We Must Offer More Than ERASMUS to the Youth

The European youth is unhappy and worried. Recent reports and surveys repeatedly show that young people are concerned about their future. Recent elections, among others in Germany, have proven that these concerns translate into populist and radical votes, putting additional pressure on our social and political systems. Older generations might ask: What is going wrong with these young people? Why do they radicalize, become more racist and less open-minded, feel ignored, and be left behind?

Talks about young people in Europe have dominated the public debate for several months now. For a very good reason: Social incoherence can be traced back not only but also in large parts to the younger generation. Young people feel fooled because the narrative of a bright, prosperous future like their parents could look forward to is no longer realistic for them. Instead, young people face an endangered living space due to climate change, a collapsing social welfare system due to the demographic change that was ignored for too long, unmanaged migration that puts societies in front of crucial decisions, and an increasingly dangerous security situation with primarily old white men dropping bombs again around the world. How are young people supposed to be happy and optimistic with this outlook? How are they supposed to trust the political process if it disappointed us over the past years and led us to the ongoing multi-crisis?

“If we manifest it, young people will understand.”

One of the major problems is that politicians and older generations generally did not take these young concerns seriously for too long and, frankly, are still not doing so. Only last week, I participated in a panel discussion with several respected scholars on the future of Europe. Of course, the young generation’s role was also part of the discussion. However, the panelists arguing for Europe’s future had little to offer for young people during the debate. The only argument repeated like a manifestation: Europe is great for young people, we have ERASMUS!

Don’t get me wrong, ERASMUS is great (I profited from it myself and wouldn’t want to miss the experiences ERASMUS brought into my life). However, European exchange programs on the university level do not solve any of the problems addressed by young generations: the climate crisis, the eroding welfare state, the mismanagement of international migration, and diminishing international security. On top of that, less than half of young people in Europe perceive higher education (Eurostat). This means that for the other half of young people not pursuing a university degree, ERASMUS has no significant meaning for their life paths in any case. Thus, we cannot solely base our argument for Europe towards the young generation on the amazing exchange program we have. It needs more than this.

Communicate, Give the Unvarnished Truth, and Reason to Believe

So, what can we do to make the European idea attractive to young people again? Politicians, older generations, people in leadership positions and with political power must stop beating around the bush. The current situation in Europe and the world IS bad. It IS frustrating, it IS frightening, and it IS a reason to be concerned. Young people know, see, understand, and feel this; we cannot keep this insight from them. Instead of trying to calm young people down by notoriously repeating the fantastic advantages of open borders and the free movement of people and goods, we should instead use Europe's strengths to find solutions to these crises. Instead of downplaying the struggles, we must analyze them from the young generation’s perspective and together think of ways out of here. The older generation must face its responsibility. Responsibility for, firstly, having caused these problems and, secondly, implementing solutions to them while incorporating a younger generation's perspective, including their own values, hopes, and dreams. We must explain to young people how the European community can find solutions to the problems that young people are concerned about. We must take advantage of the European community we have, brainstorm more. We must propose and immediately test out several action plans to implement the green transition efficiently and manage international migration flows in a civilized and humanitarian manner. And most of all, we must communicate all of this honestly, unvarnished, and understandable. European Parliament, send your EPs to the schools. European Commission, activate your DG for Youth and start a conversation with them.

Because sending some young people abroad for a study program does not guarantee them a peaceful and prosperous future any longer, nor calm their minds about the crises, or let alone solve them.

Give young people a reason to believe in Europe.