News and updates from BCSDN and the region
In the context of the challenges faced by today’s EU democracies, the Polish Presidency of the Council of the EU proposed drafting to prepare a set of conclusions on strengthening EU democratic resilience. Despite broad support to the text in the General Affairs Council, the Ministers did not reach a consensus on the document. The
Read more →Health NGOs are facing new restrictions on the use of EU funds, as the European Commission moves to bar advocacy and lobbying activities from eligibility under its grants. The decision follows similar actions taken earlier against environmental groups and comes amid growing pressure from right-wing lawmakers demanding greater transparency in NGO funding. Several Brussels-based health
Read more →A year after the adoption of the EU Anti-SLAPP Directive, legal scholars and civil society actors continue to assess its scope and potential. In a recent EU Law Live op-ed, key reflections are offered on the strengths and remaining gaps in the directive’s design—particularly around cross-border applicability and procedural safeguards for victims. While the directive
Read more →The Balkan Civil Society Development Network (BCSDN) took part in the 10th Western Balkans Civil Society Forum, organized in Budva on 13 and 14 May, by the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC). Bringing together representatives of civil society, social partners, EU institutions, and regional stakeholders, the Forum provided a platform to discuss the state
Read more →Serbia’s EU membership aspirations faced a setback as it remains excluded from membership projections until 2029. This skepticism arises from stalled reforms, political unrest, and Serbia’s alignment with Russia. Although Serbia shows technical readiness for Cluster 3 negotiations, EU officials doubt its commitment. Concerns include slow progress on media freedom, electoral reform, and alignment with
Read more →Concentrated media ownership, declining public funding, and the dominance of tech giants in advertising continue to erode editorial independence, with more than half of journalists reporting interference from media owners. While Europe remains the region with the highest level of press freedom, the Western Balkans face mixed developments. Kosovo experienced the sharpest decline in the
Read more →At the European Commission’s annual Rule of Law report meeting, Civil Society Europe (CSE) called for urgent protection of civic space and fundamental rights. Co-chaired by CSE and Caroline Hansen from the Human Rights and Democracy Network (HRDN), the session emphasized coordinated efforts in Brussels and across Europe to safeguard democracy against political threats. Reflecting
Read more →In a stark warning from his 2025 report, Council of Europe Secretary General Alain Berset has highlighted that Europe is facing a “perfect storm” of crises. These include ongoing wars, significant geopolitical shifts, a decline in democratic values, and the rise of nationalism. Berset stressed that these challenges seriously threaten the peace and stability that
Read more →A new draft law submitted to the Hungarian Parliament has raised concerns among civil society and media watchdogs. The proposal seeks to require organisations and media outlets receiving more than 20% of their funding from abroad to register as “foreign-funded,” a move critics fear could stigmatise independent voices and limit public trust. The law would
Read more →Civil Society Europe has announced the recipients of the 2025 Civil Dialogue Award, celebrating organisations that have demonstrated outstanding commitment to advancing structured civil dialogue and protecting civic space across Europe. The European Civic Forum was recognised for leading the #EUCivilDialogueNow campaign, pushing for a formalised framework for civil society participation at the EU level.
Read more →To complement its 2024 Annual Report, the Balkan Civil Society Development Network (BCSDN) has released a new brochure titled Strengthening Civil Society in the Balkans. Designed to make key insights more accessible, the publication distills BCSDN’s achievements, ongoing initiatives, and strategic priorities in a visual and reader-friendly format. The brochure provides a snapshot of the
Read more →As shrinking civic space and media capture continue to reshape the landscape for civil society, timely and targeted information has become essential for effective donor engagement. A recent feature by Pikasa.ai explores how media intelligence is being used not only to understand shifting narratives but also to inform funding decisions, anticipate backlash, and evaluate the
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