Youth Perceptions of Europe in the Western Balkans: Key Regional Patterns and Implications

The central finding of this regional analysis is that young people in the Western Balkans maintain a strong normative identification with Europe, yet this attachment coexists with frustration, ambivalence, and structural constraints that limit their sense of agency and inclusion. Europe continues to function as a reference point for values and development, but its credibility depends on the consistency and visibility of its engagement.