Young people at the bottom of the EU rankings. Don't they want to act or don't they believe in change?

Only 26% of those surveyed aged 15–30 declared they had taken action to promote social change in the past year. This is the lowest figure in the European Union, with an average of 55%. However, the survey itself does not answer the question of whether the reason is indifference, disillusionment with politics, or another form of engagement.

A similar distinction is also important in Poland. Interest in politics doesn't automatically mean participation in demonstrations, and a dislike of politicians doesn't preclude helping others. Cypriot interviewees point to activities that aren't always perceived as political.

What does the Eurobarometer show?

Respondents were asked whether they had taken action to change society in the previous year. Examples included signing a petition, participating in a demonstration, or writing to a politician.

The answer was affirmative 26% of respondents in Cyprus, towards 55% on average in the EUThe difference is 29 percentage points.

This doesn't mean, however, that the remaining 74% don't help anyone or take no interest in public affairs. The question asked about a specific type of involvement, and the answer also depended on how participants understood their own activism.

The survey was conducted online from June 19 to July 1, 2026 among 26,806 people aged 15–30 from all EU countries. The results were published on October 28.

Helping is not always called activism

Giorgos Charalambous from the University of Nicosia draws attention to activities that young people may not consider activism: helping people in difficult situations, informal volunteering, supporting someone experiencing discrimination, or publicizing problems online.

Such involvement may be significant for the surrounding community, even if the person involved does not sign the petition or contact the MP.

However, this does not prove that the study result was underestimated. The examples in the question were not intended to be a closed list. It is unknown how many respondents omitted their own actions because they understood their nature differently.

Youth organizations, councils and consultations

Some of the activity is carried out by party youth groups, local government youth councils, and organizations. Their participants present demands, meet with institutional representatives, and attempt to influence decisions.

One of the available routes is Ekfracy, a platform supported by the Cyprus Youth Organization (ONEK). It allows people to express their opinions and proposals on public affairs, including housing and entrepreneurship.

The existence of such tools, however, does not necessarily mean they are effective. What matters is whether young people receive information about what happened to their proposals and whether they can see the results of their participation in the consultations.

Disappointment does not mean indifference

Charalambous also points to a distrust of politicians and a sense of lack of accountability for mistakes. Young people may be concerned about corruption, inequality, or the environment, yet not believe that a message to a politician will make a difference.

Andreas Riris from the activist group Afoa talks about the weak protest culture and the importance of social conditions.

These are the interpretations of the interlocutors. The Eurobarometer did not establish why the Cypriot result is so low. It does not determine the role played by lack of time, disappointment, upbringing or difficulties in finding the right initiative.

And what does it look like in Poland?

Polish research also shows that interest in politics and specific social activity are not the same.

In the study National Democratic Institute of 2024 declared interest in politics and public affairs 62 percent of surveyed young Poles, compared to 80 percent in 2018. At the same time, online petitions were among the most common forms of engagement outside of voting.

This 62 percent cannot be compared directly with the Cypriot 26 percent. The first value refers to interest, the second to declared action for social change. The research and its timeframe also differ.

The Polish example, however, demonstrates why it's not wise to label the younger generation. A decline in interest in politics doesn't automatically mean abandoning petitions, volunteering, or advocating for specific causes.

Do young people see the point of action?

Across the EU, the percentage of people declaring initiatives for social change increased from 48% in 2024 to 55% in 2026. Cyprus remains significantly below this average.

A low score is a reason to examine barriers to participation. It's worth checking whether young people know where they can get involved, have access to organizations, and feel their voices are taken seriously.

Simply encouraging greater involvement may not be enough. For someone disillusioned with institutions, the visible impact of action will be a compelling argument—even if it begins with a small, local issue.