A new youth survey reveals growing frustration among young Europeans with both their national political systems and the European Union, with many expressing doubts about how well either system actually works.
According to the Young Europe 2025 study by the TUI Foundation, just 6 percent of Europeans aged 16 to 26 believe their country’s political system functions well and needs no changes. Nearly half of young people across Europe think democracy in their country is at risk, with the figure rising to 61 percent in Germany.
While 57 percent of respondents say they prefer democracy over other forms of government, the study highlights widespread disillusionment with how democracy is currently operating.
The EU is also viewed with skepticism. Although two-thirds of young people still view their country’s EU membership positively, 53 percent criticize the EU for focusing too much on trivial matters instead of addressing major concerns such as the cost of living, immigration, and the economy. Half of those surveyed believe the EU is a good idea but poorly implemented, and 40 percent say the EU does not function particularly democratically.
“Young people in Europe have a clear opinion about the EU: It is too concerned with trivial matters rather than with truly important challenges,” said Thomas Ellerbeck, chairman of the TUI Foundation.
The survey, conducted by YouGov, gathered responses from 6,703 people aged 16 to 26 in Germany, France, Spain, Italy, Greece, Poland, and the UK in April and May 2025.
The study shows strong dissatisfaction with national political systems across Europe. While 39 percent say their country’s political system works well but needs some changes, others express deeper concerns. A third of respondents say their system needs changes “in many respects,” and 14 percent say it is not working at all and must be completely changed. In Greece, that figure rises to 34 percent.
The survey also reveals sharp divides in attitudes toward democracy, with support for democracy highest in Germany (71 percent) and lowest in Poland (48 percent). Around one in five respondents say they would favor authoritarian government in some situations, with support for authoritarianism particularly low in Germany.
There are also clear political shifts among young Europeans. Compared to previous years, more young people now place themselves on the political right, rising from 14 percent in 2021 to 19 percent in 2025. One-third see themselves as centrist, while about one-third identify as left-wing. The study also notes that young women in Germany, France, and Italy tend to be more progressive, while young men in Poland and Greece are becoming more conservative.
Notably, the survey shows growing skepticism toward immigration. While EU leaders continue to push for mass migration, 38 percent of young people now say immigration should be restricted, up significantly from just 26 percent four years ago. In several countries, particularly Poland and Greece, young people are growing even more conservative on issues like immigration and family values.
Fewer young people now prioritize climate protection over economic growth than four years ago, and there is also support for greater gender equality, with 38 percent saying current efforts do not go far enough, while 20 percent believe equality measures have gone too far.
Nearly half of young people say the EU is not functioning particularly democratically, and most believe it is badly run. The EU’s top priorities, according to young people, should be lowering the cost of living, defending Europe from external threats, and supporting businesses.
Many young Europeans also have little confidence in the EU’s global influence. While the US (83 percent), China (75 percent), and Russia (57 percent) are seen as the most powerful global players, only 42 percent of respondents view the EU as one of the world’s most important actors. However, half of young Europeans believe the EU could become more powerful if it fundamentally changes how it operates, while a quarter of respondents are doubtful that the EU will ever be globally competitive.
EU membership itself is not widely questioned. Two-thirds of young people view their country’s membership positively, with support especially high in Germany (80 percent) and even in the United Kingdom, where 73 percent of young Britons now say they support rejoining the EU.
However, confidence in deeper EU integration remains low. Only 27 percent of young people believe there will be closer cooperation between EU countries in the next five years, while fewer young people now feel represented by the European Parliament than in previous years, with the share dropping from 21 percent in 2019 to just 15 percent in 2025.
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