On 23–24 September 2026, BCSDN brought together members, external experts and European partners in Skopje to advance the development of the Regional Civic Space Early Warning System & Response Mechanism (EWS). Building on the Monitoring Matrix, the initiative aims to identify emerging civic space threats before restrictions escalate and connect verified evidence with timely and proportionate responses. Using concrete cases from across the region, participants tested and refined the draft methodology, from identifying and assessing emerging risks to recognising broader patterns and determining appropriate responses at national, regional and EU levels. Exchanges with the European Civic Forum (ECF) and the European Center for Not-for-Profit Law (ECNL) provided insights from existing European early warning approaches and explored opportunities for cooperation and alignment. With support from Open Society Foundations – Western Balkans, BCSDN will now refine the methodology and begin testing the EWS across the region. Red more here.
Source: BCSDN