How Would Young People Strengthen Europe’s Regions? Recommendations for the EU

This report aims to explore that question and to present young people’s perceptions of the main challenges in their regions and in the context of cross-border cooperation. It also highlights their proposed solutions, focusing on youth-led initiatives. Moreover, the report explores young people’s awareness of opportunities provided by the EU, particularly through initiatives like the EU’s Macro-Regional Strategies (EU MRS) that extend cooperation beyond EU borders.

Main findings

♦ Bread and butter issues in the regions prevail. Challenges affecting the daily realities of young people were most frequently mentioned, particularly those related to the lack or poor conditions of employment, high living costs, the shortage of affordable housing, and an education system that fails to match the skills needed or respond to the demands of today’s world. These challenges can be seen as contributing to young people’s diminished trust in policymaking processes, as they do not see their concerns being actively addressed by the politicians.

♦ Key areas requiring improvement in cross-border and cross-regional cooperation, as identified by respondents, included education, youth engagement, employment, and transport. Their prominence suggests gaps in coordinated planning and implementation, underscoring the need for joint policy frameworks. Interestingly, the health system, despite being a frequent topic of debate in many European countries, ranked lower among the identified areas for improvement.

♦ The EU regarded the most suitable actor to address cross-border challenges. Most respondents believed that the above challenges should be addressed primarily at the EU level, reflecting a view that many issues are cross-border and require coordinated, well-resourced solutions. Lower trust in national and local institutions, often seen as less effective or affected by politicization and nepotism, may also explain this preference.

♦ Visibility of EU-funded projects only partial. Just over half of all respondents were familiar with EU-funded projects, while less than half knew Interreg projects. This indicates that a large share of young people remains unaware of these initiatives and their potential impact. It highlights the need for more effective and accessible communication strategies, especially targeting youth outside formal education systems or established EU networks.

♦ Low familiarity with EU Macro-Regional Strategies (EU MRS). This suggests a significant gap in outreach and visibility, particularly among younger populations, which may limit their engagement and participation in cross-border cooperation efforts.