Albania’s accession to the European Union (EU) remains a strategic national priority, reflecting the country’s enduring commitment to democratic consolidation, economic modernization, and institutional alignment with EU standards. In line with the EU’s evolving enlargement methodology, the integration process increasingly follows a whole-of-society approach, recognizing that sustainable progress depends on the active participation of all societal sectors. Within this framework, youth are positioned not merely as future EU citizens but as essential drivers of democratic development, social innovation, and civic engagement.

This policy paper series, developed by ESN Tirana, adopts a mixed-methods research design that combines quantitative and qualitative analyses to examine youth perceptions of Albania’s EU integration process. The analysis draws on data from the ESN Albania Survey on Youth Perceptions of European Integration, conducted by the Erasmus Student Network (ESN) Albania between April and June 2025. The survey explored how young people in Albania perceive, understand, and engage with the European Union and the country’s integration trajectory.

This Policy Paper explores multiple dimensions of youth awareness and engagement with the EU, including exposure to EU news, understanding of EU politics, familiarity with accession procedures, participation in EU programs, and perceptions of the EU's role in foreign affairs and situates these findings in a broader European context. By combining descriptive analysis with statistical testing, the study seeks to paint a nuanced picture of Albanian youth: generally enthusiastic and pro-European, yet unevenly informed and facing real barriers to meaningful participation.

However, all the efforts point toward a shared goal; Albanian youth are eager for EU integration, and the EU is equally eager to involve and invest in them.