TIRANA, Dec 12 /ATA/ – Public support for EU membership has risen sharply across the Western Balkans, with Albania topping the region at 86%, according to the Regional Cooperation Council’s (RCC) Western Balkans Barometer 2025, presented on Thursday in Brussels.
The survey shows growing optimism about EU integration and clearer expectations for economic reforms. On average, 64% of Western Balkan citizens support joining the EU – the highest level since 2015 and up 10 percentage points from last year.
Albania ranks first with 86% support, followed by Kosovo with 78%. In Serbia, only 42% of respondents back EU membership, while support stands at 59% in Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina.
In Albania, 43% of citizens expect the country to join the EU by 2030, the highest share in the region, compared to a Western Balkan average of 26%. Across the region, 25% believe accession is possible by 2035.
“This year, citizens of the Western Balkans are sending a clear message: when real progress happens, confidence follows,” RCC Secretary General Amer Kapetanović said.
He noted that support for EU integration is at a record high, while trust in regional cooperation remains strong. “People recognize the value of practical results, from fewer barriers and lower costs to better connectivity and new opportunities for youth and businesses,” he said.
Optimism about the timeline for accession is also rising. Some 26% of respondents believe EU entry is possible by 2030, up from 20% last year, while another 25% see 2035 as achievable. Among young people, confidence is stronger: 71% say EU membership would improve the economy – the highest level in five years.
The Barometer also highlights key concerns. Rising prices and inflation are cited by 66% of respondents as the main problem, followed by the general economic situation (44%) and corruption (35%).
Still, trust in regional cooperation remains high. Some 64% of Western Balkan citizens believe regional initiatives can improve the economy, and businesses report tangible benefits from joint measures such as the abolition of roaming charges and the ability to travel using only ID cards.
Kapetanović said the findings come at an important moment ahead of next week’s EU-Western Balkans summit in Brussels. “The Barometer’s results can serve as a compass for the summit. People in the Western Balkans do not ask for miracles – they ask for results. They reward progress with trust. They believe in Europe when Europe believes in them,” he said.
The 2025 Western Balkans Barometer suggests the region is entering a new phase of optimism, with Albania standing out as the most pro-European country and expectations rising for faster, more effective integration into the EU.
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