Across The Balkans: Bulgaria’s Young Returnees | Serbia’s Shrinking Population

Most Balkan countries have faced an emigration crisis for years, as young skilled professionals move abroad in search of better opportunities. Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, North Macedonia, and Serbia have some of the highest brain drain rates in the world, and Nick Davies-Jones goes to Serbia to see its shrinking population firsthand. But Bulgaria has become an exception to this trend, with people returning home in record numbers. Aksel Zaimovic is in Sofia to find out what's driving Bulgarians to come back.
Across The Balkans is TRT World’s new programme, hosted by Nafisa Latic, that explores the issues and fault lines shaping Southeast Europe today.
Watch other episodes of ‘Across the Balkans’ : trt.world/fvfp

[@asimwaheed8201]

Bulgaria has an advantage of being in the EU.

[@mountechelon1360]

Some people consider EU membership advantage, some don't.

[@leodarksam6230]

It is because of that "advantage" that young people can leave so easily. EU has free movement of people and goods.

[@mountechelon1360]

@@leodarksam6230 And such freedom suits only to those countries which have developed economies and don't have enough low qualified workforce. So those countries keep developing their economies more and more while other countries keep dying while taking more and more EU funds. That's called new-age silent colonisation. Politicians are fine because they get EU money and people too because they can go away to earn more money. But nothing about that is actually fine in historical context as someone uses economic instruments for silent territorial expansion. I hope Serbia never joins the EU.

[@millevenon5853]

@@mountechelon1360 Serbs are already leaving even without EU membership

[@madjames1134]

Bulgaria didn't let extreme right rule the country like in Hungary and Serbia. Unlike these countries, one can use his brain in Bulgaria without being shamed or persecuted.

[@mountechelon1360]

Who is extreme in Serbia? And which person was persecuted for thinking differently in Serbia?

[@baris7565]

@@mountechelon1360 Hungary and Serbia are not extreme they have good relations with many Muslim countries and Russia. I think that person confused Hungarian and Serbian governments who values their cultures but also promote cooperation with neighbors, with radical right in Western countries who are extremely pro-Israel and serves American interests.

[@Mr.C_101]

Interesting contrast: because a lot of Westerners are considering moving to Serbia... for freedom and taxes... I'm actually considering setting up a home-base in Belgrade...

[@seyl717]

Go to north macedonia or albania instead, more beautiful country and less xenophobic people.

[@user-gt1uy9cj6g]

Whole Balkan is leaving their countries to go to west Europe.

[@theancientsancients1769]

Interesting Show makes one reflect with what many are going through, and daily struggles and challenges of people and their similarity ✌️🇬🇧

[@zakonodavac]

Koje je ovo proseravanje , majko mila...

[@agungpriambodo1674]

Alhamdulillah

[@fouadkanj6475]

Alhamdulillah ♥️

[@leodarksam6230]

@Dom the best Bosnia? Maybe. Albania? Heck no.

[@eatinsomtin9984]

Doesnt matter lol, if 60k are not coming back every year than it doesnt matter as thats how much they are loosing every year. Inshallah it grows though especially the islamic turkish population

[@saddamhussein1847]

Kosovo,R Srpska,Krajina and Vardaska Are Serbia! Macedonia is Greece ! Bless Serbia,Bulgaria,Greece and Palestine

[@stevosuskacevic8799]

And your sister is mine..

[@saddamhussein1847]

@@stevosuskacevic8799 Lol ! I Dont Have a Sister !

[@user-hd6gs1xv5x]

Vardarska will never be Serbia! Always has been and will be Bulgaria