All countries, overall, 2025

Governance overall, 2025, % of EU

Montenegro led the region in the Governance area in 2025, at 79% of the EU average. Albania and North Macedonia followed, both at 72%, and Kosovo and Serbia at 69% and 66%, while Bosnia and Herzegovina was furthest behind, at 59%.

Governance overall, annual change in 2025

3 of the 6 countries improved relative to the EU average in 2025. Montenegro recorded the largest gain, of 2.3 pp, followed by Albania and North Macedonia, with 1.6 pp and 1.2 pp. Kosovo stagnated, while Bosnia and Herzegovina slipped back by 0.2 pp and Serbia fell back by 1.5 pp.

Years to EU level at the average 2025 progress rate

CountryYears to EU

Albania37

Bosnia & Herzegovina96

Kosovo33

Montenegro26

North Macedonia31

SerbiaDiverging

At the pace of improvement from the past 5 years, Montenegro would reach the EU level in the Governance area in 26 years, and North Macedonia, Kosovo and Albania in 31-37 years. Bosnia and Herzegovina would need almost a century, while Serbia is diverging from the EU average.

Voice and accountability

Voice and accountability, 2025

CountryValueUnit

Albania49.8Index estimate (0-100)

Bosnia & Herzegovina42.1Index estimate (0-100)

Kosovo53.2Index estimate (0-100)

Montenegro57.8Index estimate (0-100)

North Macedonia51.5Index estimate (0-100)

Serbia40.7Index estimate (0-100)

Voice and accountability in 2025 was highest in Montenegro, at 57.8 index points (0–100 scale), followed by Kosovo, at 53.2. North Macedonia and Albania stood at 51.5 and 49.8, while Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia had the lowest scores, at 42.1 and 40.7.

Voice and accountability, 2025, % of EU

Relative to the EU average, Montenegro scored highest, at 79% of the EU level, followed by Kosovo, at 73%. North Macedonia and Albania stood at 70% and 68%, while Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia were furthest behind, at 58% and 56%.

Voice and accountability, annual change in 2025

4 of the 6 countries improved relative to the EU in 2025. Montenegro recorded the largest gain, of 4.7 pp, followed by North Macedonia, with 2.0 pp, Bosnia and Herzegovina, with 1.3 pp, and Albania, with 0.6 pp. Kosovo slipped back by 0.3 pp, while Serbia saw the largest decline, of 2.5 pp.

Years to EU level at the average 2025 progress rate

CountryYears to EU

AlbaniaDiverging

Bosnia & Herzegovina100+

Kosovo89

Montenegro15

North Macedonia35

SerbiaDiverging

At the pace of improvement from the past 5 years, Montenegro would reach the EU level in 15 years and North Macedonia in 35 years. Kosovo would need almost 9 decades and Bosnia and Herzegovina more than 100 years, while Albania and Serbia are diverging from the EU average.

Political stability

Political stability, 2025

CountryValueUnit

Albania50.4Index estimate (0-100)

Bosnia & Herzegovina40Index estimate (0-100)

Kosovo43.6Index estimate (0-100)

Montenegro56.6Index estimate (0-100)

North Macedonia53.1Index estimate (0-100)

Serbia46.6Index estimate (0-100)

Political stability in 2025 was highest in Montenegro, at 56.6 index points (0–100 scale), followed by North Macedonia and Albania, at 53.1 and 50.4. Serbia and Kosovo stood at 46.6 and 43.6, while Bosnia and Herzegovina had the lowest score, at 40.

Political stability, 2025, % of EU

Relative to the EU average, Montenegro was almost at the EU level, at 95%, followed by North Macedonia, at 89%, and Albania, at 84%. Serbia and Kosovo stood at 78% and 73%, while Bosnia and Herzegovina was furthest behind, at 67%.

Political stability, annual change in 2025

3 of the 6 countries improved relative to the EU in 2025. Montenegro recorded the largest gain, of 6.5 pp, followed by Albania, with 3.7 pp, and North Macedonia, with 2.0 pp. Kosovo fell back by 2.5 pp, while Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina saw larger declines, of 4.7 pp and 6.6 pp.

Years to EU level at the average 2025 progress rate

CountryYears to EU

Albania12

Bosnia & HerzegovinaDiverging

KosovoDiverging

Montenegro2

North Macedonia6

SerbiaDiverging

At the pace of improvement from the past 5 years, Montenegro would reach the EU level in just 2 years, North Macedonia in 6 years and Albania in 12 years. Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo and Serbia are diverging from the EU average.

Government effectiveness

Government effectiveness, 2025

CountryValueUnit

Albania56.2Index estimate (0-100)

Bosnia & Herzegovina37.3Index estimate (0-100)

Kosovo48.8Index estimate (0-100)

Montenegro57.3Index estimate (0-100)

North Macedonia49.4Index estimate (0-100)

Serbia52Index estimate (0-100)

Government effectiveness in 2025 was highest in Montenegro and Albania, at 57.3 and 56.2 index points (0–100 scale), followed by Serbia, at 52. North Macedonia and Kosovo stood at 49.4 and 48.8, while Bosnia and Herzegovina had the lowest score, at 37.3.

Government effectiveness, 2025, % of EU

Relative to the EU average, Montenegro and Albania scored highest, at 80% and 78% of the EU level, followed by Serbia, at 72%. North Macedonia and Kosovo stood at 69% and 68%, while Bosnia and Herzegovina was far behind, at 52%.

