Results of the Erasmus Generation Survey

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/

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ThinkYoung is the first think tank that focuses on young people.

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