Newsletter 03/2026

Newsletter 03/2026

In the March issue of the EESPN newsletter, we are pleased to announce the appointment of Anette Scoppetta as the new Executive Director, effective 1 March 2026. In her new role, she will continue to strengthen the European Centre’s bridge building activities together with colleagues working on BB and further advance collaboration across the network. You…

Paper: Greening of jobs and working conditions in the Western Balkans: three scenarios
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Paper: Greening of jobs and working conditions in the Western Balkans: three scenarios

This working paper examines how the green transition is affecting job quality and working conditions in the six countries of the Western Balkans (WB6). It is co-authored by European Centre researchers Sonila Danaj and Sabina Gjylsheni together with Mihail Arandarenko as part of the project “Comparative analysis of job quality and working conditions in the Western Balkans“. The paper takes stock…

Report: Job Quality and Working Conditions in the Western Balkans
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Report: Job Quality and Working Conditions in the Western Balkans

This Eurofound research report documents working conditions and job quality in the Western Balkans based on the European Working Conditions Telephone Survey data collected in 2021. It brings new regional insights to the analysis of European working conditions and strives to raise awareness of the topic and broaden the perspectives of policymakers, social partners, researchers…

11th BBinar: Job quality and working conditions in the Western Balkans

11th BBinar: Job quality and working conditions in the Western Balkans

In January 2026, the European Centre for Social Welfare Policy and Research hosted the 11th BBinar titled “Job quality and working conditions in the Western Balkans.” The online event presented findings from a comparative analysis conducted by the European Centre and the Foundation for the Advancement of Economics (FREN) in Serbia, based on the European…

BB Policy Review Report Published: Social Housing Policies to Support Access to Adequate and Affordable Housing
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BB Policy Review Report Published: Social Housing Policies to Support Access to Adequate and Affordable Housing

The European Centre has released the report from the online BB policy review, “Social Housing Policies to Support Access to Adequate and Affordable Housing,” held on 25–26 June 2025 in collaboration with the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs of the Republic of Armenia. This report summarises insights gained during the BB Policy Review and aims…

Networking Forum: Innovating Social Services – Pathways to Inclusion and Sustainability

Networking Forum: Innovating Social Services – Pathways to Inclusion and Sustainability

The Austrian Federal Ministry for Labour, Social Affairs, Health, Care and Consumer Protection organized a Networking Forum “Innovating social services: Pathways to inclusion and Sustainability” together with the Albanian Ministry of Health and Social Protection, the North Macedonian Ministry of Social Policy, Demographics and Youth as well as with UNICEF on 17 and 18 November…

Peer review: Fighting undeclared work in the bridge building countries
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Peer review: Fighting undeclared work in the bridge building countries

From 5-6 December 2024, the Ministry of Finance, Labour, and Transfers of the Republic of Kosovo hosted an insightful peer review dedicated to addressing the challenge of undeclared work in the Western Balkans and Eastern Partnership. Peers from Albania, Armenia, and Moldova—representing Ministries, Labour Inspectorates, and Tax Administrations—came together to exchange ideas and best practices. The…

Report on the Implementation of the partnership principle in the Western Balkans and the Eastern Partnership countries
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Report on the Implementation of the partnership principle in the Western Balkans and the Eastern Partnership countries

This report provides information on how the partnership principle is currently being implemented in the Bridge Building (BB) countries of the European Centre.

BB Policy Review “Policy measures to mitigate the impact of the cost-of-living crisis on vulnerable groups”
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BB Policy Review “Policy measures to mitigate the impact of the cost-of-living crisis on vulnerable groups”

The European Centre organised the 6th (and last) BB policy review in social welfare on 07 and 08 November 2023 on Policy measures to mitigate the impact of the cost-of-living crisis on vulnerable groups. Around 35 representatives registered from ministries and public bodies from Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kosovo, Moldova, and Ukraine. Excellent expert inputs were provided by UNFPA, Eurofound, the Slovakian Institute for Labour and Family Research as well as the Montenegrin Institute for Strategic Studies and Prognosis.