by Nikita Gaur*
The aim of the survey was
to find out what the young people of Europe think about the European Union.
Think Young is a think-tank for young people who recognised the lack of young
people’s voices within EU decision making and as a result was extremely interested
in analysing this issue.
With the news becoming more populated with the latest
about young unemployment and much more, it would be interesting to see how the
youth actually feel about what the EU is doing to support their future.
Are they are even aware or interested in what
is happening within the EU? The main aspects looked at included young
people’s opinions on the future of European policies, where the EU should act
more and if they care about the direction Europe is taking.
1500 millennials were surveyed across the
EU, here are some of the results:
- 63% of young people surveyed believe their vote makes a difference
- 36% feel that politics are not interesting enough to concern them
- Millennials’ priorities for the next 5 years: 59% say growth and jobs, 28% climate change and the environment, 21% fighting against corruption
- To encourage young participation by allowing voting online
- 66% have a positive view of the EU
- Best achievements of the EU include respect of people’s fundamental freedoms and rights
- The EU should promote more entrepreneurship
- 65% believe that European politics are not interested in the views of young people
The results convey that the youth of today
are still interested in what is happening within the EU, however, they do not
believe that the EU is concerned with their thoughts and opinions.
We want this
to change, by encouraging voting online, promoting entrepreneurship and taking
into account the views of younger generations, the young people of today and
tomorrow may become more active within the EU.
The results are later going to be presented
to the European Commission, the presidents of the European Council and the
European Parliament, members of the European Parliament, representatives of the
civil society and think tanks and leading European media.
By presenting these results to such people
we hope that this will make an impact and change the way young people view the
EU so that 100% of the youth think positively about Europe and know that
European politics are interested in what they have to say.
For the full results please visit: http://www.generationerasmus.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thinkyoung
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ThinkYoungTW
Instagram: www.instagram.com/thinkyoungoffice/
It was founded in 2007 and has expanded to
have offices in Brussels, Geneva and Hong Kong.
It is a not for profit organisation, with the aim of making the world a better
place for young people, by involving them in decision making processes and by
providing decision makers with high quality researches on youth’s conditions.
ThinkYoung makes studies, surveys, documentaries, policy proposals in five
fields of research: entrepreneurship, education, EU-Asia relations, EU
enlargement, and environment. Up to today, ThinkYoung projects have reached
over 300’000 young people.
Based on its research on young people`s necessities, ThinkYoung creates
trainings and workshops to empower youth with the tools to have a positive
impact and make a change.
Through the entrepreneurship schools set up in Europe
and Asia, every year 300 young people from all continents are given the
opportunity to cooperate, the chance to learn first hand experience from
successful entrepreneurs, and the skills to create their own company.
At ThinkYoung Audiovisual Laboratory, young researchers are trained in
filmmaking and multimedia projects. So
far, our team has produced about 100
documentaries on youth in more than 30 different European and Asian countries.
*Journalist Nikita Gaur is media officer of think tank Think Young
By: N. Peter Kramer
