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News and updates from BCSDN and the region

BCSDN News

How Far Can Civic Space Deteriorate Before Safeguards Step In? BCSDN Analysis of the 2026 EC RoL Report on Accession Countries

For the third consecutive year, BCSDN analyses the European Commission’s Rule of Law Report Country Chapters for Albania, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Serbia through a civic space lens, comparing the Commission’s findings with evidence from our Monitoring Matrix. The 2026 analysis brings the EC’s findings together with our monitoring to identify key civic space concerns,

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How Far Can Civic Space Deteriorate Before Safeguards Step In? BCSDN Analysis on EC RoL Report for Accession Countries

BCSDN’s analysis of the 2026 European Commission Rule of Law Reports, compared with findings from its Monitoring Matrix, highlights continued pressure on civic space across Albania, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia. While the EC captures many important concerns, BCSDN’s monitoring provides a broader picture of implementation gaps and accumulating legal, administrative, financial and digital pressures

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Regional Consultations Shape Civic Space Priorities Ahead of the Civil Society and Think Tank Forum

Throughout June and July, BCSDN member Partners Albania organised three regional consultation meetings under Thematic Working Group on Civic Space and Democratization, bringing together around 50 civil society, media, think tank representatives and experts from across the Western Balkans. The consultations provided a space to identify shared challenges affecting civic space and democratic development, exchange

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European Democracy Shield Must Protect Those Defending Democracy

The European Democracy Shield marks an important recognition of democratic resilience as a European security imperative, but its success will depend on concrete action rather than new structures, according to EU CRTA. This is particularly relevant for the Western Balkans, one of Europe’s most exposed democratic frontlines, where civil society, independent media, researchers and human

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KoneKtor 2026 – Democracy Defying Darkness: Countering Authoritarianism (14-16 October, Chișinău, Moldova)

KoneKtor 2026 will bring together foundations, donors and civil society in Chișinău to examine how philanthropy can respond to rising authoritarianism, shrinking civic space and growing pressure on communities. The event will explore what authoritarianism looks like today, who is most at risk, and how philanthropic actors can help protect vulnerable groups, support independent media

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New Civil Society Report Calls for More Inclusive Global AI Governance

A new civil society report following the first UN Global Dialogue on AI Governance calls for a more inclusive, equitable and human rights-based approach to governing artificial intelligence. Developed by five civil society coalitions, the report welcomes the Dialogue as a step towards international cooperation but identifies gaps in civil society participation, representation of marginalised

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Serbia: Satellite Navigation Interference Recorded During Major Protests

At least 25 cases of satellite navigation interference have been recorded affecting Serbia over the past four years, several coinciding with major anti-government protests, elections and other politically sensitive events. The incidents include GPS jamming and “spoofing”, which transmits false navigation data to affected systems. During protests in Belgrade in May 2026, interference forced drones

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Albania: Growing Pressure on Media Freedom and Civic Space During the Flamingo Revolution

SCiDEV highlighted concerns raised by European media freedom organisations over deteriorating media freedom and civic space in Albania during the Flamingo Revolution. Journalists have faced obstruction, attacks and police interference, while crowd-control measures and protest-related criminal procedures have raised concerns over proportionality, transparency and due process. Notably, 15 of the 27 threats and attacks recorded

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North Macedonia: Journalists’ Association Calls for Urgent Action over Threats Against Journalist

The Association of Journalists of Macedonia (AJM) has called for urgent institutional action following serious online threats against journalist and columnist Erol Rizaov. The threats, posted in comments on his official Facebook page, included calls for violence and ethnically motivated insults. AJM submitted an urgent request to the Ministry of Interior, asking authorities to preserve

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North Macedonia: Strengthening Civil Society Accountability through Self-Regulation

On 2 June, BCSDN member, the Macedonian Center for International Cooperation (MCIC) organised the first workshop aimed at improving implementation of the Code for CSOs, five years after its adoption. Bringing together Civica Mobilitas grantees, the workshop explored how stronger monitoring mechanisms can enhance accountability, transparency and public trust in civil society. Participants drew on

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Report on Good Practices of Civic Space Resilience in Central and Eastern Europe

A new report on Good Practices of Civic Space Resilience explores how civil society in the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Croatia and Slovenia responds to democratic backsliding, political polarisation and growing legal, administrative and public pressure. Drawing on concrete country cases, the report shows that resilience goes beyond simply withstanding restrictions: it is the capacity to

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