Isaac Searle
Youth Ambassador for The ONE Campaign and recipient of the One Young World Academy AwardAmong my peers, the EU often feels like a distant institution – an abstract body making decisions somewhere in Brussels. This leads my friends to question if this post-war project is still meaningful for a generation facing climate crisis, economic uncertainty, and technological revolution.
I always push back on this and argue that the current global (dis)order presents an opportunity for the EU to step up as a steadying presence and a voice of reason. In a world increasingly defined by polarisation, isolationism, and uncertainty, the EU has the potential to be a stabilising force—one that champions multilateralism, cooperation, and shared values.
For this to happen, the EU must not only acknowledge the challenges the world faces but also take swift action and communicate how it will drive positive change.
The Single Market: A Technological Playground
The EU’s single market remains its most significant innovation, though it feels distinct from how our parents experienced it. For today’s generation, it’s no longer just about the movement of physical goods across borders – it’s about unlocking technological opportunities, namely that of artificial intelligence.
With a potential trade war between the US and China on the horizon, the EU must capitalise on the fact that it is the world’s largest single market and support the companies that have the potential to turbocharge its economy, especially AI startups and scaleups.
However, the latest Global Consultation by One Young World, the world’s largest network of emerging leaders, found that 36.2 percent of young people recognise AI’s potential benefits but believe safeguards need to be put in place—and the EU is key in shaping these protections.
The EU’s groundbreaking AI Act represents the world’s first comprehensive legal framework for artificial intelligence, meaning the facial recognition software used in job interviews, the algorithms determining our credit scores, and the AI systems influencing university admissions will all operate under transparency requirements and human oversight provisions specifically designed to protect Gen Z’s digital future.
The EU’s approach to AI regulation extends to the digital rights framework established by GDPR, addressing concerns particularly resonant with younger users including understanding algorithmic decisions and digital discrimination in spaces where Gen Z conducts much of its social, economic, and civic life.
Its single market means it holds a powerful competitive edge, representing 15 percent of global GDP. The EU must balance not being left behind with ensuring that technology is developed within safe parameters.
Spearhead Official Development Assistance (ODA)
As the United States reduces the role of USAID, eroding the credibility of Official Development Assistance (ODA), and China ties conditions to its infrastructure investments, the EU has a unique opportunity to uphold a principled approach to development—one rooted in human rights, sustainability, and genuine partnership.
With the EU approaching crucial budget negotiations that will lock in spending for the next seven years, ODA commitments must remain a top priority. This is also a chance for the EU to better communicate its efforts—a kind of ‘rebrand’ to make its work more visible and impactful.
While people understand the importance of ODA, hesitation to support it often stems from a lack of awareness about its tangible impact. By showcasing real stories of success, particularly on platforms like TikTok and Instagram, the EU can inspire Gen Z to see it as a powerful force for global justice.
Youth Mobility: EU’s comparative advantage
Europe’s unique Schengen Area, which allows the free movement of people across borders, cannot be found anywhere else in the world. Citizens and permanent residents of 27 EU nations, which amounts to 450 million people, can move seamlessly across internal EU borders for work, education or leisure across a geographically, socially and economically diverse area.
Within this, there are specific programmes, like Erasmus+ that target youth mobility in particular. Erasmus+ has enabled over 10 million Europeans to study abroad, while the European Solidarity Corps has given young people the opportunity to volunteer across the continent.
I have felt this keenly, as a European citizen now excluded from the benefits of the Schengen Area following Brexit. As a student in Brussels, my experience has been marked by additional visa requirements, paperwork delays, and financial barriers that my EU peers simply don’t face — a microcosm of an entire generation of young Britons who have lost automatic rights to study, work, and live freely across 27 countries.
The EU’s free movement of people offers young people opportunities that transcend national boundaries. To enhance this, the EU needs to expand mobility programs, simplify application processes, and create more opportunities for vocational students and young professionals, strengthening the bond of a united Europe.
The Way Forward
For the EU to maintain relevance with Gen Z, it must modernise communication, democratise participation, and connect abstract policies to our daily lives. We don’t want bureaucratic jargon – we want to see how European integration enables our digital lives, addresses global injustice, and creates opportunities for connection.
The European project began as a peace initiative after a devastating war. For my generation, its continued relevance depends on whether it can address our defining challenges: climate crisis, digital transformation, and global inequality. The question is whether the EU can deploy them with the speed, creativity and inclusivity that these times demand.
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