A new report has argued that the "obvious whiteness" of the European Union's politics is at odds with the bloc's "core values"
The report by the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR) and the European Cultural Foundation (ECF) argued growing numbers feel "excluded" or "disillusioned" in the EU, in particular people of colour and Muslims.
It also found young voters feel the bloc is "too white" "too western" or "too boomer."
However, the report said polling consistently showed large numbers of citizens in almost every EU member state continue to trust the bloc, are optimistic about its future and feel attached to it.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen
Reuters
While surveys consistently show younger voters to be more pro-EU and tolerant than older generations, young people showed limited interest in European elections. Those younger people who did take part in elections tended to vote for hard-right and anti-immigration parties.
The AfD came a close second among young German voters in this year’s European elections, while in Poland the radical right Confederation won the youth vote with about 30 per cent. In France, a third of the young voted for Marine Le Pen's National Rally (RN).
The report’s author Pawel Zerka said this reflects a sense of not being represented by established political forces, which are often viewed as "boomer" parties.
It also stated that Europeans of colour have been exposed to a huge surge in xenophobic narratives since the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel, with Muslims across the bloc feeling alienated by many governments’ support for Israel.