The Regional Cooperation Council’s (RCC) Employment and Social Affairs Platform 3 (ESAP 3) has launched a regional awareness campaign highlighting the importance of social rights in the Western Balkans ahead of the 2025 assessment of the European Pillar of Social Rights (EPSR).
The campaign, launched on Monday, aims to raise public awareness of key social issues such as fair working conditions, gender equality, access to quality education and healthcare, and social protection and inclusion. It seeks to engage citizens and promote a shared vision of how life in the region could improve if EPSR principles were fully implemented.
“The European Pillar of Social Rights is not just a vision, but a practical roadmap towards more just and inclusive societies,” said Ratka Babic, ESAP 3 Team Leader. “As the Western Balkans advance on the EU accession path, alignment with EPSR is both a political commitment and a social imperative.”
Despite some progress, social indicators show the region continues to lag behind EU averages. According to the latest Western Balkans Social Scoreboard, the gender employment gap stands at nearly 20%, almost double the EU average of around 11%. Adult participation in lifelong learning ranges from just 0.7% to 4.8%—far below the EU average of 10.8%.
These figures reflect structural barriers linked to inequality, poverty, and low labour market participation. The 2025 EPSR review will monitor how each Western Balkan economy addresses these challenges.
The EPSR consists of 20 key principles, grouped under three chapters: equal opportunities and access to the labour market; fair working conditions; and social protection and inclusion.
Each economy in the region will be evaluated for progress made since the previous 2022 performance review. The campaign aims to reinforce public understanding of social rights as a core part of the EU enlargement process and to strengthen citizens’ expectations for decent work, equal access to services, and dignity for all.
The findings of the 2025 EPSR review will be presented at a regional event later this year, bringing together policymakers, civil society, international partners, and social actors to reaffirm their commitment to a strong social dimension in EU integration.