Protests that started independently of each other in different corners of Europe in recent weeks are becoming increasingly visible. Hundreds of thousands of students and education workers are on the streets in France, tens of thousands of people are demonstrating against the housing crisis in Spain, and education reforms in Belgium are pitting students against the police. While anti-government demonstrations in Albania are in their fourth month, there are anti-war actions in Greece and protests related to the political crisis in Kosovo.
The organizers, demands and political contexts of the protests are quite different from each other. On the other hand, there is a broader social basis that connects the events: younger generations' anxiety about the future, housing and education costs, deterioration in public services, distrust of political elites and a feeling of exclusion from decision-making mechanisms.
WHY IS IT STANDING IN FRANCE?
The biggest movement is currently happening in France.
According to Reuters' news dated October 6, high school protests that started in the suburbs of Paris on September 21, 2026, due to the lack of teachers and poor school conditions, spread across the country within a few weeks. According to the figures of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, 266 thousand people took to the streets on October 6, and according to the organizers, approximately 450 thousand people took to the streets.
The demonstrations soon spread beyond the students. According to Le Monde, teachers, parents, university students and unions also participated in the protests. There were violent clashes between protesters and police in some cities; Thousands of people were detained and serious injuries occurred.
The remarkable aspect of the movement in France is that, unlike classical wage or pension strikes, a very young generation took action over the quality of public services and their own future.
'HOUSING CRISIS' ACTIONS IN SPAIN
The housing crisis is at the center of the protests in Spain.
According to Reuters, tens of thousands of people demonstrated in more than 50 cities over rent prices, evictions and housing access issues. While the government representation in Madrid announced that approximately 70 thousand people participated in the protests, the organizers claimed that this number reached 500 thousand.
Spanish state television RTVE also reported that demonstrations were held in more than 50 cities of the country on the same day. One of the protesters' slogans was directly 'towards a general strike'. Tent protests have been going on in Madrid's Puerta del Sol Square for about a week. Behind the crisis lies the disconnect between strong economic indicators and citizens' daily lives.
According to Reuters, while Spain's economy has grown faster than the European average in recent years, house prices have increased by nearly 26 percent in just two years. It is stated that especially young people have difficulty in covering the costs of rent and housing purchases.
GENERAL STRIKE PREPARATIONS IN BELGIUM
In Belgium, especially in French-speaking regions, protests around the education budget and tuition fees are becoming increasingly harsh, mirroring the movement in France.
According to The Brussels Times, on September 10, approximately 13 thousand people, including teachers, students and parents, protested cuts in the education budget in Liège. Unions argue the changes could eliminate around 2,000 full-time teaching positions.
This time, hundreds of university students marched in Brussels on September 16. According to The Brussels Times, one of the main reasons for the protests was the increase in annual registration fees of some students to approximately 1,200 euros. Student federations argue that higher education is becoming increasingly inaccessible, especially for low-income families.
According to the Belga agency, the Socialist Federation of Public Employees ACOD has announced a nationwide public sector strike for October 12 to protest the government's pension and public spending policies. Belgium therefore stands out as one of the countries where the student movement and wider union discontent may converge.
ALBANIA HAS BEEN BOILING FOR 129 DAYS
The longest movement among the six countries is in Albania.
According to Euronews Albania's news dated October 6, anti-government demonstrations have reached their 129th day. Protesters gather every day in Skanderbeg Square in Tirana, march to the Prime Ministry building and demand the resignation of Prime Minister Edi Rama and the government.
The movement initially emerged over a very different issue. According to research by Deutsche Welle, protests began on May 30 against a planned luxury tourism project in the protected Zvërnec region in the south of the country.
The local environmental protest suddenly turned into a national movement when the images of private security guards dragging a protester during the environmental action against the investment project linked to Jared Kushner, son-in-law of US President Donald Trump, spread on social media.
The movement later encompassed much broader demands, such as allegations of corruption, the impact of organized crime on the economy, transparency, the rule of law and the exodus of young people from the country, according to OSW, the Warsaw-based Center for Oriental Studies.
'ANTI-WAR' PROTECTIONS IN GREECE
Mobility in Greece is not yet on the scale of France or Spain, but more than one line of protest has emerged at the same time.
According to the news of the Greek state broadcaster ERT, student unions, unions and political organizations gathered in Athens on the evening of October 6 to protest the visit of US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Demonstrators marched to the US Embassy. Similar protests were held in Patras and Samos.
Greek police banned open-air gatherings and vehicle demonstrations in central Athens throughout October 7 due to Rubio's visit.
However, the student movement is not limited to anti-war movements. According to ERT, the Athens Student Coordination Committee has called for nationwide student protests for October 8. Students' demands include ending the combination of classes, improving school infrastructure and various regulations regarding the education system.
KOSOVO: THE LEGACY OF THE WAR WAS CARRIED TO THE STREET
The protests in Kosovo are based on a very different reason than the other five countries.
According to Reuters, clashes broke out between protesters and police in Pristina on October 5. At the center of the demonstrations is the war crime sentence handed down by the Hague-based Kosovo Expert Chambers to former President Hashim Thaçi and three former Kosovo Liberation Army leaders.
Protesters want an amendment to be passed that would limit the court's powers. According to Reuters, police used tear gas and water cannon against demonstrators, while protesters responded with rocks and fireworks; At least 17 people were injured and three people were detained.
According to the Associated Press, most of the demonstrations continued peacefully for about 20 days, but tensions rose with the blockage of the parliamentary process.
SOCIAL FAULTS ARE MOVING IN EUROPE
When the table of six countries is put side by side, we do not see a wave of European protests radiating from a single center or organized around the same demands.
financing of public education in France and Belgium; Housing crisis in Spain; Reaction to corruption, environment and political elites in Albania; Education and foreign policy in Greece; In Kosovo, the judicial bill imposed on the country 'from outside' is decisive.
Despite this, there is a common second layer.
According to experts, young people are less and less convinced that their future will be better than today. The quality of public services is being questioned. The cost of basic needs such as housing and education is rising. It is debated whether political institutions adequately represent the demands of citizens.
