Youth brain drain from the Western Balkans, the Eastern Partnership and Türkiye (2024)

Table of Contents

• _heading=h.3rdcrjn 9
• _heading=h.26in1rg 9
• _heading=h.17dp8vu 20
• _heading=h.1fob9te 20
• _heading=h.3znysh7 20
• _heading=h.35nkun2 20
• _heading=h.z337ya 20
• _Hlk173838505 46
• Executive summary 6
• 1. Aim and methodology 8
• 1.1. Aim of the study 8
• 1.2. Methodological framework 9
• 2. Youth brain drain: from theory to practice 10
• 2.1 Western Balkans 11
• 2.2. Eastern Partnership 14
• 2.3. Türkiye 19
• 3. Analysis of the causes of youth brain drain within the Western Balkans, the Eastern Partnership and Türkiye 22
• 3.1. Challenges in using education, skill-sector 23
• mismatches and lack of job satisfaction 23
• 3.2. Perceived lack of future opportunities, 24
• trust issues and a sense of insecurity 24
• 3.3. Geopolitical concerns 25
• 3.4. Normalisation of emigration 26
• in youth discourse and life projects 26
• 3.5. Rising social conservatism 27
• 4. Consequences of youth brain drain within the Western Balkans, the Eastern Partnership and Türkiye 30
• 4.1. Ageing society and social imbalance 30
• 4.2. Loss of human capital and labour market imbalance 31
• 4.3. Resentful youth 32
• 4.4. Weakened youth sector 34
• 5. Interventions on youth brain drain: needs and possible policy responses 36
• Need 1 – Strengthening trust, the social ties of 37
• young people and their sense of belonging 37
• Need 2 – Aligning policies and strategies 38
• Need 3 – Increasing non-formal education opportunities 38
• Need 4 – Strengthening cross-sectoral and holistic 39
• approaches to combating brain drain 39
• Need 5 – Addressing the fragility of the youth sector 39
• Need 6 – Addressing lack of spaces and infrastructure 40
• Conclusion 42
• Biographies 44
• References 46