Survey: 34% Citizens Consider Serbia to Be Most Important Ally

According to the survey headlined “Western Balkans Regional Poll”, conducted on behalf of the International Republican Institute’s (IRI) Centre for Insights in Survey Research by IPSOS, 34% of citizens consider Serbia to be the most important ally, followed by the US, 17%, Turkiye, 12%, Russia, 8%, and Albania, 5%.

When it comes to the issue of most important threat, 23% consider that to be Bulgaria, followed by Russia, 12%, Kosovo, 10%, Albania, 9%, and the US, 8%.

As far as the EU integration is concerned, that is, whether the EU is serious in its intention to offer membership to Western Balkan countries, 47% don’t believe that to be the case.

Despite that, 68% would vote in favour of EU membership in a referendum, a rise of 2% when compared to 2022 data. Support for NATO membership, too, has increased since 2022, from 49% to 52%. Also when it comes to NATO membership, 32% and 38% believe it to be very and somewhat positive, respectively.

The survey covers also demographic characteristics of Western Balkan countries. Data was collected between 2 February and 5 March of this year, through face-to-face interviews in respondents’ homes.