Over the past decade, the WB6 economies have converged unevenly towards the EU across the six policy clusters of the 2026 Scoreboard, including the newly introduced Macro-Financial Stability cluster. Nonetheless, progress remains uneven across the six clusters, with some clusters exhibiting stagnating or diverging trend.
Macro-financial stability reduces uncertainty and lowers the cost of capital, creating the conditions necessary for sustained economic growth and private investment.
Note: A score of 100 indicates full compliance with the EU's macro-financial stability criteria; scores below 100 signal a growing distance from these reference values.
Infrastructure and connectivity enable the efficient movement of goods, services and people, improving access to markets and boosting economic activities
Skills contribute to workforce productivity and adaptability, enabling economies to adopt and innovate with new technologies
A competitive business environment promotes investment, fosters entrepreneurship and cultivates an ecosystem where businesses can operate efficiently
Digital transformation enhances productivity, innovation and access to information, enabling economies to modernise and compete effectively
Greening economies ensures the sustainability of economic growth, reducing environmental risks and fostering resource efficiency
Albania ranks fourth among Western Balkan economies in overall convergence with the EU. The economy leads the region in the Greening cluster and has recorded its largest gains in the Infrastructure and Connectivity, Business Environment and Digital Transformation clusters.
Bosnia and Herzegovina ranks fifth among Western Balkan economies in overall convergence with the EU. The economy leads the region in the Macro-financial Stability cluster, the only Western Balkan economy to achieve full compliance with the relevant EU reference values and has recorded its largest gains in the Business Environment cluster.
Kosovo remains the lowest-ranked Western Balkan economy in overall convergence with the EU, despite recording the region's fastest convergence. The economy has recorded its largest gains in the Business Environment cluster, while Greening remains its lowest-ranked cluster.
North Macedonia ranks third among Western Balkan economies in overall convergence with the EU. The economy recorded its largest gains in the Business Environment cluster, while declining performance in Skills, Greening, and Macro-financial Stability weighed on overall convergence.
Montenegro is the region's top-ranked economy in overall convergence with the EU. The economy leads the region in the Business Environment cluster, while performance in Greening has recorded the region’s steepest divergence.
Serbia shows the region's second-highest overall convergence with the EU. The economy leads the region in three of the six policy clusters: Infrastructure and Connectivity, Skills and Digital Transformation. Nonetheless, Greening remains Serbia's most challenging policy area, with performance declining further over time.
*This designation is without prejudice to positions on status, and is in line with United Nations Security Council Resolution 1244/99 and the Advisory Opinion of the International Court of Justice on Kosovo's declaration of independence.