News and updates from BCSDN and the region
Montenegrin students from the group “Where Tomorrow?” are organizing daily road blockages in protest over the government’s failure to address their demands following the mass shooting in Cetinje on January 1. The students are calling for the resignation of Minister of Interior Danilo Saranovic and Deputy Prime Minister Aleksa Becic, who oversee security. Despite their
Read more →40 Turkish and international organizations, including the International Press Institute, Freedom House, the European Federation of Journalists, and Turkey’s Media and Law Studies Association, have issued a joint letter protesting increasing press freedom violations. The letter condemns the systematic use of judicial control measures—such as house arrests and travel bans—to silence independent journalists. In January
Read more →Protests across Serbia demanding transparency and accountability after the November tragedy in Novi Sad continued throughout January, met with police brutality, hate speech, and repression of students, activists, human rights defenders, and journalists. The “Three Freedoms” platform condemned the targeting of students and educators, as well as the attempted murder of a student hit by
Read more →The European right-wing, led by the EPP, has long campaigned to defund and silence NGOs, securing a key victory in May 2024 when the Commission introduced new guidelines to block funding for NGOs engaging in advocacy. Now, they are pushing even further, calling for a European law to regulate NGOs and restrict their influence. At
Read more →Serbian authorities’ crackdown on civic space has now extended beyond its borders, obstructing foreign activists and CSOs from participating in public debates. On January 22, 14 EU and Western Balkans activists- participants of the Erste Foundation NGO Academy visit were detained, expelled, and labeled a “security risk” without evidence. Following mass protests in Serbia demanding
Read more →The General Secretariat of the Government of North Macedonia has announced a public call for the selection of 14 members and deputy members of the Council for Cooperation between the Government and Civil Society, an advisory body dedicated to strengthening dialogue, cooperation, and civil society engagement in policymaking. The call aims to establish an independent,
Read more →More than 40 CSOs across the EU and US delivered an urgent message to the European Commission and President Von der Leyen to resist Big Tech’s political pressure and uphold EU sovereignty. The letter calls on the Commission to stand firm against corporate lobbying and Trump administration interference as CEOs of Meta, Apple, and others
Read more →The EU TACSO 3 project, on behalf of the European Commission, is conducting the third Assessment against the DG NEAR Guidelines for EU Support to Civil Society in the Western Balkans and Turkey 2021–2027. The survey aims to gather input from as many CSOs as possible in the region. Its findings will offer invaluable insights
Read more →Over 100 CSOs have joined the BCSDN member Center for Civil Society Promotion’s (CPCD) call to support demands for revising the Federation of BiH’s 2025 minimum wage reforms. While supporting the wage increase to 1,000 KM, the call warns that excluding CSOs from subsidy programs threatens the sustainability of a sector employing over 6,300 people. Current
Read more →The protests following the November 2024 Novi Sad tragedy after the fall of the rail station canopy, which took 15 lives continues with greater intensity. On January 10, students in Belgrade blocked a major interchange and part of the Belgrade-Zagreb highway demanding accountability for the tragedy, and authorities’ corruption activities. The students, supported by professors,
Read more →The BH Journalists Steering Committee has called on the Una-Sana Canton (USC) Government and Ministry of Education, Science, Culture, and Sports to include the media community in drafting the new Law on Information. This law aims to update the 1998 legislation by addressing hate speech, fake news, and harmful online content. Proposed measures include requiring
Read more →Turkish opposition leaders condemned the detention of Riza Akpolat, the opposition mayor of Istanbul’s Besiktas district, along with 46 others on corruption charges. The allegations include bribery, bid-rigging, and involvement in a criminal organization. The detentions have sparked criticism, labeling them as incompatible with democratic principles. The opposition accuses the government of manipulating public opinion
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