This year’s Eurobarometer survey reveals that six in ten young Europeans are optimistic about the future of the European Union (EU) and believe their countries benefit from EU membership. They particularly value the freedom to travel across borders without passports, yet many also express a desire to have a stronger voice in shaping the EU’s future and highlight new challenges their generation faces.
“We cannot expect young people to remain euphoric simply because their parents decided to join the EU 20 years ago. For my generation of 40-year-olds, it was a groundbreaking event. For today’s 20-year-olds, traveling within the EU is nothing extraordinary,” says Krzysztof Śmiszek, MEP from New Left.
Key Findings: Optimism and Expectations
According to Eurobarometer, 60% of young Europeans believe that the EU has a positive impact on society. They associate membership mainly with freedom of travel and cultural exchange (39%), followed by access to funding opportunities (30%).
In Poland, however, youth attitudes are more divided. A 2024 CBOS survey found that 22% of young Poles oppose EU membership, compared to a national average of 17%. Many cite concerns about national identity.
Śmiszek emphasizes that EU leaders must inspire new enthusiasm among young people with progressive initiatives, such as shorter working hours or free train travel across the EU for youth.
Priorities for the Future
One-third of young respondents believe that security and defense should be the EU’s top priority, followed by environmental protection and climate change and public health. Looking ahead to 2030, they want the EU to focus on employment and economic stability (34%), as well as peace and global security (28%).
Nearly 40% expect the EU to invest more in affordable housing and cost-of-living support, followed by education, training, mental health, and well-being. Cost of living and global instability are their greatest concerns.
“Young people are searching for answers about the kind of Europe they want to live in—definitely not one full of restrictions and overregulation. They seek freedom and choice, whether in travel or lifestyle,” says Andrzej Halicki, MEP from Civic Platform.
Engagement, Democracy, and Disinformation
61% of young Europeans are optimistic about the EU’s future, and a similar share is satisfied with how democracy functions within the Union. Many express interest in participating in dialogues about the EU’s future.
However, disinformation, economic inequalities, and declining social tolerance are viewed as the main threats to democracy.
“The EU is essential for preserving freedom and security. I believe in the younger generation. We must engage with them, support them, and explain why the EU and its single market matter,” says Mirosława Nykiel, MEP from Civic Platform.
Nykiel highlights the need to communicate EU benefits through social media, where young people spend most of their time and which they trust the most.
“Social media is a mix of truths and falsehoods. Without clear communication and educational outreach, young people will struggle to find reliable information. We must guide them,” she adds.
