Young Europeans on the edge: Why cities must be at the heart of Europe’s youth crisis response

Across Europe’s cities, young people face a growing combination of economic insecurity, housing pressure and mental health challenges that threaten their ability to build independent lives, writes Anuela Ristani, Deputy Mayor of Tirana, and Eileen O’Sullivan, Deputy Mayor of Frankfurt; Eurocities’ Shadow Commissioners for Youth.

Urban areas have long been engines of opportunity, offering access to jobs, education and culture. But for many young Europeans today, the promise of city life, with independence, opportunity and upward mobility, is becoming harder to realize.

As city leaders, we see this shift every day. Young residents struggle to find stable work, secure affordable housing or access the support they need to maintain their wellbeing. Addressing these pressures is essential not only for young people themselves, but also for the long-term vitality of Europe’s cities.

The EU's Strategy on Intergenerational Fairness, announced in March, offers an opportunity to ensure decisions taken today expand rather than restrict opportunities for future generations.

The strategy recognises youth wellbeing, aims to strengthen young people’s voices in policymaking and encourages cooperation across generations.

However, it pays limited attention to the specific pressures facing young people in dense urban areas, where housing shortages, labour market barriers and social challenges intersect most sharply.

Its emphasis on fair places, promoting fairness across territories, is an important step. Yet cities receive little recognition. If fair places are to become reality, local authorities must play a central role in delivering solutions.

Cities are where intergenerational challenges, from housing and employment to social services and climate adaptation, are most visible.

Youth employment crisis

Youth unemployment remains one of the most pressing challenges in Europe’s cities. While urban areas concentrate opportunity, they are also where many young people face the greatest barriers to entering the labour market.

In many cities, youth unemployment remains higher than in rural areas. Even when young people find work, it is often temporary, insecure or poorly paid. This instability delays milestones such as leaving home, starting a family or pursuing further education.

The EU strategy recognises these challenges and calls for targeted support for those facing labour market disruption. However, cities are often best placed to implement these solutions.

In Frankfurt, for example, nearly 6% of young people under 25 are unemployed. In response, the city invests €35 million annually in youth employment and training programmes, reaching more than 26,500 young people each year through initiatives such as career guidance and vocational training.

Local initiatives like these show how cities can translate policy ambition into real opportunities for young people.

Mental health: cities as key partners

Alongside economic insecurity, the mental health of young people in urban areas is an urgent concern. Many struggle with anxiety, depression and other challenges, often intensified by uncertainty about the future.

The EU strategy acknowledges youth wellbeing, social participation and mental health as key elements of intergenerational fairness. However, it could place stronger emphasis on the role of cities as front-line providers of support.

Local governments frequently deliver the first layer of mental health services through schools, youth centres and community programmes embedded in young people’s daily environments.

Recognising cities as key partners would strengthen Europe’s response to the youth mental health crisis. The EU should also invest in better data and research to understand mental health challenges in urban areas and support evidence-based policymaking.

Housing and youth homelessness: an urgent challenge

Housing is one of the most visible crises facing young people in cities. Rising rents and property prices are pushing many out of the housing market. Many remain in their family homes longer than planned, share overcrowded accommodation or accept poor-quality housing.

The EU strategy highlights the difficulties young people face in securing affordable housing. Yet cities must be empowered to tackle this crisis directly through construction of affordable homes, regulation of short-term rentals and policies allowing young people to live close to where they study and work.

At the same time, youth homelessness, one of the most severe forms of poverty, is rising in many cities but receives little recognition in the strategy. Many remain ‘hidden homeless,’ moving between friends’ homes or living in unsafe conditions.

In Tirana, the housing crisis is also growing. To address this, the municipality has introduced targeted housing programmes, including a Loan Interest Subsidy Programme that supported 728 young people in 2025.

A comprehensive European housing strategy must prioritise young people and support cities in delivering affordable and sustainable housing solutions where the need is greatest.

A call to action for EU leadership

Young Europeans face an uncertain future. Without decisive action, Europe risks losing a generation. Cities are ready to act, but cannot do it alone.

The EU must prioritise long-term investment in youth employment, mental health, quality of life and affordable housing, while strengthening support for cities through clearer frameworks, closer cooperation with local governments and better access to direct social funding in the next EU budget.

These efforts should form part of a broader intergenerational strategy linking youth inclusion, child wellbeing, active ageing and sustainable social protection, while preparing societies for the green and digital transitions.

Cities stand ready to turn Europe’s ambitions into real opportunities for young people. Now the EU must ensure they have the tools and support to deliver.

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