The latest Eurobarometer survey has revealed significant changes in the perceptions of Western Balkan citizens regarding the future, integration and trust in international institutions such as the European Union and NATO.
According to the survey, citizens of Albania and Kosovo are the most optimistic in the region. Albania has marked a significant increase in optimism for the future compared to last autumn, with an increase of 17 percent. In Kosovo, the perception of the future has also improved significantly. Both countries also show positive expectations in the area of employment, an important indicator of improving well-being.
In stark contrast stands Serbia, where citizens display the highest levels of pessimism and distrust towards the EU and NATO. 57 percent of respondents in Serbia say they have no trust in the European Union, while NATO is seen as an enemy.
Almost two-thirds of Serbs are dissatisfied with the country’s leadership and predict a deterioration of the situation in the coming year.
The survey also shows that citizens’ main concerns vary from one country to another.
In Albania and Kosovo, prices are the biggest problem, followed by healthcare, while crime ranks last. In North Macedonia, on the contrary, crime is the main concern.
Bosnia and Herzegovina experienced the largest increase in pessimism, with a 6 percent increase compared to the previous survey.
In Montenegro, Albania and Kosovo, trust in the European Union remains high and is consistent with the pro-European orientation of these societies. These countries also have a more positive perception of NATO, in contrast to Serbia, where these organizations are perceived with distrust.
Expectations for next year
While the majority of citizens in the EU and the Western Balkans believe that their lives will not change over the next year, optimism prevails in Albania and Kosovo: the majority of respondents think that the situation will improve.
In Serbia and North Macedonia, by contrast, many citizens fear that the future will be more difficult.
This latest Eurobarometer survey provides a clear picture of the divisions between the Western Balkan countries, not only regarding the current situation but also the expectations for the future and the geopolitical orientations of citizens. /Top Channel