European elections: More and more young people taking up opportunity to vote
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00:00 Despite regular criticism for their lack of electoral enthusiasm, more young voters are embracing their civic duty.
00:08 During the 2019 European elections, turnout among 18 to 25 year olds was up by 14 percentage points.
00:17 Voter participation for young people remains between 32 and 37 percent in France.
00:25 That's lower than the turnout for the age group in other EU countries such as Denmark, Germany and Belgium,
00:32 where between 60 and 90 percent of young people cast their vote.
00:37 In a sign of changing times, several European countries such as Germany, Belgium, Malta and Austria
00:44 have lowered the voting age to 16 and Greece to 17 years of age.
00:50 Climate change and the economy are their main concerns, but young people remain poorly represented in the European Parliament.
00:58 The average age of MEPs is 49 and a half, that is lower than the 53 years average previously,
01:06 but only six MEPs are aged under 30.
01:09 The youngest, Danish MEP Kira Marie Peterhansen, was elected at the age of 21.
01:16 To encourage young people to vote, Brussels has seized the initiative.
01:21 The European Commission even made a surprise request to the American superstar Taylor Swift
01:26 in the hope that the pop idol could mobilize young voters during her European tour in May 2024.