Economic convergence with the European Union (EU) remains a strategic priority for the Western Balkan economies. All six Western Balkan economies are EU candidates or potential candidates, and convergence with EU economic standards and levels of development is an important part of their integration and accession trajectory. Economic convergence is also a key element of the regional co-operation agenda promoted through the Berlin Process, which aims to bring the Western Balkans closer to the EU economically and institutionally.
Developed in the context of the Berlin Process, the Economic Convergence Scoreboard provides an evidence base for monitoring progress towards economic convergence and supporting the region’s path towards EU integration. Building on the first full edition published in 2025, the Economic Convergence Scoreboard for the Western Balkans 2026 further advances the framework for assessing the region's convergence with the European Union across six policy clusters, while expanding its coverage through new indicators on business dynamism and the quality of foreign investment, gender gaps in employment, patent activity, cybersecurity, air pollution and 4G penetration.
The 2026 edition notably introduces, for the first time, a dedicated cluster on macro-financial stability, capturing the broader macroeconomic conditions that underpin sustainable growth and convergence. In addition, the Scoreboard features a new benchmark group comprising neighbouring EU Member States with comparable geographical and cultural characteristics. This provides an additional relevant reference point for understanding the region’s performance and convergence dynamics, complementing comparisons with the EU as a whole.
Complementing the OECD’s flagship policy analysis, notably the Competitiveness Outlook and SME Policy Index, this report aims to help governments across the Western Balkans identify key reform areas where policy efforts need to be intensified to accelerate economic growth, strengthen resilience, and advance the region’s integration with the European Union.
The OECD would like to thank the governments and statistical offices of the Western Balkan economies for their valuable contributions to the preparation of this edition, including the provision of data and insights. Their continued engagement and co-operation have been essential to strengthening the evidence base for the region’s convergence agenda. The OECD also gratefully acknowledges the financial support provided by the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of Bulgaria and Romania, which made this work possible.