What's New

News and updates from BCSDN and the region

Serbia’s Cluster 3 Stalemate Reinforces the Need for Credible Democratic Reforms

Serbia’s failure to open Cluster 3 in its EU accession negotiations has reinforced concerns that meaningful democratic reforms remain a prerequisite for further progress in the enlargement process. Despite legislative efforts and last-minute reform commitments, persistent shortcomings in the rule of law, judicial independence, media freedom, institutional accountability and alignment with the EU’s Common Foreign

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Croatia: Journalists Call for Stronger Protection Against SLAPPs

The Croatian Journalists’ Association (HND) has renewed its call for the full decriminalisation of offences against honour and reputation, urging the Government to remove insult and defamation from the Criminal Code as part of the upcoming legislative amendments. While welcoming Croatia’s new Anti-SLAPP law, HND warns that its safeguards do not extend to criminal proceedings,

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Albania’s “Flamingo Revolution” Raises Concerns over Civic Space and Online Manipulation

Albania’s “Flamingo Revolution,” which began in opposition to controversial tourism developments affecting protected natural areas, has evolved into a broader anti-government movement demanding political accountability. The latest protests escalated into clashes between demonstrators and police outside Parliament, while journalist Vjolanda Peca of Citizens.al was reportedly arrested while covering the demonstrations, prompting renewed concerns over media

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Albania: CSOs Call for Independent Investigation Following 2 July Protests

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

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Serbia’s EU Accession Faces Renewed Scrutiny

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

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The Future of EU (Enlargement) Is Already Being Written in Montenegro

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

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North Macedonia: Stakeholders Discuss Risk-Based Implementation of FATF Recommendation 8

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

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EU CSOs Open letter: A Slide Away from Better Regulation, Not Progress Towards it

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

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BiH: Kaja Kallas Reaffirms EU Support While Urging Reform Momentum

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

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North Macedonia: Civil Society Calls for Stronger Role in Reform and Growth Facility Monitoring

During the second meeting of the Monitoring Committee for the Reform and Growth Facility (RGF), stakeholders reviewed progress in implementing North Macedonia’s Reform Agenda and discussed ways to strengthen oversight of the reform process. Contributing to the discussion, the European Policy Institute (EPI) highlighted the importance of ensuring structured, transparent, and meaningful participation of CSOs

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Serbia: SafeJournalists Warns Against Official and Media Targeting of Journalists and Researchers

The SafeJournalists Network has expressed concern over the targeting of researcher Getoarbe Mulliqi and journalist and academic Dinko Gruhonjić following the publication of their analysis on media reporting about dealing with the past in the Western Balkans. According to the Network, the authors were subjected to a smear campaign initiated by a Serbian tabloid, using

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