Zagreb City Council joined the European Social Network (ESN) in 2019, months before the COVID-19 pandemic reshaped the world and the social services sector. Motivated by the wish to connect with other public authorities and to make Zagreb’s work in social services more visible, the City Council reached out to ESN and soon became a member. Since then, Zagreb has taken an active role in the network, participating in Working Groups, Conferences, and other activities.

In 2023, Zagreb even hosted the European Social Services Awards (ESSA), the first high-level ESN event in the region. “Organising the Awards helped us build much stronger connections with the ESN Secretariat and other members,” says Zorana Uzelac Bošnjak, from the City Council. “Our Mayor was delighted to welcome participants from all over Europe”. Inspired by this experience, Zagreb applied to join the ESN Council and Board, leading to Zorana’s appointment to the ESN Board of Trustees. 

For Zagreb City Council, being part of ESN means access to a community of peers:

“ESN has become part of our daily work. It helps us identify and replicate good practices, but also to share our own initiatives with others”.

ESN’s growing presence in the Balkans is particularly valuable for public authorities in the region, as this allows for collaboration between countries. “As professionals, we can learn a lot from countries outside the European Union, including those in the Balkans. ESN plays a key role in facilitating dialogue on social services and promoting its vision in new countries. Geographical diversity is essential”, explains Zorana.

More personally, Zorana values the network as an opportunity to meet other professionals. “I’m a social worker, and with other ESN colleagues I feel among peers. We might not speak the same language, but we understand each other”. ESN also works to bring the voice of public social services to EU institutions and helps professionals to feel more valued and recognised. 

Looking ahead, Zorana hopes ESN will continue its work while staying true to its mission:

“The network’s visibility and credibility are its greatest strengths. I hope it keeps supporting social services across Europe, as it has for the past 25 years”.

Learn more about the history of the European Social Network at our dedicated 25 Years of ESN page.