What's New

News and updates from BCSDN and the region

MONEYVAL Calls on North Macedonia to Improve investigation and Prosecution to Combat Money Laundering and Financing of Terrorism

Council of Europe’s anti-money laundering body MONEYVAL calls on North Macedonia’s authorities to further strengthen measures to combat money laundering (ML), financing of terrorism (FT), and financing of proliferation (FP), in particular in the investigation and prosecution fields. Moneyval further recommends authorities to step up their efforts to implement adequately beneficial ownership standards. Read more

Read more →

Croatia’s Proposed Media Law Condemned as ‘Death for Journalism’

The Croatian Journalists’ Association, HND, has strongly condemned the draft media law, noting that it represented unprecedented state interference in journalistic freedoms and in journalistic self-regulation. The draft law proposed by the Culture and Media Ministry was not previously agreed on within the working group of which journalists were members. They also condemned a proposal

Read more →

Media Unions Urge Turkey to Stop Using Violence Against Journalists

At the Press Day in Turkey, on 24 July, journalists’ unions and media organizations called on the Turkish government to end pressures, violence, censorship, and imprisonment of journalists and the alleged criminalization of the journalistic profession. The Turkish press council has stated that news can be treated as ‘terrorism’ and a journalist as a ‘terrorist’.

Read more →

The Macedonian Journalists’ Association Demand Criminal Responsibility for Explicit Threats Against Journalist Rita Behadini

The Macedonian Journalists’ Association (AJM) is demanding an urgent response to the explicit threats made to journalist Rita Behadini at her announcement regarding the public stance by Saraj’s social network Facebook. In solidarity with the Association of Journalists of Macedonia (AJM), the gender equality platform demands an urgent response by strongly condemning hate speech and

Read more →

European Parliament Actions for Enhanced Protection Against SLAPPs: New Measures to Safeguard Public Interest Actors

The European Parliament acted in favor of protecting journalists, media organizations, activists, academics, artists, and researchers from unjustified and harmful legal actions. The Legal Affairs Committee voted in favor of new regulations to safeguard against strategic lawsuits intended to silence individuals involved in the public interest sphere. To enhance protection against SLAPPs, MEPs expanded the

Read more →

Battle for Balkan Cybersecurity: Threats and Implications of Biometrics and Digital Identity

The Balkans experiences significant increase in internet penetration and the integration of Biometrics and Digital Identity BDI technologies in various sectors. Between 2020-23, Albania, BiH, North Macedonia, Kosovo and Serbia reported increase in cyberattacks, specifically phishing and ransomware incidents. BIRN has mapped 40 cases and has collated data on cyberattacks targeting the Balkan region’s BDI

Read more →

European CSOs Letter on the Impact Assessment of the Democracy Package

EU organizations have expressed their support, and concerns for the European Commission’s decision to conduct an impact assessment of the Democracy package. This decision comes after a written request from 230 CSOs. The organizations appreciate that the Commission recognizes the importance of considering the fundamental rights implications of the proposed package. They trust that the

Read more →

Political Unrest in Serbia: Protest as a Catalyst for Change

The article analyzes the recent protests in Serbia in response to violence and citizens’ demands. Despite only two of the nine demands being met, the minister of education has resigned, and the National Assembly held a session on mass shootings and security. However, the concessions made by the non-ruling party minister did not incur significant

Read more →

EU Parliament Calls for Ban of Public Facial Recognition, but Leaves Human Rights Gaps in Final Position on AI Act

The European Parliament plenary voted in favor of strong fundamental rights protections in their official position on the Artificial Intelligence Act, including maintaining positive steps on fundamental rights impact assessments and transparency requirements. While EU wants to regulate artificial intelligence (AI) to ensure better conditions for the development and use of this innovative technology, in

Read more →