In October 2024, more than 150,000 young people flooded the boulevards of Paris, Madrid, Rome, Lisbon and Athens, chanting for affordable homes and improved schools.
The Spanish rally centered on the eviction of 87‑year‑old Maricarmen Abascal, a case that ignited a national debate on senior housing rights and sparked a wave of solidarity protests.
In Rome, university students like Elisa Pastore said she and her brother could "barely" afford the rent for their shared room, a statistic that has become a rallying cry for students across the continent.
Albania saw its protests turn violent last week, prompting Prime Minister Edi Rama to reject calls for his resignation and blame opposition forces for the unrest.
Across Europe, student unions in Britain and Italy plan a day of action on November 20, while German groups urge nationwide demonstrations on October 31, signalling a coordinated push for policy change.
The next concrete step comes on November 5, when the national parliament will vote on a €3.1 billion package aimed at boosting public housing and expanding free education, a move that could reshape the continent’s social contract.