Government effectiveness, annual change in 2025

3 of the 6 countries improved relative to the EU in 2025. Montenegro recorded the largest gain, of 2.6 pp, while Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina improved more modestly, by 0.6 pp and 0.3 pp. Serbia stagnated, while North Macedonia and Kosovo fell back by 1.5 pp and 1.9 pp.

Years to EU level at the average 2025 progress rate

CountryYears to EU

Albania13

Bosnia & Herzegovina53

Kosovo21

Montenegro21

North Macedonia61

Serbia100+

At the pace of improvement from the past 5 years, Albania would reach the EU level in 13 years, and Kosovo and Montenegro in 21 years. Bosnia and Herzegovina and North Macedonia would need 53 and 61 years, while Serbia is more than 100 years away.

Regulatory quality

Regulatory quality, 2025

CountryValueUnit

Albania52.7Index estimate (0-100)

Bosnia & Herzegovina43Index estimate (0-100)

Kosovo45.5Index estimate (0-100)

Montenegro52.5Index estimate (0-100)

North Macedonia55.3Index estimate (0-100)

Serbia51.6Index estimate (0-100)

Regulatory quality in 2025 was highest in North Macedonia, at 55.3 index points (0–100 scale). Albania, Montenegro and Serbia followed closely, at 51.6-52.7, while Kosovo and Bosnia and Herzegovina had the lowest scores, at 45.5 and 43.

Regulatory quality, 2025, % of EU

Relative to the EU average, North Macedonia scored highest, at 78% of the EU level, followed by Albania, Montenegro and Serbia, at 73-74%. Kosovo and Bosnia and Herzegovina were furthest behind, at 64% and 61%.

Regulatory quality, annual change in 2025

5 of the 6 countries improved relative to the EU in 2025. Kosovo recorded the largest gain, of 5.0 pp, followed by Albania and North Macedonia, with 2.4 pp and 2.3 pp. Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia improved only marginally, by 0.3 pp and 0.2 pp. Montenegro was the only country to fall back, by 1.6 pp.

Years to EU level at the average 2025 progress rate

CountryYears to EU

Albania42

Bosnia & Herzegovina87

Kosovo31

MontenegroDiverging

North Macedonia27

Serbia61

At the pace of improvement from the past 5 years, North Macedonia and Kosovo would reach the EU level in around 3 decades (27 and 31 years), and Albania in 42 years. Serbia would need around 6 decades and Bosnia and Herzegovina almost 9, while Montenegro is diverging from the EU average.

Rule of law

Rule of law, 2025

CountryValueUnit

Albania47.6Index estimate (0-100)

Bosnia & Herzegovina43.6Index estimate (0-100)

Kosovo51Index estimate (0-100)

Montenegro53.6Index estimate (0-100)

North Macedonia45.5Index estimate (0-100)

Serbia46Index estimate (0-100)

Rule of law in 2025 was strongest in Montenegro and Kosovo, at 53.6 and 51 index points (0–100 scale). Albania, Serbia and North Macedonia stood at 45.5-47.6, while Bosnia and Herzegovina had the lowest score, at 43.6.

Rule of law, 2025, % of EU

Relative to the EU average, Montenegro and Kosovo scored highest, at 75% and 71% of the EU level. Albania stood at 67% and North Macedonia and Serbia at 64%, while Bosnia and Herzegovina was furthest behind, at 61%.

Rule of law, annual change in 2025

5 of the 6 countries improved relative to the EU in 2025. Kosovo recorded the largest gain, of 2.6 pp, followed by Montenegro, North Macedonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Albania, with 0.9-1.5 pp. Serbia was the only country to fall back, by 0.5 pp.

Years to EU level at the average 2025 progress rate

CountryYears to EU

Albania32

Bosnia & Herzegovina81

Kosovo12

Montenegro37

North Macedonia85

SerbiaDiverging

At the pace of improvement from the past 5 years, Kosovo would reach the EU level in 12 years, and Albania and Montenegro in 32 and 37 years. Bosnia and Herzegovina and North Macedonia would need more than 8 decades, while Serbia is diverging from the EU average.

Control of corruption

Control of corruption, 2025

CountryValueUnit

Albania41.6Index estimate (0-100)

Bosnia & Herzegovina39.7Index estimate (0-100)

Kosovo44.9Index estimate (0-100)

Montenegro48.8Index estimate (0-100)

North Macedonia43.4Index estimate (0-100)

Serbia38.8Index estimate (0-100)

Control of corruption in 2025 was highest in Montenegro, at 48.8 index points (0–100 scale), followed by Kosovo, at 44.9. North Macedonia and Albania stood at 43.4 and 41.6, while Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia had the lowest scores, at 39.7 and 38.8.

Control of corruption, 2025, % of EU

Relative to the EU average, Montenegro scored highest, at 70% of the EU level, followed by Kosovo and North Macedonia, at 64% and 62%. Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina stood at 59% and 57%, and Serbia at 55%.

Control of corruption, annual change in 2025

4 of the 6 countries improved relative to the EU in 2025. Bosnia and Herzegovina recorded the largest gain, of 2.6 pp, followed by Albania, with 1.3 pp, while North Macedonia and Montenegro improved by 0.8 pp and 0.4 pp. Serbia and Kosovo fell back, by 1.6 pp and 2.9 pp.

Years to EU level at the average 2025 progress rate

CountryYears to EU

Albania58

Bosnia & Herzegovina58

Kosovo66

Montenegro100+

North Macedonia49

SerbiaDiverging

At the pace of improvement from the past 5 years, North Macedonia would reach the EU level in around 5 decades, Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina in 58 years and Kosovo in 66 years. Montenegro is more than 100 years away, while Serbia is diverging from the EU average.