By Sohaib Shams
Gen Z-led protests are spreading across Europe as young people voice frustration over soaring living costs, deteriorating education systems, corruption, and a pervasive sense of being ignored by political leaders. From Paris to Belgrade, thousands have taken to the streets, with demonstrations occasionally turning violent and, in Serbia, culminating in the electoral defeat of a long-time leader.
France: School conditions and pension burden
In a suburb north of Paris, 17-year-old high school student Bilal Narjissi has protested against "deplorable" conditions, including staff shortages and a roof collapse that evacuated students last year. A French government report in October showed pension spending rose by 2.5 percentage points of GDP between 2000 and 2023 while education funding declined by 0.5 points, with 32% of the education ministry's budget now directed toward pensions. Recent unrest has damaged or looted thousands of shops, prompting police to use stun grenades and water cannons.
Belgium: 'Nobody heard us'
Brussels student Maya Gourdel, 19, said peaceful protests for better school conditions were ignored until property damage attracted media attention. "We tried to do it passively. Nobody heard us," she said, adopting the "If we burn, you burn with us" slogan from "The Hunger Games" as a symbol of youth anger.
Serbia: Student movement topples leader
After nearly two years of demonstrations against perceived corruption and creeping authoritarianism, student-led protests culminated in the toppling of Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic in a parliamentary election. Protester Stasa Piletic described a sense of relief and victory, saying, "We finally moved from protests to responsibility."
Albania: Anger over corruption and emigration
Student-led demonstrations against Prime Minister Edi Rama's government have engulfed Tirana and spread to other cities, fueled by anger over corruption, job scarcity, and poor education standards. Architecture student Xyke Kurti, 19, said the prime minister spent 130 days not listening, and that young Albanians see their future only abroad because "someone with connections is always going to beat you."
Italy: Stolen ability to dream
In Milan, 21-year-old student Chiara said the ruling class has stolen her generation's ability to imagine a future. She cited schools without enough teachers, crumbling buildings, prospects of underpaid jobs, and overpriced, unwanted housing far from their cities.
Economic divide fuels generational tension
A 2025 European Union survey found 40% of 16-30-year-olds cite rising prices and cost of living as top concerns. Among 92.7 million EU residents at risk of poverty or social exclusion, young adults aged 18-24 faced the highest risk at 26.3%, while those 65 and over faced the lowest at 18.8%. In France, people over 60 make up a quarter of the population but own 60% of the wealth, and public pensions are on track to reach 14% of GDP — higher than the OECD average but lower than Greece and Italy, which spend around 16% of GDP on pensions.
Protests spread to Germany
The unrest continues to expand, with a demonstration planned in Germany this weekend over cost of living, inequality, war, and the state of schools.
