What's New

News and updates from BCSDN and the region

Foreign Agents’ Law Back on the Table: A Lost Battle or is There Something still to be Done for Civil Society in Republika Srpska?

One of the entities in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Republika Srpska is moving ahead with its controversial “foreign agents” law despite domestic and international pressure and CSOs’ concerns. These worrisome developments, following examples of narrowing civic space in the country, reflect a broader pattern of suppressing dissent. We reassert our concerns about the implications of the law – jeopardizing civil

Read more →

European Parliament Adopts Resolution on the 6 Billion EUR Growth Plan for the Western Balkans

The European Parliament approved the legislative resolution for the Reform and Growth Facility for the Western Balkans, known as the Growth Plan allocating 6 billion EUR for 2024-2027. Beneficiaries must meet conditions including democratic mechanisms, media freedom, rule of law, and alignment with the EU’s foreign policy. Each must submit a Reform Agenda, reflecting assessments

Read more →

EU CSOs Briefing Paper on Defence of Democracy Package

The briefing paper prepared by the informal coalition of EU CSOs on the Defence of democracy Package coordinated by Civil Society Europe outlines concerns regarding the European Commission’s proposal for a directive on transparency of interest representation on behalf of third countries as part of the Defence of Democracy package. The proposal is criticized by

Read more →

PACE Recommends Kosovo’s Membership in the Council of Europe

The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) has recommended Kosovo for membership, subject to fulfilling a comprehensive set of commitments and obligations upon accession. The Assembly’s opinion, passed by a majority vote, highlights the potential benefits of membership, such as strengthening human rights standards and ensuring access to the European Court of Human

Read more →

Civic Uprising: Resilient Response to Electoral Challenges in Serbia

The recent Serbian elections underscored severe threats to democracy, characterized by violations of basic human rights and a lack of accountability among public authorities, reflecting a broader erosion of democratic values. In response to these issues, together with Civic Initiatives, on 17 April we hosted an online discussion on electoral integrity in Serbia amidst civic

Read more →

Consultation with the Fundamental Rights Platform on Funding for the Promotion, Protection and Enforcement of Fundamental Rights

The EU Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) is conducting a consultation with its civil society network to gather insights on the added value of EU funding for fundamental rights and areas needing further development. The results will contribute to the European Commission’s 2024 Annual Report on the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights with a focus

Read more →

ICNL: An Analysis of the Foreign Influence Registration Laws and Civil Society

ICNL’s report develops a typology of salient features of foreign influence registration laws to assess their potential impact on civil society and to help compare and contrast these laws across countries. It then shares key recommendations for substantive arguments against overbroad foreign influence registration laws and potential response strategies. Governments worldwide have implemented foreign influence

Read more →

ARTICLE 19: Next European Commission Must Strive for an Open Information Environment

The upcoming European Parliament elections and the selection of a new European Commission in June 2024 present an opportunity for the EU to reaffirm its commitment to freedom of expression and access to information. ARTICLE 19 highlights key priorities for the incoming Commission, advocating for an open, fair, and inclusive information environment. These priorities include

Read more →

Albania: SCiDEV Concerns on the Special Parliamentary Committee on Disinformation

SCiDEV raises concerns about Albania’s proposed parliamentary committee to address disinformation, questioning its necessity and scope. While acknowledging the importance of the issue, SCiDEV argues that existing mechanisms, like the Parliamentary Committee on Education and Means of Public Information and the Parliamentary Committee on Security, can handle the matter adequately. Reports on media freedom (Reporters

Read more →

‘Shift the Power’: Narrow Internal Gaze or Shaping an Equal Future?

Last December, 700 representatives from philanthropic, developmental, NGO, and community sectors convened in Bogota, Colombia to address power imbalances in global development. They emphasized a shift towards bottom-up development, prioritizing human dignity, rights, and equality. The summit highlighted the sector’s failure to embody these principles, instead perpetuating colonial and patriarchal structures. Advocates called for power

Read more →