News and updates from BCSDN and the region
The Aspen Institute has released its new study, capturing key insights and policy recommendations from its October 2025 Tirana conference. The publication analyzes how rapid technological shifts, demographic changes, climate pressures, and geopolitical tensions are reshaping the region’s labor markets and social cohesion. It highlights civil society as a key actor in managing structural change
Read more →BCSDN has published its 2025 Research in Focus report, “The Missing Lens: Rethinking the Enabling Environment for Gender Equality and Civil Society in the Western Balkans,” which analyzes the civic space for gender equality and feminist organizations in the Western Balkans. The research reveals a concerning trend, highlighting the growing influence of coordinated anti-gender movements.
Read more →The CIVICUS Monitor’s 2025 People Power Under Attack report signals a significant global decline in civic space, with fundamental freedoms under severe attack. The report reveals that only 7.2% of the world’s population now lives in countries with “Open” or “Narrowed” civic space, while 83 countries are rated “Repressed” or “Closed.” The most frequent violations are the detention of protesters, journalists, and human rights defenders;
Read more →The CIVICUS Monitor downgraded Serbia’s civic space from “Obstructed” to “Repressed” in its 2025 annual report, citing escalating attacks on fundamental freedoms. Authorities have clamped down on protests, leading to violence and mass detentions, while freedom of expression is under sustained attack. Civil society warns that a proposed Criminal Code amendment threatens to criminalize peaceful
Read more →The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) adopted its opinion on the European Commission’s proposals for the 2028–2034 AgoraEU and Justice Programmes with near-unanimous support. The EESC strongly endorses the Commission’s ambitions and urges the European Parliament and Council to maintain the proposed budget, emphasizing that democracy, rights, and the rule of law must remain
Read more →Our member, Građanske Inicijative (Civic Initiatives), was presented with this year’s Lala Human Rights Award by Ambassador Martijn Ehlersma of the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Serbia. The award, granted annually by the Dutch government for courageous and tireless work in advancing human rights, recognized Civic Initiatives for its long-standing, constructive, and
Read more →The European Parliament has adopted its position on the draft Directive on Transparency of Third-Country Interest Representation, intended to expose lobbying on behalf of non-EU governments while excluding normal civil society work, research, media, and general foreign funding; however, European CSOs warn that vague definitions, unclear safeguards, and new terms such as “third-country sponsor” leave
Read more →The BCSDN released its 16th annual analysis, “Civic Space as a Credibility Test,” for the 2025 EU Enlargement Package, assessing the environment for civil society in the Western Balkans and Türkiye (WBT). The report highlights a critical structural gap: governments can advance accession while simultaneously restricting civic space—which, along with media freedom and democratic institutions, remains the weakest area across
Read more →Over 30 CSOs, coordinated by Transparency International EU and joined by the European Civic Forum, have signed a joint letter urging pro-democracy MEPs to boycott the European Parliament’s newly created Scrutiny Working Group on NGOs (SWG). The CSOs warn that the SWG is the product of politically motivated attacks by the European People’s Party and far-right groups, designed to
Read more →Albania’s draft law “On Lobbying” is viewed as a positive move toward enhancing transparency and integrity in public decision-making. However, experts warn that several provisions risk placing Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) under the same regulatory regime as commercial lobbyists. The main concern is the broad definition of lobbying, which could classify ordinary public-interest activities—like consultations,
Read more →The European Commission has proposed mandatory national transparency registers for lobbying on behalf of third countries, aiming to counter foreign interference across EU democracies. This draft legislation, part of the 2023 ‘Defence of Democracy’ package, would require all Member States to establish harmonised registers and empower authorities to investigate and impose sanctions for non-compliance. In
Read more →The European Ombudswoman has found that the European Commission committed maladministration in preparing the Omnibus I on sustainability and the 2024 CAP “simplification.” This decision validates long-standing concerns raised by civil society that the Commission bypassed crucial impact assessments, restricted public participation, and favored industry interests. The ruling marks a significant win for NGOs and
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