"This article provides an overview of the main trends of social and economic developments in the western Balkans. The contribution originates from member inputs from the network of south-east European trade union economic experts operating under the umbrella of the International Trade Union Confederation's Pan-European Regional Council (ITUC-PERC). 1 The contribution focuses on the main social and economic challenges faced by the western Balkans region at a period marked by enduring crises and framed by the prospect of EU accession. In spite of these difficulties, this contribution strives for a comparative overview of economic trends, public finances, unemployment, employee compensation and income inequality in the countries of the western Balkans. The aim is to identify the major challenges for individual countries, but also for the region as a whole in the course of postcrisis consolidation and in the process of European integration, among others, with particular concern for trade union experts and decision-makers. "

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