Rethinking Social Cohesion in EU Accession Countries: Lessons from Western Balkans and Eastern Neighbourhood The present Policy Report analyses the nature and dynamics of social cohesion in the candidate countries of the Eastern Neighbourhood (Georgia, Moldova, Ukraine) and Western Balkans (Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia) and identifies to what extent the EU accession process has impacted it. As there have been no systematic, comparative or in-depth studies of social cohesion conducted covering these countries, our knowledge of its regional peculiarities is rather scarce. Addressing this gap, the Report presents the first attempt of conducting an in-depth comparative analysis of the nature and dynamic of social cohesion in the candidate countries of the Eastern Neighbourhood (EN) and Western Balkans (WB), specifically in the context of the EU accession process. Social cohesion is understood as a complex concept that encompasses aspects of socio-economic equality (e.g., access to finances, education and health), belonging and tolerance, social participation and people-to-people relations, as well as political participation and institutional trust. Based on the desk research and expert interviews, this research provides the possibility of developing empirically informed recommendations regarding the improvement of the EU enlargement policy, specifically with regards to various aspects of social cohesion. The findings demonstrate that, despite notable progress in recent years, candidate countries in the WB and the EN regions still lag behind EU levels in several key aspects of social cohesion. It shows that societies in these countries are characterised by uneven levels of social, political, and economic participation, which lead to the disruption of social fabric, hindering the development of genuinely cohesive societies. Importantly, much of these challenges stem from internal factors such as governance models, historical legacies, and social structures, but they are also propelled by malign foreign interference, which aim to weaken the unity and resolve of societies. While some of the best practices aimed at strengthening social cohesion in candidate countries have been identified, the challenges revealed through the research underscore the need for comprehensive, multi-layered initiatives from both the EU and national governments. Strengthening social cohesion is essential not only for the candidate countries at their current stage but also for ensuring that EU accession proceeds smoothly as they advance on their membership paths. To achieve meaningful results, the EU should mainstream social cohesion within its policy frameworks and allocate resources to strengthening all its dimensions throughout the accession process.