For 18-year-old Aisling Giltinane from Ireland, cyberbullying is an extremely personal issue because she experienced it when she was younger.
He took the opportunity to join a small group of young Europeans who came to meet EU Commissioner Glenn Micallef to discuss it at the EU Commission headquarters in Brussels in September.
“I wanted to make a change,” she told DW. “I wanted to show what we can do so that other kids don’t have to go through this.”
The participants – some still in high school, others already working – had the chance to put their ideas forward.
These include making it easier to report cyberbullying, improving education on the topic, as well as getting teachers and parents more involved. The EU Commission intends to present and discuss an “EU-wide action plan on cyberbullying” next year.
But for many, the meeting is about much more than cyberbullying: “For me it’s about an opportunity to express not only my concerns, but also my ideas,” said George Vella, 18, from Malta. He says they are more likely to have their concerns addressed by speaking directly to politicians, rather than voicing their views on social media or with friends.
Aisling Giltinen said she had a positive exchange with Commissioner Micallef, who is in charge of international neutrality, youth, culture and sport. “We were able to tell him what we wanted, and he really accepted it.”
Young Europeans often criticize the EU
In contrast to the small group visiting Brussels, not all of Europe’s youth express confidence in the EU or its democratic structures. a new survey The German TUI Foundation found that 40% of participants agreed with the statement that the way the EU works is not particularly democratic. Another 51% said the EU is a good idea but poorly implemented. About 53% believe that the EU is too concerned about small things.
The survey questioned more than 6,000 people aged 16 to 26 from Germany, France, Spain, Italy, Greece, Poland and the UK.
Voter turnout in the last European election also reveals the EU’s declining interest in participating in democratic processes. In 2019, 42% of youth aged 15 to 24 voted. According to the statistical office Eurostat, only 36% showed up at the ballot box in 2024, meaning a decline of 6 percentage points. The number of youth voting in the latest election lagged behind the average participation rate of 51%.
Can Europe win back the youth?
Student George Vella thinks the EU is doing a lot for youth, but it is sometimes “not visible enough”. He said national governments often get credit for initiatives that actually come from the EU.
In Brussels, Commissioner Micallef says he is confident that “young people see the EU as part of the solution to the challenges they face.” Young people expect their trust in the EU to be repaid with concrete action, he said, speaking to DW after the meeting.
He said that the EU is going to work in areas like affordable housing, quality of jobs and reducing energy costs.
However, delivering concrete results may prove difficult. Enrique Hernández-Díaz, youth researcher and professor of public law at the University of Extremadura, points out that the EU lacks legislative power in areas such as employment, social security and housing.
On these issues, which are often important to younger demographics, the EU’s role is limited to supporting member states, coordinating or offering ideas and funding, he said. Meanwhile, those benefiting from EU-backed schemes often lack awareness of where the money comes from.
He said the bloc is also sometimes blamed by national politicians for unpopular policies that distort the EU’s image among certain population groups.
How will the Commission reach out to more youth?
Supporting young people is one of the priorities of the current EU Commission term which runs until 2029. Since 2024, more than 35 meetings – such as one on cyberbullying – have been held.
Called the “Youth Policy Dialogue”, the results are published and debated online. The EU Commission website says they will help shape new policies affecting young people.
Other initiatives include a “Youth Advisory Board” It consists of youth representatives from across the European Union, or “Youth Check”, which screens legislation for its impact on young Europeans. Meanwhile the “European Youth Programme” brings together thousands of young people every two years.
The EU Commission also reaches out to young Europeans on social media, sharing information such as, for example, the Erasmus exchange scheme or the lottery for free rail passes. But, at a time of widespread skepticism and polarization, the question is, will it manage to keep Gen Z on board?
Hernandez-Diaz highlighted an issue that applies to society and age groups: “It’s a problem [at] “At every level of democracy, people who do not believe in democracy do not participate in it,” the young researcher said. However, he said it was important to create positive democratic experiences for young people. After all, its survival will depend on their commitment to it.
Edited by: Jess Smee