We and our partners do the following data processing based on your consent: store and/or access information on a device, personalised advertising and content, advertising and content measurement, audience research and services development Europe's crisis of discontent: Student and cost-of-living protests spread across EU To display this content from YouTube, you must enable advertisement tracking and audience measurement. One of your browser extensions seems to be blocking the video player from loading. To watch this content, you may need to disable it on this site.
A growing wave of discontent is sweeping across Europe. What began in France as student protests over deteriorating school conditions, teacher shortages and an education system under pressure has quickly grown into something much bigger: a groundswell of discontent over the rising cost of living, unaffordable housing and struggling public services. The unrest has spread beyond France, with demonstrations in Belgium, Germany, Italy, Spain and Portugal.
While many marches have remained peaceful, some have descended into violence, with clashes, looting and destruction.The response from authorities has also come under scrutiny for excessive use of force and mass arrests. This discontent comes against a backdrop of mounting economic pressure. France, the EU's second-largest economy, is facing sluggish growth and rising public debt, projected to reach 120 percent of GDP by 2027.
Meanwhile, inflation across both the European Union and the eurozone hit 3.8 percent in September, up from 2.1 percent in 2024. Is Europe facing a wider crisis of public discontent and could this be a tipping point for governments already struggling to maintain public trust? _Programme prepared by Perrine Desplats, Oihana Almandoz, Isabelle Romero, Florine Hausfater and Charlotte Prudhomme_ Europe's Gen Z protesters unite over living costs, housing and employment uncertainty 'No political solution' to anger in France, expert says amid ongoing protests 'Gen Z' demonstrations across Germany demand more education funding Europe's crisis of discontent: Student and cost-of-living protests spread across EU 'The International Criminal Court deserves the Sakharov Prize': CJEU President Koen Lenaerts Could US midterms impact the EU? Transatlantic ties hit new low after Trump-Putin diesel deal Europe faces threat of organised sabotage, terrorist attacks: Estonian FM Tsahkna © 2026 Copyright France 24 - All rights reserved.
France 24 is not responsible for the content of external websites. Audience ratings certified by ACPM.ACPM The content you requested does not exist or is not available anymore.
Extract — continue reading at the source.
