Gen Z are leading the European protests. Here’s why they’re angry

Key Points:

• Young people across Europe are protesting diverse issues such as education funding, housing costs, and job insecurity, reflecting widespread intergenerational frustration felt by Gen Z about their future prospects.
• While protest triggers vary by country—from housing evictions in Spain to support for striking teachers in France—movements share common demands including better education investment, affordable housing, and social justice, often inspiring and influencing each other.
• Economic challenges like high national debt and rising bond yields constrain governments' ability to increase public spending, exacerbating youth discontent amid concerns over climate change and job market uncertainties intensified by AI.
• Protests have expanded beyond students to include broader social groups, with notable demonstrations in countries such as Portugal, Albania, and Serbia focusing on issues from rent control to anti-corruption and government change.
• Upcoming large-scale protests and strikes are planned across Europe, including major demonstrations in France, Spain, Germany, Britain, and Italy, signaling sustained and coordinated youth activism demanding systemic reforms.