University Students’ Engagement with European Politics: Insights from the European Parliament Elections

This study analyzes university students’ interest, knowledge, and perceptions of European politics, with a particular focus on the European Parliament elections. By evaluating students’ understanding of the frequency and functions of these elections, as well as their interest in European politics and opinions on the European Parliament’s representation of young citizens’ interests, we aim to provide a comprehensive overview of young people’s engagement with European political processes.

Our findings reveal that while a significant proportion of students correctly identified the frequency of European Parliament elections, a majority were uncertain. Moreover, around 75% were unaware of the foreseeable European election results. Additionally, although a notable proportion expressed a positive view regarding the European Parliament’s representation of their interests and showed great interest in European politics, a majority perceived the representation as somewhat poor. This indicates areas for improvement and reflects a general disinterest or unclear stance on European politics.

In summary, while university students generally hold a significant interest and favorable opinion of European institutions and politics, the data suggest a need for enhanced efforts to improve their political knowledge and better address and represent their interests. This study underscores the importance of fostering greater political awareness and engagement among young citizens to ensure their voices are effectively heard in European political discourse.