Thirty European civil society networks, including BCSDN, have urged the Council of the European Union to strengthen, not reduce EU investment in democracy by increasing the AgoraEU budget and safeguarding funding for the CERV+ programme in the next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF). The joint letter warns that proposed budget cuts come as CSOs across Europe face shrinking civic space, restrictive legislation, judicial and administrative harassment, disinformation campaigns, and growing financial pressures that threaten their sustainability. The organisations emphasise that robust support for civil society is essential to protect fundamental rights, strengthen democratic resilience and enable meaningful citizen participation. They call…
Author: anja
The Annual Western Balkans Perception Surveys 2026, conducted under the WeBalkans project, show that public support for the European Union remains strong across the Western Balkans, with Serbia standing out as the only country where support for EU membership does not exceed 60%. Albania records the most positive perception of the EU (82%), followed by Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, while only 28% of Serbian respondents hold a positive view of the EU. The findings also highlight increasingly diverse public attitudes towards European integration and global geopolitical actors across the region. While trust in the United States…
24 CSOs in Albania, including BCSDN member Partners Albania, have issued a joint public statement following the 2 July protests in Tirana, expressing concern over allegations of disproportionate use of force, ill-treatment of detained protesters, obstacles to effective access to legal counsel and independent medical examinations, and the risk of losing key evidence. The organisations call on the authorities to guarantee the right to peaceful assembly, preserve all relevant evidence, conduct independent forensic examinations where appropriate, and ensure a prompt, impartial and effective investigation into all allegations of misconduct. They also urge public officials to refrain from statements that could…
The European Parliament has adopted a Resolution on Serbia, reaffirming that the country’s progress towards EU membership depends on genuine democratic reforms and their effective implementation. The Resolution calls for tangible progress in the rule of law, judicial independence, free and fair elections, media freedom, the fight against corruption and organised crime, and stronger engagement with civil society. Rapporteur for Serbia Tonino Picula stressed that the accession process has effectively stalled due to democratic backsliding, weak implementation of reforms and insufficient alignment with EU values and foreign policy. These concerns were echoed by eight EU member states, which opposed opening…
In an opinion article, former Montenegrin Deputy Prime Minister Jovana Marović argues that Montenegro’s accession process is becoming a testing ground for the European Union’s future enlargement policy. It explores how the EU is seeking to reconcile the geopolitical imperative of enlargement with growing concerns over democratic backsliding after accession. A stronger role for EU accession treaties is proposed, transforming them from technical legal instruments into frameworks that ensure the continued protection of the rule of law, judicial independence and democratic governance after membership. Future treaties could establish clear safeguard clauses, predefined compliance assessments, corrective measures and transparent financial conditionality…
Representatives of banks, the National Bank, the Financial Intelligence Office and CSOs met in Skopje to discuss the implementation of the revised Financial Action Task Force (FATF) Recommendation 8, which calls for a risk-based and proportionate approach to preventing the misuse of non-profit organizations for terrorist financing without restricting their legitimate work. Discussions focused on inconsistent interpretations of the definition of non-profit organizations, documentation requirements, cash transactions, banking practices affecting organizations from high-risk countries, and the need for clearer national guidance and secondary legislation. Participants proposed strengthening cooperation between regulators and banks, introducing a trust label for CSOs, and providing…
More than 100 CSOs have addressed an open letter to the European Commission, expressing concern that proposed changes to the Better Regulation framework risk weakening evidence-based policymaking, transparency and democratic participation. The signatories argue that the reforms would disproportionately prioritize business interests by expanding urgency procedures, narrowing impact assessments, increasing reliance on targeted consultations and discouraging Member States from adopting higher social and environmental standards than those required by EU legislation. They also warn against introducing sunset clauses and other mechanisms that could weaken existing protections. The organizations call on the Commission to align the revised Better Regulation Guidelines with…
During her visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kaja Kallas, the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, reaffirmed that the country’s stability, sovereignty and territorial integrity are of strategic importance to the European Union. Meeting with members of the Presidency and political leaders, she stressed that sustained reforms remain the fastest path towards EU accession, while noting that public support for EU membership continues to be exceptionally high. Kallas warned that reform momentum has stalled over the past two years and that Bosnia and Herzegovina is already losing funding under the Growth Plan for the Western Balkans due…
More than 80 women from 12 local organizations gathered in Struga for the eighth annual Women’s Circles networking meeting, organized by Akcija Zdruzenska with the support of the Delegation of the European Union to North Macedonia, the Embassy of Sweden in Skopje, The Kvinna till Kvinna Foundation and filia.die frauenstiftung. The event provided a safe and inclusive space for participants to reflect on stereotypes, challenge social norms and discuss barriers affecting women’s participation and leadership. Through peer learning, dialogue and collective reflection, participants also reviewed progress achieved over the past year and jointly identified priorities for future community action. The…
As CSOs face shrinking aid, growing funding inequalities and increasing pressure on civic space, stronger partnerships are needed to build resilience. Developed by the Global Solutions Lab as part of the Local Leadership Labs initiative, The Dialogue is a practical resource that helps funders and CSOs engage in open, trust-based conversations that challenge traditional power dynamics and promote locally led development. The guide provides practical tools for organising dialogues that foster solidarity, mutual learning and collective problem-solving, creating space for more equitable and sustainable partnerships. It offers valuable insights for donors, CSOs and facilitators seeking to strengthen collaboration and contribute…