The Regional Cooperation Council’s (RCC) Employment and Social Affairs Platform 3 (ESAP 3) yesterday launched a regional awareness-raising campaign to promote the importance of social rights in the Western Balkans, in anticipation of the upcoming 2025 performance reviews on the implementation of the European Pillar of Social Rights (EPSR).

The campaign highlights citizens' voices and envisions what life in the region could look like if the principles of the EPSR were fully realised, including fair working conditions, gender equality, access to quality education, healthcare, social protection, and inclusion.

“The European Pillar of Social Rights is not just a vision but a practical roadmap for fairer and more inclusive societies in our region,” said Ratka Babic, Team Leader of RCC ESAP 3. “As the Western Balkans move forward on the EU accession path, aligning with EPSR principles is both a political commitment and a social necessity.”

Social indicators reveal persistent challenges in the region compared to the EU averages. For example, according to available data presented in the Western Balkan’s Social Scoreboard,  gender employment gap in the region was almost 20%, poorly comparing to the EU average of around 11%. Adult participation in learning as a percentage of population of ages 25 to 65 ranged from 0.7% to 4.8%, significantly less than the EU average of 10.8%. These figures highlight structural hurdles in inequality, poverty, and labour-market participation that the 2025 EPSR reviews will monitor regionally.

The EPSR sets out 20 key principles structured across three Chapters: Equal opportunities and access to the labour market; Fair working conditions; and Social protection and inclusion.
Each Western Balkan economy will be assessed in 2025 for progress on these principles, building on the previous performance reviews conducted in 2022. The campaign aims to foster public understanding of the role of social rights in the EU enlargement process and to amplify citizen expectations around decent work, equitable access to services, and dignity for all.

Findings from the 2025 EPSR reviews will be publicly presented at a Western Balkans regional event later this year, bringing together policymakers, civil society, international partners and social partners to reaffirm commitment to a strong social dimension of EU integration.

For more information, visit: www.esap.online