The country with the highest sense of security is Kosovo with 58.4%, followed by Montenegro with 54.8% and North Macedonia in third place with 54.6%. However, the report highlights that this sense of security does not necessarily translate into optimism for the future. Only around 25 percent of citizens in the Western Balkans are satisfied with the direction their countries are heading. At the same time, an overwhelming majority – over 80 percent – believe that corruption is widespread in the countries of the Region.
Only about 38 percent of citizens in the Region believe that the Western Balkans is a safe Region, while the rest express concerns about political stability, Regional tensions and economic challenges. However, the perception of security at the national level is somewhat more positive: about 48 percent of respondents consider their country to be relatively safe to live in. This is shown by the Regional report “SecuriMeter 2025”, published by the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC), while providing an overview of citizens’ perceptions of security, stability and the main challenges in the Western Balkan countries, writes the newspaper KOHA.
The study, based on a survey conducted with over 6 citizens in six countries in the Region (Albania, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro), shows that this sense of security does not necessarily translate into optimism for the future. In this context, North Macedonia ranks among the countries where the sense of security is relatively higher. According to the report, about 54 percent of citizens in the country declare that they feel safe in their country, a level similar to that of Montenegro and higher than in some other countries in the Region.
The country with the highest sense of security is Kosovo with 58.4%, followed by Montenegro with 54.8% and North Macedonia in third place with 54.6%. However, the report highlights that this sense of security does not necessarily translate into optimism for the future. In fact, only about a third of Western Balkan citizens expect the security situation in the Region to improve over the next 12 months. A significant portion of respondents express uncertainty and skepticism about future political and economic stability. The report identifies several key concerns that influence the perception of security in the Region. At the top of the list are corruption, economic crises and the rising cost of living, which are considered factors that weaken citizens’ trust in state institutions.
In addition to these, citizens also mention youth emigration, political tensions, potential Regional conflicts, and cyber threats as challenges that could affect the stability of the Region.
Another important finding of the report is related to trust in public institutions. According to the “SecuriMeter 2025” data, only about 25 percent of citizens in the Western Balkans are satisfied with the direction in which their countries are moving. At the same time, an overwhelming majority – over 80 percent – believe that corruption is widespread in the countries of the Region.
The report also highlights the importance of Regional cooperation and international security structures as factors that can contribute to long-term stability. Many citizens see Euro-Atlantic integration and cooperation between countries in the Region as the safest path to stability and development. For North Macedonia and the Region as a whole, the report underlines that improving governance, strengthening institutions and Regional cooperation remain key factors for increasing trust and stability in the coming years. The report also shows that concern about conflicts remains high in some countries. For example, in Serbia, around 59% of Serbs fear that their country could be involved in war. This percentage in Bosnia is around 58%, while in North Macedonia, around 44% worry that a war could break out. Overall, only 38% of citizens believe that the Western Balkans is a safe Region, while 48.6% consider their country relatively safe to live in. Only 25% of citizens are satisfied with the leadership of their country, while 81% believe that corruption is widespread in their countries.
Overall, the “SecuriMeter 2025” report shows that although citizens of the Western Balkans feel relatively safe in everyday life, uncertainties about the future remain present, especially due to economic challenges, corruption, and political tensions. (koha.mk)