EU integration, Albanians most optimistic in the Balkans/ RCC: 43% of the population expect membership in 2030. Serbia, with the most negative perception
Membership in the European Union remains one of the major goals for all Western Balkan countries. Currently, almost all countries in the region are trying to make steps forward in the integration process, through the opening of negotiations and the closing of chapters required by Brussels. In this context, Balkan Barometer has published data from its latest survey, which reflects the perception of citizens on the time when they think their country will join the European Union.
According to the survey, 43% of Albanians see Albania as part of the European Union in 2030, the highest percentage in the entire region. Meanwhile, 27% of respondents think that membership will happen in 2035. The percentage of those who see this process as feasible before and after 2040 is much lower, respectively 11% around 2040 and 8% later. On the other hand, 8% of Albanian citizens do not believe that Albania will ever become part of the European Union.
But how does the perception look in other Western Balkan countries? In most countries in the region, membership in 2030 is not seen as a likely scenario by the majority of citizens. Montenegro and Kosovo rank behind Albania in terms of optimism, with 39% of respondents each believing in membership within this decade. At the other end of the spectrum is Bosnia & Herzegovina, where only 9% of citizens see the country’s entry into the European family as possible, the lowest percentage in the region.
Meanwhile, Serbia turns out to be the country with the highest percentage of citizens who think that their country will never join the European Union. North Macedonia and Bosnia & Herzegovina are also on the same line, where 25% and 20% of respondents, respectively, express skepticism about their countries' European future.
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