solve the quality-of-life problems of the young people in Macedonia. ? The main parameters for economic growth – economic development, direct foreign investments, and technological development – are perceived as the main benefits gained from the European integration process. ? Young people recognize the EU as a very important stabilizing factor. ? Half of the young people in Macedonia consider that the European integration process will have a positive influence on traditional values and national identity. ? Young people in Macedonia show a strong personal affiliation with the European integration process and distinguish it as an essential factor in their own vision for the future. ? Expectations of the youth for the eventual accession of Macedonia to the European Union are realistic and coincide with expert opinions. ? The possibility of Macedonian membership in NATO enjoys strong support among the young people, which suggests a stronger positioning of the policy of approaching NATO. ? There is greater support for this process among ethnic Albanians than among ethnic Macedonians. ? More young Albanians perceive NATO membership as a guarantee of personal safety than do people of the same age from the Macedonian community. ? The operation of the UN agencies in Macedonia is not known enough among the young population, as a high percentage of young people do not recognize any influence of these agencies in the Macedonian society. ? The operation of the UN agencies is much more familiar to the young Albanians than to young Macedonians. Recommendations: ? Intensify the information campaign about Macedonia's EU accession process, with a special emphasis on targeting the youth. ? Provide more detailed information to the young population about the achievements resulting from the European integration process, supported by objective media coverage of the debate for the absorption power of the European Union. ? Strengthen the reform process towards providing the youth in Macedonia complementarity with the youth of the European Union. ? Enhance the administrative capacities for the management of the European-accession funds in the direction of providing real economic development. ? Provide a higher level of information to the young people about the role of the EU in Macedonia, and, foremost, the values and ideas which it represents. ? Provide a continuous stream of information to young people about the advantages of NATO membership, as well as about NATO's role in the regional and global context. ? Strengthen efforts to establish greater trust among the young Albanians in the domestic institutions of public safety. ? Intensify public access to and communication about the various projects implemented by the United Nations agencies. ? Determine and analyse reasons for the weak perception of the role of the UN agencies among ethnic Macedonians. Friedrich Ebert Stiftung 31