Students, teachers and housing campaigners have protested across Europe over school resources and rents, bringing decisions on education spending and tenant protections into sharper focus for governments.
In its 2026 country report, the European Commission said nominal house prices in Portugal had nearly tripled since 2015, an average increase of 11% a year. It identified young people and students among those under pressure. The commission said demand has exceeded housing supply, citing tourism and short-term rentals among demand factors, while labor shortages and rising costs constrain construction.
Portugal’s government says its proposed rental-law changes are intended to expand supply and strengthen confidence in the market. Protesters in Lisbon fear the changes would leave tenants more vulnerable, The Associated Press reported.
In France, high school students have protested for more than three weeks, including by blocking schools, as they seek more staff and better facilities, AP reported. On Oct. 8, the Education Ministry said it would quickly send more than 3,000 substitute teachers to high schools with the greatest need. The ministry also outlined work on teacher absences and school conditions.
An Oct. 21 march in Athens drew thousands of students and teachers seeking cheaper student housing and more state funding for education, AP reported. Demonstrations also took place in Thessaloniki and Patras. In Reuters footage recorded Oct. 13, Eleftheria Giannoula, president of the Agricultural University of Athens Students Union, said Greek students were joining “young students in Spain and France.”
The eviction of María del Carmen Abascal, known as Maricarmen, became a focus of Madrid’s housing campaign. Police evicted the 87-year-old from her apartment on Sept. 23 on the fourth attempt, El País reported. Spanish public broadcaster RTVE reported that she died in a hospital Oct. 7. El País reported that young people were among thousands at a Madrid demonstration after the eviction.
In Italy, demonstrators have sought higher wages and better access to jobs, schools, health care and housing, AP reported. Le Monde reported that thousands marched in Milan on Oct. 24, including students, young adults and older residents. Ada Buzio, a 20-year-old journalism student, told the newspaper that young people had to protest to gain politicians’ attention.
France’s government expects initial decisions on its school-related work before the end of October. In Portugal, Casa para Viver has called for demonstrations nationwide on Nov. 14.
