The Western Balkans countries are characterised by declining populations driven by low birth rates, ageing populations, and ongoing emigration. Emigration from the region has been constant since the 1990s, evolving from irregular, low- to medium-skilled labour migration to regular family reunification, international students, and high-skilled labour migration.
In 2020, the European Training Foundation (ETF), together with the Vienna Institute for International Economic Studies (wiiw), launched...