The Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) has initiated an awareness campaign through its Employment and Social Affairs Platform (ESAP 3) to highlight the importance of social rights in the Western Balkans. This effort comes ahead of the release of this year’s performance evaluations regarding the implementation of the European Pillar of Social Rights (EPSR), as announced by the RCC today.

Launched yesterday, the campaign envisions an improved life in the region under the full application of EPSR principles, which advocate for fair work conditions, gender equality, and access to quality education and health protection.

Project manager Ratka Babić emphasized that the EPSR “is not merely a vision, but a concrete roadmap for creating fairer and more inclusive societies in our region.”

She further remarked that as the Western Balkans move closer to EU membership, “aligning with the principles of the EPSR is both a political commitment and a social imperative.”

The RCC also noted that various social indicators highlight ongoing challenges in the region relative to the EU’s average.

The Social Scoreboard for the Western Balkans indicates a gender-based employment gap of almost 20 percent, starkly higher than the EU average of 11 percent.

Moreover, adult learning participation rates in the population aged 25 to 65 range from 0.7 to 4.8 percent, which is significantly below the EU average of 10.8 percent, according to the statement.

This information underscores the structural barriers related to inequality, poverty, and labor market participation that will be closely monitored in the EPSR assessments set for 2025.

The EPSR outlines 20 principles arranged into three sections addressing opportunities and access to the labor market, fair working conditions, and social protection and inclusion.

Assessments of each Western Balkan economy regarding these principles will take place in 2025, building on previous evaluations from 2022. The campaign aims to enhance public understanding of the significance of social rights in the EU enlargement process while raising citizens’ aspirations for equitable employment and access to services.

The outcomes and evaluations from the 2025 EPSR will be shared at a regional conference for the Western Balkans later this year, gathering policymakers, civil society representatives, and international partners to reaffirm their commitment to the social aspects of European integration, as stated by the RCC.

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