'If we burn, you burn with us!': Why a Gen Z youth wave of protest is sweeping Europe - analysis

Gen Z-led youth protests are sweeping European cities, driven by frustrations over shabby schools, lack of economic opportunity, cost of living, corruption, and housing. In Serbia, student-led protests culminated in the toppling of an election of long-time leader Aleksandar Vucic. The protests have also triggered violence in France, with thousands of shops damaged and police using stun grenades and water cannons. A 2025 EU survey found 40% of 16-30-year-olds are concerned about rising prices, and 26.3% of 18-24 year olds face poverty risk.

Gen Z-led youth protests are sweeping across European cities, driven by overlapping frustrations over shabby schools, lack of economic opportunity, cost of living, corruption, housing, and a sense of not being listened to. The protests have brought real change: in Serbia, student-led demonstrations culminated in the toppling of an election of long-time leader Aleksandar Vucic after nearly two years of protests against perceived corruption and creeping authoritarianism. Student protester Stasa Piletic described a sense of victory and moving from protests to responsibility. The protests have also triggered violence, with thousands of shops in France being damaged or looted in recent weeks, and police using stun grenades and water cannons. A European Union survey from 2025 found that 40% of 16-30-year-olds are concerned about rising prices. Among the 92.7 million EU residents at risk of poverty or social exclusion in 2025, the highest rate was 26.3% for young adults aged 18-24. French pension spending has risen to 14% of economic output, while education spending declined by 0.5 percentage points between 2000 and 2023. Protests have also hit Albania against Prime Minister Edi Rama's government, and a demonstration is planned in Germany over cost of living, inequality, war, and schools.