Selim Ibraimi- Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama and Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić, in an opinion piece in the German newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (FAZ), have expressed their views on the EU integration process without putting too much pressure on the current EU structure.
Some critics have argued that these positions imply that Serbia and now Albania do not want full EU membership. “Extending participation in Schengen and the Common Market to prepared candidate countries could bring tangible benefits to citizens, while simultaneously strengthening the economic and geopolitical position of the union,” the article says.
In addition to these dilemmas, the current governments also have other domestic and very serious issues, such as population outflows.
Can the new plans of Albania and Serbia, without excluding other Balkan countries, stop the brain drain and traditional emigration? It is not very clear because a large population has already left for EU countries and integrated into their societies.
Some analysts close to the governments have argued. They believe that the positions of the two Balkan leaders align with current geopolitical realities. They are also in line with economic realities.
In comparison to Serbia, which has stagnated in its efforts towards the EU. The reasons are political and due to double standards, not because of any obstacles from Brussels. Albania has no such obstacles. Albania needs only to fulfill the reforms required by the union. Rama’s appearance in the FAZ is necessary and not uncommon at this time. Therefore, this position of Prime Minister Edi Rama is seen as a setback from the goals of his government.
There are differences and common points. Young people and the educated class are leaving these Balkan countries. Current measures and ideas expressed in the FAZ can hardly prevent this.
Many people have emigrated for various reasons from ancient times to modern times. They often hope that one day they will return to their homelands. But this return remained only in their dreams.
In Western Europe and the Middle East, including the Balkans, leaving the homeland has been a historical process. This process could not be prevented.
The population first left the region after the Ottoman conquest of the Balkans. This departure occurred especially in the year 1500. Then, between 1881 and 1943, thousands of people emigrated to the USA. At the same historical stage, with the dissolution of the Ottoman Empire, another massive influx began, not only towards Turkey.
Meanwhile, population displacements occurred within the Balkan territory after the arrival of Slavic tribes. This is another topic.
A large silent wave of emigration occurred after the end of the Second World War (WWII) and the Cold War.
First, the Balkan wars displaced the affected population within the former Yugoslav space. Many people also moved to Western Europe. This later led to a massive exodus to those countries.
After 1991, emigration was carried out for political, economic, and security reasons.
Later, the debate continued about how to prevent emigration. This issue was especially critical for young people with diplomas. Due to a lack of opportunities, they were forced to leave their homeland.
The same causes that encouraged emigration after 1991 were additional factors for an even greater exodus after 2000.
The next phase was from 2000 to the present day. We have a more advanced emigration. Young professionals had no other choice but to leave the countries. They left for better living conditions and professional advancement. The worst period is estimated to be when the educated part of the Balkans was forced to leave. After 2015, this group massively migrated from the Balkans with diplomas to European countries.
The modern or last decade’s migration is to continue.
In North Macedonia and in the Balkans in general, governments have adopted plans to prevent this trend.
Specifically, they are very far from drafting policies to prevent the migration of the mentioned category.
Otherwise, this is seen as a negative trend with no end in sight. It affects not only North Macedonia but also the entire Balkans.
Albania, Kosovo, North Macedonia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina are most affected.
According to data from international institutions, young people from the Balkans are leaving their countries. They cite poor social conditions and nepotism as reasons for leaving.
Balkan countries have lost about 25 percent of their population since 1990. According to World Bank data, this loss equates to about 5 million inhabitants. The ideas of Prime Minister Rama and President Vučić will have short-term effects. They do not address the systemic factors of the mass exodus of the population.
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