Europe’s Student Revolt Grows Beyond France. Thousands Take to the Streets In More Countries.

Student protests are spreading across Europe, with violent clashes in France and Belgium and demonstrations in several other countries as young people demand more education funding, better classroom conditions and relief from rising costs.

The unrest intensified Wednesday in Liège, Belgium, where police confronted demonstrators amid growing anger over school conditions and education expenses. The clashes followed weeks of protests in neighboring France, where a student-led movement that began in Paris in mid-September has expanded into nationwide demonstrations involving parents, teachers and labor unions.

Although the protests are not part of a coordinated European campaign, students in at least seven countries have mobilized around similar grievances, including overcrowded classrooms, teacher shortages, deteriorating facilities and cuts to education budgets.

The demonstrations come as European governments face mounting pressure to control public spending while borrowing costs rise and budget deficits remain elevated. France has experienced some of the most serious confrontations since the protests began last month.

More than 6,500 people, most of them minors, have been arrested, according to figures reported by Euronews. Tensions escalated after a 15-year-old boy lost a hand in an incident involving a police-fired stun grenade. French authorities subsequently suspended the use of stun grenades during student demonstrations, Reuters reported.

The incident has intensified scrutiny of police tactics as authorities struggle to contain demonstrations that have expanded well beyond their original high school organizers.
In Belgium, Liège has emerged as another flashpoint. Police have made at least 139 arrests since demonstrations began October 1.

The unrest continued Wednesday afternoon and evening, with confrontations between police and protesters underscoring how education-related grievances have spread beyond France's borders.

In Italy, students occupied high schools in Turin and Rome this week under the slogan "Let's do as in France." According to ANSA, Italian protesters cited chronic underfunding, deteriorating buildings and rising living costs. A delegation of Italian students traveled to Paris to express solidarity with French demonstrators.

Greek students called nationwide actions for Thursday, October 8, including school walkouts, assemblies, demonstrations and possible occupations, according to Euronews.
Thousands of university students also demonstrated in Dublin earlier this month, demanding lower tuition fees, affordable accommodation and increased government investment in higher education, according to RTÉ.

In Germany, students, teachers, parents and unions rallied in September for additional teachers, improved facilities and greater educational equality. Austria could face further demonstrations in mid-October following warnings from university representatives that approximately €1 billion could be cut from the country's next three-year university budget.

The unrest is unfolding against a difficult fiscal backdrop. European Commission forecasts indicate that France and Belgium are running budget deficits exceeding 5% of gross domestic product this year, while Austria's deficit is above 4%. Higher borrowing costs have increased pressure on governments to reduce spending, potentially complicating efforts to meet demands for additional education funding.

French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu has acknowledged students' concerns and promised concrete proposals by the end of October. Education Minister Edouard Geffray has also announced measures addressing teacher absences and demanding school schedules.