Addressing the Social Deficit in Western Balkans EU Integration (euobserver.com)

• Historic imbalance between economic reforms and social safety nets.
• Social fragility identified as a key obstacle to stable EU integration.
• Recommendation for integrated social benchmarks in accession criteria.

"EU enlargement strategy has historically prioritized institutional and economic liberalization, often sidelining social protection and labor welfare. A recent analysis indicates that this oversight risks creating fragile societies in the Western Balkans prone to populism and demographic decline. To secure future stability, the accession process must integrate comprehensive social policy metrics as core benchmarks, moving beyond pure market-driven reforms to ensure the resilience of the local population during the transition toward European standards."