What's New

News and updates from BCSDN and the region

Albania: SCiDEV Welcomes Country Joining the European Centre for Countering Hybrid Threats

In September, Albania became the 36th member of the European Centre of Excellence for Countering Hybrid Threats (Hybrid CoE), aiming to enhance its ability to address hybrid threats like cyberattacks and disinformation. The Albanian Parliament ratified the membership with overwhelming support, designating the National Authority for Cyber Security as the national representative. SCiDEV welcomes Albania’s

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Croatia: Major Challenges in Advancing Media Freedom

The international media freedom mission to Croatia has underscored significant challenges regarding media law reform, transparency in state advertising, and journalist safety, including the threats posed by Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPPs). Conducted between September 9 and 20, the mission involved meetings with various governmental and media organizations. Critics have expressed concerns over the

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Serbia: Civil Society Council Members Urge Prime Minister to Support CSOs Amid Media Attacks

An open letter from members of Serbia’s Council for Creating an Enabling Environment for Civil Society, including BCSDN member Civic Initiatives, urges Prime Minister Miloš Vučević to address recent media attacks on CSOs. The letter condemns misinformation regarding CSO funding and activities, which threatens democracy and Serbia’s EU accession process. It calls on the Prime

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BiH: Joint Submission by Civil Society Initiative for the 4th Universal Periodic Review on Human Rights in Bosnia and Herzegovina

The Joint Submission of the BiH Civil Society Initiative, a coalition of 14 organizations working in various human rights fields, for the 4th Universal Periodic Review highlights ongoing human rights challenges in BiH from 2019 to 2024. Key issues include the operationalization of the National Preventive Mechanism (NPM), persistent gender inequality, and the discriminatory nature

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Serbian CSOs Urge Government to End Repression Against CSOs and Activists, and Respect Basic Freedoms

Serbian CSOs, including BCSDN member Civic Initiatives, have urged the Serbian government to end repression against CSOs and activists. This follows the government’s recent attacks on civic space after the controversial Serbia-EU Rio Tinto deal on lithium mining, which disregarded public opinion and led to widespread protests. The government is accused of detaining activists, conducting

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Albania: Police Threaten Journalists with Criminal Charges Over Critical Reporting

On 14 August, the Police Director General verbally attacked journalists during a press conference over critical reporting of an assault in Pogradec that led to a citizen’s death. Media reports had highlighted family’s concerns about delays in emergency services and police response, accusing the investigation of being incomplete. The Police Director General dismissed these concerns

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Bulgaria: Rallies After President Backs Anti-LGBTQ+ Law Change

On 16 August, rival protests occurred in Sofia after Bulgarian President Radev endorsed a legislative amendment banning LGBTQ+ “propaganda” and “gender ideology” in schools, backed by the far-right pro-Moscow Revival party. Despite appeals from over 6,000 people and 70 organizations to veto the law, President Radev signed it, intensifying Bulgaria’s political divide. Approximately 2,000 people

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North Macedonia: Most Municipal CSO Funds Allocated to Sports Associations

An MCIC analysis reveals that Macedonian municipalities allocated 290.6 million MKD (about 4.7 million EUR) to CSOs, with a significant portion directed toward sports associations. The Southeastern region of the country led with 42 million MKD, primarily supporting sports and cultural activities, followed by the Eastern, Northeastern, and Vardar regions. Despite its larger population, the

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Turkey: Rising Demands to End Journalist Harassment After Reporter’s Sentence Upheld

International and Turkish media and rights organizations have called on Turkey to cease its harassment of journalists following a court’s decision to uphold a 20-month prison sentence for journalist Bulent Mumay. The joint letter condemned the verdict as a severe attack on press freedom, emphasizing that the charges against Mumay, which include “illegally obtaining or

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Serbia: Activists Arrested and Released After Protesting Rio Tinto Lithium Project

The protests, organized by the Association of Environmental Organizations of Serbia, and other initiatives, opposing the Rio Tinto lithium project in Jadar, continued nationwide, with activists’ warnings about significant environmental risks. On 10 August, a major protest in Belgrade resulted in the arrest of three activists who were charged with “disturbing public order” after blocking

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