As the current EU political cycle unfolds, competitiveness has become the dominant frame shaping European policymaking. It is increasingly discussed in terms of productivity, investment capacity, and Europe’s position in an intensifying global competition. For younger generations, however, competitiveness also has a human dimension: Europe’s ability to offer real opportunities, wellbeing, and fairness while staying innovative and resilient in a volatile world.
Across more than 20 roundtables and a continent-wide barometer, young Europeans have identified the structural shifts that Europe must make to secure its long-term competitiveness:
Structural youth participation in EU decision-making – not consultation, but co-ownership
Emotional wellbeing and mental health as a cross-cutting policy priority
Cutting bureaucracy and scaling R&D investment to retain talent and enable innovation
Universal, equitable access to healthcare as a long-term competitiveness foundation
Accessible mobility and skills programmes (e.g. Erasmus+) with real reach into underserved communities
This perspective is at the heart of FutURe, a Merck initiative designed to amplify youth voices and help shape policies that reflect the priorities of younger generations. Since 2022, through youth barometers, thematic policy roundtables and an internal advocacy platform engaging young professionals, FutURe has collected insights from more than 25,000 young people across 15 EU countries. Over 100 young experts have taken part in 20 roundtables, contributing to more than 150 policy proposals. Together they send a clear message: Europe’s long-term competitiveness cannot be secured without the active participation of those who will live the longest with the consequences of today’s decisions.
The FutURe Barometer shows cautious optimism. While 56% of young Europeans remain positive about Europe’s future and 51% see Europe as a global innovation leader, they are equally clear that this position is fragile. Long‑term growth, in their view, requires change, especially starting with cutting unnecessary bureaucracy and significantly increasing investment in research and development.
Why future generations must be part of the competitiveness debate
President Ursula von der Leyen has repeatedly underlined Europe’s responsibility towards future generations: “We must ensure that decisions taken today do not harm to future generations. We must be able to imagine a tomorrow that is better than today. And work for it.”
But responsibility also means relevance, If Europe wants to retain talent and accelerate innovation, it must design policies that younger generations recognize as credible and responsive to their realities.
Today, that connection is too weak. Despite being directly affected by decisions on education, labour markets, health and climate, only 44% of young people say they feel represented in political debates. At the same time, 83% believe they should have a greater role in decision‑making processes that shape their future. This gap between aspiration and reality risks becoming a competitiveness liability.
This is why FutURe follows a simple guiding principle: nothing about youth without youth.
Young voices, new terms for competitiveness
That principle guided the latest FutURe roundtable, hosted by MEP Gabriela Firea which brought together young people from Central and Eastern Europe with Executive Vice President Roxana Mînzatu, Vice President of the European Parliament, Victor Negrescu, and Members of the European Parliament Maria Grapini and Ștefan Mușoiu. Across this and other FutURe dialogues, a consistent narrative has emerged: competitiveness must be understood more broadly, with participation, emotional wellbeing and long-term resilience at its core.
Participation and emotional wellbeing as competitive assets
An innovative Europe cannot afford a generation that feels unheard or emotionally exhausted. Today, only 44% of young Europeans feel politically represented, yet 88% say emotional health is central to their lives. Young people consistently describe emotional wellbeing not as a social add-on, but as a prerequisite for creativity, productivity and social cohesion. This was evident during a recent EESC plenary debate, where FutURe joined EU and national institutions, civil society, and youth representatives to discuss the emotional health of children and young people in the EU. Across these diverse voices, one message was clear: if Europe wants to remain competitive, it must treat emotional wellbeing as a strategic priority.
Young people are bringing a clear vision of what enables them to build a life project: decent living conditions, stable housing, real independence and the freedom to make informed choices about their future. They want a fair start in the labour market, without unpaid internships, and a system that recognises their potential. They call for psychological support and emotional education to be accessible in the places where they already live, study and work, and for a digital environment that acknowledges the pressures of hyperconnectivity and protects their right to disconnect. As Dominik Kuc from Poland’s GrowSPACE Foundation reminds us, representation is not about consultation alone, it is about co‑owning the policies that shape emotional health and their contribution to Europe’s future.
From talent to ecosystem: reducing friction for innovation
Young Europeans remain confident in Europe’s innovative potential: 78% say increasing investment in research and development is crucial to maintain competitiveness, while around 70% see bureaucracy as a barrier to attracting investment and talent.
Their message is pragmatic and focused on delivery: simplify and harmonise rules so startups can scale across borders; accelerate access to funding; ensure mobility and skills programmes, like Erasmus+, are genuinely accessible; and integrate entrepreneurship and digital skills more systematically into education. As Roxana Matei, from Romania’s National Alliance of Student Organisations highlighted, young innovators also need clearer information and long-term mentorship to navigate Europe’s fragmented support landscape.
Sustainability and health as the long‑term competitiveness plan
For this generation, sustainability and health equity are not trade-offs against competitiveness- they are its foundation. 77% believe companies should include sustainability criteria in their business decisions, while 81% call for stronger care policies for families and vulnerable groups.
Young experts consistently link Europe’s long-term strength to universal, timely, and fair access to healthcare, smarter use of digital tools and AI to reduce regional gaps, and a stronger focus on prevention and health literacy. As Katariina Järve, from the Estonia’s European Student’s Union underlined, resilience requires a clear long-term vision, adequate funding and equitable access to healthcare.
Competitiveness with purpose
There are encouraging signs that EU policymaking is moving in this direction. Youth participation is recognized in the EU Youth Strategy. Emotional health is gaining visibility through the Commission’s comprehensive approach, the European Parliament’s first Intergroup on Mental Health and the EESC plenary debate to discuss the emotional health of young people and children in the EU. These initiatives mark a clear shift: wellbeing as a cross‑cutting public priority.
Yet alignment on paper must translate into practice and into participation.
Placing young people at the center of the competitiveness debate would strengthen Europe’s legitimacy, improve the quality of decision‑making, and future‑proof our legitimacy. The FutURe Project shows that young Europeans are not merely articulating expectations; they are offering concrete, constructive proposals.
A competitive Europe is one that keeps its promise: a place where young people can stay, create and thrive. Nothing about youth without youth. And nothing about Europe’s competitiveness without those who will carry it forward.
Ana Polanco is Vice‑President of European Government and Public Affairs (GPA) Head of Europe GVAP Operations at Merck.
Source:
www.euractiv.com