Skopje, April 2026 – As the European Union begins the critical process of shaping the next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF 2028-2034), the Balkan Civil Society Development Network has officially joined over 500 European civil society organizations, media outlets, and cultural institutions in signing a joint letter to European leaders.
The letter calls for a significantly reinforced AgoraEU programme—the EU’s primary instrument for supporting the “democratic infrastructure” of the continent.
Why This Matters for the Western Balkans and Türkiye
The call for a stronger AgoraEU comes at a time of heightened democratic volatility. Recent reports and high-level calls from MEPs—such as Vladimir Prebilič and Sandro Gozi—have highlighted a worrying erosion of democratic standards in the region, particularly in Serbia.
For BCSDN, signing this letter is a strategic move to ensure that Western Balkans and Türkiye civil society is not isolated from European democratic protections. We believe that:
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Civil Society is Infrastructure: Just as roads and energy require infrastructure, democracy requires a “soft” infrastructure of independent media, watchdog organizations, and cultural spaces.
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Countering Shrinking Space: As civic space continues to shrink across our region, EU financial instruments must be robust enough to support those on the front lines.
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Regional Integration: Strengthening the AgoraEU ensures that CSOs in WBT have the resources to align with European democratic values and resist disinformation.
Our Key Demands
In solidarity with our European partners, BCSDN advocates for an MFF that:
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Increases funding for the “Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values” (CERV) and Creative Europe programs.
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Protects the independence of civil society from political interference.
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Recognizes the unique challenges faced by CSOs in EU accession countries.
“A democracy that is not funded is a democracy that is at risk. By signing this letter, BCSDN reaffirms its commitment to ensuring that WBT remain a core part of the European democratic project.”
We invite our members and partners to read the full joint letter and join the conversation on how we can better protect our shared democratic future.
Link to the Joint Letter: https://civilsocietyeurope.eu/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Joint-Letter-Call-to-Support-a-Reinforced-AgoraEU-in-the-next-MFF.pdf