New Eurobarometer survey shows young people’s growing engagement and views on participatory democracy, youth issues, and EU’s added value in their lives

This article is published in association with United Nations.

Today, the European Commission published a Eurobarometer survey showing young Europeans’ growing engagement with and views on democracy. The survey also shows their perceptions of key concerns facing young people, such as employment and the cost of living, as well as the EU’s impact on their daily lives, youth policies, and intergenerational fairness. These findings come as preparations are underway for the EU Youth Strategy post 2027.

The survey, targeted  ages between 15 and 30 years old,  shows growing engagement among young people. 75% of young people have participated in the activities of one or more organisations in the last 12 months, compared to 64% in 2024. These activities are most often organised by a sports club (26%) or a youth club or youth organisation (20%). The majority (55%) of young people surveyed indicate that they took part in at least one initiative to bring about societal change in the past year, up from 48% in 2024.

A large number of young Europeans – 60% (17 percentage points more than in a similar 2024 poll) – say they have participated in activities in another EU country, such as studying, cultural and sports exchanges, and volunteering.

The survey is being published as part of the Commission’s ‘Protect What Matters – Our Democracy’ campaign, which encourages citizens to take an active role in shaping EU democracy. A dedicated European Citizens’ Panel, with one third of people between 16 and 29, is preparing recommendations on fostering democratic resilience in Europe.

The Eurobarometer also shows that a large majority of respondents (75%) feel that actions taken by the EU have an impact on their daily lives. When asked what they expect the EU to deliver for their generation, young people most often mention preserving peace (33%), fighting poverty and economic and social inequalities (32%), and increasing job opportunities for young people (31%).

Moreover, young people across the EU want youth policies to focus first and foremost on the real issues they face, such as job opportunities and cost of living (40%). This ranks ahead of ensuring that young people and youth organisations have a say in decisions (32%), providing financial support for youth programmes and initiatives (32%), and making sure young people are aware of policies and opportunities available to them (29%).

Finally, young people see voting in elections and engaging on social media as the most effective ways of making their voices heard, cited by 33% and 32% of respondents, respectively.

Background

The Flash Eurobarometer on Youth and Democracy was carried out between 19 June and the 1 July 2026, targeting a representative sample of 26,806 young people aged 15 to 30 in the 27 Member States. The survey was conducted through computer-assisted web interviewing (CAWI).

The findings come at a key moment, as the Commission prepares for the next phase of EU youth policy. The results of this Eurobarometer will contribute to the ongoing reflection on the post-2027 EU Youth Strategy, offering evidence on how young Europeans view participation in democratic life, mobility, intergenerational fairness, and the EU’s role in shaping their future.

For more information

Eurobarometer survey

European Youth Portal

EU Youth Strategy