What do young people in Serbia think about the EU?

Nearly 70% of residents in Western Serbia and Šumadija would vote in favour of Serbia joining the European Union (EU) if a referendum were held, with older citizens (45+) being the most decisive in their support. However, almost one-fifth of young people in these regions oppose Serbia’s EU integration, while over a third remain undecided on the matter.

These are the key findings of a public opinion survey conducted by the European Movement in Serbia as part of the Signposts to the EU in Western Serbia and Šumadija project. The regions were selected for the study as they are the most populous areas of Serbia, with 1.8 million residents, including over 280,000 young people aged 15 to 29—a demographic deemed critical for shifting attitudes towards EU integration.

Past research has shown that young Serbians are relatively well-informed about the benefits of EU membership, particularly in education, mobility, and intercultural exchange. Support among youth for Serbia’s EU accession rose from 40% in 2014 to over 50% in 2021.

Survey highlights

Almost 70% would vote for EU membership

When asked how they would vote in a referendum on Serbia’s EU membership, 69% said they would vote “yes,” 20% opposed, 8% would abstain, and 3% were undecided. Among those opposed, the reasons cited include fears of “changes to traditional values and behavioural patterns” (50%), “increased labour migration into Serbia” (21%), and “the departure of family or friends to other countries” (18%).

Support by gender and education

Men showed stronger support for EU membership, with 76.4% in favour compared to 63.1% of women. Educational attainment also influenced views: 70% of respondents with medium and high levels of education backed EU membership, while a majority (55.6%) of those with lower educational qualifications opposed it.

Obstacles to EU membership

Respondents identified Serbia’s slow reform process (33.4%) as the primary barrier to EU accession, followed by unresolved issues with Kosovo (21.6%) and a perceived lack of willingness within the EU to accept Serbia (19.3%).

Views on continuing EU integration

The survey found that 55% of respondents in Western Serbia and Šumadija believe Serbia should continue on its EU integration path. Conversely, 19.3% think the process should stop, and 25.7% are undecided or unsure.

Age and gender divide

Older respondents (46–60 years) displayed the strongest support for continuing EU integration, at 62.8%, while younger people (under 24 years) were the most undecided, with 35.4% expressing uncertainty. More men (66%) than women (46.1%) supported further integration, and parents (61.1%) were more supportive than non-parents (46.3%). Support was also higher among respondents with higher education (62.9%) compared to those with lower education (40%).

Experience with EU travel influences views

Respondents who had travelled to EU countries were more supportive of integration (62%), compared to those who had not (33% opposed). Higher education levels were linked to increased travel experiences: 85% of respondents with university degrees had travelled to the EU, compared to just 34.9% of those with basic or incomplete primary education.

However, among youth under 24, a concerning 32% expressed no desire to travel to the EU.

Economic benefits as the main motivation

Economic improvements were identified as the primary reason for supporting EU membership, with 70% of respondents highlighting economic development as the main advantage. Other cited benefits included improved rule of law (9.2%) and reduced unemployment (6.8%).

A majority of respondents believed EU integration would positively impact local governance, particularly in transparency (48.7%) and citizen engagement (47%). However, 30% believed there would be no significant changes, and less than 10% expected negative impacts.

Youth perspectives: Leadership over European values

Despite overall support for EU integration in these regions, 66% of young respondents preferred an authoritarian leadership model over democratic processes. Furthermore, young people from Western Serbia and Šumadija showed the lowest interest in EU membership compared to youth from other parts of the country. This aligns with findings from the Alternative Youth Report by the National Youth Council of Serbia (KOMS), which revealed that nearly three-quarters of young people in these regions have not participated in any EU-funded programs available in Serbia.

About the project

The Signposts to the EU in Western Serbia and Šumadija project is being implemented by the European Movement in Serbia, in partnership with the European Movement in Valjevo and the Rural Development Network of Kraljevo. It covers ten municipalities, including Kraljevo, Valjevo, Novi Pazar, Gornji Milanovac, Užice, Loznica, Kruševac, Prijepolje, Ćuprija, and Aranđelovac.

(Blic, 28.11.2024)

https://www.blic.rs/vesti/politika/sta-mladi-u-srbiji-misle-o-eu-neodlucni-ili-protiv-evrointegracija-a-iza-toga-se/ppgm19j

This post is also available in: Italiano

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Publish date : 2024-11-28 02:06:00

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