Recent developments place Albania closer to the centre of the European project while Croatia, already a member, appears increasingly unsettled in the public eye.
On 17 November 2025, Albania opened its final negotiation cluster with the European Union, completing all six clusters in just 13 months.
Brussels described the pace as “consistent,” a diplomatic word that often masks something cultural. This contrast has much less to do with technical progress than with the atmosphere each country projects.
A Composed Approach in Albania
Albania has maintained an unusually moderate style in domestic politics.
Public life rarely turns into confrontation, and political actors present themselves as pragmatic, even when disagreements run deep.
Recent Eurobarometer surveys show 92% of Albanian citizens trust the EU, with 93% believing membership would bring more advantages than disadvantages. This collective preference for restraint has become part of the country's image.
Albania appears composed in a region Europeans often associate with volatility. It is a reputation built not on slogans but on everyday behaviour. Political quarrels exist everywhere, yet in Albania they seldom dominate public space. The result is a society that appears reliable in the eyes of institutions that value predictability.
There is a parallel with the way Morocco frames itself as a stable partner in the southern Mediterranean. Stability is presented as civic discipline rather than ideological victory.
Croatia’s Political Friction
Croatia, meanwhile, is moving in the opposite direction.
In May 2024, the ruling Croatian Democratic Union formed a coalition with the far-right Homeland Movement party, marking the first time radical-right forces entered government since independence.
The Homeland Movement won 14 seats in the April 2024 parliamentary elections, though internal splits later reduced this to 8 seats.
Reports from Balkan Insight describe a country where identity arguments have become dominant. Public debates drift among nationalism, religion and memory. These conversations do not revolve around Europe alone but touch upon Croatia’s own understanding of itself. This dynamism is not unusual for a young democracy that experienced war within living memory. It reflects a society negotiating the meaning of nationhood while navigating tourism-driven transformation.
Outside observers are sensitive to these tensions. When political arguments become highly visible, they overshadow practical governance. Stability then appears uncertain even if institutions remain functional. For a European Union that still sees the Balkans through old stereotypes, the contrast with Albania’s reserve is striking.
Temperament, Not Policy
Both countries follow their own paths, yet Europe interprets them through a common lens.
Stability and moderation are treated as cultural signals. Albania seems to speak the language Brussels wants to hear. Croatia sounds more unpredictable even when its policies remain aligned with European norms. The difference lies in presentation rather than direction.
This approach reveals something about Europe itself. Decision makers often evaluate countries not only by technical criteria but by the emotional atmosphere they project. When a society appears composed, decision makers perceive less risk.
When public debate becomes heated, they anticipate uncertainty. The judgement is cultural before it is political.
The Weight of the Past
Croatia’s visibility in European media reflects an unresolved relationship with its recent past.
Questions about identity and history continue to surface, particularly among younger generations. These debates are not a sign of weakness but of transition. However, they create noise at a moment when the European Union is seeking predictable partners.
Albania carries a very different memory. Decades of isolation and hardship taught several generations to avoid ideological extremes. The diaspora has added another dimension. Many Albanians have lived abroad, absorbing European norms and rejecting political drama. Remittances reinforce social stability and leave little space for radical movements.
Both countries have experienced trauma, yet their responses diverge. Croatia’s wounds are visible and public. Albania’s are internal and carefully managed. In political perception, presentation influences reputation.
Europe’s Preference for Predictability
European institutions are drawn to predictability.
It reassures them that agreements will be implemented without disruption. Albania has mastered this expectation by maintaining a composed public style. Croatia’s current challenges make the same reassurance harder to communicate.
Neither trend is permanent, but both shape the present moment.
The comparison also reflects broader Mediterranean patterns. Some countries cultivate a reserved public atmosphere. Others express identity more forcefully. Neither approach is inherently better. Yet in the specific context of European enlargement, predictability becomes a diplomatic asset.
A composed society is read as ready. A divided one is read as uncertain. The judgement may not be entirely fair, but it influences outcomes.
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