News and updates from BCSDN and the region
The Balkan Civil Society Development Network (BCSDN) has welcomed the EU’s first-ever Strategy for Civil Society, praising the inclusion of civil society input and recognition of enlargement countries as part of a shared civic space with EU Member States. The network called for stronger commitments to align the strategy’s goals with accession contexts. BCSDN highlighted
Read more →The European Commission’s 2025 Enlargement Communication presents accession as increasingly attainable but shows that persistent weaknesses in the Rule of Law, democratic institutions, and fundamental rights continue to hinder progress. While some candidates have advanced in key reforms, the report highlights ongoing political polarization, weak oversight, and limited public consultation across much of the region.
Read more →At the 2025 Democracy & Rights Conference in Copenhagen, the Balkan Civil Society Development Network (BCSDN) led an interactive Skill and Capacity Lab titled “From Civic Space Struggles to EU Impact: Advocacy Pathways and Alliances for Civil Society in Europe.” The session, facilitated by Maja Stojanović of Civic Initiatives (Serbia) and Simona Mladenovska from BCSDN,
Read more →Investigative journalism across the Western Balkans was recently recognised through awards in Albania, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Serbia, celebrating impactful reporting on corruption and public-interest issues. In North Macedonia, 360 stepeni journalists won for uncovering abuses in national security. Albanian reporters from Amfora.al were awarded for exposing coastal development threats to cultural heritage. Montenegro’s top
Read more →BCSDN’s has just released its latest research, Donor Support, Civic Space, and the Future of Civil Society in the Western Balkans, which finds the region’s civil society at a pivotal point. While international assistance remains the sector’s lifeline, shifting donor practices risk entrenching a fragile, donor-driven model. The abrupt USAID withdrawal in 2025 was a
Read more →The Proceedings from the Regional Civil Society Conference “Resilient Voices: Western Balkans Civil Society in a Changing World,” held in Tirana and organized by BCSDN and Partners Albania, confirm that over 150 CSOs, policymakers, and donors gathered to call for stronger protection and sustainable support for the sector. Participants warned that restrictive laws, “foreign-agent” initiatives,
Read more →The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) has placed civil society at the center of its new work programme, “Civil Society at the heart of Europe.” The EESC President, Séamus Boland, announced a people-centered vision focusing on three pillars: A Union of opportunities, security, and resilience. The programme explicitly commits to protecting democracy and civic
Read more →The first Reform Agenda Update: Pilot Reform Monitor introduces mid-year reports on reform implementation in the Western Balkans. The key findings from the Reform Monitor reports, which track the implementation of the national reform agendas in the WB, reveal a persistent gap between political commitments and effective implementation, with many reform steps remaining pending. The
Read more →A new analysis by Alberto Alemanno for EUobserver reveals that policies originally intended for transparency are being weaponized across Europe to dismantle independent civil society. Under the guise of simplification, governments and EU institutions are imposing heavy burdens, with national laws (e.g., in Hungary and Slovakia) classifying EU funds as a form of foreign influence.
Read more →The European Parliament (EP) has delivered a powerful validation of civil society concerns, adopting a resolution that places stringent conditions on Serbia’s EU accession path. The text strongly condemns the escalating political polarization and state repression in the country, aligning directly with the alarms raised by the Balkan Civil Society Development Network (BCSDN) regarding shrinking
Read more →The “Resilient Voices: Western Balkans Civil Society in a Changing World” (Tirana, Oct 1, 2025) gathered over 150 CSOs, policymakers, and donors to confront escalating pressures on civic space, including smear campaigns and potential burdensome EU foreign funding regulations. The event culminated in the publication of a Declaration, which outlines concrete steps for CSOs, governments,
Read more →Balkan Civil Society Development Network Executive Director Biljana Spasovska, speaking at the OGP Global Summit in Vitoria-Gasteiz during the “Participation and Inclusion” Global Dialogue, highlighted the escalating crisis facing CSOs in the Western Balkans. The threat now includes new, problematic legislation alongside tactics like smear campaigns and arbitrary inspections, which effectively silence independent voices. Spasovska
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