German ministers pledge tough action after rioters damage stores in Frankfurt

Recent weeks have witnessed youth-led protests sweeping across Europe, with demonstrators in Germany, France, Spain, Italy, Portugal, Belgium, Greece, and Albania demanding better public services, affordable living conditions, and greater investment in their future. In Germany, the GenZ regolet initiative organized protests in over 30 cities, with around 120,000 participants.

French demonstrations began in September due to deteriorating school conditions and teacher shortages, expanding to cover living costs and President Emmanuel Macron's leadership. An estimated 550,000 people protested on October 17, which escalated into some of France's worst riots in years, with over 560 arrests reported. In Spain, housing affordability has become a central grievance, with protesters calling for rent freezes and tighter regulation of short-term rentals.

Italian protests have also taken place over living costs, education, and concerns about their future, with some demonstrations turning violent. Despite the different triggers, many grievances shared by protesters across Europe are driven by ageing populations, which put additional pressure on public finances and sluggish economic growth, according to experts.

The protests have resulted in looting, arson, and clashes with police in several cities, while some protesters have defended the use of violence as a means of pressing their demands.