2023-12-04 16:42:02
Sarajevo. Regional Cooperation Council Secretary General Majlinda Bregu announced that approximately one fifth of the population born in the Western Balkans now lives abroad, and that the working age population in the region has decreased by more than 400 thousand people in the last five years.
Bregu predicts that the Western Balkans region will lose between a quarter and half of its skilled and educated young citizens in the coming decades. “We know all the factors that lead to the migration of qualified young people, from high unemployment and poverty to marginalization.” said. Bregu also emphasized the appeal of geographical proximity to the European Union and the fact that some member states are encouraging the arrival of highly skilled immigrants from the Western Balkans.
Pointing out that the cost of brain drain to the country is quite high, Bregu said: „Will the Western Balkans continue to produce free labor for others, or will we create an environment where our young people want to stay?“ asked. The average cost of higher education per capita is 18,000 euros in Albania and over 34,000 euros in Serbia. Bosnia and Herzegovina spends more than 50 million euros annually to train healthcare personnel, and some of these personnel can work abroad.
Bregu: “Western Balkans may soon become an aging society”
This year’s Balkan Barometer survey reveals that 47 percent of young people see employment opportunities as the most important area to which the government should pay more attention. This area is followed by education with 38 percent and security with 26 percent. Bregu pointed out that the research also showed that 70.6 percent of participants aged 18-25 are considering living and working abroad. Bregu, „If these intentions come true, the Western Balkans could soon become an aging society“ he warned.
According to Bregu, who points out that quick action is needed to counter this development, improving relations with the diaspora and using immigration may be good options. Time will tell whether these solutions will work and whether the alarming migration situation in the Western Balkans can be stopped. (yenivatan.at)
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