The 2001 European Athletics Junior Championships was an athletics competition for athletes under-20 which was held at the Stadio Olimpico Carlo Zecchini in Grosseto, Italy from 19 – 22 July 2001. A total of 44 events were contested, 22 by male and 22 by female athletes. Two new events were introduced into the programme: the women's 2000 metres steeplechase and the women's 10,000 m track walk (replacing the 5000 m walk event). Five new championships records were recorded over the four-day competition, in addition to the two marks set in the newly introduced events.
Russia topped the medals table with eight golds and shared the honour of the greatest medal haul (17) with second placed Great Britain which won six gold medals. Poland came third with five golds, although fourth placed Germany had a larger medal total (15) but with one less gold medal.