Protests led mostly by young people have spread across Europe in recent weeks, BBC and DW report. Students have marched in France, Belgium, Ireland, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Greece, Serbia and Albania. Germany could be next, with rallies called in 23 cities this weekend.

The BBC reports the wave began in France in late September over staff shortages and run-down school buildings. Hundreds of thousands have marched there. Many protests began peacefully but ended in violence and looting. DW reports cars were set on fire in several French towns, and the town hall in Limoges was burned.

Police used tear gas and water cannon in Brussels. A tent camp has filled a square in Madrid since late September. The BBC reports more than half of those detained in Barcelona clashes last weekend were under 18.

Concerns go beyond schools. Young people worry about housing, the cost of living, climate change and jobs lost to AI, the BBC reports. Many protests are organized quickly on social media.

In Germany, a group called Gen Z regelt, or "Gen Z sorts it," has called for rallies. Alexander Throm of Chancellor Friedrich Merz's party said in a Handelsblatt interview that "scenes like those in France must be prevented at all costs." DW reports he warned extremist groups could "hijack" the events.

Sociologist Sebastian Koos said in a DW interview that he does not expect France-style unrest. He said the German rallies are planned, registered and stress nonviolence.

Mark Leonard of the European Council on Foreign Relations said in a BBC interview that "one crisis layers on top of the other," from the 2007 to 2008 financial crisis to the war in the Gulf.

What we know: Youth protests have spread across at least nine European countries, and German rallies are planned in 23 cities.
What we don't: Whether this weekend's German rallies will stay peaceful.