Who are the young Europeans and what is important to them?

This chapter asks who young Europeans are by analysing key transitions characterising youth, and investigates what issues they care about most. Section 2 analyses some key transitions to adulthood, such as entrance into the labour market and household formation, in order to understand the age at which these typically occur, and how this varies over time and across countries. Section 3 captures young people’s concerns and perceptions through surveys that ask directly about their views of the future, their relationship with institutions, and the issues that top their list of political priorities. That understanding is crucial if national and international governments are to develop and implement policies that allow young people to fulfil their potential.