In the last decade, European states have seen it all. From the increase in anti-immigration protests, which have grown in both frequency and size, to the boom of far-right parties among young people. For instance, following The Guardian’s analysis, far-right parties have gained significant support among young people. In France, Rassemblement National (RN, National Rally in English) won 39% of the votes of people aged between 18-24, while in Italy, Fratelli d’Italia (Fdl, Brothers of Italy in English) was the party with the largest support among people under 35 (Henley and Sauer, 2023). The fact that the far right has increasingly built its support on anti-immigration and nationalist platforms (Passuello, 2024) seems to suggest that attitudes towards migration have hardened and that the European youth is more anti-immigration than older generations (Clark and Duncan, 2024). However, there is a clear gender divide. Statistics show that men, in particular young men, are more likely to support far-right parties than women (Milosav, 2025).
The Guardian´s indicated that negative attitudes to immigration are more commonly held by Gen Z (1997-2012) or millennials (1981-1996) than Gen X (1965-1980) or Baby Boomers (1946-1964) (Clark and Duncan, 2024). In comparison to Palumba´s result, despite being true in the case of male respondents, the female respondents, specifically those part of Gen Z and Millennials, are quite opposed to this statement.
While recent analyses highlight an important trend, public debate has often accepted the idea of a youth shift to the far right as a simple truth. But are young Europeans really becoming more right-wing, or is the picture more complex?
Palumba’s data dives into a more insightful perspective as its analysis shows that the prompts concerning migration were the most polarised ones of the survey. There were two prompts about migration, one in relation to the restriction of immigration into the EU and the other on the role of NGOs in rescuing migrants from the sea. It can be seen below that the migration policy is one of the most contentious issues among Palumba users.
In terms of whether the EU should make immigration more restrictive, there is a clear polarization along gender lines. While 39% of female respondents firmly disagree with the statement, 40% of the male respondents strongly agree with the statement. This polarization can also be observed within each gender when looking across generations.
On the question of whether immigration into the EU should be more restricted, 43% of Millennial females (1981-1996) are the ones who strongly disagree with the statement, followed by 40% of Gen Z females (1997-2021). It is important to note that in contrast, females from the Gen X (1965-1980), Baby Boomers (1946-1964), and Silent Generation (1928-1945) tend to show greater support for this statement, ranging from 42% to 56% of agreement. Younger women, including Gen Z and Millennials, have been educated in a more globalised and socially progressive environment. This has influenced them to likely oppose restrictive immigration policies (Milosav et al., 2025). On the other hand, older generations retain conservative perspectives on social and political issues, such as immigration (Drazanova, 2021).
Among male respondents, the story is completely different. Most of them strongly agree with the statement proposed, with agreement ranging from 36% among Millennials (1981-1996) to 56% among the Silent+ generation (age 78 and above). It must be noted that 40% of Gen Z males (1997-2012) also expressed strong agreement. Despite being the lowest to agree with the statement proposed, Millennial males have suffered economic insecurity and competition for jobs, causing them to still hesitate to actively support pro-immigrant statements due to their belief that immigrants may negatively affect their job security (Wang, Tong and Liu, 2025).
A closer examination of the data regarding the responders born between 2011 and 1975 reveals a striking generational divide in attitudes toward immigration policy. Among individuals born between 1975 and 1990, support for stricter immigration measures appears to be on the rise, signaling a growing endorsement of more restrictive approaches. Interestingly, the younger respondents, born between 2007 and 2011, also show high levels of support for the EU’s restriction of immigration. While people in this age group cannot vote yet, their early political opinions and attitudes are shaped by the rapid flows of information and misinformation on social media, which amplify fears over cultural cohesion and social belonging.
Studies suggest that exposure to far-right messaging via social media platforms is affecting the young generations and influencing their perceptions about immigration (Youngs, 2025). It has increasingly been analysed that parties with anti-immigration stances exploit the digital platforms to spread concerns linked to economic insecurity, national identity, and cultural change (Carreras et al., 2025). These parties portray immigrants as competitors for jobs, education, and social benefits, reinforcing the fears that such resources are scarce and at risk (Schumuck and Matthes, 2017). Young people are susceptible to such statements because their political attitudes are still in the process of development, making them influential targets (Niemi and Klingler, 2012).
In conclusion, the Palumba data collected during the 2024 European Parliament elections paints a really complex portrait of Generation Z’s political attitudes. While older Millennials and Gen Xers show growing support for stricter EU immigration policies, younger respondents, particularly Gen Z women, largely resist such measures, favoring a more open approach. However, the story says something different for the young men, who consider immigration restrictions necessary. These findings challenge the simple idea of a youth shift towards the far right, highlighting a generational and gendered mosaic of opinions. Immigration continues to be one of the most polarized issues in society. As the year comes to an end, it is clear that the debate over immigration restrictions is far from over and that the EU will face a delicate balancing act in the years to come.
The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the organization.
This article is part of a series that explores Palumba’s data in depth within the project Palumba Wrapped: Empowering Young Changemakers, funded by the Culture of Solidarity Fund of the European Cultural Foundation.
