What's New

News and updates from BCSDN and the region

Serbia: Protests Met with Repression, Resistance, Resignations and Students Nobel Peace Prize Nomination

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

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European Right-Wing on a Mission to Silence NGOs

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

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Serbian Regime Crackdown Crossing Borders: European CSOs Alert Against Oppression!

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

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North Macedonia: Call for Members & Deputies for Gov-CSO Cooperation Council (Deadline: 4 Feb)

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,

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EU TACSO Third Assessment against the DG NEAR Guidelines for EU Support to Civil Society in the WBT 2021-2027 (New Deadline: 9 February)

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

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Serbia: Students Protest Over Novi Sad Tragedy Continue, Gaining Broad Public Support

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,

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Turkey: The Opposition Condemns Detention of Istanbul District Mayor

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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Romania: Media Capture Monitoring Report – Measuring compliance with the European Media Freedom Act

The International Press Institute (IPI) and the Media and Journalism Research Center (MJRC) report assesses media capture in Romania. The analysis highlights the political influence over Romania’s media regulators, including the National Audiovisual Council (CNA), and the challenges facing public service broadcasters like the Romanian Television Company (TVR) and the Romanian Radio Broadcasting Company (SRR).

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North Macedonia: Questionnaire for Measuring the Value of Indicators from the Action Plan of the Government’s Strategy for Cooperation with and Development of Civil Society (2022–2024) in 2024 (Deadline: 25 January)

The Government of North Macedonia invites CSOs registered under the Law on Associations and Foundations to complete a questionnaire assessing the implementation of the Action plan of the Government’s Strategy for Cooperation with and Development of Civil Society (2022-2024) for 2024. The questionnaire gathers data on organizational activities, sectors of work, cooperation with the Government,

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