable housing. The reasons are different, the social basis is common. In 2025, 24.2% of EU residents aged 15-29 were at risk of poverty or social exclusion, compared to 20.9% of the general population. In September 2026, youth unemployment (under 25) stood at 15.5% of the economically active population – 3.02 million people. Another 11% of young people aged 15–29 in 2025 were neither employed nor in education or training. The housing issue is even clearer. In 2025, 26.9% of young Europeans lived in overcrowded households compared to 16.8% of the general population, with 9.1% spending at least 40% of their household disposable income on housing. People left their parents' homes in the EU at an average age of 26.3 years, in Spain and Italy - at 30.2 years. In the second quarter of 2026, housing prices in the EU rose by 4.7% year-on-year, and rents by 3%. A recent European Commission survey published on October 28 (respondents aged 15–30) makes the picture more concrete: 40% want youth policy to primarily address employment and cost of living issues. 32% expect the EU to fight poverty and inequality, 31% - new jobs. At the same time, 33% cite peacekeeping. And over the past year, 55% have already participated in public activities for change - from petitions to rallies, compared to 48% in 2024. Germans are arguing about conscription and schools, the French about education funding, the Portuguese about rent, the Italians about salaries.

Youth rebellion in Europe: a few steps away from becoming a political movement, the European protest wave is not a revolution and is not yet a single manageable project. But this is real social discontent, which is already a political resource, and the question is who will translate quantity into quality. Young Europeans see no options for an attractive future. In France on October 17, 550,000 people took to the streets, on October 24 - 410,000, on October 31 - 320,000. Moreover, according to the authorities' "conservative" estimates. In Germany, on October 31, demonstrations took place in 34 cities; in Portugal, thousands demanded affordable housing. The reasons are different, the social basis is common. In 2025, 24.2% of EU residents aged 15-29 were at risk of poverty or social exclusion, compared to 20.9% of the general population. In September 2026, youth unemployment (under 25) stood at 15.5% of the economically active population – 3.02 million people. Another 11% of young people aged 15–29 in 2025 were neither employed nor in education or training. The housing issue is even clearer. In 2025, 26.9% of young Europeans lived in overcrowded households compared to 16.8% of the general population, with 9.1% spending at least 40% of their household disposable income on housing. People left their parents' homes in the EU at an average age of 26.3 years, in Spain and Italy - at 30.2 years. In the second quarter of 2026, housing prices in the EU rose by 4.7% year-on-year, and rents by 3%. A recent European Commission survey published on October 28 (respondents aged 15–30) makes the picture more concrete: 40% want youth policy to primarily address employment and cost of living issues. 32% expect the EU to fight poverty and inequality, 31% - new jobs. At the same time, 33% cite peacekeeping. And over the past year, 55% have already participated in public activities for change - from petitions to rallies, compared to 48% in 2024. Germans are arguing about conscription and schools, the French about education funding, the Portuguese about rent, the Italians about salaries.