A letter to those who must soon give way to the next generation

The author contends that the EU's political elite, characterized as older white males, have ignored the needs of the youth, resulting in extreme unemployment and poverty rates, particularly in Southern Europe. This systemic exclusion has fueled a wave of political activism and voting shifts across Europe, driving both progressive movements like Spain's 15M and the rise of extremist or nationalist parties. The text warns that the future of European integration depends on whether leaders begin to include young people in decision-making processes.

• Youth unemployment in the European Union reached 19.4%, with significantly higher rates in Spain (45.3%) and Greece (48.9%).
• Long-term youth unemployment (over 12 months) exceeds 50% in Greece and Italy, while the EU average is 33.6% and Spain's is 39.2%.
• Young people face a higher risk of poverty and social exclusion than the general population; in Spain, 38.6% of those aged 18-24 are at risk compared to a total rate of 29.2%.
• European political representation is skewed toward older demographics, with the average age in the European Parliament being 53.
• The 15M movement in Spain, driven largely by youth, shifted the national political discourse toward transparency, participation, and the rejection of austerity.
• Youth mobilization has significantly impacted electoral results across Europe, contributing to the rise of parties such as Podemos in Spain, Syriza and Golden Dawn in Greece, and the FPÖ in Austria.
• The radicalization of youth in cities like Brussels and Paris is attributed to failures in public policies regarding youth integration, employment, and education rather than religion.

APA

Robles, G. R. (2016). A letter to those who must soon give way to the next generation. Green European Journal. https://www.greeneuropeanjournal.eu/a-letter-to-those-who-must-soon-give-way-to-the-next-generation/

Chicago

Robles, Guillermo Rodríguez. A letter to those who must soon give way to the next generation. Green European Journal, 2016. https://www.greeneuropeanjournal.eu/a-letter-to-those-who-must-soon-give-way-to-the-next-generation/.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |last1=Robles |first1=Guillermo Rodríguez |title=A letter to those who must soon give way to the next generation |publisher=Green European Journal |date=1 July 2016 |url=https://www.greeneuropeanjournal.eu/a-letter-to-those-who-must-soon-give-way-to-the-next-generation/ |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{robles2016letter, author = {Robles, Guillermo Rodríguez}, title = {{A letter to those who must soon give way to the next generation}}, publisher = {Green European Journal}, year = {2016}, month = jul, url = {https://www.greeneuropeanjournal.eu/a-letter-to-those-who-must-soon-give-way-to-the-next-generation/}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }