On March 14th–15th, the 6th Young Struggle Europe Congress took place with 121 delegates from Germany, Britain, France, Austria, and Switzerland. Youth from 27 chapters came together to discuss and determine perspectives for the coming period.
The congress was dedicated to Ivana Hoffmann and Özgür Namoğlu, who became immortalised in the Rojava revolutionary struggle; at the same time, revolutionary greetings were sent from the congress to all political prisoners continuing their resistance from within prison in the face of increasing state repression worldwide. In particular, greetings were sent to the socialist prisoners in Turkey arrested during the operation on 3 February, to Sumud7, to all anti-fascists currently in prison, and to the revolutionaries in India fighting against the Kagaar Operation.
The 6th Young Struggle Europe Congress convened at a politically dynamic time. The year 2026 began with various wars and conflicts, starting with the large-scale offensive against the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (Rojava), continuing with the ongoing conflicts between the USA and Venezuela, Cuba, Sudan, and the war in Iran and attacks on Southern Lebanon. While the youth are confronted with ongoing and new imperialist wars such as in Ukraine, Palestine, and Iran, women are increasingly exposed to the raw and brutal violence of patriarchy. At the same time, fascism is rising in Europe and LGBTI+ people are experiencing growing exclusion and violence as a result. Because of this, large parts of the youth are facing an expanding sense of hopelessness. In addition, there are direct attacks on the working class that must be confronted. Strikes are an indispensable means in this struggle.
In the face of such a period, the congress analysed political developments in Europe as well as internationally. These evaluations showed that significant steps have been made in the organisation’s development and that the organisation has grown both quantitatively and qualitatively.
As threats grow, so too does our responsibility and the task of the youth to create a new future and therefore to organise ourselves. A central conclusion was that Young Struggle, as a Europe-wide organisation, has organised its foundation at a new level and has established deeper roots in order to strengthen itself in political struggle, but this is to be developed further. Additionally, we concluded the necessity of drawing strength from experiences across Europe towards new developments. Particular emphasis was placed on the ability to respond after the fascist attack in Paris and on solidarity work around the Flotillas sailing to Gaza and the People’s Caravan to Rojava.
While many young people are confronted with hopelessness, we need a youth that radiates hope for a new world across the entire globe. The task of socialist youth today is to bring this hope to the masses and to place socialism as a practical perspective at the center of all our struggles. The congress called for gaining new experiences in organising youth strikes against war and militarisation and strengthening alliances with youth organisations across Europe. The values and principles connected to this must be united in a new youth culture. Anti-racist work is a significant part of the resolutions we took in this congress, as racism and islamophobia are rising worldwide. Our ideological struggle must take a step forward, especially when it comes to fight mental health issues in a revolutionary way. This includes deepening the study of Marxism-Leninism and Marxist theory on the ecological crisis so that Young Struggle and its members can continue to develop on this foundation.
Under conditions of increasing imperialist aggression and the rise of fascism, we clearly see a brutalisation of society that manifests itself in intensified patriarchal violence. For this reason, the 6th Young Struggle Europe Congress discussed the struggle against patriarchy both within the organisation and in the broader social struggle. The women’s strike was adopted as a means of struggle. In this context, a Europe-wide guideline for confronting patriarchal offenses was adopted, and the passivity of men in the anti-patriarchal struggle was critically discussed. The development of gender consciousness must guide all anti-patriarchal struggles and strengthen the collective will of women so that they can position themselves at the forefront of all struggles. In this context, it is also of central importance that the LGBTI+ liberation struggle be further developed and that organizing as LGBTI+ becomes a concrete perspective.
Key resolutions of the 6th Young Struggle Europe Congress, alongside the guideline on dealing with patriarchal offenses, include decisions on anti-repression work and anti-militarisation work, which should be taken up across Europe. This particularly includes the practical organisation of international solidarity and an anti-imperialist campaign. At the congress itself, lead proposals where discussed and the necessity to deepen the Europe wide organization.
The youth is the future — the future is socialism!