All countries, overall, 2025

Governance overall, 2025, % of EU

Albania led the region in the Environment area in 2025, at 60% of the EU average, followed by North Macedonia and Montenegro, at 54% and 50%. Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina stood at 38% and 35%, while Kosovo was furthest behind, at 26%.

Governance overall, annual change in 2025

Changes in the Environment area were minimal in 2025. Serbia and North Macedonia improved marginally, by 0.2 pp and 0.1 pp, while Albania and Montenegro stagnated. Kosovo and Bosnia and Herzegovina slipped back, by 0.2 pp and 0.4 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, all six countries are around a century or more away from the EU level in the Environment area. Kosovo would need 99 years, while the other five countries are more than 100 years away.

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)

Premature deaths due to PM 2.5 in 2025 were lowest in Montenegro, at 142 per 100,000 population aged 30+, followed by Kosovo, at 172. Serbia, Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina stood at 188-199, while North Macedonia had the highest rate, at 222.

Voice and accountability, 2025, % of EU

All six countries perform poorly on this indicator relative to the EU average. Montenegro was closest to the EU level, at 40%, followed by Kosovo, at 33%. Serbia, Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina stood at 28-30% and North Macedonia at 25%.

Voice and accountability, annual change in 2025

Only Kosovo and Montenegro improved relative to the EU in 2025, by 4.8 pp and 3.1 pp. North Macedonia and Bosnia and Herzegovina slipped back by 0.1 pp and 0.7 pp, while Serbia and Albania saw larger declines, of 2.0 pp and 5.6 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, Kosovo would reach the EU level in 26 years and Montenegro in around 6 decades. Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia 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)

The renewable energy share in 2025 was highest in Albania, at 97.3% of total capacity, followed by Montenegro, at 80.4%. North Macedonia and Bosnia and Herzegovina stood at 58.8% and 51.4% and Serbia at 40.9%, while Kosovo had by far the lowest share, at 17.2%.

Political stability, 2025, % of EU

Albania and Montenegro are well above the EU average, at 159% and 132% of the EU level, while North Macedonia is close to it, at 96%. Bosnia and Herzegovina stood at 84% and Serbia at 67%, while Kosovo was far behind, at 28%.

Political stability, annual change in 2025

Only Serbia and North Macedonia improved relative to the EU in 2025, by 1.5 pp and 0.6 pp. Kosovo and Bosnia and Herzegovina fell back by 1.2 pp and 2.6 pp, while Montenegro and Albania saw the largest declines, of 5.1 pp and 7.2 pp, though both remain well above the EU level.

Years to EU level at the average 2025 progress rate

CountryYears to EU

Albania12

Bosnia & HerzegovinaDiverging

KosovoDiverging

Montenegro2

North Macedonia6

SerbiaDiverging

Albania and Montenegro have already converged with the EU average. At the pace of improvement from the past 5 years, North Macedonia would reach the EU level in 5 years and Kosovo in around 8 decades, while Bosnia and Herzegovina 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)

Energy intensity in 2025 was lowest in Albania, at 161 KGOE per thousand euro of GDP, followed by North Macedonia and Montenegro, at 236 and 239. Serbia and Kosovo stood at 313 and 338, while Bosnia and Herzegovina had the highest intensity, at 359.

Government effectiveness, 2025, % of EU

Relative to the EU average, Albania performed best, at 59% of the EU level, followed by North Macedonia and Montenegro, at 40% and 39%. Serbia, Kosovo and Bosnia and Herzegovina were furthest behind, at 26-30%.

Government effectiveness, annual change in 2025

4 of the 6 countries improved relative to the EU in 2025. North Macedonia recorded the largest gain, of 2.9 pp, followed by Albania, Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, with 0.6-0.8 pp. Montenegro and Kosovo fell back, by 1.0 pp and 1.1 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 around 6 decades, while Bosnia and Herzegovina and North Macedonia are more than 100 years away. Kosovo, Montenegro and Serbia are diverging from the EU average.

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)

Carbon intensity in 2025 was lowest in Albania, at 317 KG per thousand euro of GDP, followed by Montenegro, at 495, and North Macedonia, at 607. Serbia stood at 825, while Kosovo and Bosnia and Herzegovina had the highest intensity, at 995 and 1,009.

Regulatory quality, 2025, % of EU

Relative to the EU average, Albania performed best, at 54% of the EU level, followed by Montenegro, at 35%, and North Macedonia, at 28%. Serbia stood at 21%, while Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo were furthest behind, both at 17%.

Regulatory quality, annual change in 2025

5 of the 6 countries improved relative to the EU in 2025. North Macedonia recorded the largest gain, of 2.6 pp, while Kosovo, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro improved by 0.3-0.5 pp. Albania slipped back marginally, by 0.1 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, Albania would reach the EU level in almost 9 decades. All the other countries are 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)

The share of recovered waste in 2025 was highest in Serbia and North Macedonia, at 32.3% and 29.2% of total diverted waste. Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina stood at 23.6% and 18.2%, while Montenegro and Kosovo had by far the lowest shares, at 5.0% and 3.2%.

Rule of law, 2025, % of EU

Relative to the EU average, Serbia and North Macedonia performed best, at 41% and 37% of the EU level. Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina stood at 30% and 23%, while Montenegro and Kosovo were far behind, at just 6% and 4%.

Rule of law, annual change in 2025

Serbia was the only country to improve relative to the EU in 2025, by a sizeable 14.7 pp. Kosovo and Albania slipped back marginally, by 0.1 pp and 0.2 pp, and North Macedonia and Montenegro by 0.7 pp and 1.4 pp, while Bosnia and Herzegovina saw the largest decline, of 7.5 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, Serbia would reach the EU level in 13 years and Bosnia and Herzegovina in around 5 decades. Albania would need almost a century and Kosovo more than 100 years, while Montenegro and North Macedonia are 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)

Protected areas in 2025 covered the largest share of land in North Macedonia, at 26.3%, followed by Albania and Montenegro, at 23.1% and 21.7%. Kosovo, Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina had much lower shares, at 9.0-11.6%.

Control of corruption, 2025, % of EU

Relative to the EU average, North Macedonia was almost at the EU level, at 98%, followed by Albania and Montenegro, at 86% and 81%. Kosovo and Serbia stood at 43% and 40%, while Bosnia and Herzegovina was furthest behind, at 33%.

Control of corruption, annual change in 2025

Changes were minimal in 2025. Serbia was the only country to improve relative to the EU, by 0.8 pp. Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo and Montenegro stagnated, while Albania and North Macedonia slipped back marginally, by 0.1 pp each.

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 just 1 year. Albania and Montenegro would need 36 and 58 years, and Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia more than 100 years, while Kosovo is diverging from the EU average.