'Youth and democracy' survey to explore their participation
European Commission has published a Eurobarometer on 'Youth and Democracy' ahead of the European elections that will take place from 6 to 9 June 2024. The early conclusions from this survey reveal that 64% of young people (aged 15 to 30) intend to vote.
The questionnaire was carried out between 3 and 12 April 2024, targeting a representative sample of 26,189 young people in the 27 Member States. According to the survey, 38% of respondents consider voting in local, national or European elections the most effective action for making their voice heard by decision makers. Additionally, they expressed that engaging in social media allow them to express their opinions when using hashtags or changing their profile picture.
The survey shows that many young people are engaged. 48% reported being active by having taken action to change society through signing a petition or sending a letter to a politician, among others. In particular, young people got involved on topics such as human rights, climate change and environment and health and wellbeing. Referring to their education and digital skills, 73% of the interviewed young people felt that the education system has prepared them to identify disinformation and taught them to take care of the environment.
Commenting on the early indicators, Margaritis Schinas, Vice-President for Promoting our European Way of Life, stated: "This Eurobarometer on youth and democracy gives cause for hope. The engagement of young Europeans in the European elections is essential for the future of our Union. By casting their vote they can shape the policies that will shape their lives. The 2019 election saw a big increase in youth participation. In the current turbulent times, I’m optimistic that 2024 will see us build on that positive trend, to allow for our European democracy to thrive".
In addition, the Eurobarometer survey showed that young people continue to have a European outlook. More than 43% have participated in an activity in another EU country studying or training, volunteering or working. 49% of young people also added that they are aware of the funding opportunities offered by Erasmus+ programme.
Iliana Ivanova, Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth, stated: "With our recent youth communication, we presented ways of getting young people more involved in policy and decision making. It’s crucial that they have a say in decisions that will shape their lives. This is why it’s encouraging to see these results, showing that many young people are active and engaged and plan to vote. However, there are still too many who are not interested in taking part in the democratic process. We need to engage them and ensure that their voices are also heard."
Read here about the Eurobarometer survey and find here the key findings.