KEY FINDINGS • There is an obvious discrepancy between popular perception in the Western Balkans about the need for regional security cooperation and the actual state of cooperation among the countries of the Western Balkans. While surveys show strong public support for regional security cooperation, many obstacles prevent the intensification of security cooperation. • Surveys show especially strong support in dealing with common challenges such as combatting organized crime, terrorism, the natural disasters and of cybercrime. Albanian Security Barometer shows that 79.6%, of the respondents think that Albania should develop closer cooperation with all Balkan countries. Securimeter, as well, found out that 70 percent of the public in the Western Balkans supports some sort of regional security cooperation. • The majority of respondents in Albania see the lack of cooperation between the countries of the Western Balkans as an obstacle to dealing with security challenges. Albanian Security Barometer found out that 72.3% of the respondents think that relations between the Balkan states are currently affected by the lack of cooperation. • Citizens of the Western Balkans seem to attribute the responsibility for tensions and conflicts, to leaders, political parties and politicians in general. This is confirmed independently by‘Albanian Security Barometer’ and‘2022 Western Balkans Regional Survey’ of the International Republican Institute’s Center for Insights in Survey Research. 5