Europe’s Youth‑Led Unrest Spreads, Challenging Governments Across the Continent

Across Europe, protest activity shows no sign of slowing down.

Demonstrations often ebb for a few days before resurging. Led predominantly by young people, actions have surged in at least eight countries, encompassing a wide array of grievances—from inadequate school facilities and rising diesel costs to profound anxieties about future prospects and diminishing opportunities.

“They are plural and uncoordinated, with no single leader or programme,” said Alberto Alemanno, professor of European Union law and policy at HEC Paris Business School. “So it’s less a rejection of one policy and more a signal that people no longer trust the system to deliver. That’s why they are so critical.”

For governments, addressing the mounting discontent is proving difficult. Experts say there is no easy fix, and many have so far struggled to offer solutions beyond deploying security forces. They warn that the wave of protests is likely to continue.

“Where there has been a reaction, the focus is on public order and security,” Alemanno said. “Part of the reason is that, like any popular protest, these movements include or attract small violent minorities. They dominate the headlines and risk undermining legitimate claims.”

Rallies persist because they now address more than isolated complaints, according to Donatella della Porta, a political‑science professor at the Scuola Normale Superiore in Florence. While authorities have attempted to meet some material demands, they have missed the broader political drivers behind the demonstrations.

“At this point, protests are no longer just about investing more in the school system. There are also fundamental issues, including military spending, governments’ alignment with [United States President Donald] Trump, rising gasoline costs and the war in Iran,” she said. “The issue of Palestine is also very central to these protests.”

This week, students have continued to blockade several high schools and universities in France, demanding improved facilities, more teachers and the replacement of Parcoursup, an admissions system criticised as discriminatory.

Critical, and yet hard to resolve

France’s Education Minister Edouard Geffray said on Monday that some measures to satisfy student demands have been adopted, including capping class sizes at 28 for first‑year high school, creating 10,000 places in higher‑technician programmes, and overhauling Parcoursup.

Additional actions require detailed work through the end of December, he posted on X. Yet the announcements have not quelled the unrest. On Tuesday, dozens of schools remained blockaded and several universities were disrupted, according to French media.

A nationwide strike over wages, the cost of living and public services is scheduled for November 5.

In Spain, massive protests have swept the country for weeks over a housing crisis that intensified after an 87‑year‑old pensioner died following her eviction from a lifelong home. On Tuesday, police dismantled a large tent camp in Madrid’s Puerta del Sol square.

Authorities reported the eviction occurred “without incident or episodes of violence”, stating that 334 people were removed and two were arrested.

Protest organisers, however, described the operation as “violent” on a Telegram post, claiming several injuries.

The government has approved new housing measures, such as limits on rent increases and temporary eviction protections for vulnerable tenants.

These promises have done little to deter demonstrators, who are now planning a general strike on housing rights and living costs for November 11.

In Italy, following violent incidents during protests two weeks ago, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s government tightened security measures. “Violent participation” in a demonstration—joining a group of five or more people and throwing stones, firecrackers or sticks—has become a criminal offence punishable by up to five years’ imprisonment and a €20,000 fine. Parents are now liable for damage caused by their children, and preventive detention of minors has been introduced.

The increased focus on public order has raised alarms among human‑rights groups, which caution that European governments risk treating legitimate discontent as a security threat rather than addressing its root causes.

In an October statement, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk expressed grave concerns over state responses to protests across Europe, criticising the unnecessary and excessive use of force against demonstrators, including children.

After French police deployed tear gas and stun grenades against young protesters, Human Rights Watch urged the government to “listen to the demands of young people on the streets”.

Della Porta warned that governments could further alienate protesters by relying chiefly on policing and repression.

“They can start by doing concrete things, such as recognising the right to protest and not sending police in a counter‑insurgency‑style approach to repress students,” she added.

Many European governments confront severe fiscal constraints while simultaneously boosting defence spending and security investments. They must now balance citizens’ calls for better public services, affordable housing and higher living standards against increasingly stretched budgets.

Fiscal pressures are especially acute in major economies. Italy’s public debt is projected to reach 138.5 % of GDP in 2026, limiting room for additional outlays. France faces a more immediate squeeze, with a deficit forecast at 5.4 % of GDP—well above the EU’s 3 % ceiling. Spain, meanwhile, has struggled to secure parliamentary approval for a new budget, forcing the government to roll over its 2023 spending plans.

These constraints coincide with governments’ efforts to raise defence expenditures, even as public demand grows for greater investment in housing, education and social services.

There is no easy solution, Alemanno noted, and “money is only part of the answer.”

“People will tolerate hard trade‑offs if they are explained and if citizens have a say in them. Ignoring them is what fuels anger.”

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