Young people in Croatia and Slovenia are the least likely in Central and Southeast Europe to believe they have the same chances of success as their counterparts 30 years ago, with only 30% agreeing in Croatia and 35% in Slovenia, according to a European Commission survey published on October 28.

The Flash Eurobarometer on Youth and Democracy found that agreement ranged from 30% in Croatia to 38% in Romania across the eight countries of the region. Slovakia recorded 37%, Hungary, Bulgaria, Czechia and Poland 36% each. The EU average was 33%, with figures similarly low in Germany and Austria (35% each), Sweden (33%) and the Netherlands (31%).

Disagreement was more widespread in Central and Southeast Europe. In Slovenia, 60% of 15- to 30-year-olds disagreed that their chances matched those of young people 30 years ago, including 31% who "totally disagree". In Croatia, 58% disagreed, with 32% totally disagreeing. Across the eight countries, 54% disagreed, against 50% in 10 Western European countries.

For young people in the region, 30 years ago means the mid-1990s, during the post-communist transition and before the first countries joined the EU. The results suggest that three decades of economic convergence have not necessarily translated into a perception of better opportunities. However, the question asks only whether chances are the same, so disagreement does not establish whether respondents believe their prospects have improved or deteriorated.

"Young people want a decent job, a home they can afford and a fair chance to build a good life. Yet only one in three believe they have the same opportunities as the generation before them. This should concern every policymaker in Europe," said Glenn Micallef, the commissioner for intergenerational fairness, youth, culture and sport, in a press release.

The concerns come as the region continues to lose young people to emigration. Romania and Poland each lost around 2mn people between 2005 and 2025, while Croatia's population fell by 10%, according to Eurostat, part of a global demographic crisis.

Baltic optimism, southern pessimism

The sharpest divide was not between eastern and western Europe. Estonia (66%), Luxembourg (63%), Malta (61%) and Latvia (58%) were the only countries where a majority agreed that young people had the same chances of success as 30 years ago. Lithuania recorded 44%, while Denmark came in at 48%.

At the other end, only 20% of young Cypriots agreed, against 69% who disagreed. Agreement was also low in Italy (28%), France (29%), Greece (30%) and Croatia (30%).

Young Europeans were slightly more optimistic about the prospects of future generations. Asked whether young people in 30 years' time would have the same chances as young people today, 33% agreed and 53% disagreed. Hungary (40%), Romania (39%) and Bulgaria (38%) recorded the highest agreement rates in the region. Slovenia came in at 37%, Slovakia and Czechia at 36% each and Poland at 35%. Croatia was again near the bottom, at 29%.

Trust in policymakers, doubts about prospects

Young people in Slovenia, Hungary and Romania were more likely to believe that EU policymakers take a long-term view, despite expressing doubts about their own opportunities.

In Slovenia, 58% agreed that EU policymakers consider the long-term consequences of their decisions, compared with 35% who believed young people had the same chances as 30 years ago. The corresponding figures were 48% and 36% in Hungary and 51% and 38% in Romania. Across the EU, only 38% thought EU policymakers considered the long term.

Men were more optimistic than women about their prospects compared with those of young people 30 years ago, at 36% against 30%. Those involved in organisations were also more positive: 15% totally agreed with the statement, against 8% of those who had not participated in an organisation's activities in the previous year.

Jobs top EU priorities

Three-quarters of young Europeans said EU actions affected their daily lives. Hungary (85%) and Poland (84%) were among the five countries with the highest proportions, while Romania recorded the highest share saying the impact was felt "very much", at 44%.

Expectations of the EU were primarily economic. Increasing job opportunities for young people was the most frequently chosen priority in 11 countries, with the highest shares in Italy and Croatia, at 40% each. Young Croatians also gave equal weight to fighting poverty and economic and social inequalities, while young Romanians split their top choice between jobs and preserving peace, at 33%.

Across the EU, 40% said youth policies should first address practical problems such as employment opportunities and the cost of living, ahead of giving young people a greater say in decisions and funding youth programmes, both at 32%.

Engagement rises, but mobility remains uneven

Some 55% of young Europeans had participated in at least one initiative aimed at bringing about societal change in the previous year, up from 48% in 2024. Meanwhile, 75% had taken part in the activities of at least one organisation, against 64% two years earlier.

Slovenia recorded relatively high participation in initiatives for societal change, at 61%, while Poland (49%) and Czechia (51%) were among the lowest. The largest shares of young people who had not participated in any organisation's activities were in Cyprus (46%), Greece and Hungary (31% each), and Bulgaria, Croatia and Sweden (30% each).

Voting was considered one of the most effective ways for young people to make their voices heard by 33% of EU respondents, rising to 40% in Bulgaria, 39% in Slovenia and 37% in Poland.

Six in 10 young Europeans had participated in an activity in another EU country, such as studying, volunteering or a cultural exchange, up from 43% in 2024. Hungary (46%), Poland (45%) and Croatia (44%) had some of the highest shares who had taken part in none of these activities.

Slovenia was an exception in the region: 24% of young Slovenians had worked in another EU country, the second-highest proportion after Estonia, while 59% knew about the Erasmus+ student exchange programme.

The findings will feed into the EU Youth Strategy after 2027. "More engagement in society should mean more opportunities and access in society," said Roxana Minzatu, the Commission's executive vice-president for social rights and skills, quality jobs and preparedness.