For decades, the Balkans have been a region suffering from wars and conflicts, and it has always been perceived as not very safe.

A security survey conducted by the Regional Cooperation Council highlighted that Albanians feel safer living in the Balkans compared to other countries in the region.

Around 68% of respondents in Albania believe that the Western Balkans region is a safe place to live, while respondents in Kosovo have a lower confidence level, with only 45% believing that the Balkans is a safe place.

A concerning sign is the negative trend regarding the overall sense of security in the region. Year after year, the feeling of security is declining, and the sense of insecurity is increasing in the Western Balkans. Trust in security has fallen the most in Montenegro, from 84% in 2021 to 56% in 2023.

The prospect of a spillover from Russia’s war in Ukraine and the increasing tensions in the region, especially in Serbia, Kosovo, and Bosnia and Herzegovina, may explain the decline in trust in security among respondents in the region.

There is a slight optimism regarding future security in the region, as the majority of respondents within the economies agree that the “Western Balkans region will be a safer place to live”.

51% agree (completely or tend to agree) that the region will be a safer place to live next year. However, a significant portion, around 43%, disagrees with this statement. While the population in the Balkans began to feel more at ease after three years of intense fear from the pandemic, the ongoing war in Ukraine could be a cause for growing concern.

In addition to assessing security in their own countries, respondents were also asked to share their thoughts on the security situation for neighbors in the region. Respondents in Albania and Kosovo believe that security is weakest in Serbia. While there is a unified view that Kosovo is the least safe country to live, perceptions are more diversified for Albania and Serbia.

On the other hand, respondents in Serbia and Montenegro consider Albania less safe than respondents from other economies. Overall, Montenegro and North Macedonia are considered the safest countries in the region.