Skopje – According to the research “Analysis of Public Opinion on the Accession of North Macedonia to the European Union (2014 – 2025)” conducted by the Institute for Democracy – “Societas Civilis” – Skopje, 71 percent of the population now supports EU membership, representing an increase of nearly ten percent from last year.
The main findings reveal a slight rise in Euroscepticism, with those expressing such views increasing from 11 to 14 percent, while the number of undecided and apathetic respondents has significantly decreased in the past year.
The support gap for EU membership between the two largest ethnic groups, ethnic Macedonians and ethnic Albanians, has narrowed. Currently, 71 percent of ethnic Macedonians support the country’s EU candidacy, marking a 15 percent increase from the previous year.
Support for EU aspirations among ethnic Albanians remains strong, with 76 percent expressing positivity towards EU membership in 2025, although this reflects an 8 percent decline from the previous year.
The research indicates that 40 percent of the population believes the country is prepared for EU membership, while over 60 percent feel that progress has been made in the accession process over the past year. Notably, 46 percent of respondents view obstructions from neighboring countries as the primary barrier to North Macedonia’s EU aspirations.
The proportion of respondents hopeful that the country will achieve EU membership within the next 3–5 years has risen to 30 percent in 2025, while 19 percent remain pessimistic about the prospects for EU integration.
Anamarija Velinovska, a researcher at the Center for European Integrations at IDSCS, pointed out that the initial part of the research reflects citizens’ perspectives on the accession process and necessary steps.
– Our three-year observation indicates that support for constitutional amendments remains stagnant at 24 percent, highlighting a significant divide between ethnic Macedonians (11 percent in favor) and ethnic Albanians (57 percent in favor) – Velinovska noted.
Marko Troshanovski, president of ICDS, stated that for the first time this year, support for the EU has notably increased and now exceeds 70 percent after several years of decline.
– Additionally, the number of citizens believing that Macedonia should remain passive regarding the enlargement process has decreased from 29 percent in 2023 to 21 percent, indicating a desire for more governmental engagement in European integration – Troshanovski remarked.
He added that it is noteworthy that the EU continues to be viewed as the most important and influential ally for the country, especially amid current geopolitical challenges, leading citizens to favor the option that promises the greatest security and prospects for the future. (28 January 2026)
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