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BRUSSELS – Citizens of the Western Balkans, 64 percent of them, support EU membership, which is the highest percentage since 2015 and an increase of 10 percent compared to last year, according to the Balkan Barometer 2025 presented today. In the Barometer prepared by the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC), rising prices and inflation remain the main concern for 66 percent of citizens, while 64 percent of citizens are convinced that regional cooperation can improve the economic situation.
It is also stated that 68 percent of young people are thinking about working or living abroad, 71 percent believe that EU membership would be good for their economy, which is the highest level of confidence among young people in the last five years. Also, according to the RCC statement, businesses have also reported concrete benefits from deeper regional integration, including reduced operating costs resulting from the roaming-free regime and expected gains from travel within the region with an ID card. RCC Secretary General Amer Kapetanović said at the presentation of the Barometer in Brussels that this year the citizens of the Western Balkans sent a clear message – that when real progress happens, trust follows.
“Support for EU integration is at a record high, and confidence in regional cooperation remains steadily strong. People recognize the value of practical results, from fewer obstacles and lower costs to better connectivity and new opportunities for young people and businesses. It is our responsibility to preserve this momentum and turn it into concrete reforms and tangible benefits for everyone in the region,” said Kapetanović.
He recalled that next week EU and Western Balkan leaders will gather in Brussels, and that the findings of the Balkan Barometer could serve as a compass for that summit. “For the Western Balkans, this summit is an opportunity to show that the European path is not theoretical or seasonal, but credible. And credibility, as the Balkan Barometer shows, changes perspectives. When we look at the whole picture, citizens, businesses, institutions, young people, a simple truth emerges. People in the Western Balkans are not asking for miracles. They are asking for results. They reward progress with trust. They believe in Europe when Europe believes in them,” said Kapetanović. The Balkan Barometer is the most comprehensive regional review of public and business opinion across the Western Balkans. (11 December)