The charts include data on six current and potential candidates from the Western Balkans: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Kosovo, Montenegro and Serbia. The EU has opened negotiations with two of them – Montenegro and Serbia – while the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Albania have officially obtained candidate country status.
Figures show that high unemployment is a common concern in the region, as is corruption and a lack of media freedom. However, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Montenegro score relatively well in terms of favorable business environment.
Data on population, gross domestic product, unemployment and exports to and imports from the EU come from Eurostat; perceptions of corruption are an index developed by Transparency International; the organization Reporters Without Borders provides the Press Freedom Index, and the World Bank ranks countries based on how business-friendly they are.
Watch live plenary debates on Montenegro, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Serbia and Kosovo on Tuesday evening.
