and the trajectory of their societies. While many express pessimism about the future of their countries, they often remain comparatively optimistic about their own ability to adapt. This combination of collective pessimism and individual optimism highlights a belief in personal resilience alongside doubts about the capacity of political and economic systems to deliver stability and opportunity. Economic insecurity and housing affordability emerge as particularly central concerns, influencing key life decisions related to independence, mobility and family formation. Dissatisfaction with political actors is widespread, with many young people criticising politicians for performative conflict and a lack of tangible results. Yet this frustration does not translate into a rejection of democracy. Instead, young people adopt a performance-oriented view of politics, judging legitimacy by effectiveness and problem­solving capacity. This points to a core challenge for European democracies: not a crisis of values, but of institutional credibility. Across countries, young adults prioritise results over ideology, evaluating political actors based on their ability to address economic insecurity, social inequality, polarisation and security. This sentiment was captured through the vivid metaphor of politicians“telling fairytales”. This does not mean ideology no longer matters, but respondents were divided. For some, views on welfare, migration, climate and gender equality were shaped by party-political lines; for many others, party labels carried little real meaning. Yet political participation remains valued, with voting and civic engagement still widely seen as important responsibilities. Cross-national differences are mainly a matter of tone. Distrust in politics is particularly pronounced in Greece and Poland, often linked to political polarisation and perceived socio­economic structural barriers, while in Spain criticism focuses on the negatively perceived prevalence of political spectacle(instead of results oriented, “serious” politics). In Germany and Sweden, scepticism toward political actors coexists more clearly with continued trust in institutions and a strong sense of civic responsibility. Within the broader context of generational insecurity and political frustration, gender differences among young people become visible, though they should not be overstated. Young men and women largely agree on core concerns such as economic pressures, declining opportunities and dissatisfaction with political leadership, yet they often interpret these challenges in different ways. Young women tend to understand instability through experiences of vulnerability, safety and social protection, emphasising issues like workplace discrimination, harassment, unequal care responsibilities and reproductive autonomy. As a result, gender equality remains a highly salient political concern that directly shapes their everyday lives. Young men, by contrast, are more likely to interpret similar structural pressures through the lens of opportunity, recognition, fairness, social status, and the perceived erosion of predictable and meritocratic routes to success through education and work. While many express support for gender equality in principle, they often see it as less pressing than broader economic challenges. In this context, policies aimed at addressing structural inequalities, such as gender quotas, can be perceived by some as redistributing opportunities at their expense within an already competitive environment. Here, for some, a kind of zero-sum mentality between genders emerges, shaped by precarity. This was particularly prevalent in Greece. In times of economic and social uncertainty, more traditional family roles may also gain appeal for some young people, particularly when associated with stability, financial security and protection. Debates around gender equality and feminism often appear more polarised in media reporting than they actually are, reflecting differences in interpretation rather than fundamental disagreement. Across countries, young people broadly support gender equality as a core democratic principle and recognise that inequalities persist in areas such as work, caregiving and safety. While many young women identify with feminism as both a political framework and a source of personal validation, many young men, though supportive of equality, engage more EqualiZe 81