More than half of youth believe the country would become a better place for living when it joins the European Union

For their entire lives, youth in the Republic of North Macedonia have witnessed the country’s efforts to become member of the European Union. Data from the survey on civic engagement in RNM conducted on a representative sample comprised of 1,300 respondents showcases the youth’s attitudes in respect to EU integrations.

Survey results show that most young people see their future in the EU and the integration process. In particular, more than two-thirds or 69% of youth (aged 16 to 29 years) believe that the EU negotiations process would significantly or somewhat improve their and the lives of citizens in the country. 57% of youth (aged 16 to 29 years) believe the country would become a better place for living when it joins the European Union.

Almost half of youth (45%) believe that citizens could make own contribution to the EU negotiations and accession process, while 44% of them would directly join these processes.

National and local institutions should view young people as allies in the EU accession process, channel their contribution, and educate them on possibilities for participation and benefits thereof. Other survey data show that:

• 40% of youth have heard about the EU’s financial assistance;
• 35% of them have heard about the EU’s Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance (IPA); and
• 33% have heard that IPA allows funding opportunities for priorities in their local community.

Several mechanisms indicated by youth as possibilities for civic engagement include: participation in public discussions on topics related to the EU negotiations; making own contribution via electronic communication with the institutions; direct communication with the political parties; communication with MPs in the Assembly of the Republic of North Macedonia, and engagement in non-governmental organizations and other forms of association.

The survey research was conducted in October 2020 and the overall research paper “Civic Engagement in the Republic of North Macedonia, with Additional Overview on the COVID-19 Pandemic” is expected to be published soon.