Skopje, 27 December 2023 (MIA) - The latest survey by the Prespa Institute has shown that majority of citizens see Serbia as North Macedonia's biggest friend but EU has also seen a rise in this regard.

Prespa Institute executive director Andreja Stojkovski said Wednesday that people's emotions are beginning to stabilize in the post-pandemic period and the country's EU accession blockades, leading to a rise in the Euro-optimism.

"This is the second survey in 2023, six months apart from the first one. We asked citizens about their observations on foreign relations and foreign policy, cooperation with various countries and values we share. Considering past cycles, we can see a stabilizing trend of emotions and feelings in the post-pandemic period and the country's EU accession blockades. Serbia is again seen by majority of citizens as the country's biggest friend," said Stojkovski.

Compared to the May survey, when 60 percent of respondents said they would vote 'Yes' at a referendum on joining the EU, the percentage has now risen to 67. Furthermore, 60 percent said EU is the best option for Macedonia in the May survey, compared to the 70 percent who favor this option in the latest research.

"We also asked what they consider as an alternative option and got various responses - Eurasian Union, BRICS, Unaligned, Yugoslavia, Balkan union or Open Balkan," said Stojkovski.

He added that a large portion of the parties from the ethnic Macedonian bloc and almost all parties from the ethnic Albanian bloc consider the EU as the best option for the country.

"A large cluster of political parties of about 90 percent consider the EU as the best option for Macedonia. VMRO-DPMNE voters sees 'the EU as best option' in smaller values, while those of Levica in insignificant values," said Stojkovski.

Photo: MIA