Youth and Democracy in the European Year of Youth
The EU has declared 2022 the European Year of Youth, as a recognition of the sacrifices that young people have made during the COVID-19 pandemic. Marking this occasion, the European Commission, Directorate-General for Education, Youth, Sport and Culture, commissioned Ipsos European Public Affairs to conduct a Flash Eurobarometer survey targeting young people, aged 15-30.
Key topics covered include:
- Youth’s expectations of the European Year of Youth
- Youth’s participation in civic life, including in youth organisations (sports clubs, etc.)
- Youth’s interest in going to another EU country to work, study, etc.
- Awareness about the EU youth offer, incl. EU-funded opportunities to stay in another EU country
- Youth’s expectations from the EU
Ipsos European Public Affairs interviewed a representative sample of young people aged 15 to 30, in each of the 27 Member States of the EU. Between 22 February and 4 March 2022, 26 178 young people were surveyed via computer-assisted web interviewing (CAWI), using Ipsos online panels and their partner network.
Key survey findings include:
- Young people’s most important expectations of the European Year of Youth are that society and decision-makers listen more to youth’s opinions and needs, as well as more efforts to better integrate young people in the job market – 33% and 30% expect this, respectively.
- Young people consider voting in local, national or EU elections (39%) and engaging in social media (30%) the two most effective actions for making young people’s voice heard by decisionmakers.
- A majority (58%) of young people have participated in one or more youth organisations over the last 12 months. Most have participated in a sports club (24%).
- In total, 39% of young people have at some point in their life participated in a professional, volunteering, learning or sporting activity in another EU country.
- Young people’s main expectations from the EU for their generation are: preserving peace, reinforcing international security and promoting international cooperation (37%), increasing job opportunities (33%), fighting poverty and economic and social inequalities (32%), and promoting environmentally friendly policy and fight climate change (31%).
About this study
The Flash Eurobarometer survey 502 “Youth and Democracy in the European Year of Youth” was carried out between 22 February and 4 March 2022, targeting a representative sample of 26,178 young people aged 15 to 30 in the 27 Member States and was commissioned by the Commission. The survey was conducted through computer-assisted. web interviewing (CAWI).
