This is a very weird framing of this study. The original study (which is linked in the article) is in German. Those who don't speak German will find a useful translation provider, I provide the study's summary literal translation:

>Young people: EU and democracy are good, but reforms are needed

57% prefer democracy to any other form of government - 39% think that the EU does not function particularly democratically

Young Europeans want change - 53% criticize the EU for being too preoccupied with trivialities instead of focusing on the essentials

Cost of living, defense against external threats and better conditions for businesses should be priorities for the EU

Only 42% think that the EU is one of the three most powerful global political players

Among others, the study also says (again, a direct translation, I am not paraphrasing):

48% of young Europeans believe that democracy in their country is under threat, compared to 61% in Germany. Two thirds rate their country's membership of the EU as positive. At the same time, 53% of young people criticize the fact that the EU is too often concerned with minor issues. Half of 16 to 26-year-olds think the EU is a good idea, but very poorly implemented.

I don't say that everything is perfect, but the whole study paints a completely different picture than this article - and especially its headline - appears to suggest.

[Edit my comments for clarity, translation has not been edited.]

[–] PhilipTheBucket@ponder.cat 4 points 1 week ago

I knew it. I strongly suspected that the actual feeling "We love democracy and our country is losing its democracy and we don't like that" was being summarized as "we don't like democracy anymore" for whatever bullshit reasons, I guess I am sad but not surprised to hear it confirmed.

[–] Akasazh@feddit.nl 2 points 1 week ago

Thanks for this, much appreciated