Serbia is stagnating on the path to EU, has not opened for many years no cluster, but despite this, public support membership in the European family, there is a slight increase.
It is most pronounced among young people, according to a regular public opinion poll conducted in January 2026 for the Delegation of the European Union in Serbia, the European House announced.
According to the results of the research, 45 percent of citizens would vote for Serbia's membership in the EU if the referendum were held tomorrow, which is two percentage points more than last year, while 32 percent would be against it.
At the same time, the European Union is still recognized as Serbia's biggest donor, its main trading partner and the leading source of foreign investments.
Support for EU membership is still highest among young people aged 18 to 29, where it is more than 63 percent, while it is lowest among citizens over 60, where support is around 30 percent, which, as stated, indicates a pronounced generation gap.
What are the advantages of EU membership?
Respondents most often cite a higher standard of living, freedom of movement, strengthening the rule of law and the fight against corruption as the main advantages of EU membership. Corruption, organized crime and economic problems were simultaneously identified as the most important challenges facing Serbian society.
The survey also shows that the largest share of respondents in the last seven years who believe that the European Union will survive and have new member states was recorded, which is interpreted as an increase in confidence in the future of the Union and the enlargement process.
At the same time, some citizens still believe that the EU is imposing new conditions on Serbia, that the recognition of Kosovo is a prerequisite for membership, or that the Union does not want Serbia as a future member. The research also indicates a high exposure to disinformation, especially in connection with the war in Ukraine.
Basis for cautious optimism
The EU ambassador in Serbia, Andreas von Beckerat, assessed that the results of the survey give grounds for "cautious optimism", but also indicate the need for more objective and factual communication about the process of European integration.
"A growing number of citizens recognize that EU membership means better economic opportunities, stronger institutions and greater freedoms. At the same time, persistent misconceptions and misinformation continue to influence the public debate," said Von Beckerat.
The research was conducted by the Ninamedia agency from December 24, 2025 to January 11, 2026, using the direct survey method, on a representative sample of 1.501 respondents.
Source: FoNet
