Nearly 90% of Serbian Youth Would Vote; EU Support Highest Since 2017, But Emigration Plans Loom

A significant majority of young people in Serbia, nearly 90%, would turn out to vote if elections were held soon, according to a recent report. The "Alternative Report on the Position and Needs of Youth in Serbia," released by the Krovna organizacija mladih Srbije (KOMS), also highlights a record high in youth support for Serbia's membership in the European Union.

For the first time since KOMS began its annual reporting in 2017, over half of young respondents, 53.1%, expressed support for EU accession. This marks a notable increase from previous years, with only 26.9% opposing membership and 19.9% undecided. Furthermore, 40% of young Serbs now believe the country's foreign policy should primarily align with the EU, a shift from previous years where balancing East and West was more favored.

Despite this increased engagement and pro-EU sentiment, a stark finding reveals that 84.8% of young people feel the current political system in Serbia does not empower them to influence political processes or decisions. This sentiment is echoed in their participation in protests, with almost seven in 10 having joined demonstrations in the past year and a half, and 58% engaging in petitions or initiatives.

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The political system in Serbia does not enable young people to influence political processes and decisions at all.

The report also touches upon attitudes towards democracy, with 53.9% viewing it as the best form of governance, while a significant portion (39.6%) believes Serbia needs a strong leader. Trust levels are notably low across most institutions, with students, scientists, and academics being the only groups receiving above-average confidence ratings. Political institutions and ministries dealing with youth issues received particularly low scores.

Looking towards the future, a concerning 47% of young Serbs are planning to emigrate, with European countries being the preferred destinations for over 75% of them. Those who wish to stay often cite a desire to contribute to changing Serbia into a decent place to live and work, though high living costs remain a barrier.

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Young people have high confidence only in students.