The TUNE Network is pleased to share the results of its 2025 youth participation survey, which gathered responses from 472 young people across all TUNE partner countries. The majority of respondents were between 18 and 25 years old (61.9%), and most reported living in urban areas (61.9%). The survey explored how young people engage in civic life, the barriers they face, their confidence in digital participation, and the issues they consider most urgent.
The findings show that Europe’s young people are active, motivated, and digitally confident, but also face persistent obstacles to fully participating in civic and democratic processes. Volunteering emerged as the most common form of engagement, followed by participation in youth exchanges and voting. However, only a minority felt that youth are fairly represented in decision-making structures, with nearly half rating representation as low or nonexistent. Awareness of youth rights varied, with most respondents placing themselves in the “moderate” range. Across different demographics, including age, gender, residence area, and country groups, the two most frequently cited barriers to participation were a lack of information and lack of time due to work or study commitments. Financial barriers, limited institutional support, and low trust in public institutions also featured prominently.
Digital participation stood out as an area of strength: over two-thirds of respondents described themselves as confident or very confident using online tools for civic engagement, with Instagram, WhatsApp, and Facebook being the most commonly used platforms. Young people emphasized the need for stronger privacy and safety features, clearer language, better moderation, and more mobile-friendly and multilingual resources to make online civic spaces more inclusive. When asked what would motivate them to engage more, respondents highlighted the importance of paid or funded opportunities, easier access to decision-makers, and the availability of inclusive, accessible spaces for youth dialogue.
Across all regions and groups, the issues young people want to speak up about most are clear: mental health, education, employment and skills, climate action, and anti-discrimination. These priorities reflect not only personal challenges but also broader social concerns shaping young people’s daily lives. The TUNE Network will use these insights to guide upcoming work, ensuring that the voices of young people continue to shape the agenda at local, national, and European levels.
