Bridging Societies: The Social Dimension of Western Balkans EU Approximation was held on 20 November 2025 in Podgorica, Montenegro, at Hotel Voco, bringing together key representatives of public institutions, civil society organizations, and international partners from across the region. The conference fostered dialogue on advancing inclusive social policies, strengthening community-based services, and promoting regional cooperation in the EU approximation process, within the EU funded project Strengthening capacities and policy engagement of community service providers – IRIS PROGRESS.
The conference opened with a high-level plenary session featuring distinguished speakers, Elmir Bojadzic, Regional Director for Southeast Europe, Arbeiter-Samariter-Bund Deutschland e.V, Damir Gutić, Minister of Social Welfare, Family Care and Demography of Montenegro, and Anđela Ivanović, Head of Cabinet at the Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Dialogue, who formally inaugurated the event.
The conference continued with contributions from online speakers, moderated by Aleksandra Gligorović, who led the discussion on the social dimension of EU enlargement. Joining the event online were Thomas Waitz, Member of the European Parliament (Greens/EFA), Sara Campinoti, Team Leader at DG ENEST of the European Commission, and Ionuț Sibian, Member of the European Economic and Social Committee.
MEP Waitz emphasized that enlargement is not only an economic process but one rooted in dignity, equality, and ensuring that no one is left behind, highlighting that a strong social fabric is the foundation of a secure and prosperous Europe.
Representing the European Commission, Sara Campinoti stressed that EU enlargement goes beyond policy alignment — it is about building fair, inclusive, and resilient societies where civil society, governments, and international partners work together to ensure that every citizen, especially the most vulnerable, benefits from social progress.
Ionut Sibian underscored that enlargement must begin with inclusion and tangible social advancement, noting that every person and every community must have access to rights, services, and opportunities, reaffirming the principle that no one should be left behind.
After the online contributions, the agenda proceeded with the keynote delivered by Assistant Professor Violeta Marković, Department for Social Policy and Social Work, Faculty of Political Science, University of Belgrade, Serbia
• Keynote address: “What the Social Dimension Means for the Western Balkans?”
In her keynote remarks, Asst. Prof. Violeta Marković (University of Belgrade) outlined the current state of the EU accession process in the Western Balkans, noting that while all economies are formally engaged in accession, their progress differs considerably.
Violeta Marković focused on the key challenges the region faces in strengthening the social dimension of EU approximation: social policy often takes a secondary place to economic priorities, the informal economy remains widespread, investments in social protection and services are low, and gender and generational inequalities persist. She emphasized that meaningful progress requires deeper institutional change, better implementation of existing frameworks, and stronger human resources in the social sector.
Panel 1: Co-Creating Policy – Civil Society’s Role in Shaping Priorities
The first panel explored the shift toward active and inclusive participation of citizens and civil society organizations in shaping social policy priorities across the Western Balkans. Speakers emphasized the importance of co-designing policies with service providers, beneficiaries, and grassroots organizations, highlighting examples from the region where participatory approaches have led to more responsive and inclusive social measures.
The discussion also pointed to the ongoing challenges in aligning national systems with EU standards, particularly limited institutional capacities, insufficient cross-sector cooperation, and the need for stronger, more consistent mechanisms that ensure continuous and meaningful participation.
Panel 1 Participants:
Amina Kavazović, Advisor to the Minister, Ministry of Human Rights and Refugees of Bosnia and Herzegovina
Stefan Stamenić, Senior Advisor, Ministry of Labour, Employment, Veteran and Social Affairs, Republic of Serbia
Reme Xholi, Executive Director, State Social Service, Albania
Biljana Zeković, Director, SOS Podgorica, Montenegro
Gentiana Zeneli, Project Officer, Access to Justice Program, Terre des hommes Albania
Teuta Qerreti Butyqi, Director, NGO Women Entrepreneur, Kosovo*
Panel 2: Inclusion through Partnerships – Protecting the Most Vulnerable Together
The second panel examined how partnerships between institutions, civil society organizations, and local communities can contribute to stronger inclusion and improved protection of the most vulnerable groups across the Western Balkans. Speakers presented various community-based service models, highlighting their potential to respond effectively to beneficiary needs. Panellists emphasized the importance of practical, partnership-based approaches and shared recommendations for strengthening inclusive systems, underscoring the need for better coordination, sustainable financing, and improved outreach to marginalized groups.
Panel 2 Participants:
Vlora Limani Hajnani, Advisor to the Minister of Justice, Kosovo*
Danche Kocevska, Director, Centre for Social Work Valandovo, North Macedonia
Dragan Joković, Director, The Citizens’ Association for the Promotion of Roma Education Otaharin, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Maja Acevska, President, Crisis Center “Hope”, North Macedonia
Nevena Klisarić, Programme Coordinator, Association of Psychologists Novi Pazar, Serbia
Key Takeaways and Roadmap for Action
In the closing session, Gordan Velev, Country Director of ASB Serbia, and Irma Lutovac, IRIS expert, summarized the main insights from the conference and highlighted the shared priorities for strengthening the social dimension across the Western Balkans. They emphasized the importance of continued cooperation between institutions, civil society, and community-level service providers, thanking all speakers, panelists, and participants for their meaningful contributions throughout the day.
The session concluded with a presentation of the Roadmap for Action, outlining a shared vision for the region:
Joint Roadmap for Action: establishing national platforms for coordinated reforms;
Annual Follow-Up Mechanism: ensuring regional monitoring of progress;
Enhanced CSO Visibility: strengthening recognition of the role civil society plays at the community level.
