CLOSER TO THE EU, FARTHER FROM LEAVING Miran Lavrič FIVE POINTS ON YOUTH MOBILITY AND MIGRATION IN SOUTHEAST EUROPE 2019 1 The intent of youth from SEE to emigrate remains high, ­although it has decreased in recent years in most countries. Economic reasons, negative perceptions of the home coun­try’s situation and positive perceptions of the EU are main factors motivating young people to emigrate. 2 Youth from EU Member States are substantially less motiva­ted for(long-term) emigration in comparison to youth from the WB6 countries. 4 Young people from SEE display a high level of readiness to integrate into the fabric of their societies of choice. 5 The vast majority of SEE youth have not stayed abroad for the purpose of education or training. Those that have, report increased civic and political engagement upon return but also exhibit a higher likelihood of emigration later on. 3 The extent of the brain drain problem varies significantly across countries. It appears to be strong in Albania and Montenegro, while in Bulgaria and Macedonia, youth with lower levels of cultural capital are more likely to emigrate.