Young people are not absent — they are unconvinced
Young people across Europe are often described as politically disengaged. But the picture is more nuanced. Recent EU findings show that 64% of young people participated in the activities of an organisation in the past 12 months, while 48% said they had taken action to change society — for example by signing a petition, joining a rally, or contacting a politician. This suggests that young people are not indifferent; they are active, but often outside formal democratic channels.
The real concern is that this energy does not always translate into participation in local democracy. In the 2024 European elections, only 36% of eligible 15–24-year-olds actually voted, according to the European Commission’s report on the elections. That gap matters, because habits of democratic participation are built early — and often locally.
Why local democracy struggles to attract youth
Many young people care strongly about public issues, but they often see institutions as distant, slow, or symbolic. EU survey data shows that the issues mobilising young people most are human rights (34%), climate change and the environment (33%), and health and wellbeing (29%). These are not abstract topics; they are deeply connected to local policy, from public spaces and transport to inclusion, education, and community wellbeing.
Yet local participation processes are often not designed with young people in mind. Public meetings may feel inaccessible. Consultation can seem one-sided. And too often, youth are invited to speak without being given real influence. The result is not silence, but distance.
Where EILD can make a difference
This is exactly where the European Institute for Local Development (EILD) can play a meaningful role. On its official site, EILD presents itself as an organisation that co-creates EU-funded solutions with cities, NGOs, universities and communities, drawing on programmes such as Erasmus+, AMIF, Horizon Europe and Interreg. It also highlights its mission to strengthen regional ecosystems through innovative, human-centred solutions.
That positioning matters. Youth participation rarely improves through messages alone; it improves when institutions create real structures for involvement. EILD can help local actors move from one-off events to long-term participation models.
From EU programmes to local action
Through Erasmus+ Youth Participation Activities, organisations can support projects that encourage young people’s involvement in democratic life at local, regional, national and European level. That includes workshops, consultations, debates, and civic participation activities.
Through CERV, the EU also funds initiatives that promote citizens’ engagement, equality, rights and democratic participation, especially through civil society and local partnerships.
For EILD, this creates a practical path forward: helping municipalities build youth councils, co-creation forums, local dialogues, and inclusive participation mechanisms that give young people a real voice in shaping their communities.
A challenge — and an opportunity
Youth disengagement should not be seen only as a democratic weakness. It is also an opportunity to redesign participation in a more open, inclusive and local way. With its experience in European programmes and local development, EILD can help turn youth participation from a slogan into a working reality.